Governance

  • Large group of people in front of an eVTOL aircraft inside a building.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    FAA sets air taxi pilot training, operations final rule

    Powered-lift aircraft like eVTOL, which operate like both helicopters and airplanes, are "the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years," the FAA administrator said in announcing the new rule.

    By • Oct. 25, 2024
  • An aerial view of a Texas Oil Refinery
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    NYC comptroller proposes stopping pensions’ private market investments in fossil fuels

    The funds would be the first U.S. public pension plans to have exclusions on investing in fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.

    By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 25, 2024
  • People sitting at desks sorting mail-in ballots.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Transit measures are on the November ballot in these city, county and state elections

    Voters are being asked to approve billions in taxes to support public transit, roads, greenbelts and bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

    By • Oct. 24, 2024
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Massachusetts investing in commuter rail to relieve traffic congestion

    “Our roads are at a standstill,” the state’s transportation secretary said at a conference last week, detailing how the state is making passenger rail a priority.

    By • Oct. 22, 2024
  • A person in a suit stands at a podium with a microphone. Behind him are flags and three people wearing face masks.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Communities could lose unspent ARPA funds in December if they don’t do this

    Governments generally must “obligate” the funds, which requires more than passing a budget or earmarking them for use.

    By Tom Kaleko and Lucas Peterson • Oct. 21, 2024
  • A person walks into a building with a sign out front that says "This is a no smoking area."
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Platform compiles ‘proven solutions’ to urban challenges, from air pollution to homelessness

    Bloomberg Philanthropies' Cities Idea Exchange added programs and policies that it says have a track record of stoking stakeholder interest and attracting investment.

    By • Oct. 16, 2024
  • Several bicycles at a docking station on a street.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    9 bike-friendly laws signed by California governor

    Bicycle advocates cheered laws that spur bike and pedestrian infrastructure construction, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that advocates hoped would rein in driver speeding.

    By • Oct. 14, 2024
  • A blue hybrid-electric bus in New Haven, Connecticut.
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    Alexander Farnsworth via Getty Images
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    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.

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • A woman at a podium.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    $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.

    By • Oct. 8, 2024
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    rarrarorro via Getty Images
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    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.

    By , • Oct. 1, 2024
  • A person in a suit stands in front of a crowd of people holding signs that say "Trump 2024" and "Road to Victory."
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    How a 2nd Trump administration could ‘jeopardize’ Inflation Reduction Act climate funds

    If elected, could Donald Trump claw back or withhold funds from communities? Experts from Columbia University’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law offer insight.

    By • Sept. 19, 2024
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    Win McNamee via Getty Images
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    Federal watchdog urges EPA to develop comprehensive cyber strategy to protect water systems

    The report comes amid a rise in malicious cyberthreats from state-linked and criminal hackers targeting U.S. drinking water and water treatment facilities. 

    By David Jones • Aug. 8, 2024
  • Bumper-to-bumper cars and trucks on a midtown Manhattan street.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Congestion pricing alone won’t solve New York’s traffic problem

    Car-free streets, dedicated bus lanes, lower speed limits and variable toll pricing are among other cities' strategies for success, says TomTom's VP for traffic and travel information.

    By Ralf-Peter Schäfer • Aug. 6, 2024
  • U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in front of a microphone in a U.S. Capitol hearing room.
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    Samuel Corum via Getty Images
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    Some US DOT equity performance goals lack clarity, accuracy, reliability: GAO report

    Actions the Transportation Department could take to better assess its progress on equity goals were among the report's recommendations.

    By • Aug. 5, 2024
  • Aerial view of buildings surrounded by trees. The image also includes a waterway with several bridges.
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    BanksPhotos via Getty Images
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    Economic development a top priority for mayors, National League of Cities says

    For the first time in the NLC report’s 11-year history, housing is one of the top three themes among the 50 mayoral addresses analyzed. 

    By • July 25, 2024
  • A person in a suit stands at a podium with a microphone. A woman stands behind him with hands clasped in front of her. Behind them are flags.
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    Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    US mayors react to Biden’s election dropout

    President Joe Biden announced Sunday that he is ending his reelection campaign. “He worked hand in hand with us to deliver some of the most consequential legislation for cities,” one mayor said.

    By • July 22, 2024
  • An angular view of the U.S. Capitol building against a clear blue sky.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    US House appropriations bill would slash DOT grants by $2B in FY2025

    House Republicans set out their priorities for transportation funding but acknowledge that the November election’s outcome will likely decide future spending.

    By • July 22, 2024
  • Participants at a recent roundtable on multilevel climate action and CHAMP during Daring Cities 2024: (left to right) Katja Dörner, Mayor of Bonn, Germany, and chair of the Climate Action Governance Portfolio for the ICLEI Global Executive Committee; Dirk Meyer, representative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development for Germany; and H. E Dr Nawal Al Hosany, UAE.
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    Permission granted by ICLEI
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    Sponsored by ICLEI

    U.S. cities are raising climate ambition through subnational diplomacy

    U.S. cities join a global movement to push for stronger local involvement in national climate plans.

    By Barbara Riedemann • July 22, 2024
  • Several rats on the ground next to full black trash bags.
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    Chanawat Phadwichit via Getty Images
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    Boston has a new anti-rat plan. Here are 3 takeaways.

    “We’re working to make Boston a home for everyone. Except for rats," Mayor Michelle Wu said as the city released a report by a leading urban rat researcher.

    By • July 18, 2024
  • Loper decision ending Chevron deference doctrine
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    Anna Moneymaker / Staff via Getty Images
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    House GOP looks at transportation regulations in light of Chevron doctrine ruling

    Chairs of the Transportation and Infrastructure and House Oversight and Accountability committees asked three Cabinet leaders to compile information dating back to Jan. 20, 2021.

    By • July 16, 2024
  • A billboard over a California highway reads "Extreme Heat Stay Cool Drink Water"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Proposed OSHA heat rule leaves waste industry with operational questions

    Waste and recycling groups say the proposed standard raises practical questions of how to change schedules and other operations to better protect workers from the heat. 

    By Megan Quinn • July 12, 2024
  • Speaker at ICLEI’s global sustainable cities and regions congress
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    Permission granted by ICLEI / Brazuca Filmes
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    Sponsored by ICLEI

    5 major announcements from ICLEI’s global sustainable cities and regions congress

    Over 1,500 urban leaders from 96 countries addressed key climate and resilience issues at the ICLEI World Congress 2024 in São Paulo, Brazil, paving the way for city and region significance at COP30 in Belém in 2025.

    By Ariel Dekovic • July 8, 2024
  • People in coats and masks stand in line against a building behind a metal fence. Many have large backpacks and bags.
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    Spencer Platt/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    What US mayors want from the next president, Congress

    The creation of a first-ever city mental health block grant, affordable housing investments and gun safety legislation are among the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ requests.

    By • June 27, 2024
  • The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board met to approve the nation's first congestion pricing program.
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    Retrieved from New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
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    MTA votes on New York congestion pricing plan Wednesday

    Gov. Hochul halted the tolling plan for vehicles entering Manhattan's business district. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board of directors will vote on it as Inrix names New York the world's most congested city.

    By • June 25, 2024
  • A female high school student measures an engine while her instructor Brent Tuttle supervises as part of the LA County Skilled Trades Summers program.
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    Courtesy of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools
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    Los Angeles County’s Skilled Trades Summers initiative engages nearly 400 teens

    Launched by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, the initiative pays students while they receive hands-on training in fields like solar panel installation.

    By Nish Amarnath • June 24, 2024