The Latest

  • An installed Portland Loo public toilet. Philadelphia plans to install six Portland Loos starting this fall.
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    Permission granted by The Portland Loo

    Phoenix launches 24-hour public restroom pilot at a homeless shelter

    The city will install The Portland Loo, which was created to help cities and nonprofits provide people experiencing homelessness with access to a public restroom.

  • New York City Mayor Eric Adams delivers second state of the city address at the Queens Theatre in Queens, New York, on Jan. 26, 2023.
    Image attribution tooltip
    (2023). "Mayor Eric Adams Delivers Second State of the City Address" [Video]. Retrieved from NYC Mayor's Office.

    New York to have citywide curbside composting by end of 2024, mayor says

    The timeline gives the city less than two years to bring curbside composting to all five boroughs, a long-held goal that has eluded city officials through administration changes and budget cuts.

  • A building with a wooden exterior.
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    IGphotography via Getty Images

    How green building policy could evolve in 2023

    After reducing energy use in buildings, cutting embodied carbon is next on the green policy agenda for state and local leaders, potentially prompting a shift from concrete and steel to materials like timber or straw, experts say.

  • Red and white Tesla cars are parked in front of a brick showroom in Brooklyn with a Tesla sign on the building.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images

    Tesla sets sales record as safety concerns mount

    California banned automakers from advertising self-driving capabilities that still require a driver in control, while NHTSA is investigating Tesla’s Autopilot system.

  • An electric bus charging on a public street.
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    Scharfsinn86/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Illinois investing nearly $114 million in downstate transit

    The money will go to a wide range of transportation improvements, including electric and hybrid-electric transit vehicles, electric vehicle charging stations, new bus shelters, solar panel installations and facility expansions.

  • A person scrapes kitchen waste into a bin.
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    Pixavril via Getty Images

    Analysis of local climate action plans and solid waste planning shows overlapping opportunities

    Environmental services firm HDR examined hundreds of solid waste-related actions across city and county climate action plans.

  • President Joe Biden speaking at a podium
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Eisen / Stringer via Getty Images

    Biden administration announces actions to protect renters, bill of rights blueprint

    The White House released a blueprint Wednesday for creating a renter's bill of rights that includes protection principles such as having access to safe, decent and affordable housing and clear and fair leases.

  • A person rides a scooter on a city crosswalk.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

    Walkable urban areas are popular but have an affordability problem: report

    People are paying a premium to live in dense and walkable neighborhoods, according to new data analysis, which could be a bright spot for downtowns impacted by pandemic-era work changes.

  • People look on as a tow truck pulls a car out of a flooded intersection on January 04, 2023 in Mill Valley, California.
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    Justin Sullivan/Getty Images via Getty Images

    DOT provides $29.4M to repair California roads damaged by floods

    The money will support efforts by the state transportation department and four federal agencies to fix highways, bridges and other infrastructure.

  • An aerial view over El Paso, Texas shows tightly-packed buildings in the foreground with brown hills in the background.
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    Sandy Huffaker via Getty Images

    El Paso to reconnect neighborhoods divided by highway with deck plaza

    The Texas city will work with Stantec on the design and planning for a downtown public space with regional amenities over Interstate 10, which might also be widened as part of the project.

  • Two double-deck silver passenger trains are at a station in Northern California on a gray, wet day.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Caltrain on January 24, 2023

    Cost of proposed San Francisco commuter, high-speed rail tunnel grows to $6.7B

    The 1.3-mile tunnel would bring commuter trains to the downtown transit center, but pre-pandemic ridership hasn't returned along the line.

  • A bike-share docking station early in the morning.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Predrag Vuckovic/E+ via Getty Images

    Phoenix chooses Lime, Spin for shared micromobility program

    The operators will permanently rent electric scooters and bikes, traditional pedal bikes and adaptive bikes. The city expects those added options will help amid an expected flux in Super Bowl visitors next month.

  • Exterior view of multifamily residential building under construction in Palo Alto
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sundry Photography via Getty Images

    Housing supply accelerator campaign brings together elected leaders, community planners

    The program from the National League of Cities and the American Planning Association aims to address U.S. housing crisis by identifying local best practices and policies on zoning, housing development and preservation.

  • A large glass enclosed balcony with a small sofa, tables and various home decor.
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    Marcus Lindstrom via Getty Images

    Apartment demand drops to lowest level since 2009

    Market indicators point to higher absorption in 2023, but consumer confidence needs a rebound first.

  • E-bikes in a city.
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    ABBPhoto via Getty Images

    2023 could see more tiny vehicles, significant transportation investments, experts say

    Transportation experts, including a former New York City transportation commissioner, shared some of their trends to watch this year during a virtual event hosted by America Walks.

  • Aerial view of Oakland, California.
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    trekandshoot/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Oakland, California, aims to improve curb management with smart loading zones

    The city is working with tech company Populus to allow commercial fleet operators to automatically pay for curb use by the minute to address growing deliveries and crowded curbs.

  • bp
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from BP and Hertz press release.

    Mayors partner with Hertz on rental EVs and public charging

    Shell also recently announced it’s buying charging network operator Volta in a $169 million deal, and electric charging equipment supplier Tritium is getting its largest-ever order from BP.

  • HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge
    Image attribution tooltip
    Drew Angerer/Getty Images via Getty Images

    HUD reintroduces rule to combat housing discrimination

    A new version of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule will again require cities seeking federal funds to explain how housing segregation exists in their communities and their plan to address it.

  • A no parking sign in a city.
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    Garrett Aitken/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Chicago may test parking enforcement tech to cut traffic deaths

    Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the technology could help the city address its rising traffic fatalities, which climbed over 50% between 2019 and 2021.

  • Passengers walk along a platformat a station next to a bilevel Amtrak train with hillside trees in the background.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski

    Amtrak to replace 40-year-old rail cars on long-distance trains

    The nation’s passenger rail company will use funding from the 2021 infrastructure law to upgrade its long-distance trains.

  • EV charging
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Deep Dive

    Electric vehicles near ‘tipping point’ in 2023

    Key developments for EV adoption this year include implementing federal incentives, developing a national charging network and addressing utility issues, according to transportation, energy and real estate professionals.

  • Shared bikes parked at bike station.
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    NickyLloyd/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Micromobility could see growth in 2023, industry experts say

    While micromobility will continue to deal with economic headwinds, improved accessibility and local investments in micromobility infrastructure may support its long-term growth, researchers and transportation professionals said.

  • Water crashing over bridge during Hurricane Harvey in Kemah, Texas.
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    Eric Overton/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

    Nearly all US mayors worry about climate change’s local effects: report

    Mayors said their regulatory powers, especially building codes and zoning, are their most effective tools to address climate change. But they are reluctant to limit residents’ behavior or the use of old technology.

  • Indianapolis city skyline at sunset
    Image attribution tooltip
    RudyBalasko via Getty Images

    Indianapolis aims to build affordable housing on city-owned properties

    The Vacant to Vibrant program will leverage $4.5 million in American Rescue Plan funds to entice nonprofits, community development corporations and developers to build affordable rental or homeownership units on city lots.

  • Four people in suits sit at a table, the two in the middle are signing documents.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by AASHTO

    Transit agencies agree to share certification of minority contractors

    Chicago and Philadelphia’s reciprocal arrangement for disadvantaged businesses could become a national model, organizers say.