California

Fresno State

FresYes: How Fresno Fueled and Funded a Comeback

Recently termed-out Mayor Ashley Swearengin sits down for an exclusive interview about how she planned for high speed rail investments, championed sustainable water management, and took steps to rebuild the local economy.

March 30, 2017 - The Planning Report

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

San Francisco's 'Green Connections Plan' Prioritizes Wildlife

An article and video by Chicago PBS station WTTW explore San Francisco's uniquely ambitious approach to sharing the city with wildlife.

March 29, 2017 - WTTW

Point Dume

Coastal Erosion Could Devastate Southern California Beaches

Researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have produced a model of coastal erosion based on the impacts of expected sea level rise by the end of the century.

March 29, 2017 - USGS

Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders Move Enabled by Largest Ever Public Subsidy

Planetizen rounded up the pertinent news stories on the big move by the NFL's Raiders from their home in the East Bay to Sin City. The Las Vegas Raiders will be a thing by 2020 at the latest.

March 28, 2017 - The Mercury News

Scott Pruitt

California Is 'Recruiting' U.S. EPA Employees

Under the Trump Administration, federal employees dedicated to causes like climate change mitigation face uncertain prospects. They could turn to accommodating state governments.

March 28, 2017 - High Country News

Punk

Explosive Subculture: Cities and the Punk Movement

From London to Los Angeles, the punk movement was always an urban phenomenon. But punks needed to fight hard for a place in the cities they called home.

March 28, 2017 - The Guardian

Methane

California Approves Nation's Toughest Methane Emissions Rule

While Congress is attempting to roll back a federal regulation on methane emissions, the California Air Resources Board approved a landmark rule that regulates methane emissions from onshore and offshore oil and gas production and storage facilities.

March 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Metro Subway

64 New Subway Cars Arriving in Los Angeles by 2021

To replace its existing, Italian-manufactured subway rolling stock, Los Angeles County Metro is turning to China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

March 27, 2017 - The Source

Carpool Lane Sticker

Vehicle Emission Standards Showdown Looming Between California and U.S. EPA

A legal battle is looming between the nation's two most powerful environmental regulators after the California Air Resources Board on Friday defied President Trump by approving vehicle fuel efficiency standards that Trump has promised to ease.

March 27, 2017 - The New York Times

Risk Reduction

'Supervised Injection Facilities'—Successful in Canada, Coming to the U.S.

Needle exchanges are still controversial in some parts of the country, so expect "supervised injection facilities" to be even more so.

March 27, 2017 - Governing

BART

Today: BART Goes Farther South Than Ever Before

As it has promised for years, Bay Area Rapid Transit today opens the Warm Springs/South Fremont extension of the regional rail transit system. The first train departs at the station at 5:48 am, and the first train arrives at 7:04 am.

March 25, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Lyft

Can Rideshare Catch On Where It's Easy to Drive?

In medium-sized cities and suburban areas, it's simply easier to drive your own car in most cases. But shared rides might still have a chance to catch on.

March 24, 2017 - Mobility Lab

Wind Turbines

Surprising Trump Effect: Many States Seek to Ramp-Up Renewable Energy Mandates

As President Trump rolls back climate and energy regulations, many states are attempting to require utilities to get more power from renewable sources. Also, fewer states are attempting to reduce or eliminate renewable energy requirements.

March 24, 2017 - E&E News [Subscription]

Carpool Lane

California's Newest Express Lanes Opened Monday in Riverside County

Two new express lanes in each direction of the 91 Freeway in Corona dubbed the Corona Crawl opened for traffic on March 20. The lanes connect to the 91 Express Lanes in Orange County, providing 18 miles for carpoolers or those willing to pay a toll.

March 22, 2017 - ABC7 Eyewitness News

Autonomous Vehicle

Artist Creates 'Trap' For Self-Driving Cars

As an act of resistance, artist James Bridle used salt to draw a set of lines on a road that would, in theory, hold an autonomous vehicle in place.

March 22, 2017 - Vice Creators

Palm Springs

Billboards Covered With Photos of the Beautiful Vistas They're Blocking

Jennifer Bolande has created a series of billboards that perfectly line up with the mountain views they block on a highway in Palm Springs, California.

March 22, 2017 - Twisted Sifter

Only a Year Old, Bay Area's Newest Express Lanes Rated a Success

A report produced by the county authority that built and operates the I-580 Express Lanes in the Bay Area declares them a success. Operating speeds are faster and congestion is reduced. About 11 percent of the freeway traffic uses the toll lanes.

March 21, 2017 - SF Gate

Homelessness

Homelessness Declining in Santa Barbara

In contrast to other California cities, seaside Santa Barbara is successfully reducing its homeless population. Local advocates cite a tight-knit network of service providers.

March 21, 2017 - Pacific Standard

Salton Sea

California's Plan to Save the Salton Sea

The Salton Sea is drying up, and California is poised to spend $383 million to keep that from happening. At stake are Colorado River water negotiations between California, Arizona, and Nevada.

March 20, 2017 - The Desert Sun

Airbnb

Airbnb Boosts Outreach to Landlords

What drivers are to rideshare companies, landlords are to Airbnb. In response to complaints, the company is upping outreach to its hosts.

March 18, 2017 - The Mercury News

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.