CP&DR News Briefs: October 6, 2026: Transit Cuts; Statewide Conservation; L.A. Housing; and More

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San Diego County, Bay Area Contemplate Transit Service Cuts if Funding Dries Up

San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System released a draft proposal that would eliminate 33 of its 95 bus routes, ending service to SeaWorld, Cabrillo National Monument, Tierrasanta and parts of Mission Hills. Another 29 routes would see notable reductions, and all four trolley lines would run less frequently than the current 15-minute intervals. The plan is meant to close annual deficits of $100 million to $150 million starting in 2030, paired with fare hikes which took effect on October 1. About 36% of riders would face reduced frequency and 21% would lose service entirely, though officials say only about 3% would have no transit option within a quarter-mile. Rush-hour delays on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge could more than double if voters reject a Regional Transit Measure and San Francisco’s Proposition H, a separate parcel tax to fund Muni, a recent study found. Conducted by San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR), the study projects peak delays rising by 33 minutes westbound in the morning and 43 minutes eastbound in the evening. Eastbound afternoon delays at the Caldecott Tunnel would grow from 13 to 40 minutes, and analysis also projects worsening congestion along Interstate 580, Interstate 680 and U.S. 101. If Bay Area transit agencies cannot secure additional funding beyond 2027, contingency plans include BART closing up to 15 stations and ending service at 9 p.m., AC Transit potentially losing 200 workers and cutting hours, and Caltrain closing more than one-third of its stations.

State Progresses Toward “30 x 30” Conservation Goals 

A new progress report shows California is on track to exceed its “30 x 30” goal of conserving 30% of its land by 2030. When the state began tracking conservation four years ago, conserved lands totaled about 23.8% and coastal waters 16.2%. In the past year over 1 million acres of land were added, however, the state has been slower to conserve coastal waters. As of the most recent report, the state conserves about 27.1% of lands but only 21.9% of coastal waters. The state has invested nearly $1.3 billion in nature-based solutions over four years, and the $10 billion Climate Bond approved by voters in 2024 has already directed $5.8 billion toward priorities including parks, coastal resilience and wildfire resilience. Still about 78% of conserved land is federal, while the state manages roughly 10%. The conservation efforts come at a time of federal assault on public lands including efforts to sell off public lands to developers, challenges to endangered species law and public lands management. Other recent victories include fast-tracking more than 500 projects, restoring 400,000 acres of habitat, improving 1,300 miles of streams and saving around $12 million in permitting costs.

Los Angeles Disburses Funds from “Mansion Tax” 

The City of Los Angeles will spend $466.6 million in affordable housing funding largely sourced from Measure ULA, which imposes a 4% or 5.5% tax on L.A. property sales above $5.4 million. This funding is the largest single pool in the city housing department’s history, topping last year’s $387 million. Applications for the funds open in Oct to developers, nonprofits, land trusts and other organizations, and recipients will be announced in February. Last year $360.9 million went to 80 projects including 1,288 new affordable units and preservation of 3,713 units around downtown L.A., South L.A. and Koreatown. This year, $123 million will go toward multifamily affordable housing with 40+ units, and $115 million will be devoted toward low-income housing tax credits. The remainder of the money will be distributed toward other housing efforts, including $104 million for alternative models of new construction, $38 million toward stabilizing existing affordable housing, $32 million for purchase and restoration of affordable units, $27 million for preserving existing units and $25 million for preserving units facing financial challenges. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

CP&DR Coverage: State Sues Five Cities Over Housing Elements, While Others Fall In Line

Fifteen jurisdictions were issued warning letters back in March, most of which adopted housing elements and got them approved by the state Department of Housing and Community Development. However, the state has sued five jurisdictions for housing element violations, three of which received warning letters but failed to comply. Of these jurisdictions, two (Ridgecrest, Calexico) do not have approved housing elements, while the other three (Half Moon Bay, Costa Mesa, Turlock) have not finished the required rezoning. In all five lawsuits, the state is asking the courts to give the cities a 120-day timeframe to complete their housing element work and suspend their non-residential permitting authority. In addition, a judge could fine the cities for non-compliance. Some local officials were critical of the state’s action, saying it blindsided them as they are working through housing element issues with HCD.

Quick Hits & Updates

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) of Monterey County has unanimously approved a 3,500-home development in Gonzales. The Vista Lucia project will add 771 acres to the city including 79 acres of parks, three news schools, and 3,498 homes over a 30-year period in four phases, doubling the number of homes in the city. Nonprofit housing developer CHISPA is named as the developer of 211 affordable housing units included in Vista Lucia’s first phase.

The city of Eureka is asking property owners to volunteer sites for housing as part of its 2027-2035 Housing Element Update, since the city must show the state it can accommodate 1,740 new homes and has little undeveloped land to point to. Owners of any type of project, from an ADU to a lot split to a full development, can sign up for free with no obligation to build, and enrolled sites get CEQA review coverage under SB 131, GIS-based permitting streamlining, and a designated city liaison to ensure a smooth process.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority will remain as LA’s chief authority on its homelessness response, with access to millions in federal dollars to disburse among service providers after the Ninth Circuit largely denied a Trump administration appeal. The preliminary injunction that blocks HUD's June suspension of federal funding will be kept in place. LAHSA has said it will stop serving as lead agency next year, with the city and county both seeking to take over its roles.

A new report from the Board of Supervisors Budget and Legislative Analyst's Office identified 147 of San Francisco's vacant lots, parking garages, and underused buildings that could potentially be redeveloped for housing. The publicly owned properties list is preliminary and has yet to screen zoning, environmental, or historic restrictions. Many of the sites are also still in active city use. A Land Use and Transportation Committee hearing has been called for early November to explore how departments can use their real estate to help close the gap with the state's 82,000-home by 2031 mandate.

The state has purchased over 600 acres near Pionteertown in what climate projections describe as one of Southern California’s most promising future habitats for Joshua trees. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently working with the Native American Land Conservancy (NALC) and California Native American tribes to develop plans for the property’s long-term protection and conservancy. The purchase is the second funded by the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, which aims to protect the tree as state research projects that much of the tree’s habitat will become unsuitable by the end of the 21st century due to changes in climate conditions. The agency’s total conserved habitat has now surpassed 900 acres, with another 2,500 acres under consideration. 

Nine community organizations in California's Central Valley have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the High-Speed Rail Authority opposing a plan to move the Merced station about four miles southeast of downtown to an undeveloped, unincorporated area near Highway 99. Supporters of the move say it would speed construction, potentially save at least $1 billion, and offer easier access to Yosemite. The letter's signers argue it would violate a state law requiring the station to be in Merced's population center, and suggest sprawl and harm to downtown businesses that invested based on the original plan. The head of the Local Agency Formation Commission of Napa County, which oversees jurisdictional boundaries for local governments, was removed from his position after being previously placed on administrative leave following a performance evaluation on Aug. 27. The agency has not provided a reason for the removal from a position which Freeman served in since 2015, after joining the agency in 2008 as an analyst. The move comes as LAFCO weighs two annexations of unincorporated land into American Canyon totaling nearly 400 acres.

San Bernardino County supervisors approved the Bloomington Park Specific Plan, which would add 2.1 million square feet of warehouses to the rural community, over the objections of many residents. The project calls for three warehouses ranging from 383,000 square feet to 1 million square feet, plus a truck trailer lot. Supervisors originally approved it in 2022, but a judge ordered the environmental study set aside in 2024 after critics sued over issues such as air quality.