California

Air Quality and Environmental Justice Lead to Push for Zero-Emission Locomotives

The California Air Resources Board has petitioned the U.S. EPA to adopt more stringent emissions standards for locomotives in order to improve air quality at rail yards, many of which are located adjacent to disadvantaged communities.

April 23, 2017 - RailwayAge

Wildfire

Coming to Grips With the Future of Wildfires

As wildfires become bigger, more frequent, and more expensive to fight, new methods for preventing the worst impacts of fire will be necessary, according to a new study.

April 22, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Metro Bikeshare

After a Wet Winter, Bikeshare Ridership Lags in Los Angeles

Bikeshare is still fairly new in Los Angeles, located mostly around downtown before expanding to the rest of the city. So far, however, residents have been slow to adopt the system.

April 21, 2017 - KPCC

Freeway Construction

PIRG Releases Third Highway Boondoggles Report

A new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and the Frontier Group indicates that highway boondoggles have been getting bigger, more costly, with the benefits more limited. Nine projects are analyzed in "Highway Boondoggles 3."

April 20, 2017 - Illinois PIRG

Golden Gate

A Public School Teacher on Trying to Raise a Family in San Francisco

Trevor McNeil and his wife make a little too much for their family of five to be eligible for low income subsidies. If one of them were to quit their job, they fear they wouldn't be able to afford the lifestyle they want to live.

April 20, 2017 - The Bay City Beacon

Los Angeles

Which Is the Most Sprawling City in the World?

Most people would probably guess that the world's most sprawling city is located in the United States, and according to most measures, they'd be right.

April 20, 2017 - The Guardian

Moving Van

Ten Most Popular Millennial Moving Destinations

In addition to determining the most popular destinations for 18 to 35-year-olds, Mayflower (the moving company) found that 41 percent of this age group have no intention of staying at their selected cities permanently.

April 19, 2017 - Mayflower

Los Angeles

Lawsuit Closes Popular Hiking Trail to the Hollywood Sign

Closing today: one of the most popular hiking trails in the Hollywood Hills, another case of the antipathy between public access and private property.

April 18, 2017 - KPCC

110 South

Opinion: Don't Forget the Benefits of Urban Freeways

After reading this recent opinion piece by Bill Fulton, some pro-transit and anti-highway advocates might be thinking, "Et tu, Bill Fulton?"

April 18, 2017 - Governing

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Plan Bay Area 2040 Sets Ambitious Housing and Transportation Agenda

The last time the San Francisco Bay Area got together to set a regional agenda on housing and transportation, the Sierra Club and the Tea Party teamed up to oppose the Plan Bay Area. A draft of the new Plan Bay Area 2040 hopes to avoid the drama.

April 17, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

BART Station

BART Extension Kerfluffle: East Bay Officials Pushing for New Rail Authority

If the city of Livermore and several state legislators gets their way, a proposed extension of BART to the city of Livermore would be planned and built by the Tri Valley-San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority.

April 17, 2017 - East Bay Times

Lafayette BART

Passage of 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike Allows BART to Reduce Service Cuts

The gas tax bill couldn't pass soon enough for the Bay Area's metro system. Service cuts and fare increases, scheduled for approval April 13, were greatly reduced due to an unexpected $16 million BART will receive, and the bill has yet to be signed!

April 17, 2017 - SF Gate

Solar Power

California's Solar Power is Going to Waste

Blessed with an abundance of sun, California is trying to figure out how to deal with a glut of solar energy.

April 15, 2017 - Daily Breeze

Sign at Silver Lake's Sunset Junction

Exposé: Development Obstruction in Los Angeles

Homeowners groups use their influence to extract payments and concessions in Los Angeles.

April 15, 2017 - LA Weekly

Honda Clarity

More Fuel Cell Vehicles for Lease in 2017

Fuel cell electric vehicles are gaining a following in California, but nowhere else in the U.S. for the simple reason that almost all hydrogen fueling stations are located in the Golden State. Sales, or leases, are expected to jump this year.

April 14, 2017 - The Associated Press

California Wildflowers

Friday Eye Candy: See California's 'Super Bloom' Via Satellite

What a difference a wet winter makes.

April 14, 2017 - KQED

Lawn Sign Liberalism

Seeing "No Matter Where You're From" signs in liberal-leaning towns makes me both smile and cringe. Why? Because I know the tolerant message belies the real feelings many have towards neighbors, not from other countries, but "other" neighborhoods.

April 13, 2017 - Shelterforce/Rooflines

Uptown San Diego

San Diego Controversy Exhibits Disconnect Between Citizen Advisors and Planning Staff

A community plan update and a development proposal have led to hurt feelings and flared tempers in San Diego.

April 12, 2017 - San Diego Uptown News

California agriculture

California Fixed Gov. Schwarzenegger's Vehicle License Fee Revenue Gap

An old wound is mitigated thanks to two Democratic legislators from Riverside County who made it clear from the onset what it would take for them to sign-on to the Road Repair and Accountability Act, California's historic fuel tax and fee increase.

April 12, 2017 - The Press-Enterprise

Movie Review: L.A. Urbanism via Jonathan Gold’s Culinary Mapping

A new documentary film about L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold turns out to be an excellent film for urban planners through the culinary mapping of Los Angeles. L.A. County parks planner, Clement Lau, reviews the movie.

April 12, 2017 - UrbDeZine

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.