California

Los Angeles Grand Park

A New Player in Planning Los Angeles: Marqueece Harris-Dawson

The new chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee of the Los Angeles City Council will influence how the city grapples with homelessness, an expanding rail system, and the 2028 Olympics.

February 27, 2019 - The Planning Report

Broadway Downtown

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty

Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

February 27, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Los Angeles Downtown River

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds

Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

February 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Metropolitan Detention Center

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards

Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

February 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

San Francisco Parklet

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear

Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

February 25, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Transit Oriented Development

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo

The plans, they are a-changin.

February 25, 2019 - James Brasuell

Feather River

Scientists Warn Mega-Storm Could Make 'Lakes' of California Cities

If you live in California, you've heard predictions of a disastrous earthquake dubbed "the big one." Now, scientists are warning of an epic rainstorm that could cause three times as much damage.

February 23, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Self-Driving Car

In 2018, Autonomous Vehicles Drove 2 Million Miles in California

Autonomous vehicles are racking up quite a track record in California—and fewer of the miles driven by autonomous vehicles in 2018 had humans at the wheel than in 2017.

February 23, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Border

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit

The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

February 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California

A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

February 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Housing

Steady Loss of San Francisco Bay Area Affordable Housing

Skyrocketing rental costs are hitting low-income residents even harder as available subsidized housing continues to disappear.

February 20, 2019 - The Mercury News

Kaiser LEED Certified Building

Taking the Carbon Emissions Out of Buildings

Much of the focus on decreasing carbon emissions is on the electrical grid and vehicles. But, buildings are a huge contributor, and California is leading the way in making electrification a priority.

February 19, 2019 - Vox

Kayaking in the LA River

How to Treat Nature Deficit Disorder in L.A. Without Getting on a Freeway

Los Angeles is surrounded by beautiful nature in the form of hills, mountains, beaches, and deserts, but its notorious traffic can make it hell to get there. L.A. County Park Planner Clement Lau describes his favorite nearby nature doses.

February 17, 2019 - UrbDeZine

High-Speed Rail

More Fallout From Downsizing California High-Speed Rail

A San Francisco Chronicle editorial warns that San Francisco must find funds, intended to come from the state's ambitious rail project, to extend the Caltrain commuter rail line to the SalesForce Transit Center.

February 16, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Golden Gate Bridge Traffic

New Report on San Francisco Transportation Trends: Driving on the Rise

The city is seeing more transit use and biking, but driving and congestion are also on the rise.

February 15, 2019 - Curbed San Francisco

March for Environmental Justice

Deep Economic and Racial Injustice Found in California Pollution Exposure

A new study confirms the facts of environment justice that has long been common knowledge in affected communities. Now the evidence can be mapped, as well.

February 15, 2019 - Union Of Concerned Scientists

San Francisco Street

More Bad Polling News for Cordon Area Congestion Pricing in the U.S.

Only a handful of cities in North America are considering applying tolls to congested urban streets, as opposed to highways. Efforts in one of those cities, San Francisco, just received negative polling results on a potential $3 auto access fee.

February 15, 2019 - San Francisco Examiner

Nuevo Development Santa Clara

Plans for an 'Urban Town' in the Silicon Valley

The Nuevo development will bring close to 900 homes and apartments along with commercial and outdoor space to a location near a Caltrain station.

February 15, 2019 - The Mercury News

Dockweiler State Beach

L.A. Collects Green Bonafides By Canceling Plans for Natural Gas Power

The bell tolls for the Scattergood, Harbor, and Haynes power plants, after Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti promises a transition to renewable energy. The city was going to spend $5 billion to transition to natural gas.

February 15, 2019 - Los Angeles Daily News

Bakersfield and Fresno Sign

California Governor Envisions Revitalized Cities Along Curtailed Rail Route

California Governor Gavin Newsom dropped a bombshell earlier this week by announcing that California's ambitious high-speed rail project would be pared down. He envisions the Central Valley segment as the spine of a resurgent urban region.

February 14, 2019 - California Planning & Development Report

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.