California

Controversial Bus Rapid Transit Connection Between L.A. and Pasadena Moves Forward
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently released a draft environmental impact report for the NoHo to Pasadena Transit Corridor.

Affluent Bay Area Suburb Adopts New 'Rethinking Mobility' Plan
The city of Walnut Creek has adopted a new five-year transportation plan designed to get drivers into more efficient modes of transportation.

How California Plans to Slow the Corporate Takeover of the Residential Market
The state of California is trying to prevent a repeat of one of the most significant consequences of the Great Recession: large Wall Street interests buying for-sale housing in bulk for conversion to apartments.

A Safe Freeway Crossing for Southern California Wildlife
After eight years of planning, a highway crossing project spanning U.S. Route 101 could break ground in 2021.

Searching for the 'Urban Mystique'
An excerpt from a new book by Josh Stephens, "The Urban Mystique: Notes on California, Los Angeles, and Beyond," published by Solimar Books.

Pandemic Uncertainties Could Push Even More Black Residents Out of the Urban Bay Area
Add the coronavirus pandemic to an already deeply troubled housing market and the Bay Area has a recipe for even more displacement in a region already facing a massive demographic shift.

An American Urban Coronavirus Success Story
The City by the Bay has joined eight largely rural counties in California by advancing last Tuesday to the least restrictive tier of the state's new reopening criteria by reducing coronavirus transmission to nearly New York levels.

COVID's Extensive 'Excess Mortality'
The pandemic's cumulative death toll in the U.S. does not include over 100,000 fatalities that are directly or indirectly attributable to COVID-19, according to a CDC report released Oct. 20 on the subject of "excess deaths."

Field of Dreams Coming to L.A.'s Chinatown
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Dodgers Foundation will renovate an unplayable ballfield into a new Dodgers Dreamfield, which will serve almost 3,500 youth in the surrounding community.

The Metrics of Outdoor Dining
Outdoor dining programs are proving popular in cities all over the United States, as a lifeline for both restaurants and residents seeking some social normalcy. Data from San Francisco reveal the numbers behind the phenomenon.

Op-Ed: It’s Long Past Time for Planning Reform in L.A.
Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.

Transformation of South Los Angeles Park Offers Hope to the Community
Earvin "Magic" Johnson Park in Willowbrook has been transformed with $70 million worth of improvements, including a 20,000-square foot event center for community gatherings and events.

Outdoor Dining No Refuge From the Danger of Cars
A driver lost control of his SUV in San José, California this week, plowing into an outdoor dining area and killing one customer.

Better Bike Plan 2025 Adopted in San Jose
California's third most populous city has a new plan to add hundreds of miles of protected bike lanes.

Google's Big Mixed-Use Plans for Downtown San Jose Come Into Focus
Google's plan for a mixed-use transit village at a mile-long site near the Diridon Station in San Jose has a newly released planning document available for public review.

Earthquake Preparation for Resilience
A look at San Francisco's building resilience plan illustrates the pertinent need to include earthquake preparedness in resiliency planning.

Another Rent Control Initiative on the Ballot in California
There are significant differences between Proposition 21, a statewide rent control measure on the ballot in California, compared to a similar measure defeated soundly by voters in 2018.

'Permit Ready Plans' for ADUs Published in Stockton, California
Cities looking to provide incentive for the construction of accessory dwelling units are increasingly released "permit ready plans" to help the cause.

Planned Highway Widening Requires Eminent Domain in Southern California
Advocates are calling out regional and state transportation planning agencies for a failure of racial justice as plans to widen a freeway in Southern California move forward.

How Engagement and Design Won Over Wary Neighbors
Despite opposition from the neighborhood, a low-income housing community was built in an upscale subdivision in California. How did developers make it happen?
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