California

Black and white 25 mph speed limit sign.

San Diego to Lower Speed Limits on 11 Streets

A 2022 state law allows cities to reduce speed limits for safety reasons rather than relying on average traffic speeds to dictate speed limits.

August 3, 2025 - CBS 8 San Diego

Park pond at sunset with Los Angeles skyline in background.

Delivering on the Promise of Parks

In LA County, even amid budget challenges, new parks are opening, targeted investments are being made in underserved communities, and long-term plans are guiding progress — demonstrating a sustained commitment to parks as essential infrastructure.

August 3, 2025 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Power plant with palm trees in foreground in California.

Even in California, Energy Affordability Trumps the Environment

A Democratic senator proposes to relax vehicle emissions standards in order to increase the supply of gasoline as the state's oil refinery capacity decreases, thus mitigating increases in gasoline prices in the state with the highest fuel prices.

August 1, 2025 - CBS Sacramento

View of residential street in Los Angeles with palm trees and hazy city in distance.

LA is Home to a Growing Native Hawaiian Diaspora

Los Angeles has become a cultural stronghold for Native Hawaiians on the mainland, offering a sense of community, continuity, and connection for those living far from the Islands.

July 31, 2025 - SFGate

Solar panels installed on wrought iron balcony in Germany.

Bay Area Embraces ‘Balcony Solar’

Popular in Germany, wall- or balcony-mounted solar panels come at a lower cost and face fewer regulatory hurdles than rooftop solar, but their legal status in California is murky.

July 30, 2025 - KQED

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Vision for the Future: LA County Releases Draft Sustainability Plan

Los Angeles County has released the draft 2025 OurCounty Sustainability Plan — shaped by community input — and is inviting public feedback through August 22 to help guide the County’s path toward a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future.

July 29, 2025 - Los Angeles County Chief Sustainability Office

Aerial view of San Fernando, California.

Honoring Elders: California Tribe Breaks Ground on Affordable Housing

The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians is launching its first senior housing project in Los Angeles County, creating 26 affordable units to serve Native elders and address longstanding housing inequities.

July 29, 2025 - Tribal Business News

View of dense San Diego neighborhood with multi-family buildings.

Which San Diego County Cities Are Building New Housing?

Chula Vista permitted the most new housing units per capita, while El Cajon is adding the least.

July 29, 2025 - Voice of San Diego

Highway 101 winding through redwood trees with road sign for Eureka, CA partially visible in top right.

Caltrans Plans $2 Billion Tunnel to Save Crumbling Coastal Highway

A roadway connecting Eureka and Crescent City is a lifeline for local residents, but its future is uncertain as rock slides force repeated closures.

July 29, 2025 - San Francisco Chronicle

Close-up of hand inserting Mobility Wallet card into green Los Angeles Metro ticketing machine.

LA’s ‘Mobility Wallet’ Helps Bridge Transportation Gaps

The city gave 1,000 residents a $150 monthly transportation stipend that covered transit, bike share, ride hailing, and car rentals.

July 28, 2025 - UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies

Historic Victorian homes in Huntington Beach, California with tall palm trees on a sunny day.

One Fifth of California Homes Owned by Investors

The state mirrors a national trend of investors buying up housing to rent.

July 28, 2025 - OC Register

Dark blue Tesla sedan driving on freeway with green signs for San Francisco.

Tesla Announced Human-Assisted Robotaxi Launch in San Francisco — But State Regulators Say Otherwise

The electric carmaker appears to be both-sides-ing its impending launch, telling regulators it will have human drivers on board while touting the project as ‘robotaxis’ to investors.

July 27, 2025 - Wired

Electric 18-wheeler truck plugged into electric charger.

California Set to Increase Electric Truck Chargers by 25%

The California Transportation Commission approved funding for an additional 500 charging ports for electric trucks along some of the state’s busiest freight corridors.

July 25, 2025 - Natural Resources Defense Council

Inside of empty Los Angeles Metro train.

Metro Data: LA Transit Ridership Fell Due to Immigration Raids

Metro ridership data reveal how the ICE raids sweeping Los Angeles are disrupting daily life and impacting how people move around the city.

July 24, 2025 - Streetsblog LA

Chalkboard at Stoneview Nature Center park in Culver City, California.

Nature Starts Here: The Essential Role of Nature Centers and Outdoor Programs

Nature centers and outdoor programs serve as vital gateways to environmental education, equity, and stewardship — bringing people closer to nature and inspiring the next generation to care for the planet.

July 23, 2025 - PRB+ Magazine

Person on small black e-bike riding on street in front of Wells Fargo Center building in Los Angeles.

Opinion: California Clean Transportation Efforts Not Addressing Needs of Low-Income Residents

The state’s rebate programs for e-bikes and other light electric vehicles are too underfunded to reach many of the Californians who need them most.

July 23, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Downtown Los Angeles viewed from Echo Park with lake with artesian fountain in foreground.

A Historic Investment in LA County’s Parks and Open Spaces

Los Angeles County has launched its largest-ever competitive grant program, investing $58 million to expand park access, enhance climate resilience, and support community-driven projects in the areas that need them most.

July 22, 2025 - Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District

Dense high- and mid-rise buildings in San Diego, California on a sunny day.

San Diego Wins $14M for Affordable Housing

The funding comes via the state’s Regional Early Action Planning program and will help create close to 1,000 new housing units.

July 22, 2025 - Fox 5 San Diego

Sunset view of tall palm trees and shorter trees lining empty street with Los Angeles skyline and crescent moon in background.

Planting for Change: How Trees Are Powering Climate Action

"Combating Climate Change with Trees" highlights how Southern California communities are strategically planting and nurturing urban forests to cool neighborhoods, improve air quality, and advance environmental justice.

July 21, 2025 - PBS

Wildfire recovery area with small trees growing in burn areas in Angeles National Forest in California.

California Advances Its 30x30 Conservation Goals

California is making significant progress toward its 30x30 conservation goals, but looming federal rollbacks and gaps in biodiversity protections could threaten the state’s efforts to protect lands and coastal waters by 2030.

July 21, 2025 - Los Angeles Times

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.