San Jose Mercury News
California Transportation Spending Gets Boost from Budget Revision
A short term increase in spending hides California's annual structural deficit of almost $6 billion—money needed to maintain the state's roads and bridges.
Silicon Valley's Latest Innovation: Recycled Water
A proposed $800 million facility in Santa Clara County will put recycled water on the tech boom's doorstep.
New App Alerts Drivers Before Traffic Lights Turn Green
A suburban city in the East Bay Area will allow commuters to use a new app that links their smartphones to traffic lights.
Plastic Bag Ban to Be Decided by Referendum in California
Thanks to a vigorous signature gathering effort bankrolled by the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last September that outlawed single-use plastic bags will be decided by the electorate in November 2016.
Op-Ed: Put Ecosystems Before Agriculture in California's Water Crisis
It's been another dry season in California, and the concerns of the state's many water users are not going away. An editorial by one of the state's largest newspapers favors ecosystem protection over the agriculture industry for the year ahead.
The Potential Downside of Railroad Electrification—for Motorists
Electrification of the Caltrain will be great for train riders, the environment, air quality, and public health, but it might worsen traffic congestion between San Jose and San Francisco by increasing the frequency of commuter trains.
San Jose Enacts 'Pedestrian Safety Zone'—Bans Bikes from Sidewalks
The city of San Jose has responded to concerns of seniors in the community by banning bikes from sidewalks a large swath of downtown near the convention center, City Hall, and San Jose State.
Two Proposed San Jose BART Stations on the Chopping Block
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) officials have sparked a controversy after announcing that they are likely to cut two of the four proposed stations, one in San Jose and one in Santa Clara, from BART extension plans.
Do Drivers Know to Give Cyclists a Three-Foot Buffer when Passing?
On September 16, California's newest bicycle law went into effect, the "Three Feet for Safety Act" law. However, most motorists are unaware of it. Maybe a new sign will help.
Is $1.4 Billion Enough Punishment for Deadly Natural Gas Explosion?
With a final decision expected later this year, the California Public Utilities Commission recommended a $1.4 billion fine for PG&E in connection with violations leading to a natural gas explosion in 2010.
California Voters to Consider $7.5 Billion Water Bond
It isn't always a drought in California, but the state's Legislature is always fighting over investments in water storage and delivery infrastructure. This week's 11th hour action will put a $7.5 billion water bond before the voters in November.
California Water Districts Might Skirt Prop 13 to Fund $25 Billion Canal Plan
Californians who take low property taxes and high quality drinking water for granted might have reason to rethink both those realities if the state's water districts figure out a way to raise property taxes—the same might be true if they don't.
Yosemite Plan Rescinds Proposed Ban on Bike, Raft Rentals
Yosemite National Park officials released a revised draft of the Merced River Plan. An earlier of the controversial plan would have restricted recreation and removed swimming pools from the national park's famed hotels.
Google's Next Futuristic Setting: A Giant NASA Hangar in Mountain View
Google buses, Google ferries, and now, a Google hangar.
Public Benefits Not Worth Density to Palo Alto Residents
Palo Alto’s planned community zoning has existed since 1951. As the real estate market in the Silicon Valley heats up, residents are questioning whether developers are abusing the density and height benefits they receive from the zoning code.
Waterfront Ballpark in Oakland a Tough Sell
Following unsuccessful attempts to move the Oakland Athletics to San Jose (an area controlled by the San Francisco Giants), team owner Lew Wolff is resistant to a plan to move the team to a waterfront location.
The Dark Side of Electric Vehicle Charging
You've heard of road rage. Electric vehicle drivers at Silicon Valley workplaces where EVs substantially exceed chargers may experience "charge rage" when a "top-off" can take as long as eight hours.
Apple "Spaceship" Gets Approval to Land in Cupertino
Steve Jobs's final product got the go-ahead from an enthusiastic Cupertino City Council yesterday. The company's controversial new headquarters, dubbed the "spaceship campus", forgoes the tech trend towards urban offices for a pastoral setting.
BART Unions Give Notice: Strike on Monday
Same drill, round two. After almost a month of apparently fruitless negotiations, the unions gave a 72-hour notice of going on strike. Unless an agreement is reached, 200,000 Bay Area rail riders will need to find alternatives for the Monday commute
Peninsula Cities Lose Initial CEQA Lawsuit Against High Speed Rail Authority
It was the first of many lawsuits to hit the HSRA. Menlo Park and Atherton, joined later by Palo Alto - three adjoining cities on the San Mateo County/Santa Clara County border, among the wealthiest in the nation, sued in 2008 to reroute the train.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
