NIST working group to tackle smart cities' ethical quandaries

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Global City Teams Challenge launched a working group on diversity, equity, integrity and technology, researching best practices in areas like community engagement. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 10, 2022

Transit agencies struggle to access funding, rights-of-way, due to complex governance structures

During a recent Eno Center for Transportation webinar, agency leaders from Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Vancouver, British Columbia, shared the challenges that current governance systems can create. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 9, 2022

As scooter activity rebounds, San Diego cracks down with new restrictions

With the return of riders and tourists following the pandemic's dramatic dip, the city proposes quadrupling operator fees and tightening regulations in response to dangerous sidewalk use. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 6, 2022

Tenants facing eviction fared better under NYC's legal assistance program: study

Since New York became the first U.S. city to guarantee universal legal representation to low-income tenants in housing court, Princeton researchers say eviction warrants and monetary judgments against them are down.

By Danielle McLean • May 5, 2022

Fleeing 'superstar' cities, tech workers are moving to mid-size and smaller cities, causing housing, traffic concerns

After many tech workers relocated to work remotely during the pandemic, smaller cities are now grappling with rising housing prices, traffic and homelessness.

By Karen Kroll • May 3, 2022

Los Angeles launches $17.8M universal basic mobility pilot

“We have to change the conversation about transportation investments and how they benefit cities if we hope to shake ourselves awake from zombie conversation about how much it all costs,” said one LADOT official.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 29, 2022

Lessons from California: Tips to keep transit projects on time, on budget

Local agencies tend to poorly plan infrastructure work and don’t have enough capacity to manage megaprojects, and common procurement methods create a management bottleneck, a new study from UC Berkeley found. 

By Julie Strupp • April 28, 2022

Converting strip malls into mixed-use development could address California's housing crisis

The transformation could alleviate the housing shortage while aiding storefronts amid the shift to online shopping. But it would require cities to change land-use policies, said housing experts during an Urban Land Institute meeting.

By Danielle McLean • April 27, 2022

Leading Cities, QBE invite startups to apply to AcceliCITY resilience competition

The resilience challenge – accepting applications through April – also awards regional prizes and virtual incubator memberships. Another part of the competition seeks an urban food pilot for Gainesville, Florida.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2022

US transportation sector could cut carbon emissions 34% by 2030: analysis

"We've actually made a lot of progress," said one researcher. Separately, the Biden administration announced $6.4 billion for states to use under the infrastructure law's carbon reduction program.

By Dan Zukowski • April 22, 2022

San Diego housing density bonus is spurring affordable units: report

Amid a crucial housing shortage in Southern California, developers have leveraged a city incentive program to build thousands of units since 2016.

By Danielle McLean • April 21, 2022

Participatory budgeting experiments aim to meet residents where they are

“The process is one of the products,” said Doug Matthews, assistant city manager in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is leaving $2 million up to citizen-driven spending. “This is full-contact civic education and engagement.”

By Karen Kroll • April 20, 2022

Harassment and intimidation are driving local leaders away from public service, and we all stand to lose

“I genuinely worry about how our nation’s cities, towns and villages will attract and retain the talent we need,” writes the head of the National League of Cities.

By Clarence E. Anthony • April 19, 2022

Proposed California EV regs could be adopted by other states

In a bid to ramp up zero-emission vehicle sales, the policy move could ultimately enable regulators "to set the national standards that we need to meet our climate goals," said one transportation and clean air policy expert.

By Dan Zukowski • April 18, 2022

New York City civic engagement survey gathers over 62,000 community voices

The effort aimed to collect a diverse and representative sample of the city’s population for the start of a three-part effort to build consensus around city priorities.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 14, 2022

Bird pilot aims to give NYC wheelchair users reliable and fast transport options

Under New York’s e-scooter pilot program, Bird is providing a first-of-its-kind motorized attachment free to individuals who use wheelchairs.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 13, 2022

California regulators to update vehicle emission requirements as state seeks to spur EV transition

The California Air Resources Board will update regulations for vehicles emissions and zero-emission vehicle requirements, as advocates want automakers mandated to make electric vehicles available to frontline communities. 

By Dan Zukowski • April 13, 2022

City leaders share ideas on how to maximize federal dollars

At the Smart Cities Connect conference last week, local leaders called for a rethink of how cities seek to allocate federal dollars, including through community engagement, data-led decisions and regional collaborations. 

By Cailin Crowe • April 12, 2022

LA could build shelter beds for 60% of unhoused population under settlement agreement

The potentially $3 billion undertaking would create thousands of beds over five years. But despite its ability to aid unhoused people who "fall through the cracks," housing experts caution about the impacts of "shelter-first strategies." 

By Danielle McLean • April 11, 2022

5 smart city leaders weigh in on the industry's biggest challenges

At last week's Smart Cities Connect conference in Columbus, Ohio, attendees shared what they think is preventing cities from achieving their smart city goals.

By Cailin Crowe • April 11, 2022

For the Building Performance Standards Coalition to be effective, the White House must think bigger

The former head of the U.S. Green Building Council weighs in on how federal, state and local government partners can go beyond just reducing building emissions as they pursue decarbonization.  

By Mahesh Ramanujam • April 8, 2022

Transportation Department outlines $20B for transit available this year through infrastructure law

Funding is slated to benefit transit projects in all 50 states and nearly 200 communities and go to some 30 programs supporting everything from pavement repair to enhancing mobility options for older adults.

By Dan Zukowski • April 7, 2022

Universal basic mobility program in Oakland, California, provided lessons in achieving equity, leveraging community partnerships

The pilot met its goal of increasing transit use and gave the city insight on the administrative structures needed to distribute benefits via prepaid cards, an Oakland transportation planner said.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 6, 2022

What big cities can learn from the rural US about public transit

Grappling with bare-bones transportation networks, rural communities are implementing new transit innovations, a trend that federal infrastructure dollars could accelerate. 

By Scott James Matheson and Sam Couvillon • April 6, 2022

To ease fuel-price pain, subsidies, gas tax holidays, rebates gain momentum across the US

Chicago and California propose giving prepaid gas cards to eligible residents and assistance to public transit users. State and federal efforts to suspend gas taxes face criticism for potential economic and environmental impacts.

By Dan Zukowski • April 5, 2022