Post-redevelopment plans for downtown San Diego
The San Diego Foundation is teaming up with the Downtown San Diego Partnership business group to frame a new vision for San Diego's downtown. With the end of redevelopment agencies in the state, San Diego can no longer depend on the $125 million dollars a year to subsidize these types of projects.
SF redesigns Castro Street to better accommodate pedestrians
San Francisco's famous Castro Street is undergoing a design makeover to transform the street into a better environment for pedestrians. Castro Street, with its narrow sidewalks and busy intersections, is not suitable for the heavy foot traffic that dominates the area. The Castro Street Design Plan builds upon previous efforts to improve the street's conditions for pedestrians and enhance the street's capacity to serve as a local hot spot and tourist destination.
Realigning High Speed Rail may compromise SF freeway
San Francisco officials explore alternative High Speed Rail alignments, including the removal of the I-280 viaduct. The proposal could benefit both the city and Caltrain, though details for how this proposal would align with Caltrain's electrification plans still need to be worked out.
Stakeholders agree: Modernize CEQA ...
After 40 years, stakeholders agree that the time has come to modernize CEQA. Governor Jerry Brown and other political coalitions have made strong commitments to CEQA modernization in the upcoming year.
... But Enviros Aren't On Board
Bruce Reznick and David Mogavero of Planning & Conservation League say that the call for CEQA reform is much ado about nothing.
LA publishes DEIR for 5-year bike plan and the "My Figueroa Project"
The Draft EIR encompasses 39.5 miles of bicycle lane projects that require the removal of street lanes and promises streetscape improvements and better accessibility for bicyclists. The city is using Governor Brown's new law (A.B. 2245) that allows certain bicycle projects to be exempt from the CEQA process to opt-out of the EIR certification process.
Metro unveils study on how to close the 710 Freeway gap
The final five recommendations on how to close Los Angeles's 710 Freeway gap were released by Metro last Friday. Options include: do nothing, traffic management systems, light rail, bus route and freeway tunnel. Metro will host open houses starting this week to discuss its findings.
