How the White House influences transportation grantmaking

Priorities vary among administrations, an Urban Institute report found. “The president actually has substantial discretion over a lot of these programs,” one researcher said.

Bill aims to help disaster-struck communities excluded from federal relief

The bipartisan proposal would give more communities access to federal dollars in the wake of increasing natural disasters.

Why California’s governor shot down a bill aimed at ramping up adaptive reuse projects

Converting commercial buildings to residential or other uses may have become even more complicated under the bill, local officials said.

$50B in transit ballot measures riding on November election

Support for voter-approved transit funding has been strong. Transit agencies and advocates shared their stories at a recent American Public Transportation Association conference.

California allocates $131M to local homelessness response efforts

The state will also reimburse local governments for cleaning up encampments on state land, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday.

EPA requires lead pipes to be replaced nationwide within 10 years

The landmark rule imposes the strictest limits on lead in drinking water since federal standards were set 30 years ago.

FRA opens $1B intercity passenger rail grant funding round

Projects to expand or improve intercity passenger rail outside the Northeast Corridor can apply for the Federal Railroad Administration funding.

Toyota to invest $500M in Joby Aviation

The automaker's investment will create a manufacturing alliance for the electric air taxi startup's first phase of commercialization. 

Right-turn-on-red bans not a ‘silver bullet’ for pedestrian safety, experts say

As more cities restrict drivers from turning right at a red light, some research indicates such policies may not make a big dent in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities and serious injuries.

Skills gap looms for energy efficiency jobs tied to net-zero emission goals: IEA

Dialogue among policymakers, employers and labor unions will play a critical role in training workers for skills relevant to the jobs being offered, a new International Energy Agency report says.

A hit show on Toronto’s failed smart city project returns to the stage

The award-winning play, “The Master Plan,” dramatizes the city’s fractured relationship with then-Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs.

What’s the value of a city’s nature? San Antonio pilots tool to find out.

Designed by a Stanford University-based group, the tool shows how land use changes could impact carbon sequestration, urban cooling and residents’ access to nature. More cities may eventually get access.

New California laws tighten renter protections

Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed multiple bills into law. A major remaining question is whether voters will approve an upcoming ballot measure to expand local governments’ authority to enact rent control.

FEMA’s push for resilience in building codes gets scrutiny in House hearing

Emergency managers touted the cost-effectiveness of more resilient buildings, but keeping up with the latest codes is a struggle for some local governments and homebuilders.

How cities can handle election waste

Local governments are preparing to deal with high volumes of yard signs, mailers and campaign material as the fall election season ramps up. Programs in Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida and elsewhere encourage recycling and reuse.

Micromobility on the rebound in 2024

Industry consolidation and growing ridership for shared scooters and bikes are helping to renew optimism among micromobility industry leaders.

As Los Angeles struggles with RV encampments, a new California law aims to help

The law allows the city to lease state transportation department property for $1 a month to securely store recreational vehicles formerly inhabited by people experiencing homelessness.

2025’s top smart city conferences

Smart city technology, housing, climate action, road safety and more will take center stage at events already announced for next year.

1.6M customers still without power after Helene; some local grids must ‘be completely rebuilt’

Multiple utilities say they will need to completely rebuild, rather than repair, electric systems in the hardest-hit areas. 

This former Olympian is bringing a 43-mile trail to life in Virginia

Jon Lugbill, ardent trail user and executive director of a nonprofit that encourages active living, tells how the Fall Line Trail came to be and what it means for the communities it reaches.

Affordable multifamily housing owners would get decarbonization help in NYC proposal

Building owners purchasing “offset certificates” to help meet Local Law 97’s greenhouse gas emissions-reduction requirements would pay into the fund.

Now is the time to ‘lean into’ decarbonizing transportation sector: Biden climate advisor

Reducing transportation emissions represents a “massive public health opportunity,” Ali Zaidi, a national climate policy advisor for the Biden administration, said at Climate Week NYC.

HUD extreme heat playbook focuses on increasing resilience in housing

The guidance identifies potential federal funding sources and example projects that it says could work elsewhere across the country.

Neighborhood decarbonization pilot programs can start in California

A new law allows natural gas utilities to electrify a neighborhood instead of replacing old gas pipelines under certain conditions.

Updated Sept. 27, 2024

Customer satisfaction with public EV charging is improving: JD Power

Electric vehicle owners are particularly satisfied with the speed of public fast chargers. But public charging infrastructure isn’t keeping up with the number of EVs in service, a J.D. Power executive said.