To prevent housing displacement, Austin, Texas, wants to pay neighbors to help neighbors

The program aims to better connect lower-income residents to housing assistance, as Austin rents and home values soar. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • April 6, 2023

Evictions rose in cities after a national moratorium ended in 2021

There are many policies cities can use to protect renters from losing their homes aside from eviction bans, housing experts say.

By Karen Kroll • April 4, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Less-restrictive zoning can increase supply of market-rate housing, new research shows

But other strategies may be needed to boost affordable housing, according to a first-of-its-kind Urban Institute study.

By Michael Brady • April 4, 2023

“Curated” climate data, grant assistance can help cities address EJ and climate change concerns

U.S. EPA tools can help communities anticipate climate impacts such as wildfires, drought, coastal floods and 100-year floods, an EPA official said. Assistance can help them apply for federal grants to address those impacts.

By Stephenie Overman • April 3, 2023

Rising cycling, pedestrian deaths the focus of bike infrastructure bill

The proposed legislation would allow states to fully fund bike and pedestrian safety projects with federal money from the Highway Safety Improvement Program and allow local governments to recommend projects for funding.

By Michael Brady • April 3, 2023

NYC launches online portal for city services, benefits

Mayor Eric Adams said the online portal, dubbed MyCity, would make it easier for residents to apply for benefits by reducing bureaucracy and red tape.

By Michael Brady • March 31, 2023

Which US cities showed ‘inclusive growth’ during the pandemic?

Some of the largest cities were “tested” while slightly smaller cities were more resilient or emergent, according to measures of growth used in a new report.

By Kalena Thomhave • March 30, 2023

Building music ecosystems can strengthen local economies and tourism, advocates say

Efforts in Huntsville, Alabama, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, demonstrate “the external benefit of music on everything else,” said one speaker at a Brookings webinar on music’s role in transformative placemaking.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • March 29, 2023

How cities can center equity in EV charging

“Focus more on the people than on the hardware” to implement EV charging equitably, one electric transportation advocate said, such as by talking to residents and listening to their needs.

By Kalena Thomhave • March 28, 2023

E-scooter bans, restrictions can leave some riders behind

Micromobility companies like Lime and Bird urge cities to think beyond “blunt” policies that ban e-scooters.

By Maylin Tu • March 22, 2023

Cities see hyperlocal ‘activity centers’ as key to sustainable growth, less car dependency

Most metropolitan area residents live within three miles of an activity center, according to Brookings Institution research. Officials are planning around such centers to help residents meet their everyday needs while driving less.

By Gaby Galvin • March 21, 2023

On climate change, this group of mayors thinks globally and acts locally

Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright discusses how the organization is helping mayors lead on climate policy and implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 infrastructure law.

By Michael Brady • March 17, 2023

Chicago tests new parking enforcement tech, smart loading zones

Mayor Lightfoot asked the city council to consider the pilot projects to increase road safety in January, after the parents of a young girl killed in a traffic collision filed a lawsuit alleging the city allowed unsafe road conditions.

By Michael Brady • March 16, 2023

California court defends independent contractor status for gig workers

A California court upheld the independent contractor provision of Prop 22 but struck down portions that would’ve made it almost impossible to amend the law. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 14, 2023

HUD chief targets rental fees, tenant screening

Secretary Marcia Fudge says landlords should eliminate “duplicative, excessive and undisclosed fees” and identify “bottom-line” amounts tenants will pay.

By Leslie Shaver • March 13, 2023

Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023

New transit workforce dashboard can help agencies tackle labor shortages

The dashboard creates a one-stop shop for “visualizations and digestible information about the transit workforce” that will be continually updated, the Transit Workforce Center said.

By Dan Zukowski • March 9, 2023

Philadelphia kicks off project to reconnect Chinatown neighborhood divided by expressway

The Chinatown Stitch project will develop a plan to “cap” a less than one-mile stretch of Interstate 676, called the Vine Street Expressway, that split the community more than 30 years ago.

By Michael Brady • March 9, 2023

NYC cuts proposed delivery worker wage floor by almost $4

Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash persuaded the city to reduce its 2025 target base pay by $3.86 an hour, arguing workers would be compensated by “multi-apping.”

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 8, 2023

US DOT and Austin, Texas, launch first-of-its-kind $22 billion transportation partnership

It’s the first time the Transportation Department has entered an emerging projects agreement with a city to fast-track networks of related projects rather than using a piecemeal approach.

By Michael Brady • March 7, 2023

Affordable houses were scarce in 2022 due to mortgage rates, supply: Redfin

The number of affordable homes listed for sale in the U.S. fell 53% from 2021 to 2022, according to a Redfin report. Black and Hispanic households struggled with affordability more than White and Asian households.

By Michael Brady • March 6, 2023

New Mexico considering bill to mandate, fund protected bike lanes in some roadway improvement projects

The requirement would apply to roadway improvement projects in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents.

By Michael Brady • March 3, 2023

$250M for curbing climate pollution, advancing environmental justice available from US EPA

Each of the 67 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas is eligible for $1 million in planning grants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will follow with $4.6 billion to help cities and states implement their plans later this year.

By Michael Brady • March 1, 2023

Alaska drops 4-year degree requirements for state jobs

“At present, there are not enough qualified applicants to fill all the state’s job vacancies,” the administrative order said.

By Kathryn Moody • Feb. 27, 2023

Seattle voters poised to approve public development authority for affordable housing

Initiative 135 creates a publicly-owned organization to develop, own and maintain housing for those earning up to 120% of the area's median income.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 24, 2023