California

Compton, California

Planning a New Approach to Transit Oriented Development in Compton

The city of Compton has completed a draft environmental impact review of an ambitious plan to transform the blocks surrounding the Artesia Station on the Metro A Line.

November 6, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

MoGo Bikeshare Bikes

Next Steps After S.F. Bay Area Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot Program

A summer program incorporated adaptive bikes into the region’s bikeshare network as a first step in making the system accessible to more riders.

November 4, 2019 - Next City

Cupertino, California

Apple Pledges $2.5 Billion for Housing Affordability

It's been a big year for tech giants pledging money to mitigate the affordability crisis in the regions and cities they call home. Apple joins a club that includes Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

November 4, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Griffith Park

DTLA 2040 Ready for Public Scrutiny in Los Angeles

Two community plan updates, to the Central City and the Central City North community plans, comprise the DTLA 2040 plan. DTLA 2040 is also the first showcase for the city's new zoning code system.

November 4, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Washington, D.C. Apartment

Pre-Fab Buildings to Ease the Housing Crisis

Modular housing is cheaper and faster to build compared to conventional buildings. These advantages could make it an effective and viable way to increase apartment housing stock.

November 4, 2019 - CALmatters

Millennium Tower

Office Development Fee to Fund Affordable Housing Approved in San Francisco

A new fee would add an estimated 6 percent to the cost of building new office space in San Francisco, yet not many from the business community resisted the new costs.

November 3, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Detroit, Michigan

GM, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler Back Trump on Weaker Auto Emissions Rule

The auto industry is divided on whether to back stronger emissions standard adopted by California and 13 other states. Three major automakers and three auto industry groups sided with Trump on Monday in a court battle over 'one national standard.'

November 3, 2019 - Reuters

Uber Jump bike

JUMP, Uber's Bike and Scooter Rental Business, Creates Privacy Controversy in L.A.

The battle over privacy data will move to court, as Uber and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been able to work out their differences regarding the use of the city's mobility data specification.

November 1, 2019 - CityLab

Two New Community Land Trusts for Ventura County

Ventura County, Located to the north and west of Los Angeles County, will soon have its first two community land trusts.

November 1, 2019 - Ventura County Star

Wildfire

Wildfires and Public Health

California is being forced to reckon with numerous negative public health outcomes caused by wildfires.

November 1, 2019 - The Conversation

Skid Row Los Angeles

Homelessness Fuels a Backlash in California

The Golden State's ongoing homelessness crisis has residents on edge and is testing the limits of empathy in a state known for its liberal values.

November 1, 2019 - The New York Times

LAX Cars

New Ride-Hailing Area at LAX, Called 'LAX-it,' Has Rough Opening Day

The central terminal area at Los Angeles International Airport experienced a sudden onset of calm this Tuesday—the nearby LAX-it waiting area for ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs, not so much.

October 31, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Kincade Fire

Illustrating the Size of California's Wildfires

Wildfires in California are getting both larger and more destructive. A simple but informative graphic from the San Francisco illustrates the scope of the destruction.

October 30, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Paradise, California

Poll: The Public Supports Development Limits in California's Wildfire Areas

An idea that is gaining support with the public as the state of California suffers through catastrophic fire season after catastrophic fire season is still a deeply difficult political proposition.

October 30, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Humboldt Bay

Sacred Island Returned to the Wiyot Tribe, 160 Years After it Was Stolen

The city of Eureka has returned ownership of Duluwat Island, the site of a brutal massacre in 1860 and also a deeply sacred site, to the Wiyot Tribe.

October 29, 2019 - North Coast Journal

San Bernardino Skyline

Opinion: Regional Planning Fails the Needs of Southern California's Housing Crisis

The director of a leading "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) organization in Southern California questions the effectiveness of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment methodology recently published by the Southern California Association of Governments.

October 28, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Traffic

It’s Time to Embrace Congestion Pricing

Charging based on demand and for access is commonplace—except on roads.

October 28, 2019 - Brookings

San Diego, California

A Systematic Approach to Homelessness in San Diego

The city of San Diego is ready to action to house the homeless people living on city streets.

October 27, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

California Central Valley

Trump Administration Finds a Way to Divert California Water to Farmers

A new federal program will clear the way for more water to be delivered to the state of California's agriculture industry, overruling environmental safeguards that protected fish.

October 27, 2019 - NPR

San Francisco Internation Airport

An Enticement to Ride BART to the Airport: A Shorter Security Line

Airport and transit planners in the Bay Area are considering adding a perk for transit ridership for travelers to and from San Francisco International Airport.

October 27, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.