Transportation

Elections

Parks and politics: What you need to know about Propositions 68 and 70

One measure on the June ballot asks voters to shell out billions to improve the environment. Another could make it more difficult for the state to spend billions on helpful projects.

By Julie Cart • May 30, 2018

Politics

Auto mileage and emissions: Will Washington and California be negotiating?

News reports say federal officials are to negotiate auto emission and fuel-efficiency standards with California. But the state's air regulators haven't heard from Washington yet.

By Julie Cart • May 15, 2018

Environment

News Analysis: Here’s what’s important for land, sea and air in California’s fight with Trump

The sparring between the Trump administration and California over environmental rollbacks is getting serious.

By Julie Cart • April 30, 2018

California Divide

How California car culture killed the promise of a 20-minute commute

California went big on freeways during the postwar years, but the days of easy driving and the lifestyle it enabled didn't last long.

By Meghan McCarty Carino, KPCC • April 5, 2018

Environment

California’s climate fight gets harder soon, and the big culprit is cars

Normally upbeat officials are guarded about the prospects for success.

By Julie Cart • January 10, 2018

Environment

The Electric Highway: Why California is sputtering along

The state’s electric-car adventure got off to a shaky start. Here's the problem.

By Julie Cart • October 6, 2016

Climate Change

Climate retreat? Legislature could ditch plan to radically cut emissions

Gov. Jerry Brown has taken the national stage to tout California’s fight against global warming, telling cheering throngs at the Democratic National Convention that the state has “the toughest climate laws in the country.” Yet inside the state Capitol, the fate of the policy’s centerpiece—legislation to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions—is in peril. One ominous […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • August 3, 2016

Climate Change

Oil gears up for another climate fight

A Harvard economist known globally for his work on climate change policy sat in the Sacramento office of the oil industry’s lobbying firm recently, making the case that California is fighting global warming the wrong way. The state has a good cap and trade system, Robert Stavins said, but some of its other environmental policies […]

By Laurel Rosenhall • March 2, 2016

Environment

On crowded roads, technology offers hope

Lawmakers are debating how to find money to fix the state’s deteriorating roads and bridges. But it will be almost impossible to end Californians’ top driving headache — congestion. Making roads wider is a traditional solution. But this holds little appeal in California, where land is expensive and and urban corridors are densely packed. Also, […]

By Kate Galbraith • December 12, 2015

California Divide

Paying by the mile to fix potholes

California is experimenting with a new way to raise money for road repairs by keeping track of the mileage of cars and trucks with stickers or electronics. A large-scale system won’t happen for many years, but officials say it may be needed because the influx of fuel-efficient or electric cars will shrink revenue from the […]

By Kate Galbraith • December 12, 2015