California
Friday Funny: Los Angeles' Newest Celebrity—Rain
A pair of large winter storms hit California this week, providing a sorely needed, if incremental, reprieve from an ongoing and historic drought. A new twitter account, @LosAngelesRain has personified that rarest of commodities, rain in Los Angeles.
Ambitious Open Space Proposal for Silicon Valley
The board of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, based in Los Altos, CA, is considering a $300 million bond measure for the June ballot that would expand access to 62,167 acres of open space.
Why 'Google Buses' Are Bad for Cities
Tech buses deployed by companies like Google and Apple bring the benefit of more collective transportation. But there's an underlying dark side to these services that must be discussed.
California High Speed Rail Authority Gets Funding Break
The break really isn't that large—only an extra three month before the state must start paying for costs on July 1 (as opposed to April 1) to match federal funding, according to a new state funding contribution plan.
Los Angeles Reinvests in 'Family Solution' to Homelessness
Los Angeles County has allocated an additional $10.2 million to expand the Family Solutions Centers program, which supports some of the estimated 7,391 homeless families living in the county.
Successor Bill to California's Landmark Climate Change Legislation Introduced
AB 32, California's landmark climate change legislation, expires in 2020. Senator Fran Pavley (D-Calabasas), co-author of AB 32 in 2006, has teamed-up with Senator Ricardo Laro (D-Long Beach) to write a bill to continue emission reductions to 2030.
California Bill Proposes Carbon Tax to Replace Cap-and-Trade
Decisions, Decisions. What's the best way to add transportation fuels to California's cap-and-trade program? Charge a carbon tax at the pump, as Senate leader Steinberg proposes, or charge refineries in the same manner as applied to other industries?
Regional Connector Transit Project in High Gear for Los Angeles
The Regional Connector, a light rail improvement project in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, is one of the closest watched transit projects in the country. The federal government recently allocated a $670 million grant for the project.
California's Crude by Rail Preparations Trigger Demonstrations
The Bay Area port city of Pittsburg is considering an application to rebuild and upgrade an existing oil terminal that would receive the explosive crude-by-rail from North Dakota, and residents are making their opposition heard.
San Diego Satellite Town Asks: Smart Growth or Trojan Horse?
San Diego County's "most walkable city" is being challenged to identify the real smart growth: what it has or what is being proposed. At issue: a plan amendment for a high density project near transit. But is the project real?
Comments Close for CEQA’s Level Of Service Revisions—What Now?
California’s retooling of Level of Service (LOS) analysis is one of the most closely watched regulatory changes in the country. With public comments on the issue closing on Feb. 18, how are planners reacting to the potential changes?
Los Angles Launching First Bicycle Friendly Business District
Coming soon to Northeast Los Angeles: a "Bicycle Friendly Business District." The Northeast Los Angeles pilot project is expected to clear the way for a citywide program in 2015-16.
San Francisco's Running Out of Room for Cars
In terms of land area, San Francisco’s a small city. Yet if current policies persist, the city will build 92,000 parking spots for residents by 2040, on just 49 square miles of land.
Yosemite Plan Rescinds Proposed Ban on Bike, Raft Rentals
Yosemite National Park officials released a revised draft of the Merced River Plan. An earlier of the controversial plan would have restricted recreation and removed swimming pools from the national park's famed hotels.
CA High Speed Rail Chugs Along—New Business Plan Released
Despite numerous legal and legislative setbacks in the last few months, the California High Speed Rail Authority has released a new business plan—the first update of the controversial plan since 2012.
Obama Picks Up the Resilience Buzz with $1 Billion Fund Proposal
President Obama is in California today to pitch a $1 billion “resilience fund” to help communities dealing with the weather impacts of climate change—including the state’s current drought.
College Campuses as Multi-Modal Models for Cities
A new report argues that city governments have some of the same incentives for de-emphasizing single-occupant commuters as colleges—such as attracting younger workers and freeing up land used for parking.
Upwardly Mobile Latinos and 'Gente-fication'
Around the country, highly educated, upwardly mobile Latinos are choosing urban settings in traditionally Latino neighborhoods over the suburbs. The effects of "gente-fication" ("gente" is Spanish for "people") are distinct from gentrification.
Will Skyrocketing Rents Evict the Arts and Non-Profits in S.F.?
It's not just residents who are suffering the country's highest rents. Non profits are suffering too. However, some are displaying adaptability and creativity in dealing with high rents, notes consultant David Prowler.
Google's Next Futuristic Setting: A Giant NASA Hangar in Mountain View
Google buses, Google ferries, and now, a Google hangar.
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.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association
