California

Documenting The Mother Road

The California Preservation Foundation and the National Park Service are funding a cultural survey of Route 66, which could result in several new national landmarks along the old highway.

December 24, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

CalTrans Sued Over Disability Access, Settles for $1.1b in Fixes

Civil rights activists sued CalTrans for failing to provide wheelchair ramps across the state. In federal court yesterday, CalTrans settled with the groups, agreeing to over a billion dollars in access improvements over 30 years.

December 23, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

Spend More, Get Less

Is San Francisco the worst-run big city in the country? The SF Weekly argues that despite spending more per capita than any other city, SF fails to deliver on almost everything.

December 22, 2009 - SF Weekly

Parking Requirements Over-Projected

Prof. Robert Cervero at UC Berkeley studied parking needs at transit-oriented developments in the Bay Area and Portland and found that, on average, they exceeded peak demand by 25-30%.

December 21, 2009 - Reconnecting America

L.A.'s Biggest Development Blunders

Los Angeles Downtown News picks the 10 Biggest Problem Projects of the Decade, including the still empty Hall of Justice and the languishing Angel's Flight.

December 21, 2009 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Worst-Case Tsunami Scenario Mapped

The event of a huge earthquake off the Aleutian Islands could send a devastating tsunami towards the West coast of the U.S. Researchers have released maps of what a worst-case scenario might look like for coastal communities.

December 20, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Claims Treasure Island

The City of San Francisco has secured a deal with the U.S. Navy to purchase Treasure Island, a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. The city has broad plans to redevelop the site.

December 19, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

So Cal's Infrastructure A Mess, Says New Report

A new report from The Road Information Program, a D.C.-area nonprofit, documents the growing number of highway, bridge and transit systems in need of repair in Southern California and lacking the necessary funding.

December 18, 2009 - Daily News Los Angeles

Will Carpools Be Tolled in San Francisco?

The Bay Area Toll Authority is recommending carpools on the Bay Bridge be tolled, along with several other changes like different rates for off-peak hours and a steep increase on truck tolls.

December 16, 2009 - TOLLROADSnews

Watching Water Loss Via Satellite

NASA satellites have tracked the loss of water in California's Central Valley over the past few years, and finds that drought coupled with over-irrigation are stressing the state's supplies.

December 16, 2009 - BBC

Land Use and Medical Marijuana

Like many cities in California, San Diego is struggling to form a policy around the booming medical marijuana dispensaries that have popped up around the city. The first place they're starting is with land use restrictions.

December 14, 2009 - KPBS

People Mover to Link BART and Airport

Oakland International Airport will link directly with a nearby BART station through a driver-less people mover, according to a decision made recently by BART directors.

December 11, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Is Marketing the Key to Transit Success?

Los Angeles County's transit agency has increased its marketing efforts in recent years. This piece from The City Fix suggests the push has been an effective tool and that other transit agencies should take note.

December 11, 2009 - The City Fix

New Retail Space Faces Challenges in San Francisco

A developer who hopes to put a new shopping center on a stretch of Market Street will face challenges from local groups who take issue with the accompanying parking structure and modern design.

December 8, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

New CEQA Guidelines for Greenhouse Gases

The Bay Area's air pollution regulatory agency may approve in January the nation's first guidelines to limit greenhouse gas emissions for new developments, but it would be up to local governments to enforce them.

December 7, 2009 - Contra Costa Times

Two Options for L.A. High Speed Rail Station

High speed rail is slowly transitioning from idea to reality in California, and one of its major stops will be in Los Angeles. But exactly where in Los Angeles remains an unanswered question.

December 5, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

Major Setback for CA High Speed Rail

At its Dec. 3 meeting, the CA HSR Authority board members unanimously voted to 'decertify' the program EIR to comply with a judge's order in a suit brought by Peninsula cities and rail and environmental nonprofits over the corridor to the Bay Area.

December 5, 2009 - San Jose Mercury News

Cycling and Road Rage in Los Angeles

This report from NPR's All Things Considered examines some of the dangers of cycling in Los Angeles, with special attention given to the case of the doctor who nearly killed two cyclists.

December 4, 2009 - All Things Considered

Can Homeowners "Save the Dream"?

Andy Kroll wanders through the rubble of California's subprime crisis and finds homeowners waiting 10-12 hours in lines for mortgage relief, plummeting property values, and what may be the seeds of more foreclosures to come.

December 2, 2009 - TomDispatch

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.