The Latest
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Virginia launches cross-state bus service
The state-supported Tidewater Current route links 10 cities from Virginia Beach to Harrisonburg, with a stop at Richmond International Airport.
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Opinion
Stuck in traffic: How to get the urban mobility dream moving
Policy fragmentation, weak incentives and political hesitation are stalling the future of urban mobility. Here’s how cities can break the gridlock.
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The Municipal Cost Index
The Municipal Cost Index is now updated with data from March. See how it stacks up against nearly 50 years of data.
Updated April 20, 2026 -
Q&A
Addressing the housing crisis requires “coordinated action at scale:” affordable housing CEO
Streamlined processes and deeper public-private coordination can spur development in the communities that need affordable housing most, says the new leader of a California housing nonprofit.
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Atlanta transit agency’s revamped bus network starts Saturday
The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority streamlined bus routes for “modern customers using transit in an ever-evolving Atlanta region,” it said.
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Boston eyes water-based thermal network to ease grid strain
The BosTEN initiative explores whether a closed-loop system using thermal energy from the city’s waterways can deliver scalable heating and cooling — and what regulatory hurdles could stop it.
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These 2 cities enacted upzoning policies to boost housing development. It’s working, study says.
New York and Philadelphia generated thousands of housing units and permits in upzoned areas since enacting reforms, but such efforts are “insufficient” on their own, an Urban Institute study found.
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Transit and rail funding cuts in Trump budget ‘a dramatic step backward,’ advocates say
The fiscal year 2027 budget proposal slashes billions from transportation programs and eliminates funding for high-speed rail.
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How much power do cities have over data centers?
A Wisconsin referendum highlights the limits of local authority and the growing need for cities to negotiate community benefits and cost protections, experts say.
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Kentucky cuts ‘red tape’ on affordable housing from faith-based organizations
The bill allowing religious developers to bypass some permitting rules received pushback from an environmental group.
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NYC launches concierge-style service, enhanced web tools to aid Local Law 97 compliance
New resources to help building operators plan retrofits, including resilience planning and expanded workforce development, will cut through red tape, city officials say.
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Uber eyes $10B robotaxi investment: Financial Times
The ride-hailing company may begin a shift from driver-owned vehicles to company-owned robotaxi fleets, according to the newspaper.
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Trump targets ‘bureaucrat tax’ to build more homes
Cutting restrictive zoning and land-use regulations could help spur 13.2 million new homes, according to a White House analysis.
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As the federal government cuts funding, nonprofits are turning to cities
With one-third of nonprofits facing funding disruptions, local governments are emerging as an option to replace lost federal dollars.
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Local government staffing shortages threaten housing development, experts say
Nearly 38% of local government employees are expected to retire within the next five years, one study found.
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Opinion
Why waste diversion pilots struggle to scale
The problem is rarely technology. It’s the upstream behavior inside homes and buildings.
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Mamdani commits to containerizing New York’s residential waste by 2032
New leaders in City Hall are beginning to negotiate the sanitation budget, and they want containerization to be part of the picture. But challenges still lie ahead.
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$657M for ferries available from 3 FTA grant programs
Separately, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $517 million in grants for bridges in rural areas.
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Cool Cities Lab heat-mapping tool helps cities target relief where it’s needed most
From Atlanta’s cool roof ordinance to Boston’s pilot programs, cities are using block-level data to identify heat risks and deploy targeted solutions.
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This city is not just training its staff on AI, it’s educating the public
San José, California, is partnering with OpenAI, Google and Anthropic to make AI tools and education available to residents through the public library.
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Most mayors say market-rate housing development can boost housing affordability
Up to 80% of U.S. mayors say their city needs to develop more multifamily housing, a Boston University survey found. Support for zoning and permitting reform was more muted, however.
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It’s the most dangerous part of a transit bus trip. These experts have ideas to make it safer.
A report from the Center for Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety recommends ways to reduce pedestrian crashes at or near bus stops.
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Retrieved from Tennessee Valley Authority/Wikimedia Commons.
EPA proposes weakening power plant coal ash protections
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the proposal as “commonsense changes,” but environmental advocates say it threatens drinking water.
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How AI is rewiring utility billing in Panama City, Florida
The city replaced a disconnected legacy system with an AI-enabled platform, accelerating payment posting, improving data access and trimming paper costs by 25%, it says.
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How cities can prepare to overcome FIFA World Cup transportation hurdles
Three transit experts offer recommendations for public transit, traffic congestion and coordinating with law enforcement officials.