California
Riverside, CA, Could Scrap Citywide WiFi
The hit or miss efforts of cities to deliver citywide wireless networks has its latest case study: the city of Riverside in the Inland Empire of California is considering an effort to shut down or downsize its 2007 network.
What Makes San Diego Walkers Stop So Much?
San Diego's downtown street grid features smaller blocks than almost all other major U.S. cities. Small blocks mean more intersections, less distance between them, and a lot of interrupted bipedaling. Bill Adams reviews some potential fixes.
Gov. Jerry Brown Looks to Calif. Supreme Court for High Speed Rail Relief
Hoping to bypass the Sacramento Superior Court's twin rulings in November that crippled the Calif. High Speed Rail Authority's ability to tap $10 billion in state bond funds, Gov. Brown has petitioned the state Supreme Court to overturn the rulings.
California’s Gold Rush Origins Revealed By Drought
A pair of recent stories explores the reemergence of California history, especially it’s gold rush history, as a result of falling water levels around the state.
Report: Caltrans Systematically Quelled Bay Bridge Safety Concerns
Instagram images and group bike rides now celebrate the Bay Bridge’s eastern span, but the bridge’s long construction process was a constant source of concern. A new report details what went wrong to (hopefully) prevent future mistakes.
L.A. Breaks Ground on New Light Rail Line as Pols Debate Airport Connection
Tuesday was a day of celebration in South L.A. as officials broke ground on the 8.5-mile Crenshaw Line, the newest addition to the region's expanding transit network. But just two days later, politicians resumed bickering over how to connect to LAX.
A Primer on Types of Zoning Codes
Los Angeles' City Planning Department offers a layman's introduction to the many forms of zoning codes, from Euclidean to Performance to Incentive.
Waterfront Ballpark in Oakland a Tough Sell
Following unsuccessful attempts to move the Oakland Athletics to San Jose (an area controlled by the San Francisco Giants), team owner Lew Wolff is resistant to a plan to move the team to a waterfront location.
The Perils of TEDification
On Places, Simon Sadler explores the magical thinking and many contradictions of the TED Talks.
Sorry Cars, L.A. Begins Turning its Streets Over to People
With the launch of a new website, the city of L.A. has begun an exciting experiment in community-based placemaking. The "People St" program will soon accept applications to convert underused street space into plazas, parklets, and bicycle corrals.
Slowing the Rush to Sell Historic Post Offices
Outcry over the potential sale of post offices in Berkeley and the Bronx has prompted those areas’ respective Congressional representatives to seek federal legislation to put the brakes on the Postal Service’s rush to sell historic properties.
The Dark Side of Electric Vehicle Charging
You've heard of road rage. Electric vehicle drivers at Silicon Valley workplaces where EVs substantially exceed chargers may experience "charge rage" when a "top-off" can take as long as eight hours.
Pedestrian Infrastructure in LA Neighborhood a Study in Contrasts
In Los Angeles’s Boyle Heights neighborhood, some locals are benefiting from public-space improvements as part of the Eastside Access project. But many nearby streets and sidewalks are sorely neglected.
Ellis Act or Airbnb—Which to Blame in S.F. Housing Crisis?
A closer look at the number of Ellis Act evictions indicates that the controversial law that allows property owners to evict rental tenants might be more of a symptom of San Francisco’s housing problem, rather than the problem itself.
Venice Beach Plan Would Avoid Coastal Commission Controls
When residents and business owners in the coastal neighborhood of Venice in Los Angeles want to develop, they require approvals from the state's Coastal Commission and the city. A proposed coastal program could remove the state from the equation.
Bridge to U.S. Makes Tijuana's Airport Truly International
To meet demand from passengers seeking an alternative to San Diego's small airport, and circumvent the traffic crunch at two nearby border crossings, Tijuana's international airport will provide direct access from the United States.
In "Her," the L.A. of the Future Speaks to Some of Today's Anxieties
In his latest film, “Her,” Spike Jonze presents a one-of-a-kind vision of L.A.'s future.
Los Angeles Planning Its First Roundabout
Traffic engineers in the Los Angeles Department of Transportation are finalizing plans for a roundabout in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights at a notorious intersection known as Cinco Puntos.
Puff! There Goes California's Newest City
With a 5-0 emotional vote by the city council on Thursday night, the Jurupa Valley City Council reluctantly initiated the process of disincorporation, which would result in the three-year-old city being governed by Riverside County.
S.F. Politicos Pitch Housing Crisis Measures
A trio of elected officials—Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Scott Weiner, and Supervisor Eric Mar—have proposed policy measures to alleviate the housing affordability crisis in San Francisco.
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
