California

Jump Bikesahre

Uber Now in the Bikesharing Business

Ride-hailing service Uber is piloting a new venture in San Francisco alongside dockless bike-sharing startup Jump.

February 1, 2018 - Modern Cities

Short-Term Rentals

Study Finds More Reasons to Worry About Airbnb's Effect in the Housing Market

The new study, published by the Urban Politics and Governance research group at McGill University, comes with a major disclaimer: it was funded by the Hotel Trades Council, AFL-CIO, among other.

February 1, 2018 - Politico

Uptown San Diego

Four Steps to More Affordable Housing in San Diego (and Elsewhere)

San Diego is one of the most expensive housing markets in the country and has the fourth highest homeless population. Planning activist Murtaza Baxamusa identifies four needed measures.

January 31, 2018 - UrbDeZine

California

One Obstacle to ADU Construction in California: The Price of Permits

The price of a permit to build an accessory dwelling units in the city of Thousand Oaks in Southern California is prohibitive—putting the permitting fee in opposition to the stated intent of the city's zoning code and state law.

January 30, 2018 - Thousand Oaks Acorn

Desalination

Desalination Projects Get a Big Boost in California

Desalination is often suggested as a potential panacea for California's ongoing struggles with drought. The catch in the announcement of $34.4 million in state funding for desalination projects shows why desalination is not there yet.

January 30, 2018 - The Mercury News

A $48 Million Bet on the 'L.A. Model' of Juvenile Justice

With Campus Kilpatrick, Los Angeles County has made a serious investment in progressive design to support progressive programming.

January 29, 2018 - Metropolis Magazine

Electric Car Charging Station

Gov. Jerry Brown Calls for Five Million ZEVs on California Roads by 2030

The executive order calls for $2.5 billion for rebates and electric charging and hydrogen fueling stations, subject to approval by legislature. His earlier executive order called for 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles by 2025.

January 29, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Expo Line

L.A. Transit Ridership Drops 15 Percent in 5 Years Despite New Light Rail Extensions

Bus riders, comprising about three-quarters of Los Angeles Metro ridership, declined 21 percent since 2013, But it wasn't just bus routes—two light rail lines also lost riders.

January 29, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Gov. Jerry Brown's 16th and Final State of the State

Infrastructure, climate change, and natural disasters were among the themes of the California governor's final address to the legislature and public. Two of his accomplishments, high-speed rail and increasing the gas tax, face uncertain futures.

January 28, 2018 - The New York Times

California Central Valley

A Planning and Economic Development Quandary in Fresno

Should cities with some of the worst air pollution in the country be adding massive campuses for logistics and heavy industries?

January 27, 2018 - KVPR

Bay Bridge Boardwalk

Former Bay Bridge Piers Offer a New Approach to the Water

"Four piers from the old eastern span of the Bay Bridge will live on as a public boardwalk and vista point in Oakland and on Yerba Buena Island," reports Erin Baldassari.

January 26, 2018 - The Mercury News

Oakland skyline and San Francisco Bay

It's the Tech Industry vs. the Sierra Club in California's Big Housing Debate

California State Senator Scott Wiener made a big splash this month by announcing a package of pro-development bills, and now interest groups are taking sides in a heated debate over housing and density.

January 25, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

BART System

BART Gets 10 New Rail Cars

Fewer seats and more room for standing commuters are among the updates to the rail cars coming to BART.

January 25, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

LA Metro, Wilshire and Western

Op-Ed: Los Angeles Needs a Vermont Avenue Subway

As the second busiest bus corridor in the area, Vermont Avenue is currently a candidate for bus rapid transit. But would rail be a better choice?

January 24, 2018 - Urbanize LA

Los Angeles

Temporary Trailers Will House Homeless in Downtown L.A.

If approved, a City Council motion would mark a shift in how Los Angeles deals with a rising number of homeless residents.

January 23, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

California Gas Tax Repeal Update: And Then There Was One

One of two initiatives to repeal last November's 12-cents per gallon gas tax increase failed to attract enough signatures by the Jan. 8 deadline. However, the other initiative has major backing and will likely appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.

January 23, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Suburban California

Legal Strategies Shift on the Front Lines of the Bay Area's Housing Debate

The threat of a lawsuit by the California Renters Legal Advocacy has the city of Dublin rethinking a housing proposal that would add 220 units near the Dublin/Pleasanton BART station.

January 22, 2018 - The Independent

High-Speed Rail

Costs Jump on Central Valley Section of California High-Speed Rail

Costs for the initial construction segment, 119 miles from Madera to just outside Bakersfield, jumped $2.8 billion in what the consultant called the "worst-case scenario," to $10.6 billion, or over $89 million per mile.

January 22, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Electric Cars

'Electric Charge Network' to Install 7,500 New Charging Stations in California

One of California's three investor-owned utilities has announced an electric vehicle charging infrastructure program that will spend $130 million through 2020.

January 21, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

Orange County to Remove 1,000 Homeless People From the Santa Ana River

Responding to local homeowners and politicians, Orange County will clear homeless encampments from a riverbed and stormwater channel under its control.

January 20, 2018 - KPCC

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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.

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Top Schools

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