The Latest
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How 5 commuter railroad leaders envision their future
“The face of commuter rail is evolving,” one commuter railroad CEO told lawmakers during a House Transportation and Infrastructure subcommittee hearing.
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Air quality data is now widely available, but what should communities do with it?
With air quality sensors now costing as little as $100, some communities are hoping for more federal guidance on how to use them to support decision-making and regulation.
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Maryland doubles fines in road work zones
The legislation, which raises maximum fees for those caught speeding in construction areas, comes a year after six workers were killed in what police say was a speeding-related collision.
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Amtrak taking lead on Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project
Bullet trains could be running by the 2030s, said Amtrak's head of high-speed rail development programs, but the company is still conducting due diligence.
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‘Street to home, same day’: LA’s master leasing program to tackle homelessness
The city plans to rent out blocks of housing units and sublease them to tenants who might otherwise struggle to qualify for rentals.
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Suburban office markets show better rent growth, lower vacancy rates than urban ones: Moody’s
Top-performing properties had less access to local amenities, a Moody’s analysis found, challenging the common belief that high-performing properties must be in growing parts of metropolitan areas.
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Electric bus, railcar purchases sought by Chicago-based transit authority
The region’s three major transit agencies are hoping $375 million in Inflation Reduction Act funds will usher along their transition to zero-emission fleets by 2040.
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You’ve heard of the Peace Corps? Meet the Economic Recovery Corps.
The first 65 fellows are bringing planning, development, entrepreneurship, public administration and other relevant experience to projects in U.S. host communities.
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LA Metro completes 5-year Purple Line tunneling project
The agency referred to the tunnel as a feat of modern engineering. This milestone didn’t come without hurdles, however.
Updated April 18, 2024 -
Philadelphia transit agency cancels railcar contract with China-based supplier
CRRC MA failed to deliver any of the 45 double-decker passenger cars ordered in a 2017 contract. Subway cars from CRRC MA for a Massachusetts transit agency have been plagued by defects.
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Boston teams with climate tech company to map floods as they happen
The low-lying coastal city will use the technology to target alerts, evacuations and post-disaster resources to the neighborhoods that most need the support.
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House bill aims to turn unused or underused government facilities into affordable housing
The U.S. General Services Administration, along with two other federal agencies, would be required to report to Congress on federal properties that are suitable for residential conversion.
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Transit worker safety the focus of FTA plan updates
Meant to address bus collisions, assaults on transit workers and other risks, the updates to Federal Transit Administration rules would also give transit workers more say in workplace safety.
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Notable 2024 conferences for smart city leaders
Newly added events focus on building energy codes, micromobility, economic development and transportation electrification.
Updated April 15, 2024 -
80 transportation infrastructure resilience projects get $830M from USDOT
The grants are the first of their kind dedicated to protecting surface transportation systems from climate change-driven extreme weather, the agency said.
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High-speed rail project in Texas gets high-level US, Japan support
The Texas Central project would connect Dallas and Houston using Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train technology. Amtrak announced its involvement in August.
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5 ways cities can accelerate EV charger deployments equitably
Seek community input, learn from other cities, reduce regulatory barriers and other ideas from participants in the DOE’s Clean Energy to Communities Program.
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Cruise robotaxis will return to Phoenix to collect mapping data
It's the company's first deployment of vehicles on public roads since it recalled its robotaxis last fall.
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How transit agencies can succeed at outsourcing operations
A new report from the Eno Center for Transportation delves into public transportation best practices for a successful relationship with the private sector.
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DOE awards $27M for communities to plan a clean-energy future
This is the first funding round for the Energy Future Grants initiative, which launched last year to help communities plan for transportation and building electrification, microgrids and solar projects.
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Elon Musk teases Tesla robotaxi
The CEO’s announcement comes five years after he first told investors Tesla expected to put one million robotaxis on the road in 2020.
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Transit ridership up 16% in 2023: APTA report
While ridership on public transportation reached 79% of pre-pandemic levels last year, stark differences emerged across transit modes and cities.
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Biden has proposed ‘the boldest housing plan in a generation,’ his economic advisor says
The plan would expand tax credits for affordable housing developers, a proven way to boost supply, National Economic Advisor Lael Brainard said.
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How cities are building out public EV charging infrastructure
As more electric vehicles hit the road, municipalities and property owners are working with contractors to deploy EV chargers at libraries, airports, parks and other sites.
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This city wants to deconstruct buildings to balance climate goals with growth
Tacoma, Washington’s city council recently directed the city manager to propose ways to boost deconstruction and salvage in the community. It may be challenging given that demolition is often cheaper and easier.