The Latest

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  Arizona housing bill rejected by state Senate over affordability, local control worries

  Gov. Katie Hobbs, D, also opposed the bill, telling reporters in February that she didn’t support “a one-size-fits-all approach” to address the state’s growing affordable housing and homelessness crises.

  Housing

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  $10 million US DOT grant to NYU supports smart transportation policy efforts

  The grant is one of 34 awards, totaling $435 million, for university transportation centers announced in February.

  Transportation

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  California court defends independent contractor status for gig workers

  A California court upheld the independent contractor provision of Prop 22 but struck down portions that would’ve made it almost impossible to amend the law. 

  Transportation

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  $700 million for community EV charging now available from federal grant program

  Cities, counties, other local governments and tribes can apply for grants for public charging in urban and rural communities.

  Transportation

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  Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

  The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

  Transportation

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  Can tech startups make delivery less of a headache for cities?

  The proliferation of delivery services was a boon during the pandemic, but traffic, parking and labor concerns have followed. Tech and startup leaders spoke recently about how to reduce those impacts.

  Transportation

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  Dynamic curbs could make cities more livable but would require getting more people out of cars, experts say

  During the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, cities allowed sidewalk dining streeteries and parklets. Now they’re “tearing half of them down to turn them back into parking spots,” a Lyft executive said.

  Transportation

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  Massachusetts governor seeks to expand intercity passenger train service to Western Massachusetts

  With Western Massachusetts currently served by just one daily round-trip train from Boston, Gov. Maura Healey's proposed fiscal 2024 budget includes $12.5 million for the East-West rail project.

  Transportation

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  HUD chief targets rental fees, tenant screening

  Secretary Marcia Fudge says landlords should eliminate “duplicative, excessive and undisclosed fees” and identify “bottom-line” amounts tenants will pay.

  Housing

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  Biden 2024 budget asks Congress to allow transit capital funds to be used for operating expenses

  The “historic policy change” could stave off drastic fare hikes and service cuts as transit agencies face budget shortfalls in the coming years.

  Transportation

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  More than $175B in housing investments in Biden budget proposal

  One $10 billion mandatory measure would create incentives for state and local governments to eliminate barriers to affordable housing, such as restrictive zoning. 

  Housing

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  Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

  The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

  Buildings & Design

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  Philadelphia kicks off project to reconnect Chinatown neighborhood divided by expressway

  The Chinatown Stitch project will develop a plan to “cap” a less than one-mile stretch of Interstate 676, called the Vine Street Expressway, that split the community more than 30 years ago.

  Transportation

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  New transit workforce dashboard can help agencies tackle labor shortages

  The dashboard creates a one-stop shop for “visualizations and digestible information about the transit workforce” that will be continually updated, the Transit Workforce Center said.

  Transportation

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  The cities with the highest, lowest rental vacancy rates

  The national vacancy rate has held relatively steady over the past four quarters, according to Census data.

  Housing

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  Self-driving cars have people worried: survey

  Although manufacturers tout their potential to reduce accidents, "driverless vehicles are nowhere near ready for prime time," a safety advocate said.

  Transportation

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  To fight e-bike fires, New York state and city lawmakers crack down on unsafe batteries, chargers

  “Reconditioned and untested batteries are contributing to a serious threat to the health and safety of New Yorkers in their homes and in their jobs,” state Sen. Liz Krueger said.

  Transportation

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  NYC cuts proposed delivery worker wage floor by almost $4

  Grubhub, Uber Eats and DoorDash persuaded the city to reduce its 2025 target base pay by $3.86 an hour, arguing workers would be compensated by “multi-apping.”

  Transportation

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  San Francisco transit agencies face “worst-case scenarios” for revenue, potential service cuts, leaders say

  California, facing a $22 billion budget shortfall, may cut state funding for transportation just as major transit agencies struggle to regain riders and find new revenues.  

  Transportation

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  US DOT and Austin, Texas, launch first-of-its-kind $22 billion transportation partnership

  It’s the first time the Transportation Department has entered an emerging projects agreement with a city to fast-track networks of related projects rather than using a piecemeal approach.

  Transportation

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  Colorado’s lead composter imposes stricter accepted materials rules to curb contamination

  A1 Organics says contamination rates are growing as curbside composting programs expand. Even items labeled "compostable" no longer will be accepted.

  Climate & Resilience

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  Affordable houses were scarce in 2022 due to mortgage rates, supply: Redfin

  The number of affordable homes listed for sale in the U.S. fell 53% from 2021 to 2022, according to a Redfin report. Black and Hispanic households struggled with affordability more than White and Asian households.

  Housing

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  National League of Cities calls for congressional action to improve rail safety

  The letter calls for specific improvements to rail safety as legislators consider new bipartisan action in response to the Ohio train derailment in February.

  Transportation

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  EPA unveils cybersecurity oversight for public drinking water systems

  “Cyberattacks that are targeting water systems pose a real and significant threat to our security,” said Radhika Fox, assistant administrator for the EPA Office of Water, during a teleconference with reporters.

  Energy & Utilities

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  Federal infrastructure funds begin to flow, mostly to roadwork

  Spending on roadway contracts in 2022 was more than 29 times higher than spending on rail and transit contracts, according to American Road & Transportation Builders Association data.

  Transportation

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