California
California lifts ban on heavy-duty autonomous vehicles
AV manufacturers can begin testing self-driving vehicles weighing over 10,001 pounds on California roads.
California cops will start ticketing robotaxis
The California DMV issued new guidance that allows law enforcement to give autonomous cars a "notice of noncompliance" when they break traffic laws.
California gets three new state parks
The state plans to add 30,000 additional acres to the state parks system by the end of the decade.
'Grocery-to-housing' developer wants to bring 415 units of senior housing to Oakland Trader Joe's site
The proposal is using California's density bonus and other laws to sidestep potential local opposition.
LA authorizes $9.5M for sidewalk repairs around Olympic venues
The city is hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028.
California 'strongly encourages' coastal city to fast-track farmworker housing
The state wants Half Moon Bay to approve a farmworker housing project initially proposed in 2022.
California robotaxi rides surged by 500% in 19 months
Californians took over 1.2 million rides in autonomous taxis in December.
San Diego budget axes multimodal team at DOT
The budget scales back funding for some bike lane and traffic safety projects that are already in the works.
Pasadena approves plan for 710 Stub but tables Restorative Justice elements
A never-built freeway that displaced hundreds of residents in the 1970s has left a 50-acre scar that may finally see redevelopment.
Bay Area transit loses $1M per month on credit card fees
As more people use mobile payments to pay their fares, transit agencies are spending more on transaction fees.
LA made almost $20M ticketing drivers who park in bus lanes
The city started using bus-mounted, AI-assisted cameras to cite drivers who block bus lanes in February 2025.
Santa Monica starts work on $56M electric bus project
Big Blue Bus plans to fully electrify its fleet by 2032.
Report: California's density bonus is a 'win-win' for developers and affordable housing
Almost half of new multifamily projects in 2024 relied on a density bonus.
First responders use electric motorcycles to split lanes in LA traffic
The bike fleet will help LAFD firefighters reach emergency situations faster.
Despite 47% growth in ridership, Caltrain could close a third of its stations
Riders can currently travel up to 79 miles between San Francisco and Gilroy, California.
Oakland opens first affordable housing for teachers
The school district says 70% of its teachers can't afford to live in Oakland.
California’s Half Moon Bay says coastal regulations hinder housing development
The town is entirely within the jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission, which imposes a layer of strict development regulations.
Santa Monica Modular Project Offers Hope for Affordable Housing in Pricy California Cities
The Berkeley Station development used modular construction to build the project on a nine-month timeline.
San Diego Transit Awarded $60 Million for Trolley, Electric Buses
The funding will support the electrification of San Diego’s bus system and safety and efficiency enhancements on the Orange Line trolley.
California Gives 15 Cities ‘Final Warning’ to Submit Mandatory Housing Plans
Communities are required to produce housing elements that accommodate sufficient housing for all income levels.
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.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
