California
Making the Case for Small, Shared, Electric Transport Modes
Tony Dutzik, senior policy analyst with the Frontier Group, presents three environmental reasons to support shared bikes and scooters, and why cities that have adopted climate plans should accommodate these small, clean, shared vehicles.
Speeding Up Trains and Improving Traffic Safety in San Jose
At-grade light rail has a hard time safely and efficiently traversing Downtown San Jose on Second Street. A new pilot project will look to improve the situation.
L.A. Wants to Be the Epicenter of New Transportation Technology
Gabe Klein of CityFi outlines how Los Angeles is planning on implementing the Urban Mobility in a Digital Age report.
$2 Billion Bond Measure on California Ballot to House the Mentally Ill Homeless
The revenue bonds would be funded from a millionaires' surtax, approved by voters in 2004, to pay for health programs, but not housing, for the mentally ill. Also on ballot: a $4 billion general obligation bond measure to fund housing for veterans.
Electrifying Maritime Transport – San Francisco Bay to Show the Way
While battery-power doesn't appear practical, electricity from fuel cells does. The nation's first fuel cell-powered ferry will be operating in San Francisco Bay next year thanks in part to a $3 million grant from the California Air Resources Board.
Nine Highway Expansions Identified as Worst Boondoggles of 2018
In a new report, U.S. PIRG and the Frontier Group describe nine costly highway projects amounting to $30 billion in their fourth annual "Highway Boondoggles" report. All share the theme of induced travel demand.
Light Rail Proposal for L.A.'s San Fernando Valley Wins Key Approval
Light rail could come to "The Valley" for the first time, under a plan approved this week by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Board of Directors.
Google Tax to Appear on November Ballot in Mountain View, California
If a majority of the city's voters approve the city-sponsored ballot measure, business license fees will change from a flat $30 annual fee to a new tax based on the number of employees, with the largest employer, Google, to pay $3.3 million.
San Diego Not Even Close to Meeting Permanent Housing Goals for Homeless
The city’s new $6.5 million "bridge shelters" are providing a place to stay, but not accomplishing what they set out to do.
Big Oil Wins Climate Change Lawsuits
The courts are no place to be deciding on the contribution of fossil fuels to climate change, ruled a Northern California federal district court judge in a "stinging defeat" to San Francisco and Oakland that wanted Big Oil to pay mitigation costs.
More States Hoping to Monetize Highways
The commercialization of highway rights of way is largely prohibited by federal regulations, but states are looking for new ways to generate revenue from billboards and rest stops.
California's Law to Streamline Housing Already Having a Big Effect
A mega-project adding 2,402 units of housing, including 1,201 affordable units, is on a fast track to approval in Cupertino, California, thanks to a 2017 state law.
California Gas Tax Repeal Initiative Qualifies for November Ballot
The initiative is much more than whether to repeal taxes and fees enacted by the passage of the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 which brings in over $5 billion a year. The measure is a means to increase GOP turnout to retain House seats.
Opinion: Government-Controlled Energy Won't Get Cities to 100 Percent Renewable
A Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) is a key tool for the Climate Action Plan of many California cities. According to one former mayor, they don't work.
San Francisco Bay Area's Rail Transit Projects Among the Most Expensive in the World
The problem of expensive transit investments isn't unique to New York City.
LA Times: City Council Should Take Responsibility for Lack of Transit Oriented Development
The Los Angeles Times editorial board has strong words for the Los Angeles City Council about planning for transit oriented development.
Rent Control Falls Short of the Ballot in Multiple California Cities
Support for rent control is building at the state level in California. Support hasn't been as easy tt rally at the local level, however.
Scooter War Now a Scooter Competition
Three scooter companies, Lime, Bird and Spin, removed their scooters from the sidewalks of San Francisco earlier this month and applied, with nine other companies, for five permits to operate up to 2,500 scooters in a tightly regulated pilot program.
Plans for Immigrant 'Detention Centers' Revealed at Military Sites Around the U.S.
Plans for temporary facilities designed to house between 25,000 to 45,000 people have been revealed by Time Magazine. Sites in Alabama, Arizona, California,
When Gentrification Follows Transit Oriented Development
From an environmental perspective, transit oriented development is hard to argue. From a socio-economic perspective, transit oriented development must make room for all income levels, according to this opinion piece posted on the NRDC website.
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.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie
