California

Interstate 405

Five Years After $1 Billion Freeway Expansion, Traffic Only Gets Worse

The lesson of the I-405 widening project that birthed meme-worthy events like "Carmageddon": widening a freeway won't reduce congestion for long, if ever.

May 8, 2019 - Curbed Los Angeles

Beverly Hills

Toward a More Useful, and Accurate, Definition of Gentrification

Recent studies have called into question the predominant narratives on gentrification. A more precise definition of the term as it works in the United States is required.

May 6, 2019 - Slate

Butte County, California

An Unexpected Turn for California's New State Population Report

Population data released May 1 by the Department of Finance reveals the Golden State's lowest population growth rate on record, at 0.47 percent.

May 6, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

High Speed Rail California

The Consultants Behind the CA High-Speed Rail Debacle

The state's high-speed rail project is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. A major problem is that consultants have been running the show from the start, say critics.

May 6, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Bay Area Wetlands

A New Plan for Sea Level Rise in the San Francisco Bay Area

The San Francisco Bay has 400 miles of shoreline, and a dire need for a new approach to dealing with the effects of rising water levels. An estimated $100 billion in potential property damage is at risk.

May 5, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Diego Trolley

The Regional Planning Agency Wanted to Evolve on Transportation. The County Said No.

A kerfuffle in San Diego, as San Diego County and the San Diego Association of Governments find themselves at odds over the future of transportation in the region.

May 3, 2019 - NBC San Diego

Westwood, Los Angeles

When a Few Neighbors Speak for the Entire Neighborhood

This probably sounds familiar in more places than one: just a few stakeholders accounts for a clearly disproportionate number of the appeals made to the Planning Department in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Westwood.

May 3, 2019 - Daily Bruin

Los Angeles

Unequal Distribution of Shade Is Environmental Injustice

A longread, written by Sam Boch and published by Places Journal, has been creating a stir online and is highly recommended for those with an interest in intersections between social justice and urban design.

May 3, 2019 - Places Journal

Orange Line Bus

Thinking Outside of the Transit Box in L.A.

Metro is analyzing new geolocational data to look beyond conventional understandings of travel behavior.

May 2, 2019 - Wired

California State Capital

California's Most Controversial Housing Bill Advances with Amendments

Senate Bill 50, by Scott Wiener, advanced on two fronts last week: On Wednesday, it passed easily out of its first committee with new "Minneapolis-style" amendments. On Sunday, it received a New York Times editorial endorsement.

April 30, 2019 - CALmatters

Fracking

Department of Interior Plans to Open 1 Million Acres in California to Fracking

The Bakersfield Office of the Bureau of Land Management released an environmental study that is the basis for undoing a 2013 de facto moratorium on fracking on federal lands in California. The Supplemental EIS triggers a 45-day public comment period.

April 28, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Tech Money Dominates S.F. Housing Market

The tech industry has created massive wealth, and the impacts on the real estate market are most dramatic in San Francisco.

April 27, 2019 - The Atlantic

Disabled Parking Sign

Putting a Stop to Disabled-Placard Fraud in L.A.

The fine for misuse of a placard will increase considerably, but not everyone agrees this is the right way to address a growing problem.

April 25, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Diego Beach Housing

California Bill Takes Aim at Vacation Rentals

Proposed legislation in California would limit short-term beach rentals in San Diego.

April 25, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADUs Offer Affordable Housing in California, but Challenges Persist

While accessory dwelling units have the potential to ease California’s housing crisis, homeowners still find the construction process difficult to navigate.

April 24, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Salesforce Tower and 181 Fremont

Another Big City Announces Sweeping Energy Plans for Buildings

San Francisco and New York City made a theme of this year's Earth Day: mandating emissions reductions from buildings.

April 24, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Stanford

California's Upzoning Bill, SB 50, Would Allow Apartment Construction in Wealthy Communities

The proposed legislation would open up cities like Palo Alto to higher-density housing.

April 24, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles BRT

Transit Projects Would Provide Local and Regional Connectivity for L.A. Suburb

Two projects on the table in Glendale, California, a BRT line and a streetcar, would increase mobility options in the city.

April 23, 2019 - Glendale News-Press

Uptown San Diego

Middle-Income Density Bonus Working Toward Approval in San Diego

The San Diego City Council's Land Use and Housing Commission approved a density bonus program to provide incentives for developers to build middle- and low-income housing.

April 21, 2019 - The San Diego Union Tribune

Inglewood NFL Stadium

Residents Left Behind as L.A. Stadium Project Surges Ahead

Inglewood had fallen on hard times, but then plans for a massive sports and entertainment complex came along. While the city’s future is poised to change dramatically, the development is also displacing residents.

April 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

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.