ARPA fund spending shows regional differences in local government priorities, researchers say

Large cities and counties have spent the largest share of state and local fiscal recovery funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on government operations. But their spending on other priorities diverges from there, researchers found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 23, 2023

EV charging infrastructure is “inadequate and plagued with non-functioning stations”: J.D. Power

Roughly one in five public charging attempts fails, with 72% of them attributed to equipment issues. “Just adding stations isn’t the answer ... we need to make sure those stations are reliable,” one J.D. Power executive said.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 22, 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

Biden signs executive order to advance racial equity

The directive requires federal agencies to improve their community outreach, boost investments in underserved communities and address population displacement, among other initiatives.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 17, 2023

Virginia county launches smart parking pilot

Arlington County, Virginia, has partnered with eleven-x to install approximately 5,000 sensors in on-street parking spaces, allowing drivers to use signs and an app to get real-time information about parking availability.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 17, 2023

Why storefront car crashes happen at convenience stores so often

7-Eleven’s recent $91 million settlement for an accident in its forecourt highlights an alarmingly common — and potentially hazardous — issue.

By Brett Dworski • Feb. 17, 2023

EPA report: US transportation CO2 emissions up 14% from 2020 to 2021

A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report cites pickup trucks, SUVs and other light-duty trucks as the largest contributor to emissions from fossil fuels in 2021.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 16, 2023

Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023

More people are working from home. Here’s how much it’s costing US cities.

Commuters are spending thousands less on meals, entertainment and shopping near their workplaces each year because they’re working from home more often than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 15, 2023

‘Noise cameras’ aim to address vehicle nuisance complaints on city streets

Aftermarket vehicle exhaust systems are a noisy nuisance on some streets and intersections. Cities are trying new technology to pinpoint the problem and, in one city, ticket the offenders.

By Dan Rosenbaum • Feb. 15, 2023

US transportation secretary to county officials: “We are here to help you”

As funding from the landmark infrastructure law rolls out, traffic fatalities and electric vehicle infrastructure were among the leading concerns at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 14, 2023

Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

The tenth Bloomberg CityLab — a global cities summit — will take place in Washington, D.C., this fall.

By Michael Brady • Updated Sept. 5, 2023

San Francisco announces downtown revitalization strategic plan

Mayor London Breed said the downtown road map contains nearly 50 initiatives and nine strategies for revitalizing the neighborhood in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 10, 2023

In EV adoption, most US states lag California by at least 5 years

Greater investment in charging infrastructure could help build consumer acceptance of electric vehicles, auto industry experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers said.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 10, 2023

Massachusetts legislator seeks to break up Greater Boston transit agency

After it was put under federal safety oversight last year, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is now struggling with defective rail cars.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 9, 2023

Uber’s West Coast ride-hailing bookings trail US in return to pre-2020 demand

The company’s gross bookings grew 19% in 2022 over the prior year, with its delivery business up 14%.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 8, 2023

House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects

The Federal Infrastructure Bank would work with state and local partners on private infrastructure investments via loans and loan guarantees, helping finance work such as transportation projects and broadband connectivity.

By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 8, 2023

EVs reduce asthma, air pollution: California study

Researchers at the University of Southern California’s medical school drilled down to ZIP code-level data, revealing fewer electric vehicles and related health benefits in lower-income communities.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 6, 2023

Louisville launches asphalt art crosswalk pilot

The installations by local artists planned for April aim to improve pedestrian safety at four of the city’s major downtown intersections while showcasing its arts and culture.

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 6, 2023

What Denver’s climate office learned from early e-bike rebate enthusiasm

Mike Salisbury, transportation energy lead in the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, explains what inspired the program and how the local government adapted to a huge public response.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2023

US DOT launches roadway safety call to action

Nearly 50 governments, non-government organizations and private-sector partners have committed to taking specific actions this year to reduce roadway deaths.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 3, 2023

Federal agency seeks input on AV safety documentation

With the Department of Transportation pushing to reduce vehicle-related fatalities, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is weighing whether additional federal rules on autonomous vehicle safety are warranted.

By David Taube • Feb. 2, 2023

Transit agencies’ zero-emission bus adoption increased in 2022

California, New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts together added more than 1,500 zero-emission transit buses to their fleets.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 2, 2023

2023 Smart Cities Outlook

In the year ahead, city leaders will face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage and changes in travel behavior and decarbonizing transportation and buildings.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 1, 2023

ChargePoint, Stem strike EV charging and battery storage deal for highway corridor fast-charging networks

Combining charging, battery storage and AI-driven energy management will save money for EV site operators, the companies say.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 1, 2023

US DOT awards $800M toward street safety

The allocation comes from the first funding round of the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, part of the 2021 infrastructure law.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 1, 2023