California

Seattle Ferry

Washington Attempts to Adopt a Cleaner Cars and Clean Fuels Programs

A Pew Stateline article tackles the challenges of reducing carbon emissions from transportation compared to electricity generation and looks at recent initiatives announced by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee aimed at decarbonizing transportation.

January 21, 2020 - Pew Stateline

The Castro

'A Strange, Second-Wave Gentrification' in San Francisco

Vast amounts of tech money have transformed the city's commercial spaces in unexpected ways.

January 19, 2020 - The Guardian

UC Irvine Anteater Express

Can Hydrogen Make a Comeback?

While hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are much less popular than their battery-powered siblings, California remains committed to the zero-emission technology, with three state agencies investing in and monitoring its progress.

January 16, 2020 - CALmatters

SamTrans

S.F. Bay Area Driver Shortage, Canceled Trips and Routes

Amid a nationwide bus driver shortage, transit agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area haven’t been able to fill vacant positions fast enough.

January 16, 2020 - East Bay Times

Transamerica Pyramid

Linking Office Construction to Affordable Housing—S.F. Ballot Initiative Would Try

Proposition E, a ballot initiative up for vote in San Francisco in May, is one of the most radical planning positions in recent years, attempting to reduce housing costs by limiting housing demand.

January 15, 2020 - Mission Local

Lost Our Home

Cities Still Sweeping Away Homeless Camps, Despite Legal Challenges

Denver and Los Angeles kicked the new year off by committing to the enforcement of a sleeping ban and sweeping away a large homeless encampment, respectively.

January 15, 2020 - The Denver Post

Capitol Hill

States to Gain and Lose Congressional Districts After Census Identified

A reapportionment of House of Representatives will begin when the results of the Census 2020 have been finalized. A new analysis indicates that ten House seats will likely shift from the Northeast and Midwest to the West and South.

January 14, 2020 - Citiwire

Los Angeles Bus Stop Sign

Metro L.A. Drafts Frequent Bus Service Plan

Late last week, Los Angeles transit riders got a first peak at the proposed NextGen Bus Plan, a system redesign that promises to completely redefine transit access in the county.

January 14, 2020 - The Source

California

Bill Would Allow Homeless Shelters to Skip Environmental Review in California

Environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act would no longer apply to the construction of homeless shelters under a law proposed in the California State Legislature.

January 13, 2020 - The Sacramento Bee

Port of Oakland

Opinion: No to the Oakland A's Stadium Project

The A’s want to build a new stadium, housing, and office space on waterfront property in Oakland. However, the project would involve massive corporate handouts and threaten the jobs and housing of African-American residents.

January 12, 2020 - The Mercury News

Electric Truck

Coming in 2020: Electrification of Transportation, Including Trucks

Auto manufacturers will offer more battery and plug-in hybrid models this year, and the nation's largest state is expected to approve a new regulation requiring medium and heavy-duty truck manufacturers to sell zero-emission vehicles.

January 10, 2020 - Government Technology

Salton Sea Refuge

Wetlands Bring New Life to the Salton Sea

Southern California’s Salton Sea has long struggled with environmental issues, but wetlands have been springing up and nurturing diverse ecosystems.

January 9, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Multi-Family Building

California Voters Could Repeal Amendment Long Hampering Public Housing

A state constitutional amendment from the 1950s has been used to hold back public housing, but voters could have a chance to strike it down later this year.

January 9, 2020 - The Mercury News

Century City

2010s Were Best Of Times, Worst Of Times in California

California started the decade with a recession and hangover from rampant development in the 2000s. What ensued was an economic boom like none other. Meanwhile, its cities developed only incrementally, spiraling into a catastrophic housing shortage.

January 9, 2020 - California Planning & Development Report

California State Capital

Statewide Upzoning Bill Back on the Table in California

News broke yesterday that the dormant SB 50, a bill proposed last year by California State Senator Scott Weiner, has new life in the new year.

January 7, 2020 - CALmatters

Golden State Warriors

San Francisco Gets Lavish Urban Amenity—For Free

The new, privately financed Chase Center arena was designed with San Francisco's tech wealth in mind. It's a handsome addition to the Mission Bay neighborhood but pulls the Bay Area further away from its blue collar roots.

January 6, 2020 - Architect Magazine

Paris Aerial

What California Can Learn from France About Tackling a Housing Crisis

As California continues to grapple with staggering housing issues, France's experience offers lessons about the kinds of housing policies and strategies that work.

January 6, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Metro Los Angeles Light Rail

Los Angeles Needs New Funding Sources to Meet Public Transit Ambitions

With an aggressive plan to build out numerous public transit lines in time for the 2028 Olympics, local officials are scrambling to fill funding gaps as prices continue to rise and catch planners and officials by surprise.

January 5, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Northern California Toll Lane

More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways

Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.

January 2, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Car Charging Station

Los Angles Considering Electric Vehicle Requirement for Ride-Hailing Vehicles

Ambitious talk from the mayor of Los Angeles.

January 2, 2020 - Financial Times via Inside Climate 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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.