California

Gold Line Preview

Southern California's Declining Transit Ridership, Explained

More Southern Californians are purchasing motor vehicles, particularly those who were previously transit-dependent, which largely explains the region's declining transit ridership, according to a newly released study.

February 9, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

One Native American Family, Two Housing Crises

In Oakland, California and Torreon, New Mexico, Julian Brave NoiseCat reports that "[f]or Indigenous people, the crisis of the home is intergenerational."

February 8, 2018 - High Country News

Los Angeles Planning

L.A. Tenants Link Planned 'Design District' to Displacement

Community leaders say a design district in Westlake could pave the way for the erasure of L.A's Historic Filipinotown.

February 7, 2018 - Curbed LA

South Central Los Angeles

What Community-Based Zoning Enforcement Looks Like in South Central Los Angeles

Passion for urban planning, love of South Central LA communities, and historical background of the neighborhoods combine in this personal account by Jonathan P. Bell of community-based zoning enforcement.

February 6, 2018 - UrbDeZine

Silicon Valley

Most California Cities Now Subject to State-Mandated Development Streamlining

Given that 97 percent of California cities aren't meeting their housing targets, SB 35, last year's landmark "by-right" housing bill, now applies to projects that contain varying amounts of affordable units.

February 6, 2018 - East Bay Times

Silicon Valley BRT

There Will Be No Bus Rapid Transit in the Silicon Valley

Local politicians and the public had years to review a proposal that would create dedicated lanes for bus service along El Camino as it cuts through the region. The project found very little support.

February 6, 2018 - Mountain View Voice

Pedestrian Bridge

State Legislation Would Clear CEQA Obstructions for Road and Transit Projects

One legislator believes CEQA "is a key barrier to California meeting its ambitious climate change goals.”

February 5, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Street Mural

Road Diet, Protected Bike Lane Coming to the Heart of Sacramento

Major changes are coming to one of Sacramento's busiest commercial and commuting corridors.

February 5, 2018 - Sacramento Bee

Telepgraph Avenue from UC Berkeley Campus 1981

Berkeley Mayor Condemns Legislation to Increase Housing Density by Transit

Mayor Jesse Arreguín's charges about permissible heights, demolition of rent-controlled housing and displacement that would result from Senate Bill 827 by Sen. Wiener are refuted in the Berkeleyside article, though the latter two have resonance.

February 5, 2018 - Berkeleyside

Palm Springs

Federal Plan for Renewable Energy Development in the California Desert on Trump's Cutting Board

The issue of wind and solar energy development has always been a hot button in the California desert, and the Trump Administration just pressed it.

February 3, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Los Angeles Metro

Los Angeles Leads Nine Cities Earning 'What Works Cities' Certification

Bloomberg Philanthropies recognized nine cities leading the trend toward better use of data in city governance practices.

February 3, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Jump Bikesahre

Uber Now in the Bikesharing Business

Ride-hailing service Uber is piloting a new venture in San Francisco alongside dockless bike-sharing startup Jump.

February 1, 2018 - Modern Cities

Short-Term Rentals

Study Finds More Reasons to Worry About Airbnb's Effect in the Housing Market

The new study, published by the Urban Politics and Governance research group at McGill University, comes with a major disclaimer: it was funded by the Hotel Trades Council, AFL-CIO, among other.

February 1, 2018 - Politico

Uptown San Diego

Four Steps to More Affordable Housing in San Diego (and Elsewhere)

San Diego is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country and has the fourth highest homeless population. Planning activist Murtaza Baxamusa identifies four needed measures.

January 31, 2018 - UrbDeZine

California

One Obstacle to ADU Construction in California: The Price of Permits

The price of a permit to build an accessory dwelling units in the city of Thousand Oaks in Southern California is prohibitive—putting the permitting fee in opposition to the stated intent of the city's zoning code and state law.

January 30, 2018 - Thousand Oaks Acorn

Desalination

Desalination Projects Get a Big Boost in California

Desalination is often suggested as a potential panacea for California's ongoing struggles with drought. The catch in the announcement of $34.4 million in state funding for desalination projects shows why desalination is not there yet.

January 30, 2018 - The Mercury News

A $48 Million Bet on the 'L.A. Model' of Juvenile Justice

With Campus Kilpatrick, Los Angeles County has made a serious investment in progressive design to support progressive programming.

January 29, 2018 - Metropolis Magazine

Electric Car Charging Station

Gov. Jerry Brown Calls for Five Million ZEVs on California Roads by 2030

The executive order calls for $2.5 billion for rebates and electric charging and hydrogen fueling stations, subject to approval by legislature. His earlier executive order called for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

January 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Expo Line

L.A. Transit Ridership Drops 15 Percent in 5 Years Despite New Light Rail Extensions

Bus riders, comprising about three-quarters of Los Angeles Metro ridership, declined 21 percent since 2013, But it wasn't just bus routes—two light rail lines also lost riders.

January 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Gov. Jerry Brown's 16th and Final State of the State

Infrastructure, climate change, and natural disasters were among the themes of the California governor's final address to the legislature and public. Two of his accomplishments, high-speed rail and increasing the gas tax, face uncertain futures.

January 28, 2018 - The New York 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.