The Latest
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Office-to-residential conversions are tough. Could dorm-style co-living be the answer?
Microapartments with shared bathrooms and kitchens could suit service workers, retirees and young professionals and cost 25% to 35% less than converting offices to traditional apartments, Pew and Gensler researchers said.
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Massachusetts investing in commuter rail to relieve traffic congestion
“Our roads are at a standstill,” the state’s transportation secretary said at a conference last week, detailing how the state is making passenger rail a priority.
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13 multifamily housing-related ballot measures to watch in November
While California’s proposition to remove limits on local rent control has attracted national headlines, other jurisdictions also have initiatives focused on addressing housing challenges.
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Transportation costs soared in major US cities over the past 10 years
Inflation was the leading driver of higher transportation costs in 10 major cities, according to the New York state comptroller. The average household spent over $12,700 on transportation in the 2022-2023 period.
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Opinion
Communities could lose unspent ARPA funds in December if they don’t do this
Governments generally must “obligate” the funds, which requires more than passing a budget or earmarking them for use.
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Food waste responsible for 14% of US methane emissions, report finds
The top solution for addressing food waste-related methane is centralized composting, says a report issued by ReFED with the support of the Global Methane Hub.
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What does it take to decarbonize a manufactured home community?
A community-scale retrofit project in Colorado offers a path toward lowering power bills for a population that faces high levels of energy insecurity.
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Intercity bus operators won’t be forced out of Chicago’s main bus terminal just yet
As the owner of Chicago’s bus station gears up to sell the site, FlixBus and Greyhound have found a stopgap allowing them to continue using the terminal.
Updated Oct. 23, 2024 -
San Francisco’s ban on rent-setting software takes effect
The software allows residential landlords to indirectly coordinate, raising rents, lowering occupancy rates and increasing evictions, lawmakers say. Similar bans are under consideration in San Diego and Philadelphia.
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13 green infrastructure projects get $60M across New York
The devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton is a reminder of how urgent resilience investments are, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.
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Maryland DOT plans transit-oriented development along commuter rail line
The plan seeks to add 2,600 new housing units while increasing transit use and reducing traffic congestion.
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EV owners can store more energy from the grid with GM Energy’s new ‘PowerBank’
The stationary energy storage unit can provide power to a home during an outage or help offset higher electricity rates during peak times.
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Proterra electric buses recalled for potential fire issue
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a recall affecting about 483 Proterra buses. Phoenix Motorcars, which acquired Proterra's transit bus division, will provide a free remedy for vehicle owners.
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Platform compiles ‘proven solutions’ to urban challenges, from air pollution to homelessness
Bloomberg Philanthropies' Cities Idea Exchange added programs and policies that it says have a track record of stoking stakeholder interest and attracting investment.
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Serve Robotics debuts faster, larger delivery robots to be deployed in 2 cities
The sidewalk robots, which are outfitted with new safety measures, will hit the streets in coming months as part of Serve's deal with Uber Eats.
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Transit agencies document equity efforts in APTA report
Hiring dedicated equity executives, requiring analyses prior to system changes and partnering on services for those experiencing homelessness are among the efforts named in the American Public Transportation Association report.
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Urban agriculture gets $9M boost from USDA
Local groups in 10 cities are getting funds to connect urban food producers to federal services.
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How local zero-waste efforts can benefit from state resources
Massachusetts and Colorado are helping municipalities leverage funding and technical assistance that may not often be accessible to smaller communities, said speakers at the National Zero Waste Conference.
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9 bike-friendly laws signed by California governor
Bicycle advocates cheered laws that spur bike and pedestrian infrastructure construction, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that advocates hoped would rein in driver speeding.
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Opinion
Eviction data is lacking. Here’s how local governments can help.
Local leaders need to understand the magnitude of the housing crisis in their area to act on it, a Princeton Eviction Lab representative says.
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Uber spurs electric vehicle use with pop-ups in 4 cities, new features
An AI-powered virtual assistant for EV-curious drivers is among the ride-share giant’s expanded green product suite.
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Tesla promises driverless robotaxi by 2027
CEO Elon Musk also announced that fully autonomous versions of Tesla's Model 3 and Model Y vehicles would begin driverless tests in California and Texas next year.
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Green roofs on bus shelters are Boston’s latest climate resilience move
It's the nation’s largest single installation of green roofs on bus shelters, the city says. It hopes the infrastructure will ease stress on Boston’s aging drainage system.
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How to address a key building decarbonization barrier: the ‘split incentive gap’
While landlords and developers foot the bill for efficiency upgrades, tenants benefit from lower energy costs. A Sustainable Markets Initiative road map outlines policies and other ways to address the mismatch.
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Gas utility faces climate deception lawsuit by Oregon county
It's the first time a U.S. community has sued a gas utility for allegedly deceiving the public about the climate impacts of fossil fuels, advocates say.