California
After Almost Four Months, Monster Methane Leak is Capped
It's a temporary cap, but it means that thousands of Porter Ranch, Los Angeles residents can return home. SoCalGas has begun the process of permanently capping the leak of the huge natural gas storage field first detected on Oct. 23.
Compromise Struck: Virginia Will Widen I-66 Inside the Beltway
Some local advocates and officials had hoped that tolls and transit could salve the congestion on I-66. Now it will be tolls, transit, and an extra lane.
Report: New Market-Rate Housing Affects Low-Income Housing Supply
A new report from California's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office may dispel assumptions that construction of market-rate housing displaces low-income Californians.

How One University Will Become Less Car-Centric
Fresno State University in California has released plans for a suite of changes that will redefine its approach to transportation—away from a devout focus on cars and toward more transportation options.
When Regressive is Progressive
With the two Democrat candidates debating who is the real progressive, it would be interesting to see how they would respond, if asked, about President Obama's proposed $10-per-barrel fee to fund a 21st Century Clean Transportation System.
Oklahoma-Style Earthquakes Now Affecting California
Disposal of wastewater from fracking has long been associated with earthquakes in Oklahoma as well as Ohio and Texas. A new study shows they were likely the cause of a swarm of quakes in 2005 in the capital of oil in California, Kern County.
Uber Drivers to Protest on Super Sunday
It's easy to see why Uber would look on a Super Bowl hosted near its Bay Area home would look on the event as a large PR opportunity. Disgruntled Uber drivers see it the same way.
Take a Tour of Super Bowl City (San Francisco) Then and Now
So the Super Bowl is actually being hosted down the road in Santa Clara, but San Francisco has been Super Bowl City all week. Luckily a feature by The Guardian offers a chance to compare The City's history with its present.
Friday Eye Candy: The Nuclear Missile Sites of Los Angeles
The former locations of nuclear missile sites are more mundane than you probably realize. Geoff Manaugh explores satellite images of Los Angeles, and other cities, for examples.
Up for Debate: Rent Control Expansion in San Francisco
A newly elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors has proposed an expansion of rent control that would circumvent state laws that limit such measures.
What to Watch for on Super Bowl Sunday: Traffic
The contest on the gridiron might be of secondary consideration if the NFL and regional transportation planners can't manage the traffic to and from the game on Sunday.
Volkswagen Submits Another Recall Plan for Diesel Cars
Volkswagen has already submitted its recall plan for its 2-liter diesel engines—it was rejected by both the EPA and California Air Resources Board. It also needed to submit a recall plan for 3-liter diesel engines to CARB by Feb. 2, which it did.
Los Angeles' Contentious 'Neighborhood Integrity Initiative' Explained
The soul of planning in Los Angeles will be up for vote in the citywide election that will occur on the same day as the U.S. presidential election.
What's Wrong With the Ethanol Mandate?
A former EPA official makes the case in a New York Times op-ed that the ethanol mandate, a major issue in Monday's presidential caucus in Iowa, the nation's top corn producer, is implemented so poorly that it is not benefiting the environment.
How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint
While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.
Skyscrapers and Starchitects Coming Soon to Downtown San Francisco
Take a tour of the changes coming the to the Transbay District in San Francisco.
California's Road Usage Charge Pilot Program to Begin on July 1
The California Road Charge Pilot will be the nation's second road usage charge program. Unlike OReGO, which launched last July, it is a pilot program that will last nine months, but like the Oregon program, it is restricted to 5,000 volunteers.

Los Angeles Transit Ridership on the Decline—Are Rail Investments Working?
Bad news for transit advocates in Los Angeles this week, as the Los Angeles Time reported data that makes the region's transit investments look like something less than money well spent.
Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority Adopts Open Data Policy
It makes sense that the transit agency serving the Silicon Valley would be one of the first to adopt a formal open data policy.
Friday Funny: The Infinite New York to Los Angeles Feedback Loop
A satirical New Yorker article nails the perpetual debate between New York and Los Angeles.
Pagination
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service