Re-Envisioning Guadalupe River Park

Explore our virtual exhibition on the green heart of downtown San José

people biking, walking and eating at outdoor tables on a street closed to vehicles

From Temporary to Transformative

Leveraging pandemic "slow streets" programs to usher in a new era for city streets

Making Oakland Government Work

10 ways city governance can adapt to meet the needs of Oaklanders

Water for a Growing Bay Area

How the region can grow without increasing water demand

Welcome to 2070

The SPUR Regional Strategy has landed

SPUR 2021 Impact Report

Impact Report / 2021

SPUR's 2021 Impact Report highlights our key accomplishments over the past year, from passing state housing legislation to proposing policies that can help the region adapt to climate change and lift people out of poverty. We published more than 60 policy reports, briefs and letters and hosted over 11,000 guests at public events.

Re-Envisioning the Guadalupe River Park

Initiative

The Guadalupe River Park is downtown San José’s most important urban green space, but it faces serious challenges. What can we do to secure the future of this incredible amenity for all San Joséans? SPUR's new virtual exhibition celebrates the promise of the river park and brings together three years of research and conversation about its future.

How Reviving a Forgotten California Law Can Make Commuting More Sustainable

News / December 7, 2021

Free employee parking is a valuable job perk, but there’s one serious downside: It encourages commuting by car and hinders efforts to promote sustainable alternatives. One tool for countering this effect is parking cash out: offering the cash equivalent of a parking space to employees who don't drive to work. California passed a parking cash out law in 1992, but 30 years in, Santa Monica is still the only place in the state that requires employers to comply. Here's how the state can revitalize this underused tool to reach its long-term climate goals.

people walking past outdoor restaurant seating on a street closed to traffic

From Temporary to Transformative

SPUR Report December 1, 2021

During the COVID-19 pandemic, cities across the country piloted shared public spaces and slow streets. In a matter of weeks, these temporary changes transformed city streets in ways that would otherwise have taken years. The crisis injected the planning process with a sense of urgency and a willingness to experiment. How can San Francisco and other cities make these changes permanent? SPUR's new report captures lessons learned and offers 18 recommendations for how to build on what's been started.

Aerial photo of Oakland highlighting City Hall

Making Government Work

SPUR Report November 15, 2021

Many of the challenges Oakland faces are worsened by its unusual government structure, which makes it harder for the mayor, city council and other officials to do their jobs well. SPUR’s latest report diagnoses the problem and offers 10 recommendations for how the city can adapt its governance structure to better serve Oaklanders.