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.

By Chris Teale • May 26, 2020

Visionaries must step forward to advance water infrastructure

The current crisis has made clear that access to clean water is closely related to our ability to withstand shocks to the system. Building sustainable infrastructure should be a vision we can all get behind.

By Jon Freedman • May 26, 2020

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

Rubicon report cites $208M potential savings for cities using smart waste platform

The smart waste and recycling tech company played up its municipal offerings and emphasized the "waste wake-up call" many cities are facing post-China's scrap import ban. 

By Cole Rosengren • May 22, 2020

Are drones more energy efficient than delivery vans?

Gartner estimates drone fleets could reduce operation costs by 70% due to faster delivery times, but other research indicates drone operations, at scale, could be up to 10 times less energy efficient than vans.

By Morgan Forde • May 21, 2020

Memorial Day travel could prompt pandemic's largest VMT spike

Coastal cities are bracing for what will "almost certainly" be their highest levels of vehicles miles traveled (VMT) since Easter, according to StreetLight Data.

By Cailin Crowe • May 21, 2020

3 steps for a gradual return to transit operations: CDC

In its new 60-page recovery guidance document, the CDC outlined a number of tangible steps and safety actions mass transit administrators can prioritize when resuming operations.

By Kristin Musulin • May 21, 2020

The amenities that attach people to their cities: report

A new report offers insights to what connects residents to cities, and provides key suggestions for leaders to foster such attachments — even during the pandemic. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 20, 2020

Minneapolis tops annual park ranking as budget cuts loom

While cities count economic losses from coronavirus and look to trim budgets, the Trust for Public Land fears park spending may be the first to go. 

By Chris Teale • May 20, 2020

Blockchain-based renewables project in Los Angeles wins $9M state grant

An initiative in the San Gabriel Valley looks to provide affordable, locally produced energy to 28,000 residents in a disadvantaged community.

By Chris Teale • May 19, 2020

Miami pilots e-cargo bikes to reduce congestion, pollution

The city partnered with DHL and Reef Technologies to pilot the bikes for last-mile deliveries, a move that's expected to reduce 101,000 kg of CO2e annually.

By Cailin Crowe • May 18, 2020

The hot seat: 10 questions with Lime's chief policy officer

On the heels of its $170 million investment round led by Uber, we caught up with David Spielfogel to learn how Lime is altering operations and to discuss the future of micromobility M&As.

By Kristin Musulin • May 18, 2020

Cincinnati voters raise sales tax to fund public transit

Hamilton County residents voted for a .8% sales tax increase as part of a "historic" absentee election, improving bus service and chipping away at GHG emission reduction goals. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 15, 2020

US homelessness worsened by pandemic, declining resources: report

In its annual report, the National Alliance to End Homelessness shared interactive charts and analysis to illustrate homelessness assistance trends and at-risk populations, among other findings.

By Kristin Musulin • May 15, 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.

By Kristin Musulin • May 14, 2020

The return to 'normal' requires acceptance of emerging tech

Returning to a familiar world of human interaction will take time. It will also take a willingness to modify expectations of physical and digital privacy.

By Betsy Plattenburg • May 13, 2020

APTA seeks extra $24B to support agencies 'hemorrhaging money'

The call for funding follows an 86% drop in transit fare revenue over the past month, with Chicago's Transit Authority citing a $1 million loss in fare box revenues per day. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 13, 2020

The 10 cities best-positioned for pandemic recovery

Density and education attainment rates were key factors in a recent Moody's Analytics report of the cities facing the best and worst coronavirus recoveries.

By Cailin Crowe • May 13, 2020

4 ways to weave resiliency, tech into city recovery plans

In an IEEE-hosted webinar on Tuesday, smart city consultants detailed best practices and frameworks for building resiliency into COVID-19 recovery plans.

By Kristin Musulin • May 13, 2020

Uber Freight partnership gives ride-share drivers entry to an open market

In an effort to create jobs and keep goods moving, Uber platform drivers who hold CDL licenses can now become leased-on drivers with CloudTrucks.

By S.L. Fuller • May 12, 2020

St. Louis' building efficiency standards pave way for the Midwest

New legislation in St. Louis marks a major step forward in reducing building emissions, which make up for 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

By Chris Teale • May 12, 2020

Coronavirus-related cyberattacks are like a kicked 'hornet's nest'

Cyberattacks are surfacing daily in an unmatched volume of threats. Some are exploiting circumstances related to the COVID-19 outbreak, namely through people logging on from unsecure devices.

By Samantha Schwartz • May 12, 2020

Preparing for the return of rush hour

Cities have a fleeting opportunity to get smarter about solving gridlock and emission problems — albeit in unprecedented conditions — before traffic returns.

By Sasha Sud • May 11, 2020

New York town put on diet to fight 'quarantine 15'

The residents of Huntington, NY have been put on a voluntary health and fitness plan to curb weight gain that's occurred due to "fear" and "boredom."

By Cailin Crowe • May 11, 2020

Bioo wins QBE AcceliCITY resilience challenge

The green electricity startup generates 100% renewable energy from plants, with the potential for adoption across a number of industries.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated Oct. 22, 2020

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.

By Jason Plautz • May 11, 2020