In doing so, the county aims to join a growing number of cities worldwide that are ditching pavement to respond to ecological vulnerabilities. Urban planners are increasingly turning to depaving as an adaptation strategy as extreme weather exposes the limits of aging civic infrastructure. AdvertisementFor more than a century, pavement offered American cities convenient solutions to pressing civic issues. In Los Angeles, the dusty and uneven dirt roads of the 1800s were paved over to make transit more efficient. Now, cities across California are grappling with the long-term consequences of infrastructure decisions made decades ago under short-term budget constraints.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 28, 2026 17:00 UTC