5 ways New York City can overhaul its streets to be more resilient: report

A Regional Plan Association report calls for expanding bike lanes and busways, gradually phasing out free parking, adding green infrastructure to gather stormwater and more.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 13, 2021

Climate adaptation plans from US agencies envision transit resilience, modern building codes

The Biden administration's whole-of-government approach to climate resilience planning has environmental, transportation and housing regulators, among others, mapping out more equitable preparedness in communities.

By Maria Rachal • Oct. 12, 2021

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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

Global urban mobility is key in building financial inclusion across cities of tomorrow

Providing people access to bank accounts and new payment options can open the door to improving their quality of life.

Oct. 11, 2021

Long Beach partners with Mercedes-Benz on connected vehicles, supporting local Smart City Initiative

The California city's partnership, which includes artificial intelligence firm Xtelligent, will help the locality get ahead of new vehicle tech before it becomes commonplace, the local smart cities program manager said. 

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 6, 2021

After biking boom, some cities beef up infrastructure

From bridges to boulevards, Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., are among the major cities spending on protected bike lanes.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 4, 2021

3 years later, city leaders still debating scooter regulations across the US

Pittsburgh is setting new speed and road restrictions for e-scooters, Ann Arbor, Michigan, is approving their use on sidewalks and streets, and Washington, D.C., is considering limiting the number of micromobility providers it will allow.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 29, 2021

Cool pavements research builds as temperatures rise

Arizona State University and MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub researchers recently shared their respective studied benefits and lingering questions about how lighter pavements could impact urban heat island effects.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 24, 2021

We can't forget public transit, walking and cycling in the push to decarbonize transportation

Electric vehicles have lawmakers' attention as one tool to mitigate the climate crisis. But perpetuating private vehicle use won't move the U.S. toward a more equitable transportation future.

By Pooja Shah • Sept. 23, 2021

For gig workers, Prop 22 is a racial equity battleground

Because gig workers largely lack stable pay and ample benefits, barring app-based drivers from employee status may present racial equity issues. Cities like New York, Seattle and Philadelphia are imposing their own standards. 

By Caroline Colvin • Sept. 22, 2021

House committee sets aside $4B for transportation carbon reduction initiatives in reconciliation bill

The legislation requires the Federal Highway Administration to set greenhouse gas performance metrics, wherein states would set emissions targets and receive incentives to meet those goals.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 21, 2021

Construction of Maryland's much-delayed Purple Line to resume early next year

The state plans to pick a new contractor and finalize the cost to finish building the rail line by December.

By Julie Strupp • Sept. 21, 2021

New York City forges ahead with long-debated congestion pricing plan

Public meetings on the plan are set to begin after years of discussion. They come as cities like London have had success with similar schemes and Los Angeles and San Francisco examine the concept.

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 17, 2021

Ford, Argo AI team up with Walmart for autonomous delivery in 3 cities

As more customers become accustomed to same-day and next-day delivery, Walmart said the service will show how autonomous tech can optimize logistics and operations. 

By Max Garland • Sept. 17, 2021

City leaders should expand their purview of electric transportation beyond cars, experts urge

Bringing electrification to underserved communities will require access, collaboration and outreach, and an emphasis on electrifying school buses, public transit, ride-share and more, panelists at an ICF webinar said Tuesday.

By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 16, 2021

California lawmakers withhold $4.2B from high-speed rail project

Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature project, which has seen pushback at the state level, could gain momentum via new federal funding.

By Joe Bousquin • Sept. 15, 2021

As traffic deaths climb, NTSB chair calls for 'fundamental rethink' of transportation planning

"The current approach, which favors automobiles and punishes only drivers for crashes, is clearly not working,” chair of the National Transportation Safety Board said Monday at the Governors Highway Safety Association’s annual conference. 

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 14, 2021

London dives headfirst into micromobility scooter pilot – big city challenges require big city thinking to ensure success

London, one of the last major city holdouts, finally embarked on a scooter pilot, but only after a well-thought-out and thorough preparation and planning period.

Sept. 13, 2021

With longstanding mobility problems back in the spotlight, cities must consider autonomous vehicles

Many historical transportation challenges in the U.S. are returning worse after pandemic lockdowns. Local leaders have a golden opportunity to leverage autonomous vehicles to create more efficient, equitable systems.

By Eric Tanenblatt • Sept. 10, 2021

Advocates call for $10B more in federal transit funding to address inequities, climate change

As transit remains an infrastructure investment sticking point, a coalition is calling on federal lawmakers to restore the original transit funding that a group of bipartisan senators and the White House agreed to in the infrastructure bill.

By Jason Plautz • Sept. 9, 2021

Are federal AV investigations a first step toward federal regulation? Not necessarily, experts say

Even with growing pressure on the federal government to increase autonomous vehicle oversight, industry watchers don't consider new NHTSA investigations into Tesla's Autopilot and similar technologies a sign of impending change. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 7, 2021

3 cities enter accelerator program to help achieve 100% zero-emissions commercial vehicles by 2030

Chicago, San Diego and San Jose, California, each won $100,000 to reduce emissions through local initiatives that include a cargo e-bike pilot and zero-emission neighborhood zone. 

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 3, 2021

OEMs make the economic case for autonomous trucks

Driverless trucks bring safety and improved fuel efficiency to the industry, according to Waymo and TuSimple executives.

By Jim Stinson • Sept. 3, 2021

The Boring Co. wants to build an underground transit loop in flood-prone Fort Lauderdale. Can it be done?

Transportation experts say the project is possible, but building a tunnel under South Florida is expensive. "You can engineer yourself out of any problem," said one expert, but it comes at a cost.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Sept. 1, 2021

Tesla made electric trucks 'cool.' Now fleets face financial hurdles.

Total cost of ownership for electric trucks is more attractive than diesel, a Navistar executive said at ACT Expo. But issues around charging are significant.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 31, 2021

London mayor calls for expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone citywide in 2023

The announcement notes that for the city to hit its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, it must cut car traffic 27% by the end of the decade.

By Jason Plautz • Updated March 4, 2022