To spur green manufacturing and jobs, will NYC change its industrial zoning?

“This is a moment for New York City to be ahead of the curve and lead on an issue our president has made a priority for this country,” said Councilmember Amanda Farías.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 11, 2023

For more effective climate planning, cities must include suburbs and exurbs, researchers say

Existing regional entities, such as metropolitan planning organizations or councils of governments, can often be starting points for coordinated climate conversations, one researcher said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 10, 2023

New York City’s congestion pricing plan gets the green light, despite opposition

Many advocates, urban planners and public officials in New York support the congestion pricing program, which would be the first in the U.S. Critics, however, called the program “anti-environment” and “cash-grabbing.”

By Michael Brady • May 10, 2023

Portland, Oregon, to pilot zero-emission delivery zone

The project could help the city reduce climate pollution and improve public health, the Portland Bureau of Transportation said. Portland received nearly $2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project.

By Max Garland • May 9, 2023

Dallas restores core emergency dispatch systems after ransomware attack

“At this point, we do not have evidence or indication that there has been data removed during this attack,” Dallas CIO Bill Zielinski told city officials Monday.

By Matt Kapko • May 9, 2023

Connected vehicle technology advances in US with FCC waiver approval

Ford, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover North America, two state transportation departments and nine other companies will be able to invest in technology essential for fully autonomous vehicles.

By Dan Zukowski • May 9, 2023

Racial and ethnic disparities in traffic deaths revealed in NHTSA report

Blacks experience higher-than-average per capita traffic deaths, while such rates among White, Asian and Hispanic or Latino people are lower than average. Pedestrian fatality rates show even greater disparities.

By Dan Rosenbaum • May 5, 2023

New York’s transit agency rescued by last-minute Albany budget deal

Facing fare hikes and service cuts, the New York Metropolitan Transit Authority will get an injection of state aid and a controversial payroll tax increase for New York City’s largest businesses. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 5, 2023

Dallas ransomware attack causes critical service outages

Websites for the city and Dallas Police Department, which serves a population of nearly 1.3 million people, currently show error pages.

By Matt Kapko • May 4, 2023

Advocates push for housing owned by communities, rather than by investors

It’s still unclear what broad-scale programs would look like, but there is some evidence that decommodifying housing can work.

By Gaby Galvin • May 4, 2023

How governments are updating ‘operational technologies,’ including AI, and the challenges that remain: survey

Over half of the survey respondents reported their agency plans to upgrade systems by 2025, a Center for Digital Government and Samsara survey found. Operational efficiency and cost savings are a big reason why.

By Michael Brady • May 4, 2023

California spent $1.3B in cap-and-trade funds on climate, equity projects in 2022

The California Climate Investments funding addressed affordable housing, transportation, energy costs, extreme heat, fire, access to clean drinking water and more, a California Air Resources Board official said.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 2, 2023

Mobility could be transformed by 2035, with US car sales dropping 30%: report

As cities and consumers move toward new mobility options, “the mobility ecosystem will most likely undergo a transformation not seen since the early days of the automobile,” a McKinsey report says.

By Michael Brady • May 2, 2023

Without vehicle or viable public transit, 1 in 5 miss needed healthcare: report

Adults with a disability, Black adults, people with low incomes and those on public insurance were more likely to report going without needed healthcare because of transportation issues, the Urban Institute found.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 1, 2023

Women, people of color, renters underrepresented on land-use boards: report

Homeownership and other requirements could create barriers to participation that “function as inexplicit racial filters,” an Urban Institute report found.

By Gaby Galvin • April 28, 2023

Delivery robot expansion hampered by ‘regulatory nightmare’

While no states outright ban delivery bots, tech developers have decided to take a cautious approach to expansion rather than flood the market with robots and risk backlash.

By Max Garland • April 28, 2023

Uber, Lyft more responsive to ride demand than taxis are during emergencies: study

“In light of our findings, service providers and city planners should reevaluate and improve their mobility platform, particularly under emergencies, disasters and hazards,” one researcher said.

By Michael Brady • April 28, 2023

New FTA requirements coming for transit agency safety plans

The 2021 infrastructure law directed the Federal Transit Administration to strengthen rail inspection practices, reduce assaults on transit vehicle operators and improve safety training.

By Dan Zukowski • April 26, 2023

Enrollment declines threaten the economic futures of college towns

For many U.S. communities, the long-term viability of colleges and universities is critical. Cities and towns can start preparing, experts say.

By Danielle McLean • April 26, 2023

$25B for fare-free transit? Federal lawmakers take third shot at passing legislation

The proposed legislation would create competitive grants to help transit providers establish zero-fare programs, improve bus service and pay for the increased costs of higher ridership.

By Dan Zukowski • April 25, 2023

Elon Musk’s company town plans worry some locals, urban planners

The plans for Snailbrook, near Boring Co. and future SpaceX manufacturing facilities in central Texas, raise questions about local governance, environmental impacts and more.

By Adina Solomon • April 24, 2023

ARPA funds used to fill city budget gaps, Brookings analysis finds

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds on “revenue replacement” allowed localities to free up money for long-term priorities, such as economic development, a Brookings Metro researcher said.

By Kalena Thomhave • April 21, 2023

Cybersecurity best practices for smart cities issued by CISA

Smart city technologies are at risk “of exploitation for espionage and for financial or political gain by malicious threat actors,” according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

By Michael Brady • April 21, 2023

How an arts program supported Seattle public housing residents during redevelopment project

Public housing units nationwide need repairs and renovations. This arts program offers one way to ease the burden on residents during redevelopment, according to a Seattle Housing Authority report.

By Michael Brady • April 17, 2023

On infrastructure jobs, OSHA steps up workplace safety enforcement

As federal funds flood into construction projects thanks to the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is concerned about protecting workers in the infrastructure sector.

By Julie Strupp • April 12, 2023