California

Carpoolers Lose Free Ride On All Bay Area Bridges

In Jan., the Bay Area Toll Authority approved a new toll schedule that charges carpoolers $2.50, half the regular toll, effective July 1 to cross the seven state owned Bay Area bridges. On May 28, the Golden Gate Dist. approved a $3 carpool rate.

June 1, 2010 - San Francisco Chronicle

The Uncomfortable Relationship Between Race and Public Transit in L.A.

As part of his series about walking across Los Angeles, writer Ryan Bradley delves into the complicated and controversial relationship between race and transit in the city.

May 31, 2010 - Good

FRA Grants Electrification Waiver For Commuter Rail Line - A First

The Federal Railroad Administration does not allow for the mixing of train types for safety reasons, which proved a key obstacle for Caltrain's plan for electrification. As a pilot project,they are allowing the line to utilize electric multiple units

May 30, 2010 - Mercury News via Palo Alto Daily News

Foreclosure Crisis - Not What It Seems?

Millions of American homeowners are underwater facing the loss of their home, causing devastating effects on the national and local economy. But when a homeowner decides to walk away from his or her home, is that a sign of crisis or a shrewd move?

May 29, 2010 - McClatchy Newspapers via Fresno Bee

Running Transit Like A Business

Southern California's Metrolink has a new CEO, and he's implementing smart cost-cutting right off the bat, like policies that get drivers to stop idling their buses.

May 29, 2010 - LAist

California Redevelopment Association Faces Fallout From Loss of $1.7 Billion

John Shirey, executive director of the California Redevelopment Association, talks about the recent court ruling that allowed California to take $2 billion in redevelopment from local municipalities, leaving hundreds of projects at risk.

May 28, 2010 - The Planning Report

Pod Cars for Silicon Valley

San Jose is considering a personal rapid transit system for the airport, throwing $4 million at a feasibility study for the "pod cars."

May 26, 2010 - The San Jose Mercury News

Are San Francisco Planners Going Too Far?

Architects in San Francisco say that the Planning Department has gotten increasingly involved in design decisions over the past two years, favoring traditional projects over contemporary designs.

May 24, 2010 - Curbed SF

Remaking Southern California Cities

A video created for the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) presents a serious look at what infill development would look like in Ventura and Fullerton.

May 24, 2010 - The Source: Transportation News and Views

Calthorpe, California and Climate Change

Peter Calthorpe sees California Assembly Bill 32, the law mandating a state-wide reduction in carbon emissions, as the key to pushing through great urbanism.

May 23, 2010 - Fast Company

How The Census Affects Cities

The Census is being collected and urban officials are waiting to see how this decade;s count will affect how federal funding is distributed. Next American City talks with the Brookings Institution's Andrew Reamer about what's at stake.

May 20, 2010 - Next American City

State Views Redevelopment Funds As Piggybank

A judge ruled that the state of California is allowed to pluck $2 billion out of local redevelopment tax increment funds. Redevelopment agencies ponder near-shutdown of new projects.

May 20, 2010 - California Planning & Development Report

'Virtual Subways' and Suggested Solutions to L.A.'s Transit Problem

Los Angeles Times columnist David Lazarus offers broad suggestions for fixing public transit in L.A.

May 20, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Delays Ahead for Orange County's Ambitious Park

Nearly five years and $200 million in, contruction has barely begun on the Great Park of Orange County, planned to be as ambitious as New York's Central Park.

May 19, 2010 - The Orange County Register

The City That Avoided Gentrification

Howard Ahmanson poses the idea that Los Angeles might be the least gentrified city in the U.S., with a history of white flight south and immigrants improving their own neighborhoods and holding on to them.

May 19, 2010 - New Geography

Mini-Homes for Homeless

A Fresno, CA architect has designed and built a number of tiny buildings made out of recycled materials as homes for the homeless, but has yet to find a site that will take them.

May 19, 2010 - The Fresno Bee

Pedophile Island

A gubernatorial candidate in California wants to take one of the Channel Islands (a national park) and make it a place to dump pedophiles, with their own separate society.

May 18, 2010 - Curbed

L.A. Has More Bike and Ped Share Than Portland

Ryan Bradley takes a walk across Los Angeles to reflect on the city's transportation history.

May 18, 2010 - GOOD Magazine

City Going Broke Maintaining Public Spaces

The City of Walnut, California says it is shelling out $300,000 a year to light streets and maintain public parks and plazas. The property tax assessment that is supposed to pay for maintainance hasn't been increased since the 1990s.

May 17, 2010 - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Building Boom In Land Of Foreclosures

It seems inconceivable - building new homes next to new, vacant homes, but with depressed prices for land and labor a new market for home-buyers who missed out on foreclosure sales has developed in states hit worst by the housing crisis.

May 17, 2010 - The New York Times - Business Day

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.