The Latest
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California to conduct unprecedented review of San Francisco’s housing approval processes
While long and complex approval processes that up the cost of housing are common in the U.S., building in San Francisco is especially arduous, the California Department of Housing and Community Development stated.
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Electric bus orders surge, but deliveries lag
Production backlogs hit major transit bus manufacturers due to supply shortages as the demand to electrify bus fleets continues to grow.
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Q&A
New York public housing is poised for electric heating and cooling upgrades from a California startup
Vince Romanin, the CEO of Gradient, discusses the market for heat pumps and a New York City Housing Authority contract to rethink HVAC for residents vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
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EV adoption might be hindered by DMV fees: report
Some of the same states that incentivize EV purchases charge additional fees to EV owners, but they could restructure those fees to align with emissions goals, according to a July RMI report.
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Seattle-area kids can ride transit free starting Sept. 1
Targeted funds from the Move Ahead Washington mass transit package, aimed at developing the next generation of transit riders, will cover costs related to the Sound Transit Board’s new policy.
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Mayors and city leaders voice support for Inflation Reduction Act
The bill, which passed the Senate on Sunday, represents the largest climate investment in U.S. history and has garnered support from cities seeking to lower greenhouse gas emissions and boost resilience.
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Why cities are exploring metaverse technology
Santa Monica, California, and Seoul, South Korea, are among the cities exploring how metaverse technology can improve city services or attract and boost businesses. Still, some people fear it could leave residents behind.
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Michael Appleton. Retrieved from Flickr.
New York City rolling out ‘largest curbside composting program in the nation’ with Queens expansion
After years of budget cuts and political shifts, the Department of Sanitation says this latest organics recycling iteration will be its most cost-effective and efficient approach yet. Drop-off bins are also being added in other boroughs.
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Building performance standards momentum slowly grows in the wake of White House efforts
A Maryland county’s policy represents one of the only major updates so far, but more localities have said they’ll pursue standards. Funds in the Inflation Reduction Act could provide new incentives to decarbonize buildings.
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Cities hope bus-mounted cameras will hold bus lane violators accountable
Baltimore, Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C., are among the cities trying this technology to identify perpetrators, but legal snags and questions about effectiveness remain.
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Uber, Lyft post-pandemic ridership recovery continued in Q2
Executives at the ride-hailing companies reported during earnings calls this week that ridership grew while wait times declined over the past year, as drivers return to the apps following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Yardi: Office-to-multifamily conversions pose cost, logistical challenges
Despite predictions earlier in the pandemic, these conversions have proven to be a “slow, niche trend” that largely delivers high-end housing.
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Grim picture of worsening US housing crisis presented in Senate hearing
While Republican lawmakers blamed the crisis on government regulations, experts and Democrats called for expanded rental protections and measures to expand the nation’s housing stock.
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Boston transit system shutting down a major rail line to fix safety problems
Runaway trains, a fire and long-delayed maintenance issues are prompting a 30-day shutdown of the MBTA’s Orange Line, used daily by around 100,000 people. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said the shutdown “will be tremendously stressful for the region.”
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To meet demand, US needs 4.3M more apartments by 2035
The nation lost 4.7 million affordable units between 2015 and 2020, and now faces a 600,000-unit deficit, according to a new study.
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EV manufacturers, regulators debate US ability to hit 50% sales goal by 2030
The right federal policy and charging infrastructure, as well as solutions to supply chain issues, are critical to meeting the goal of half of new vehicle sales being electric by 2030, said Center for Automotive Research event panelists.
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Deep Dive
Two cities’ approaches to increasing public bathrooms
After officials were confronted with problems linked to the lack of public restrooms, San Francisco committed to improving access. In Seattle, a nonprofit is taking the lead.
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Incentive programs have lured thousands of remote workers from major metro areas to small cities
Nearly four years have passed since Tulsa Remote began promising $10,000 to workers who’d relocate to the Oklahoma city for at least one year. Here’s where that program and similar efforts stand today.
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Florin, Fabrice. (2016). "Oakland Visit" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
$2.8B for homeless services available from HUD
Rapid re-housing and services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as programs that address youth homelessness, are explicit targets of this year's funding.
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Federal Highway Administration announces $7.3B in grants for transportation resilience
Communities can use these funds to prepare highway, transit, pedestrian, bicycle and port facilities to better withstand natural disasters.
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Q&A
Congressman Seth Moulton looks to bring true high-speed rail to American cities
A longtime high-speed rail advocate, Moulton wants Congress and the private sector to pave the way for bullet trains across the U.S., saying federal dollars favor highways and development in coastal cities.
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High-speed rail efforts in the US: a history
Decades of plans and money have so far failed to bring a bullet train to the United States. Three projects that are underway hope to change that.
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For his new smart desert city, billionaire Marc Lore eyes Nevada, Utah and Arizona
During a town hall in New York City, the Diapers.com founder and his team envisioned Telosa having dozens of “15-minute cities” and a resident-controlled endowment to help pay for government services.
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The top 10 US metro areas for construction starts
The value of the commercial and multifamily sectors rose in top metro areas in the first half of 2022, per a new report.
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EVs are the fastest-selling used cars in 9 major metro areas
Cities in California, Colorado, Florida, Texas and Pennsylvania saw buyers choose used electric vehicles at faster rates than gas-powered vehicles. The data could help cities determine where demand for EV chargers will grow.