California

Public Buildings with a Side of Art

Included in the budget of any new county building in Los Angeles County is a 1% line item for the creation of public art -- part of a public art program initiated in 2004. The first building to utilize this line item has just been completed.

March 13, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Slow Transit? Put it Underground

This piece from the San Francisco Chronicle argues that the best way to improve the city's sluggish public transit system is to put it underground.

March 12, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Grim Forecast For Transportation Progress In Bay Area

Bay Area political columnist Dan Borenstein examines long-term transportation data and concludes that driving will only increase unless politicians make driving more expensive and transit cheaper, a solution he regards as unlikely at best.

March 12, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

Commuter Rail Rolls in San Diego

After three decades of planning, a new commuter rail line has opened in the San Diego area.

March 11, 2008 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Wilshire Grows and Traffic Follows

A swath of residential developments are ushering in a more dense and more lively atmosphere into L.A.'s Wilshire corridor. But many are concerned that the new residences will add too much traffic to an already congested area.

March 11, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Developed Agricultural Land May Become 'The Next L.A.'

Farmland in Central California's San Joaquin County is replaced with development more than any other county in the state -- a wasteful pattern that could create the "next L.A.", according to a new report.

March 11, 2008 - The Stockton Record

Similar Sister Cities

A look at the similarities between Los Angeles and Mexico City.

March 11, 2008 - LA Weekly

L.A. Looks To Move Beyond Coal With Wind

The Southern California region is rich in renewable assets, so the LADWP is attempting to become the nationwide leader in developing and integrating wind power.

March 10, 2008 - VerdeXchange News

Sacramento Outsmarts San Francisco, L.A.

Residents of San Francisco and Los Angeles like to feel superior to supposedly unsophisticated Sacramento. Yet, Sacramento appears to be ahead of the hip coastal areas when it comes to actually implementing smart growth.

March 10, 2008 - California Planning & Development Repot

Guarding the Hollywood Sign

This report from NPR looks at the impending sale of land on the hillside above the infamous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, and the local official who's trying to prevent it.

March 10, 2008 - NPR

L.A. Erasing Murals

Murals are under fire in Los Angeles, as city officials are painting over what they see as "illegal signs".

March 8, 2008 - Which Way, L.A.?

Affordable Housing May Be Required in San Francisco Redevelopment

A measure to require half of all new housing units in San Francisco's planned redevelopment of Bayview-Hunters Point is heading to the city's June ballot. The developer says the measure will kill the project.

March 8, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Historic Preservation Through Virtual Reality

By utilizing virtual reality software, students at UC Berkeley are recreating a historic stretch of Oakland, California's 7th Street, a historic hotbed of jazz and blues clubs during the 1940s and '50s.

March 7, 2008 - UC Berkeley

Evictions Precede Market-Rate Conversion of Affordable Housing

Plans to convert one of San Francisco's public housing projects into market rate housing has resulted in dozens of evictions, and more are expected.

March 7, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Bay Area Reluctantly Warms Up to On-Ramp Metering

With increasing congestion and freeways built out just about as far as they can go, transportation planners in the San Francisco Bay Area are considering plans to put on-ramp metering lights on many of the area's most congested stretches of freeway.

March 6, 2008 - The Contra Costa Times

If You Prevent It, They Won't Do It

The Golden Gate Bridge has a four foot railing along its pedestrian sidewalk. Mental health advocates have long demanded that a barrier be placed to prevent those intent on suicide from jumping, and point to studies showing why it is needed.

March 5, 2008 - The Washington Post

Small Town Approaching its Final Days

A proposed development in rural Southern California could erase one of the area's few remaining small towns, replacing it with a massive subdivision that would extend the sprawl of Los Angeles even farther north.

March 5, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

A Brief History of Planning in San Diego

As the city of San Diego prepares to consider a new general plan, the San Diego Union-Tribune looks back at the last 100 years in city planning.

March 4, 2008 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Long Beach Mayor Discusses Incentives for Renewable Energy

At a recent conference in Southern California, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster argues for the federal government to stay out of the way of good work and to sponsor an "Apollo Project" for renewable energy.

March 4, 2008 - VerdeXchange News

Fuel Cell Buses: A Tale Of Two Transit Agencies

In the San Francisco Bay Area, two public transit agencies are conducting trials with "Zero Emission Buses", or ZEBs. They are using different types of hydrogen fuel cell technologies, with very different results.

March 3, 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

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.