California

California Invented 'Botts' Dots' Raised Pavement Markers—Now it's Phasing Them Out
A staple of the California driving experience will soon be a thing of the past.

California Delta Tunnels Don't Stand Up to Federal Analysis
Federal agencies think the proposed Bay Delta tunnels are still too dangerous for endangered species.

Steep Climb to Raising Louisiana's Gas Tax
A bill to hike Louisiana's gas tax by 17 cents per gallon has advanced, but the state has a "California problem": Tax increases must pass by a two-thirds majority.

Partnerships Drove Napa Flood Control Project
The Napa River's Oxbow bypass doubles as public park space and an outlet when the river floods. The project brought together local environmentalists and the business community.

San Diego Mayor: Recycled Wastewater Program Will Be a Model
Mayor Kevin Faulconer sees San Diego's Pure Water Program as proof of concept for other cities with uncertain water supplies. By 2035, the initiative aims to derive one-third of the city's supply from recycled wastewater.

A Scathing Critique of Elon Musk's Big Tunneling Idea
Not all ideas are worth attention. What does the fact that ideas like Elon Musk's The Boring Company get so much attention say about the quality of civic discourse, or the potential for planning to improve the built environment?
A First Look at Apple's New Corporate Headquarters
Apple employees began moving into the company's new headquarters in Cupertino, California in April. The moving process culminates a development process that launched in 2008 under the helm of Steve Jobs.

A Change of Heart by Secretary Chao on California's Oldest Commuter Rail Line
A week ago, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao indicated she would not sign-off on the $647 million federal grant for the $2 billion Caltrain electrification project. On Monday, she changed her mind.

Northeast is Next Market for Fuel Cell Vehicles
The only state where fuel cell electric vehicles can be leased is California where 30 hydrogen refueling stations exist now, with 100 planned to be in operation by 2020. Almost no public refueling stations exist elsewhere, but that's about to change.

YIMBYs Attacked from the (Far) Left
Pro-housing activists in San Francisco are blamed for displacement of vulnerable communities because they support luxury housing developments. A report from the independent progressive website, Truthout, ties YIMBYs to the "alt-right."

L.A. Metro Announces Big Bus System Redo
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) announced plans last week to undertake a review of the agency's massive bus system. The redesign will hope to address declining ridership.

Sunday Fun: Visualizing the Vibrations of Five Miles of Fiber Optic Cable
This new visualization helps us see the unseen: the underground fiber optic cables that lie beneath campus at Stanford University in California.

California's Inland Empire Ready to Build Again
As an article in Builder puts it: the 'Inland Empire Strike Back' with a large new masterplanned community in Riverside County. This region, hit particularly hard by the housing crash of the Great Recession looks ready pick up where it left off.

A Call for Prevailing Wages as a Housing Solution
An op-ed written by city officials from two South Bay Area cities argues that reform of land use regulations won't be enough to solve California's housing crisis.
Oregon Voters Support LNG Export Facility
A proposed $7.5 billion facility to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Oregon's south coast received a resounding vote of support on Tuesday from Coos County voters who rejected a ballot measure that would have banned its construction.

Creating Dunes to Preserve the Santa Monica Beach Against Rising Seas
The Bay Foundation have built a two acre enclave, "re-wilding" the area with native plants mimicking what it may have looked like before human interference.

Inadequate Diesel Vehicle Testing Results in 38,000 Global Fatalities Annually
While the study stems from research that found Volkswagen diesel cars had used 'defeat devices' to pass emissions tests, the new study points to inadequacies in the tests themselves, resulting in 50 percent higher pollution than testing permits.

The Rise of Corporate Murals in LA
Downtown Los Angeles, styled DTLA by its new enthusiasts, has long been a site for street art and murals of dubious legality. Now, developers are paying artists to paint them.
California Cap-and-Trade Overhaul and Extension Emphasizes Dividend and Equity
While California cap-and-trade survived a legal challenge last month, a haze still surrounds the program. Carbon permit sales are low, and the program's longevity is threatened after 2020. A new bill was introduced to transform the program.

Inside Downtown Los Angeles' Subway Tunneling Project
It's not the only subway under construction in Los Angeles, or event the most famous (it doesn't have the PR ring of the "Subway to the Sea"), but the Regional Connector will provide a critical link through the heart of the city's downtown.
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