California

LAX Cars

New Ride-Hailing Area at LAX, Called 'LAX-it,' Has Rough Opening Day

The central terminal area at Los Angeles International Airport experienced a sudden onset of calm this Tuesday—the nearby LAX-it waiting area for ride-hailing pick-ups and drop-offs, not so much.

October 31, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Kincade Fire

Illustrating the Size of California's Wildfires

Wildfires in California are getting both larger and more destructive. A simple but informative graphic from the San Francisco illustrates the scope of the destruction.

October 30, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Paradise, California

Poll: The Public Supports Development Limits in California's Wildfire Areas

An idea that is gaining support with the public as the state of California suffers through catastrophic fire season after catastrophic fire season is still a deeply difficult political proposition.

October 30, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Humboldt Bay

Sacred Island Returned to the Wiyot Tribe, 160 Years After it Was Stolen

The city of Eureka has returned ownership of Duluwat Island, the site of a brutal massacre in 1860 and also a deeply sacred site, to the Wiyot Tribe.

October 29, 2019 - North Coast Journal

San Bernardino Skyline

Opinion: Regional Planning Fails the Needs of Southern California's Housing Crisis

The director of a leading "Yes In My Backyard" (YIMBY) organization in Southern California questions the effectiveness of a Regional Housing Needs Assessment methodology recently published by the Southern California Association of Governments.

October 28, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Traffic

It’s Time to Embrace Congestion Pricing

Charging based on demand and for access is commonplace—except on roads.

October 28, 2019 - Brookings

San Diego, California

A Systematic Approach to Homelessness in San Diego

The city of San Diego is ready to action to house the homeless people living on city streets.

October 27, 2019 - Voice of San Diego

California Central Valley

Trump Administration Finds a Way to Divert California Water to Farmers

A new federal program will clear the way for more water to be delivered to the state of California's agriculture industry, overruling environmental safeguards that protected fish.

October 27, 2019 - NPR

San Francisco Internation Airport

An Enticement to Ride BART to the Airport: A Shorter Security Line

Airport and transit planners in the Bay Area are considering adding a perk for transit ridership for travelers to and from San Francisco International Airport.

October 27, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Union Station

Plan Would Shift High-Speed Rail Funds to Burbank-Anaheim Commuter Corridor

Improvements to the commuter rail connections between Los Angeles and Orange counties are among the possibilities for the future of rail planning in California as uncertainty about high-speed rail continues.

October 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Long Beach to Los Angeles

Busy Section of L.A. Rail Transit Had Quicker Service in 1916

Over a century ago, the Pacific Electric Railway operated a line between downtown Los Angeles and Long Beach that competed its journey ten minutes faster than LA Metro's Blue Line does. What gives?

October 25, 2019 - Long Beach Post

Railyards District

Sacramento Gaining an MLS Team, a New Stadium, and a Big Mixed-Use Development

Sacramento Republic FC will have a new home in Sacramento's Railyard District, expected for completion by 2022.

October 25, 2019 - The Sacramento Bee

Open Streets

Engaging, Then Planning, for Equity

The interdisciplinary work of the Kounkuey Design Initiative, led by executive director Chelina Odbert, and deeply committed to the homegrown potential of neighborhoods and communities.

October 24, 2019 - James Brasuell

Fuel Break Wildfire

New Models of Risk Assessment Needed in Wildfire Zones

About 350,000 residents have lost wildfire insurance in recent years, as a series of catastrophic fires have swept the state of California and insurance industry struggles to keep up with climate change.

October 24, 2019 - The Conversation

East Palo Alto

Another Bay Area City Considers Urban Tolling

East Palo Alto has long suffered the toll that transbay traffic has imposed on this gateway to Silicon Valley from the East Bay in the form of air pollution and traffic congestion. Now the city is considering tolling the traffic.

October 23, 2019 - (Palo Alto) Daily Post

facebook

Facebook Offers $1 Billion to Ease California's Housing Affordability Crisis

Facebook joins as Google in the $1 billion club, though this club plans to spend that money on housing programs to help alleviate the exploding cost of housing in the state of California.

October 22, 2019 - The Mercury News

San Francisco Giants

Sports-Related Development Transforming San Francisco's Waterfront South of Downtown

The Giants announced two massive development proposals in recent weeks, and the Warriors are opening a new arena to regular season games later this week.

October 22, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Amtrak Surfliner

San Diego Parking Reform Wins the Day With the California Coastal Commission

The California Coastal Commission could have overturned part of San Diego's ambitious parking reform policy approved earlier this year, and would have if commission staff had won their arguments.

October 21, 2019 - Streetsblog California

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority

L.A.'s Blue Line Reopening Soon, With a New Name

The Blue Line light rail line, connecting Los Angeles and Long Beach, is almost finished with a $350 million repair program. When it reopens to service it will be called the A Line.

October 21, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles, California

L.A. Wants Fewer Parking Podiums

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved a new Advisory Notice regarding above grade parking, in the hopes of limiting the massive parking podiums proliferating around the city.

October 20, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

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.