The Latest
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Robyn Griggs Lawrence/Smart Cities Dive
Plan now for 2027’s top smart city conferences and events
Technology, transportation, housing, climate, finance and more are on the agenda for local government leaders at these upcoming gatherings.
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Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
$130M FRA grant will upgrade Springfield, Massachusetts, train station
The funds will help advance plans for future east-west passenger train service between Boston and Albany, New York.
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2030 census proposal could put city funding, planning at risk: NLC
The Census Bureau’s residency criteria and data-collection changes could hurt university communities, fast-growing cities and places with seasonal residents, the National League of Cities says.
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World Cup’s lessons will help cities, transit agencies with the 2028 Olympics
Transportation investments for mega-events can create “sustainable change in cities,” a consultant said.
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Retrieved from City of South Euclid on October 28, 2026
From 59 zoning codes to 1: That’s the goal of this Ohio county’s streamlining plan
The Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Planning Commission says its proposal would modernize zoning standards, unlock development and reduce barriers across the county’s jurisdictions.
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Facing critical PHP website vulnerabilities, cities urged to shore up systems
The threat to large and medium-sized local governments is categorized as high, and smaller local governments face a medium-level threat, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center said.
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Courtesy of Beta Technologies
FAA issues first eVTOL passenger-carrying flight authorization
Piloted Beta Technologies air taxi flights may carry potential buyers to plan how the air taxi might fit into their business, the company's CEO said.
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OpinionHeat pumps are still expensive. Cities can help.
Cities can use collective purchasing, streamlined permitting and targeted assistance to give residents access to efficient heating and cooling, Elephant Energy’s CEO writes.
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Transit on the ballot in these 11 states
Transportation advocates have high hopes for the Nov. 3 election, which will allow voters to weigh in on measures supporting road, rail, pedestrian and bike infrastructure.
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$10B for PFAS removal proposed in bipartisan House bill
The Protect Clean Water Act would authorize $2 billion annually to extend federal support for contaminant removal and water infrastructure.
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After major zoning reform, Cambridge, Massachusetts, launches dashboard to track housing
The city’s public-facing tracker shows nearly 250 housing projects in various stages of development.
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Baltimore sues rental software platform, apartment owner over alleged junk fees
The city claims that the companies steered tenants “toward fee-generating payment options by obscuring the fees associated with each payment method.”
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FEMAFew states, cities have capacity to handle disasters without FEMA, reports find
States could be expected to shoulder more disaster and recovery costs within six months, but federal reports document staffing and funding shortfalls at state and local emergency management agencies.
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Courtesy of Seattle Social Housing Developer
Seattle social housing hits milestone with land acquisition
The Seattle Social Housing Developer Board will build around 20 mixed-income homes in the city’s Central District. It expects to own 1,000 homes by the end of next year.
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Courtesy of LA Metro
LA Metro breaks ground on 12-mile bus rapid transit corridor
The project will upgrade 26 bus stations along the route and connect with multiple rail lines and other bus routes.
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High housing costs are driving poverty in these 10 states
Above-average housing prices are canceling out the impact of antipoverty programs such as SNAP in some states, a Pew Charitable Trusts analysis found.
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Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
Global conflicts, local consequences: Cities confront rising threats, violence sparked by international events
The Israel-Hamas war has tested U.S. community leaders’ ability to protect residents and maintain social cohesion. A standing crisis protocol can help cities prepare, experts say.
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Local impacts of high transportation costs
Inflation hits commuters, drivers and fliers, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. The impacts can change residents' travel, dining and shopping plans.
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Google unveils agentic AI for government services
The Gemini offering is capable of policy analysis, Freedom of Information Act redactions and assisting with procurement compliance, the company says.
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Good luck finding parking in these big US cities: Inrix report
Drivers in downtown areas must choose between searching for on-street parking or paying high fees at public parking lots and garages, the transportation analytics company found.
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Photo illustration by Spencer Platt/Smart Cities Dive; photograph by Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NYC ‘sanctuary’ rules upheld in court
Citing state sovereignty and the 10th Amendment, a federal judge dismissed the Trump administration’s attempt to override New York City’s restrictions on immigration enforcement cooperation.
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Housing policies on the ballot: What 4 states are asking voters to decide this year
From zoning regulations to bond approvals, the six statewide housing measures up for a vote in November are the most in a single year since 2006, Ballotpedia says.
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Oliver Peric via Getty Images
Got Flock cameras? 6 things to consider
Involve residents, scrutinize vendor contracts, establish clear usage rules and track whether automated license plate readers improve public safety before adopting or expanding the technology, experts say.
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These 3 housing programs are showing results. A new initiative wants to bring them to other cities.
With investments of $450,000 to $750,000 in 14 cities, Bloomberg Philanthropies wants to replicate housing programs from Atlanta, San Diego and Austin, Texas.
Updated Oct. 19, 2026 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
AI, battery-powered trains, transit funding among the highlights of APTA Transform 2026
Mayors, transit leaders and other industry participants showcased new strategies and products at the Chicago conference as the U.S. faces a challenging public transit environment.
