California

California REITS Have Much at Stake on Election Day

One of the most controversial measures on the November 6 ballot in California is Prop. 10: the repeal of the landmark Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control. Real estate investment trusts are donating big time to defeat it.

August 15, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

163:365 - Green Energy

Five Key Energy Bills the California Legislature May Decide this Week

Energy stakeholders in California are watching five important bills to see which go forward with three weeks remaining in the legislative season. One would require the state to generate all electricity from renewable sources by 2045.

August 14, 2018 - The Desert Sun

Peninsula

New Linkage Fee Approved in South San Francisco

The city of South San Francisco recently approved a linkage fee for commercial developments, following the lead of a few other cities that have decided on linkage fees as a similar mechanism to fund affordable housing.

August 14, 2018 - The Daily Journal

Agriculture

Federal Appeals Court Orders EPA to Ban Harmful Pesticide

The ruling puts another stain on former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's legacy as it rebukes his denial of a petition to ban a pesticide that causes neurodevelopmental damage in children. Pruitt had rejected his own scientists' recommendation.

August 14, 2018 - The New York Times

Transbay Transit Center

San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center Open, When Will Trains Arrive?

To great fanfare, the Salesforce Transit Center opened on Saturday to thousands of visitors anxious to see the huge facility. Sunday was quieter, with the first AC Transit buses arriving on the third-floor bus deck. Train arrivals: TBD.

August 13, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

California Wildflowers

Paying for Climate Change Mitigation at the Pump in California

Two market-based programs add about a quarter to every gallon of fuel purchased in the Golden State, but don't expect to see the prices listed anywhere. Furthermore, costs to comply with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard are expected to increase.

August 13, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

City by the Bay

Ride-Hailing Companies Agree to Tax in San Francisco

Essentially, Uber and Lyft chose a tax on rides instead of a gross-receipts tax.

August 13, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Exurban Commute

'Valley Link' Planned to Relieve Bay Area Super Commuters

Planners are working quickly to refine a proposal for a $1.8 billion project connecting the 680 corridor in the East Bay Area to bedroom communities in the Central Valley.

August 12, 2018 - The Mercury News

Commercial Corridor Going Car Free in L.A.'s Playa Vista

A proposal to block cars from the Runway in Playa Vista reflects a new approach to user experience in retail environments.

August 12, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

SoCal Gas to Pay $119.5 Million for Aliso Canyon Gas Leak

The settlement closes another chapter in the saga of the methane leak that caused an evacuation of a corner of Los Angeles from October 2015 to February 2016.

August 10, 2018 - Los Angeles Daily News

California River

California Protects its 15th Wild and Scenic River

Conservationists got a little help from some perhaps surprising sources in winning a designation for the Mokelumne River as the latest Wild and Scenic River in California.

August 10, 2018 - Water Deeply

Van Ness Bus Rapid TRansit

Mapping All of San Francisco's Transit-Related Projects

A new interactive map keeps residents up to date on where the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is working on new projects.

August 10, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

E-Scooters

Looking for Scooter Shame, a Local Paper Found Scooter Support

The Willamette Week put out a call for tips about electric scooter users acting badly. They got an earful of the unexpected.

August 9, 2018 - Willamette Week

Refueling

What Comes Next if California Repeals Its Gas Tax Increase?

Repeal proponents have already planned a sequel for Proposition 6, regardless of whether the measure passes, resulting in the loss of over $5 billion annually from new transportation user fees, including a 12-cents per gallon gas tax increase.

August 8, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Salesforce Transit Center

San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center Opens This Weekend

The $2.16 billion Transbay Transit Center opens to the public on August 11, with bus service launching on August 12.

August 8, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ford GoBike

The Ford GoBike Resistance

Politicians and residents are uniting to delay Ford GoBike's expansion around San Francisco.

August 7, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Lake Mead

A Plan to Transform the Hoover Dam into Energy Storage

A proposal by the nation's largest utility could be a model to deal with the most formidable problem presented by intermittent renewable electricity sources.

August 6, 2018 - The New York Times

Antioch, California

Antioch, California BART Extension So Popular There's No Place to Park

The new Antioch station is seeing ridership well over predictions, and some think there would be even more riders if there were more parking.

August 6, 2018 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Vacant Land Languishes in the High-Priced Market of Oakland, California

Oakland property prices have gone way up, but vacant land can be found all over the city. Hayley Raetz argues getting development on this land should be a policy priority.

August 6, 2018 - Terner Center for Housing Innovation

Glen Ellen, California

Designing Houses to Survive Wildfires

Houses that aren't vulnerable to embers blowing in the wind, could save the government and homeowners millions.

August 6, 2018 - 99 Percent Invisible

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.