California

PCH Santa Monica

Op-Ed: Slow Growth Fails the Paris Accords Too

Many local leaders spoke strongly against President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, but local land use and transportation policies still sorely lack any consideration of climate impact.

June 5, 2017 - Santa Monica Next

Proterra Electric Bus

Transit Agencies Move Toward Electric Buses

Transit agencies from Washington to Florida are beginning to make the switch from diesel and natural gas-powered buses to battery electric buses, some faster than others.

June 5, 2017 - Sierra Club Compass

Rose Bowl

Bikeshare Coming to Pasadena

L.A. County's transit agency runs a bikeshare program that so far has only been implemented in Downtown Los Angeles. The suburban city of Pasadena, however, will soon be a transit-oriented addition to the system.

June 4, 2017 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Los Angeles Downtown River

Climate Change Will Be Worse for Big Cities

Blame it on the urban heat island effect.

June 4, 2017 - KPCC

Skid Row

Homeless Numbers Continue to Rise in and Around Los Angeles

Rents continue to rise in Los Angeles and more people are living in their cars.

June 3, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

OCTA Bus

Calls to Cut Service for Orange County Buses

Orange County is dealing with falling transit use, and its transit authority is looking for ways to stay afloat.

June 3, 2017 - Voice of Orange County

Caltrain

Funds Flow to Caltrain Electrification Project

Nothing comes easy for high-speed rail, or anything connected to it, as the agency that runs Caltrain learned in February. But now that a $647 million federal grant has been approved, $713 million in state bond funds will be directed to the project.

June 2, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

Brooklyn Bridge

Learning from New York

"Manhattanization," a pejorative term coined in San Francisco half a century ago by opponents of tall buildings, needs to be rethought, writes San Francisco Chronicle's Native Son columnist, Carl Nolte, upon return from a weekend trip to New York.

June 1, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Seattle

Seattle and Silicon Valley: Joined at the Hip?

Tech thrives on connection, and America's west coast tech hubs are more connected than ever before. But Seattleites aren't in a rush to abandon their city's distinctiveness.

May 31, 2017 - The Economist

Los Angeles Metro

Successful Ballot Measures Spell Doom for Transit Funding in Trump's 2018 Budget

President Trump points to the passage of multi-billion ballot measures last November as proof that federal funding isn't needed to fund transit, justifying elimination of a major grants program. The CEOs of two large transit agencies fight back.

May 30, 2017 - The Source

Parking Sign

Downtowns Still Need Parking

Downtown businesses still need a diverse supply of high-turnover parking spaces, argues former downtown San Diego shopkeep, planning activist, and parking guru, Bill Keller.

May 30, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Capitol Hill

Funds Directed to Transit Projects in 2017 Budget May Not Be Allocated

Funding for Caltrain electrification, which Transportation Secretary Chao approved May 22, is one of 21 transit projects receiving funding in the omnibus spending bill that may be contingent on approval from the Trump Administration.

May 30, 2017 - The Washington Post

Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade

Santa Monica Proposing Balanced Approach With Downtown Plan

After residents soundly defeated the anti-growth Measure LV in November, city officials are still trying to propose a plan that addresses the traffic and livability concerns that led to the initiative being placed on the ballot.

May 29, 2017 - The Planning Report

San Francisco Construction

Taller, Denser, but More Affordable Housing Coming to San Francisco

Following a similar ordinance signed into law by Mayor Ed Lee last July that dealt with developments that are 100 percent affordable, the new housing density ordinance apples to market-rate developments that have 30 percent affordability.

May 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

UC San Diego

Why Great Cities Need Great Universities

Universities do more than teach classes; they can help transform economies and elevate cities to greatness. UC San Diego is banking on it.

May 27, 2017 - The Planning Report

Fracking Opponents Charge Gov. Jerry Brown with Environmental Hypocrisy

The California governor, known for his outspoken climate advocacy, signed the nation's toughest fracking regulation bill in 2013. His response to those who want to ban fracking is that priority must be on reducing oil consumption.

May 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Berlin Subway

U2 Concert Costs Transit Agency $61K

The Bay Area agency had to extend service into the night hours when the show ran overtime.

May 26, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

How to Improve an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance

Pasadena is revising its zoning regulations to accommodate more accessory dwelling units. This open letter to the city's Planning Commission includes sound suggestions, applicable everywhere.

May 26, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Interstate Highway

L.A. Metro Board Removes Support for Controversial 710 Freeway Tunnel Plan

The saga of the 710 Freeway will continue, as it has for decades. Now, however, a proposal to build a 6.3-mile tunnel from El Sereno to Pasadena, has lost key support from the regional transportation agency.

May 26, 2017 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Utility-Scale Solar

A 'Brand New, Improved' Cap-and-Trade System for California

A California state senator has proposed to overhaul California’s cap-and-trade system explains the changes he wants to see.

May 26, 2017 - The Planning 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.