Deep Dive: Page 4
Industry insights from our journalists
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Kendall Davis/Smart Cities Dive
Death of the downtown: How cities can rebuild using 'tactical urbanism'
Whether or not cities "bounce back" from the COVID-19 pandemic will be determined by the choices they make to reimagine their downtown hubs, experts say.
Amanda Loudin • Oct. 20, 2020 -
Permission granted by Capital Metro
Behind the controversial $7.1B plan to transform transit in Austin, TX
Voters will soon decide on a ballot initiative to fund a comprehensive transit revamp dubbed Project Connect. Opponents call the plan a "costly burden."
Joan Mooney • Oct. 15, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Smart Cities Dive
Cities push ahead on EEaaS as private sector plays catch up
Forms of Energy Efficiency as a Service have existed for decades as alternative funding mechanisms in cities. Now, as technologies accelerate and COVID-19 continues, the private sector wants in.
Chris Teale • Oct. 1, 2020 -
Courtesy of LINK
LINK is tapping top talent to one-up its scooter competition
In the wake of industry layoffs and consolidation, one micromobility firm is hiring its competitors' former leaders to develop a unique scooter-sharing service.
Kristin Musulin • Sept. 21, 2020 -
O'Connor, Josh. (2009). "Wildfire" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Wildfires, COVID deliver one-two punch to West Coast cities
More than 1.6 million acres have burned in California this year alone while cities scramble to protect resident health amid the challenges of COVID-19.
Catherine Arnold • Updated Sept. 9, 2020 -
Becker1999. (2020). "Solidarity with Kenosha" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
Governments are declaring racism a health crisis. What comes next?
Milwaukee County's 2019 resolution blazed a trail for more than 120 U.S. governments in denouncing racism. Now, leaders must look internally to prioritize equitable budgeting and employee training.
Cailin Crowe • Updated Oct. 6, 2020 -
Permission granted by Lakeview Pantry
Fighting urban hunger in the age of COVID-19
Nonprofits, businesses and cities are stepping up with new and expanded programs to tackle the surge in food insecurity during the pandemic.
Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 17, 2020 -
iStock via Getty Images
Can health and safety efforts save ride-hailing post-pandemic?
Companies are adopting new ways to bolster riders' confidence, but the industry may struggle to recover if health concerns linger or labor issues expand.
Chris Teale • Aug. 12, 2020 -
Permission granted by Go Tuk'n
Tuk tuks could shift from novelty to necessity in the COVID era
Rickshaws and pedicabs offer a key advantage over most common forms of city transportation: They operate in the open-air at a time when air flow is more important than ever.
Jason Plautz • Aug. 4, 2020 -
Brian Tucker and Kendall Davis/Smart Cities Dive
Calls to 'defund the police' are upending FY21 budgets. Here's how.
In this interactive report, Smart Cities Dive details how each state's largest city adjusted its public safety funding — if at all — amid demands for reallocations of police budgets.
Kristin Musulin and Cailin Crowe • July 15, 2020 -
Yujin Kim/Smart Cities Dive
Algal blooms to data boons: How 'smart lakes' improve water quality
New York's Lake George and Ohio's Lake Erie are among those to deploy sensors and IoT tech in an effort to monitor pollution, toxins and weather.
Chris Teale • July 13, 2020 -
Kendall Davis/Smart Cities Dive
Virus vs. voting: Behind the high-risk presidential primary elections
As November's election showdown looms, officials nationwide are scrambling to preserve voter rights while minimizing coronavirus transmission.
Katie Pyzyk • July 6, 2020 -
A COVID-19 hit to public power? For some, it's not all bad
Municipal utilities and other public power entities have unique challenges, and some advantages, when dealing with the financial impacts of the pandemic.
Matthew Bandyk • June 26, 2020 -
Retrieved from MassDOT.
Transit agencies weigh security forces amid calls to defund police
U.S. cities are reassessing transit policing in an effort to address issues of systemic racism. "This is about reimagining what safety looks like," one transit official said.
Jason Plautz • June 25, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
The 'new normal': City sectors confront post-coronavirus realities
With costs of the pandemic coming into focus as recovery efforts persist, Smart Cities Dive analyzed how leaders across various departments can use lessons from the COVID-19 crisis to rebuild.
Chris Teale • May 26, 2020 -
Yujin Kim/Smart Cities Dive
Observing recovery through a climate 'magnifying glass'
COVID-19 presented cities with fresh observations of climate trends, marking a crucial time for leaders to weave climate change mitigation into recovery efforts.
Chris Teale • May 26, 2020 -
Brian Tucker/Smart Cities Dive
Stay-at-home orders shine light on 'amplified' digital divide
Just as the Great Depression highlighted a need for ubiquitous electricity, advocates are urging leaders to seize COVID-19 as a turning point for ubiquitous internet.
Chris Teale • May 26, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Transportation leaders focus on regaining trust before building anew
Before eyeing new infrastructure, transportation agencies must regain the loyalty of riders who fled to personal cars amid the pandemic.
Chris Teale • May 26, 2020 -
New era of city workforce development implores virtual strategies
Experts say recovering from the economic destruction of the COVID-19 pandemic will require a new, tech-forward approach to regional hiring and workforce development.
Kristin Musulin • May 14, 2020 -
Münzel, Danko. (2018). "USA-Reise New York" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
As anxiety rises, cities adapt mental health services on the fly
The new coronavirus pandemic has strained city-run mental health services, resulting in a need for more federal support and reprioritized programs.
Jason Plautz • May 11, 2020 -
Adeline Kon/Smart Cities Dive
8 ways coronavirus is altering the construction industry
U.S. jobsites are reopening, but construction will not look the same as before the COVID-19 outbreak. Are cities ready for the paradigm shift?
Jennifer Goodman • May 1, 2020 -
Verch, Marco. (2017). "Drohnenfoto: The Field Museum, Soldier Field und Hochhäuser im Bezirk Burnham Place" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
The pandemic pace: A look at congestion-free speeding and its risks
As city streets see drastic dips in vehicular traffic, a by-the-numbers look shows drivers are traveling at unprecedented speeds — putting pedestrians, cyclists and other civilians at risk.
Cailin Crowe • April 29, 2020 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Who will save the startups?
At this point, it's not about keeping startups alive — it's about who can last on the other side of an economic downturn.
Samantha Schwartz • April 28, 2020 -
Cities have seen a cycling surge amid COVID-19. Will the trend stick?
A number of cities have closed streets to vehicular traffic to support and protect a spike in biking. As cities look to recovery, advocates hope such moves will influence change.
Chris Teale • April 27, 2020 -
Omaha, NE residents pick up city's slack in COVID-19 communications
The mayor’s office lacks social media pages, email newsletters or text services to communicate important health information with residents. As COVID-19 spreads, community leaders are stepping up.
Kristin Musulin • April 23, 2020
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