California

King Street Streetcar

Toronto Streetcar Experiment Likely to Be Made Permanent

The city of Toronto did something radical and gave its streetcar its own lane on King Street as part of a pilot project launched in 2018. The results included improved service and increased ridership.

April 10, 2019 - The Star

Skid Row

Preventing Homelessness Through Data Analysis

Predictive analytics can help identify vulnerable people early and deliver necessary services before they descend into homelessness.

April 9, 2019 - Dissent

Expo Line

Report: Modest Congestion Charge Would Produce Dramatic Results in Los Angeles

Applying a cordon toll as low as $4 in Los Angeles would result in a 20% reduction in traffic congestion and modest increases in transit ridership, walking, and biking, according to a new study from the Southern California Association of Governments.

April 9, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

State Capital of Utah

Finding Ways for States and Cities to Work Together to Solve the Housing Crisis

The National League of Cities has a new report surveying local tools for addressing the housing affordability crisis. State partnerships are included.

April 9, 2019 - Governing

Oakland Hills California

Potholes Don’t Discriminate, but a Plan to Fix Oakland Streets Reveals Stark Divides in the City

The city has a plan to tackle its pothole problem that it says is equitable. But, some residents say it isn’t fair.

April 8, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Traffic

Will Manhattan's "Central Business District Tolling" Clear the Way for More Congestion Pricing?

Cordon pricing applied to Manhattan's Central Business District, approved by the state legislature on March 31 and signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on April 1, has the ability to be a game changer for other cities considering similar programs.

April 8, 2019 - The New York Times

San Diego metropolitan Transit System

Lawsuit Aims to Block San Diego Parking Requirement Reform

A lawsuit against San Diego alleges that the City Council approved an ordinance ending parking requirements on transit corridors without performing necessary environmental review.

April 7, 2019 - NBC San Diego

Imperial Valley

Editorial Calls for Drastic Actions to Fix the Salton Sea

A Los Angeles Times editorial board sheds light on the ongoing environmental disaster of the Salton Sea in California, and the lack of action by the state to mitigate the worsening impacts.

April 5, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

405 Traffic

Congestion Pricing Marks the End of an Era

A New York Times article marks the historic significance of congestion pricing—gone are the days of treating roads like they're free while ignoring their costs.

April 5, 2019 - The New York Times

Water SUpply

Las Vegas' Growth Tied to its Dwindling Water Supply

Las Vegas has almost maximized its growth potential given projects for its future water supply—something has to give.

April 4, 2019 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

San Jose, California

Housing Crisis Derailing California's Climate Strategy

In a powerful opinion in The New York Times, state Senator Scott Wiener and UC Berkeley energy professor Daniel Kammen make the case that transportation emissions are rising in the Golden States because of the shortage of housing in coastal cities.

March 31, 2019 - The New York Times

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

California Resists Federal Efforts to Roll Back Environmental Regulations

California is pushing back against federal actions by enforcing state rules and standards that it says have precedence.

March 30, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Dallas, Texas

Programming Over Serenity Favored in 21st Century Park Design

The new urban public realm in the United States is highly programmed—some of that design approach reflects the trends of culture and some reflects a history of violence and bad for PR for parks at the end of the 20th century.

March 30, 2019 - American Scholar

Crosswalk Market and Third San Francisco

California Unlikely to Follow New York in Allowing Urban Street Tolling

With the New York State legislature expected to pass a tolling plan for Manhattan early next week, the Chronicle's Rachel Swan reports on the unlikelihood of a similar plan being adopted in San Francisco or any city in the Golden State.

March 29, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Flintstone House

‘Flintstone House’ Irks S.F. Bay Area Town

The quirky hilltop home is visible from the freeway, and commuters love it. The city, however, does not.

March 28, 2019 - SF Gate

Oakland Coliseum

Oakland A's Propose 6,000 New Homes

On top of plans to build a new ballpark, the Oakland Athletics have proposed developing 6,000 units of housing. Half would be located at the new site near Jack London Square, and the other half at the current Oakland Coliseum site.

March 28, 2019 - The Los Angeles Times

Opinion: Promising Complete Streets Project Now a 'Monument to Half-Baked Efforts'

A protected bike lane project in Downtown Los Angeles has ceded too much ground to cars, according to this opinion piece. If only it were the only example to choose from.

March 27, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

The Race to Become the First State to Ban Polystyrene Food Containers

Both Maryland and Hawaii are in a race to become the first state to ban polystyrene food containers and beverage cups. The Maryland bill passed the legislature March 12 and awaits a decision by Republican Gov. Hogan. Too early to tell on Hawaii.

March 26, 2019 - The Baltimore Sun

Rural Traffic

Replacing Diesel-Powered Trucks With Natural Gas, Hybrid, and Battery Power

The U.S. Department of Energy, in partnership with the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, awarded $18 million to nine companies and universities to advance natural gas technology for trucks.

March 26, 2019 - Climatewire

California 241 Toll Road

Finger-Pointing Around Outreach Campaign for Southern California Toll Road

To sway public opinion, the Orange County toll road agency hired a group of consultants. Critics say the cost and service delivered aren’t acceptable.

March 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

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.