California

Electric Cars

Electric Vehicles Alone Will Not Reduce Emissions to Meet California's Climate Goal

According to a new report by the California Air Resources Board, even if electric vehicle sales were to increase tenfold, it would not reduce emissions from transportation enough to meet a 2030 climate goal. A major reduction in driving is needed.

November 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Interstate 405

$43 Billion, 20-Year Transportation Plan Approved for Orange County, CA

Orange County, California has approved its 20-year transportation plan, which is designed to address an expected 60 percent increase in traffic.

November 29, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Tardy Transit Funding Arrives in Los Angeles, Twin Cities

They had to wait the better part of a year, but two major transit projects finally have the funding Congress allocated in March.

November 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Street Food

Los Angeles Approves Sidewalk Vending Ordinance

The new ordinance brings long-awaited legal legitimacy to sidewalk vending in Los Angeles.

November 28, 2018 - Streetsblog LA

The Boring Company

Musk's Boring Co. Drops Westside L.A. Tunnel Plans

A lawsuit by a pair of Westside L.A. neighborhood groups has killed the Boring Company's plans to drill a tunnel below Sepulveda Boulevard.

November 28, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Car Traffic

San Francisco Could Be Next to Eliminate Parking Minimums Citywide

A proposal under consideration by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors would eliminate parking requirements citywide.

November 28, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Delivery Drone

San Diego Asks for Input on Citywide Drone Pilot

San Diego will soon host a federal pilot program on unmanned drones.

November 27, 2018 - Route Fifty

Interstate Highway

Cities Rally Around New Plans for Southern California’s Interstate 710

After more than 60 years, a slew of new road projects will leave the debate about the Interstate 710 gap in the past.

November 27, 2018 - Pasadena Star-News

Metro Los Angeles Light Rail

Crenshaw Line Light Rail Delayed in Los Angeles

Construction of the Crenshaw Line in Los Angeles will go later than expected. Metro now expects the light rail line to open in 2020.

November 26, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Transbay Transit Center

SF Transbay Transit Center Cracks Isolated to Beams, Say Experts

As the investigation continues, cracks found in girders supporting the building do not appear to be due to a design issue.

November 26, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

California Central Valley

Acquisitions Disputes for California High-Speed Rail Project Drag On

Delays in acquiring properties are costing the project significant amounts of time and money.

November 26, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

San Jose, California

San Jose Wants 25 Percent Affordable Housing With Big Google Development

The city of San Jose is pushing Google to mitigate the effects of gentrification and displacement at its planned transit oriented facility in downtown San Jose.

November 25, 2018 - The Mercury News

Dogs and Lawns

A New 'SeeClickFix' App, but for Poop

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

November 23, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles and Bowl

New Hollywood Community Plan Draft Released

One of the most controversial community planning documents in Los Angeles history was approved by the city in 2012 and thrown out by a judge in 2013. The new draft environmental impact report for the plan is now publicly available.

November 21, 2018 - Urbanize LA

Northern California Toll Lane

Toll Lane Expansion in Inland Empire Begins After Voters Reject Gas Tax Repeal

The day after California voters soundly rejected a repeal of a one-year old 12-cents gas tax increase and new annual vehicle registration fees. the Riverside County Transportation Commission launched a study to extend toll lanes on Interstate 15.

November 20, 2018 - The Press Enterprise

Metro Subway Los Angeles

Can Los Angeles Fix its Bad Transit?

Transit writer Alon Levy argues it will take more than system improvements to integrate public transit into L.A.'s urban fabric.

November 20, 2018 - Pedestrian Observations

Bay Area Multi-Modal Infrastructure

Planning Underway for New Bay Bridge Bike Path, and a Second Transbay BART Tube

In a distant and expensive future, there are two new ways to get across the San Francisco Bay without a car. One will have a much better view.

November 19, 2018 - The Mercury News

San Francisco

How San Francisco Ran Out of Affordable Housing Funds, and What to Do About It

Analysis and policy recommendations from Bay Area-based think tank SPUR focuses on how poorly designed inclusionary zoning the exact opposite of the desired effect.

November 18, 2018 - SPUR

Smart City Apps and Intelligent Lighting Controls from Current by GE

San Diego Adding 4,200 IoT Sensors to City Streets

Details emerged this week of a massive "Internet of Things" (IoT) project in San Diego, California.

November 17, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Regional Transit

San Francisco Approved an Expanded Central SoMa Plan

The Central SoMa Plan, which sets development goals for a key swath of Downtown San Francisco, got bigger as it moved through a lengthy approval process.

November 15, 2018 - 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.