USGBC seeks proposals to strengthen new LEED standard

LEED's environmental focus is meant to benefit communities, but it provides financial payoffs for building owners as well. 

By Kim Slowey • July 11, 2019

Using tech to predict earthquake damage

After a major seismic event, assessing the impact on buildings can be a chore, but new technology products can make such work a little easier.  

By Kim Slowey • July 11, 2019

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

The 6 most walkable urban areas

A new report ranked the 30 biggest U.S. metro areas based on the percentage of office, retail and rental multi-family space within walkable urban places. 

By Cailin Crowe • July 9, 2019

Hawaii to combat climate change with carbon-injected concrete

The green concrete can reduce embodied carbon by 25 pounds per cubic yard, according to the state's transportation department.

By Jason Plautz • July 8, 2019

US PIRG calls out 9 wasteful highway projects

The group's fifth Highway Boondoggles report says the projects, which collectively will cost $25 billion, will harm communities and the environment.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 26, 2019

5 takeaways from Sidewalk Labs’ smart city master plan

The 1,500-page "Toronto Tomorrow" plan, released Monday, puts a $1.3 billion price tag on the project with hopes to catalyze $38 billion in investment by 2040.

By Kristin Musulin • June 25, 2019

Construction industry confidence makes a comeback in Q2 report

A new study from USG Corp. and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found two primary drivers of contractor optimism have rebounded.

By Kim Slowey • June 21, 2019

Knight Foundation awards 7 designers transforming public spaces

The inaugural award recognizes leaders who engage communities with innovative public space designs, such as the High Line park in New York.

By Cailin Crowe • June 20, 2019

Keeping city streets clean and clear should be a top priority for any mayor

Residents and commuters deserve the streets around their home and place of work to be clean, safe and secure. That’s table stakes for being a city mayor.

By Michael Allegretti • June 19, 2019

Cycling, walking commissioners criticize 'insufficient' infrastructure in Britain

Safety advocates wrote an open letter claiming the government has wasted "hundreds of millions of pounds" on painted bicycle lanes.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 18, 2019

Providence, RI releases complete streets draft master plan

A key point of the plan is to create a comprehensive "urban trail network" that connects each of the city's neighborhoods.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 14, 2019

FCC to distribute $166M in rural broadband funding for 22 states

The Connect America fund will provide $1.5 billion over 10 years to bring broadband access to 700,000 rural homes and businesses.

By Jason Plautz • June 14, 2019

NYC legislation addresses street design, safety

Council members passed a bill to support Vision Zero principles as New York's traffic deaths have seen an uptick so far this year.

By Katie Pyzyk • June 4, 2019

Police say 8% of Baltimore's CitiWatch cameras don't work

Funding woes and system neglect are cited as causes for the outages, which reportedly affect 59 of the city's 744 closed circuit cameras.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 29, 2019

Report: Mayors shift talking points to reflect health, environmental issues

Infrastructure and economic development remain the biggest concerns, but other areas have moved into the spotlight as city leaders deal with myriad issues.

By Chris Teale • May 24, 2019

To make a more accessible city, turn to the sidewalk

Universities, advocacy groups and startups are all exploring how to bring "big data to accessibility" in order to transform mobility for disabled communities.

By Jason Plautz • May 23, 2019

Bills would improve broadband internet mapping, expand access

Helping policymakers better understand where coverage gaps are should drive investment, while California legislation could make it easier for localities and ISPs to improve and expand coverage.

By Chris Teale • May 20, 2019

Detroit announces $100M road overhaul

The investments will include resurfacing major roads, repairing five bridges and adding new streetscape projects in commercial corridors.

By Jason Plautz • May 17, 2019

Big Ideas for Small Lots NYC announces 5 finalists

The finalists were selected based on quality of design, replicability, and construction feasibility and will move forward to convert their designs into site-specific proposals.

By Kristin Musulin • May 16, 2019

FlashParking sees the future of garages as 'urban mobility hubs'

The company said there are multiple uses for existing structures from staging ride-hailing vehicles to recharging dockless scooters.

By Chris Teale • May 13, 2019

Toyota, Panasonic to form joint venture on smart housing

The partnership is the latest example of automakers looking outside their traditional domain amid rapid changes in mobility.

By Jason Plautz • May 10, 2019

Report: Miami needs 50K housing units to meet existing demand

The Connect Capital Miami report highlights the seriousness of the city's housing affordability crisis and provides recommendations to lessen the problem.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 8, 2019

How VR, 5G and P3s can enhance local hurricane preparedness

Venture Smarter director Rhonda Binda highlighted how the emergence of new tech and collaborative opportunities are helping cities boost resiliency in the face of natural disasters.

By Katie Pyzyk • May 8, 2019

Chicago adds subscription feature to ChiStreetWork portal

The update enables residents to customize alerts regarding construction work and event permits in their selected neighborhoods.

By Katie Pyzyk , Kristin Musulin • Updated March 11, 2020

Medford, MA installs '3D' crosswalk to increase safety

Two students initially proposed the idea to reduce speeding near their school by creating an optical illusion of a floating crosswalk.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 24, 2019