San Francisco
Bike, Pedestrian Toll on Golden Gate Bridge Survives First Vote
The concept of tolling sidewalk access to the Golden Gate Bridge squeaked by on a 10-9 vote on Oct. 24. The GGB Transportation and Highway District wants to consider the toll as a potential contributor to reducing the $33 million, five-year deficit.
Special Delivery: U.S. Postal Service and Groceries
The Postal Regulatory Commission approved of a two-year trial allowing the United States Postal Service to deliver groceries to homes in the morning.
San Francisco Approves Airbnb-Enabling Regulation Despite High Profile Opposition
None other than U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, former mayor and native of San Francisco, penned an op-ed opposing a recent action by the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors to legalize short-term stays in private homes.
Is It OK to Charge Pedestrians and Bicyclists to Cross Toll Bridges?
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District might charge pedestrians and cyclists using the bridge in a plan to keep the district, which also runs buses and ferries between San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties, solvent.
The Incredible Climate Mitigation Potential of Compost
Research has shown that the world's largest land use, grazing, holds enormous potential when linked with composting, to dramatically reduce the carbon content of the atmosphere through sequestration while concurrently restoring degraded rangeland.
Progress for San Francisco's Ambitious Bike Plans
Ariel Rosenstock updates San Francisco's progress in implementing the vision set forth by the 2009 San Francisco Bicycle Plan.
Report: Transit Oriented Development Leads the Market in Major Metros
A report released last week by Cushman & Wakefield has won a lot of attention from media outlets covering large-scale development market trends. Among the report's findings: growing cities need to better support transit-oriented development.
San Francisco Considers a 'Facadectomy'
One possible frame though which to consider the ongoing evolution of cities like San Francisco: the measures (sometimes) taken to preserve the historic fabric of the city.
Streetscape Improvements in The Castro Include New, Improved Rainbow Design
Not to be outdone by West Hollywood, San Francisco's premier gay neighborhood has painted crosswalks on Castro Street in rainbow colors. However, it's only one part of a much bigger streetscape improvement project that involved huge community input.
The Story Behind the 'Most Vetted Soccer Field in U.S. History'
A simple proposal to replace grass soccer fields with artificial turf, thus doubling the amount of time the fields could be used, has been frozen by the litigation and ballot initiatives of the San Francisco planning process.
San Francisco's Shopping Spree for New Muni Cars
After winning the contract to build All Aboard Florida's locomotives and passenger cars, Siemens Sacramento manufacturing plant landed a $648 million contract much closer to home: Replacement of the San Francisco Muni Metro Breda light rail cars.
San Francisco's Red Transit-Only Lanes Improving Service
For years, San Francisco has set aside transit-only lanes. However, with a fresh coat of red paint, the city has seen significant service improvements.
New Development Projects Boost San Francisco's Northern Waterfront
The historic Fort Mason, along with several other development projects, has helped alter the landscape of the city’s northern waterfront, according to Jim Chappell, former head of the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association.
Late-Night Buses to Run When BART Service Stops
Alameda-Contra Costa Transit* and Bay Area Rapid Transit are considering a one-year pilot program that would provide transit service after BART's Cinderella-esque closing time.
San Francisco Initiative a Setback for Progressive Parking Policy
San Francisco's voters are continuing their trend of deciding complex and difficult planning issues at the ballot box. Last time it was height restrictions—this time it's parking.
On the Value of Small Spaces in Remaking the Public Realm
San Francisco Chronicle Architecture Critic John King reviews, and celebrates, the recent string of small projects that reclaim public space in the city, calling them "modest works of true ambition."
Road Diet Plans Shelved for San Francisco's Ocean Beach
After two years of work, SPUR's proposals for the Ocean Beach Master Plan are still taking shape. A road diet for vehicle lanes on the Great Highway, for instance, was recently shelved for the good of other pressing priorities.
Where Have all the Affordable Cities Gone?
Angie Schmitt follows up on an earlier report by the Citizen's Budget Commission that made an argument for the affordability of cities like New York City, with its large network of cheap transportation.
When it Comes to Seismic Safety, It's Each City for Itself
Buildings constructed of unreinforced masonry get much if not most of the media's attention on seismic safety, but so-called 'soft story' wood buildings, often with garages on the ground floor, compose the greatest numbers of vulnerable buildings.
How San Francisco Integrates Historic Rail Lines into its Transit System
San Francisco has managed to operate and integrate historic rail transit into its overall public transit system. Clement Lau explains how the City does it.
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.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
