California
CA's Rail Plan: MagLev Here We Come
SCAG's proposal for the nation's first magnetic levitation train is delivered to Federal Rail Administration; it will compete with nine other cities.
Fresno Named All-American City
"Raisin Capital" is named as an All-American City by the National Civic League. Santa Clarita is runner-up.
Avila Beach: Oil Or Tourism?
Heavily contaminated by decades as an oil port, Avila Beach is undergoing a massive cleanup effort and hopes to become a tourist destination. Will it succeed?
Tri-Valley's Urban Growth Boundaries
Some of the strictest anti-growth initiatives in the nation are headed for the November ballot in the Tri-Valley area of Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
Transportation Update
91 toll road; State's transportation surplus; Bart to San Jose bill; MTC completes study; San Diego wins federal funds.
Caltrans Faces $15,000 Fine
The California Department of Transportation could face up to$15,000 in fines for alleged water quality violations.
Trains Derail Ferry Plans
Improving train service from San Francisco to San Jose has priority over a proposed Redwood City ferry service.
Orange County's Roads Tolls for Thee
Orange County's experiments with private toll roads is meeting with mixed success. But politicians are increasingly calling for making the toll roads free.
Resale Housing Market Strong In May
Resale housing market up in LA, Orange, and San Diego Counties, down in Riverside-San Bernardino, and even in Northern California.
LA CRA Expanding Influence
Despite the recent loss of the huge San Fernando Valley redevelopment area, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency is quietly expanding its influence.
California's New Green Mood
California is spending more on the environment as the state's giant and influential electorate is demandinggreener communities and environmental protections.
Goleta: Annexation or Cityhood?
Santa Barbara is seeking to annex Goleta at the same time the unincorporated community is seeking cityhood.
Where Are Toads in Newhall Ranch?
Daily News Editorial blasts U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision to stop development for arroyo southwestern toads.
West Oakland Attracts Attention
Although run-down, West Oakland's prime location is drawing attention from developers and dot-com companies who can't find space in the Bay Area.
Santa Cruz's "Safe Sleeping Zones"
Police have begun to crack down on homeless areas that were previously declared "safe sleeping zones" by the City Council.
Portland As An Example of Smart Growth
Both Sacramento and Portland have roughly the same population. So why is Portland so much more "livable?" More importantly, is Portland's smart growth sustainable?
Environmental Group To Buy Wildlife Habitat
The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will buy land in theSanta Clara River Watershed to provide a habitat link.
Historic Hotel Revival in San Jose
A historic hotel in San Jose is being restored as a boutique hotel.
OC Residents Speak Out on El Toro
LA Times prints series of letters to the editor about controversial airport development at El Toro and proposal to tax Orange County residents for use of LAX.
UC Merced: Politics and Planning
New $250 million University of California campus is looking at innovative ways to deal with environmental and land use concerns while maintaining political support.
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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
