California
What's Wrong With the Ethanol Mandate?
A former EPA official makes the case in a New York Times op-ed that the ethanol mandate, a major issue in Monday's presidential caucus in Iowa, the nation's top corn producer, is implemented so poorly that it is not benefiting the environment.
How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint
While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.
Skyscrapers and Starchitects Coming Soon to Downtown San Francisco
Take a tour of the changes coming the to the Transbay District in San Francisco.
California's Road Usage Charge Pilot Program to Begin on July 1
The California Road Charge Pilot will be the nation's second road usage charge program. Unlike OReGO, which launched last July, it is a pilot program that will last nine months, but like the Oregon program, it is restricted to 5,000 volunteers.

Los Angeles Transit Ridership on the Decline—Are Rail Investments Working?
Bad news for transit advocates in Los Angeles this week, as the Los Angeles Time reported data that makes the region's transit investments look like something less than money well spent.
Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority Adopts Open Data Policy
It makes sense that the transit agency serving the Silicon Valley would be one of the first to adopt a formal open data policy.
Friday Funny: The Infinite New York to Los Angeles Feedback Loop
A satirical New Yorker article nails the perpetual debate between New York and Los Angeles.
Op-Ed Warns of Grave Threats to the California Coastal Act
One of the most powerful agents of environmental protection in the state of California is faced with what some believe is an existential threat.
Draft CEQA Updates Now Available for Public Comment
A big moment in the process of updating the California Environmental Equality Act.
Transportation Funding Crisis Looming in California After Revenues Fall
Heretofore, California's transportation funding woes have largely been restricted to future projects, expressed as "deferred road and bridge maintenance." That just changed—now current budgets face a $754 million cut over five years.
Building Children Out of Our Cities
It's been said that children are the indicator species of urban health and great neighborhoods. By this measure, Oakland is in trouble.

The Go LA App Offers a One-Stop Shop for Transportation Choices
A public-private partnership between Xerox and the city of Los Angeles rolls out a new mobile trip-planning app to the public today. Now it's on the city's residents to use this new power wisely.
An Appreciation of the 'Edgy Outskirts'
Long abused by those who favor more urban settings, the suburbs of major metropolitan areas should receive more credit for their cultural capital, according to this article written for Zócalo Public Square.
Political Battles Heating Up Over Affordable Housing in San Francisco
An affordable housing ballot measure opposed by affordable housing advocates: welcome to the strange housing politics of San Francisco.
The Erosion of Public Trust
The damage caused by Michigan environmental agencies charged with protecting public health extend far beyond Flint. Residents suffering health effects from a huge natural gas leak in Southern California see parallels with the lead poisoning crisis.
California's Deferred Road and Bridge Maintenance Balloons to $77 Billion
In his 2015 state of the state address, Gov. Jerry Brown announced his intention to tackle the Golden State's formidable $59 billion road and bridge deficit. A year later, that staggering figure jumped 30 percent to $77 billion.
Students Submitting Ideas for the Hyperloop
As a part of a competition sponsored by SpaceX, university students and independent engineering teams are building scale-model Hyperloop pods.
Op-Ed: Billionaire's Ballot Initiative in San Diego Trades Revitalization for Tourism
The unlikely alliance of a ballpark billionaire, tax watchdog, and environmentalists in San Diego circulate a planning ballot initiative that makes an all-too-familiar sacrifice: urban neighborhoods.
The Dutch Junction Explained
Cars and cyclists have issues at intersections. A new type of intersection design from the Netherlands offers improved protection to cyclists. The solution is based on the four islands near each corner of the intersection.

What Will the 'Third Los Angeles' Look Like?
Architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne describes an L.A. in flux, at once beholden to its postwar image and pushing in a new direction. The city, he says, faces existential questions on a scale unmatched elsewhere in the nation.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Laramie
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency