Subway sandwich chain to install EV charging stations at select stores

The smaller stations will have fast EV chargers that provide a 120-mile charge within 17 minutes for about $20.

EV charging infrastructure is “inadequate and plagued with non-functioning stations”: J.D. Power

Roughly one in five public charging attempts fails, with 72% of them attributed to equipment issues. “Just adding stations isn’t the answer ... we need to make sure those stations are reliable,” one J.D. Power executive said.

New York City aims to improve access for people with disabilities to homeless shelters, affordable housing

Mayor Eric Adams signed four bills to create an accessibility advisory board, mandate signage for power-operated doors, and require new city-funded housing developments to use universal design principles, among other efforts.

Homeless encampment sweeps costly and of limited long-term effectiveness, according to federal research

City spending on clearing encampments in 2019 ranged from $140,000 in Chicago to $4.9 million in San Jose, California.

Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

Biden signs executive order to advance racial equity

The directive requires federal agencies to improve their community outreach, boost investments in underserved communities and address population displacement, among other initiatives.

Virginia county launches smart parking pilot

Arlington County, Virginia, has partnered with eleven-x to install approximately 5,000 sensors in on-street parking spaces, allowing drivers to use signs and an app to get real-time information about parking availability.

Why storefront car crashes happen at convenience stores so often

7-Eleven’s recent $91 million settlement for an accident in its forecourt highlights an alarmingly common — and potentially hazardous — issue.

Baltimore exceeded homeless housing goals in 2022

The city found housing for 1,443 households experiencing homelessness in 2022 and added more than 2,500 affordable housing units to its development pipeline while receiving aid through a federal housing-first program.

EPA report: US transportation CO2 emissions up 14% from 2020 to 2021

A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report cites pickup trucks, SUVs and other light-duty trucks as the largest contributor to emissions from fossil fuels in 2021.

‘Noise cameras’ aim to address vehicle nuisance complaints on city streets

Aftermarket vehicle exhaust systems are a noisy nuisance on some streets and intersections. Cities are trying new technology to pinpoint the problem and, in one city, ticket the offenders.

More people are working from home. Here’s how much it’s costing US cities.

Commuters are spending thousands less on meals, entertainment and shopping near their workplaces each year because they’re working from home more often than before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study.

Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

US transportation secretary to county officials: “We are here to help you”

As funding from the landmark infrastructure law rolls out, traffic fatalities and electric vehicle infrastructure were among the leading concerns at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference.

Los Angeles eyes city properties for homeless shelters, housing

Mayor Karen Bass directed city officials to identify underused or unused properties the city could turn into shelters or permanent housing with on-site supportive services for individuals experiencing homelessness. 

Rents stay flat as landlords aim to cut costs

Rent growth declined year over year, while job growth remains strong and household incomes are stable, according to real estate technology company Yardi Matrix.

Office-to-residential conversions often hinge on government cooperation

Adapting offices for residential use is often more difficult, more expensive and less profitable than new construction, one developer said.

Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

From electric vehicles and micromobility to housing and climate resiliency, here are some notable events for smart city leaders this year.

In EV adoption, most US states lag California by at least 5 years

Greater investment in charging infrastructure could help build consumer acceptance of electric vehicles, auto industry experts from PricewaterhouseCoopers said.

San Francisco announces downtown revitalization strategic plan

Mayor London Breed said the downtown road map contains nearly 50 initiatives and nine strategies for revitalizing the neighborhood in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Super Bowl’s most recent stadiums and how much it cost to build them

SoFi Stadium was just two years old when it first hosted the Super Bowl last year, but Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium has hosted six times since 1987.

Massachusetts legislator seeks to break up Greater Boston transit agency

After it was put under federal safety oversight last year, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is now struggling with defective rail cars.

Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

“Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

Boston touts initial success of composting program as it plans expansion to 20K households

After collecting over 500 tons so far, the city has about 98% participation among households that started last summer.

Uber’s West Coast ride-hailing bookings trail US in return to pre-2020 demand

The company’s gross bookings grew 19% in 2022 over the prior year, with its delivery business up 14%.