California

Los Angeles Releases Large-Scale Earthquake Preparedness Plan

Los Angeles has been hard at work, under the leadership of Dr. Lucy Jones, to prepare for the ever-present threat of earthquakes. The Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti released the plan, called "Resilience by Design," earlier this week.

December 12, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Tough Week for Uber on the West Coast—Three Cities File Injunctions

Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Portland all filed suit against Uber recently hoping to bring the transportation network company in conformity with public safety regulations.

December 12, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

High Line Designer Tapped for 'Presidio Point' Project in San Francisco

The landscape architecture firm behind the High Line in New York City has been awarded another high-profile contract—this time for "Presidio Point," overlooking Crissy Field in San Francisco.

December 11, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

Shared Kitchen Space: Best Culinary Innovation since the Food Truck?

Potentially the biggest culinary innovation since the gourmet food truck, L.A. Prep upholds principles of smart growth while supporting culinary entrepreneurs. Artisanal food producers will move into its 50 kitchens starting in January.

December 11, 2014 - Next City

Veteran City Leader Offers Strategies for Creating Dynamic Streets and Spaces

Drawing on longtime efforts to promote livability at the neighborhood, city, and regional level, Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Rick Cole recently highlighted lessons learned about "urban revitalization."

December 10, 2014 - The Planning Report

Young Planners

What's Good about Being an Urban Planner?

For urban planners, it’s easy to focus on the negatives of the job. Los Angeles County Planner Clement Lau reminds us of some of the positive trends in planning, especially in Los Angeles.

December 10, 2014 - UrbDeZine

Mileage Fee Worries in the Golden State

California's mileage fee pilot program legislation is now law. Dan Weikel of the Los Angeles Times raises two concerns drivers have regarding the switch to a mileage-based fee from a gas tax: privacy and fairness.

December 9, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Returning to its Roots with the Growing Influence of Latino Urbanism

The antecedent of many of the urban design and public realm upgrades that have occurred in Los Angeles in recent years: street life in Latin American cities. Christopher Hawthorne calls it a return to first principles.

December 8, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

A New Era in California for Evaluating Transportation Emissions

An appellate court's rejection of SANDAG's $200 billion sustainable communities plan holds far-reaching implications for how regional planners evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation to meet SB 375 requirements to the year 2050.

December 8, 2014 - San Diego Union-Tribune

Huge Surge in Biking in Santa Monica

The city of Santa Monica recently released a report to assess its progress toward meeting the goals of the Santa Monica Bike Action Plan.

December 7, 2014 - Santa Monica Daily News

CicLAvia Rides into South Los Angeles

CicLAvia, the Los Angeles open streets event, heads to South Los Angeles for the first time today. Sahra Sulaiman explains the communities preparedness leading up to this historic event.

December 7, 2014 - Streetsblog LA

Complete Street Makeover in the Works for 2nd Street in San Francisco

Planners in San Francisco are working on a complete street redo of a key corridor through the SoMa neighborhood that will connect downtown, Mission Bay, and the Central Waterfront.

December 5, 2014 - Socket Site

Will Los Angeles Legalize Street Vending?

The $500 million underground street vending economy in Los Angeles took a step closer toward legalization on Tuesday.

December 5, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

San Jose Enacts 'Pedestrian Safety Zone'—Bans Bikes from Sidewalks

The city of San Jose has responded to concerns of seniors in the community by banning bikes from sidewalks a large swath of downtown near the convention center, City Hall, and San Jose State.

December 4, 2014 - San Jose Mercury News

Designing Permeable Cities for Drought Resilience

Take a kayak trip on the Los Angeles River with KQED science reporter Amy Standen to understand why cities were built on the premise of endless potable water and how we can build cities sustainably in regions that receive low rainfall.

December 4, 2014 - KQED Science

California Fuel Consumption Rises—First Time in Eight Years

For the first time since 2006, gasoline consumption in California increased from the prior fiscal year. From July 2013 through June 2014, consumption increased 1 percent.

December 4, 2014 - The Sacramento Bee

San Francisco Planners Study Extension of Central Subway to Fisherman's Wharf

San Francisco is hard at work on a Central Subway project expected to open in 2019 with a terminus in Chinatown, but planners have already been hard at work studying an extension of the subway to Fisherman's Wharf.

December 3, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

The United Nations Studies Urban Emissions Monitoring

Urban emissions researchers have been invited to speak at the UN Climate Conference in Lima. Their findings: through focused and networked monitoring, cities can make real inroads on cutting carbon.

December 3, 2014 - Next City

Los Angeles Arts District Residents Resisting Plans for More Density

The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles has seen plenty of chic newcomers in recent years—high-end cafes, restaurants, and expensive lofts. But a recently revealed plan that would allow new, dense construction has sparked controversy.

December 3, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Bay Bridge Proposal: Turn Old Eastern Span Piers into a Park

Officials are considering a plan to preserve some of the eastern span of the bay Bridge as part of an effort to cut costs on the project—which is now well over its $6.4 billion budget.

December 2, 2014 - San Francisco Chronicle

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.