California
Four Cities to Explore the Frontiers of Infrastructure Finance
City Accelerator selected four cities to test new options for financing the infrastructure investments of the 21st century and beyond.
It's Raining Data in California's Water Agencies
Open data could be a powerful tool for understanding and managing drought conditions in California, and the state is preparing to release an initial 20 datasets with plans for more.
BART Resumes Partial Service on East Bay Line, but Problem Not Fixed
Partial service was restored Monday between two East Bay stations on a BART line after being discontinued last Wednesday due to a mysterious power surge that rendered nine percent of BART's operating fleet out of service.
EPA Rejects Southern California Plan to Reduce Fine Particulate Pollution
The South Coast Air Quality Management District is in the news again, this time for going too easy on the region's big polluters—just what staff had warned would happen before the board fired its well-respected executive director.
The Little Park That Could: The New Park on Southern California's Gold Line
A new train themed park at a Metro Gold Line station in Monrovia is reviewed by park planner Clement Lau.
How Gaming Can Revolutionize Planning
The new game Block’Hood seeks to illustrate and educate about the connection between sustainability and social and economic needs in city and neighborhood building.
Activist and Urbanist Collaborate for San Diego's North Park
San Diego's diverse urban North Park Community, once a victim of suburban flight, is now dealing with urban remigration. Urban planner Howard Blackson and community activist Don Leichtling collaborate on community plan update recommendations.

Infographic: Incomes Along Los Angeles Metro Lines
As Los Angeles weighs the merits of more major funding for Metro Rail projects, the current slate of new routes is already coming online. This graphic depicts median household incomes along existing and future rail lines.

California's High-Speed Train to Nowhere?
Don't tell that to the 18,000 residents of Shafter. However, the Legislative Analyst's Office made clear in its March 17 report that it questioned having the southern end of the first operating segment located "in an unpopulated agricultural area."

What Is Placemaking, Really?
It's a term that gets bandied about by the "creative class" to describe an endless array of projects, from whimsical pop-up art to new uses for century-old buildings. But what does placemaking really mean?
Technology Companies Selected for California Road Charge Pilot
California's Road Charge Pilot Program is set to start this July. Applications for the 5,000 volunteers are being collected. Three companies hope to entice participants to select their programs by offering them 'high-tech perks.'
Southern California Association of Governments Stalling on CEQA Reform
One of the largest, most influential regional governments in the state has asked for exemptions from changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that will measure Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) instead of Level of Service (LOS).
How Oakland Is Tackling Its Housing Crisis
Just across the Bay Bridge from one of the most famous examples of a broken housing market, Oakland is working to keep up with the effects of housing demand.
Metro Service Resumes After Electrical Problems Detected and Repaired
The nation's second busiest subway system reopened as planned on Thursday at 5 a.m. after being shut down for safety reasons on Wednesday after fixing several electrical problems found in 26 areas during the inspection. Electrical problems hit BART.
Los Angeles Voters Won't Decide on Anti-Development Measure in November
Saying that their controversial "Neighborhood Integrity Initiative" would be 'buried' in a November ballot, the Coalition to Preserve L.A. will revise it and gather signatures to put it on the March ballot next year.

Op-Ed: Overcoming a New NIMBYism
Rick Jacobus argues that those who block new development on social justice grounds aren't fighting to win long-term. Building is necessary, but with it should come robust affordable housing mandates.
$120 Billion Transportation Bond May Be Headed to Los Angeles County Voters
The transit and road measure, based on extending and increasing half-cent sales taxes, would fund a massive amount of light rail, bus, and road measures, including building a Sepulveda Pass tunnel which would accommodate a toll road and rail line.
Op-Ed: Politicians Should Leave the Transit Routes to Planners
While it will certainly comes as a relief to some commuters living in the San Gabriel Valley, the Metro Gold Line extension that opened earlier this month was more the result of politics than planning.
BART to the Silicon Valley: Phase 1 Well Underway, Phase 2 Now on the Way
What seemed for decades like an impossible dream is becoming more and more of a reality: BART service to San Jose and the Silicon Valley.
More Anti-Density Measures Headed to the Ballot in Southern California
Witness the full force of anti-development animus in Southern California, where at least three cities are facing variety of backlash to the status quo of zoning and development processes.
Pagination
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.
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie