California

$13 Billion in Water Bonds Headed for the California Ballot in 2018
The legislature placed a $4.1 billion water bond on the ballot in June while a privately funded initiative hopes to qualify an $8.9 billion water bond for the November ballot. The state measure would also fund parks and trails.

$312 Million Corridor Improvement Project Coming to the East Bay Area
Two county transit agencies, seven cities, and three regional transit agencies are joining forces to plan improvements to the growing San Pablo corridor in the East Bay Area.

Los Angeles to Test New 'Mobility on Demand' Partnership
The Federal Transit Administration has offered the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority a $1.35 million grant to partner with ridesharing app Via on first-last mile solutions.

Bay Area Displacement Spreads to Sacramento
A new study finds evidence that the ripple effect from the San Francisco Bay Area's housing affordability crisis has reached all the way to Sacramento.

A Radical Idea to Help the Homeless: Homeowners Should Open Their Doors
The mayor of Oakland is challenging homeowners to offer their extra rooms and in-law units to the homeless, with a target to create a modest 100 new permanent supportive housing units.
More 'Free Ride Everywhere Downtown' for San Diego
The Free Ride Everywhere Downtown (FRED) shuttle system in San Diego is so popular that demand sometimes overwhelms the number of available shuttles. The city has redoubled its commitment to the system.

11 States Launch Resistance to National Park Fee Changes
Eleven attorneys general have sent a letter, and a warning, to the Trump Administration: we'll battle new entrance fees in court if we have to.

More Cities Replacing Parking With Drop-Off Zones for Ride-Hailing Companies
More than one city has ditched parking in response to the congestion and conflicts created by ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs .

Hollywood Developer Self-Imposes Rent Control on New Project
It's an unprecedented move, but developer Champion Real Estate hopes to be "part of the solution" for pricey Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Needs More Transit-Oriented Development
Development plans along the Expo Line need more density, affordable housing to achieve city goals

New Poll Shows Californians Would Repeal 12-Cent Gas Tax Hike
On Nov. 1, fuel taxes increased for the first time in 23 years in California. Next November, Californians will likely decide whether to return those taxes to 1994 levels, as well as repeal other tax and fee hikes passed by the legislature in April.

Oakland to Turn Vacant Properties into Affordable Housing
Oakland pilot program to buy up vacant lots and properties, whose owners have defaulted on their property taxes, to transform them into low- and medium-income housing.

On Demand Ride-Sharing Finds New Homes
Via Transportation Inc is picking up where Bridj left off—offering on demand ride sharing in cities in California and Texas.

Could Autonomous Vehicles Save Lives in Disasters?
Autonomous vehicles could provide life-saving assistance in the event of a large-scale evacuation, if a shared fleet of autonomous vehicles is built with this purpose in mind.

Rent Control's Mixed Effects in San Francisco
As California debates the future of rent control in its municipalities, a group of Stanford economists have conducted research that connects San Francisco's existing policy with higher housing costs.

Investigation Reveals Abuses of Affordable Housing Program in San Francisco
Every bit of affordable housing helps in expensive San Francisco, but some residents in the city's "Below Market Rental" units are illegally renting those units for thousands of dollars a month.

San Francisco Has a New 'Vision Zero' Fire Truck
The size of fire trucks frustrates advocates on many sides of the public safety debate. The San Francisco Fire Department sought a solution.

Momentum Builds to Ban Sales of Gas and Diesel-Powered Cars in California
The Los Angeles Times editorialized in support of legislation that is expected to be introduced next year to ban sales of internal combustion engine passenger vehicles, though they didn't suggest a date when the ban should become effective.

UCLA Students Want More Say in Local Development Matters
UCLA Graduate Students Association President Michael Skiles recently announced a plan to break with the Westwood neighborhood Council and establish a new neighborhood council that speaks for the development interest of students.

San Francisco Lays Out Stormwater Resilience Plan
The strategy ranges from major infrastructure investments to improved neighborhood services.
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