Urban agriculture offers food, climate, cooling benefits — and can pay for itself: report

However, such projects face workforce development challenges and competition for land, say authors of a report presented last week to a San Antonio City Council subcommittee.

By Ysabelle Kempe • June 2, 2023

Without chief heat officers, how can smaller cities respond to extreme heat?

“Not every community can afford to have a full-time chief heat officer, so what is the structure that works for smaller and medium-sized communities?” a University of Arizona researcher asked.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 31, 2023

DOT’s Reconnecting Communities highway removal program lacks performance measures: GAO report

The Government Accountability Office report comes as El Paso, Texas; New York City and Philadelphia are looking into decking over major highways that split communities. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 31, 2023

$400M for low-emission school buses available from EPA grant program

The zero- and low-emission school bus funding has a “particular focus on reducing air pollution in disadvantaged communities overburdened by dirty air," said David Cash, EPA New England regional administrator.

By Stephen Singer • May 31, 2023

Shared micromobility boosts job access when linked with public transit: report

While other analyses often make cars falsely appear faster than other modes, this study may provide a more accurate assessment by accounting for factors such as traffic congestion and how people use micromobility, researchers said.

By Michael Brady • May 30, 2023

How AI can advance, harm transportation equity

“Responsible AI” is critical because “AI has the potential to either exacerbate or alleviate existing biases and discrimination in transportation,” one researcher said during a Transportation Research Board webinar.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 29, 2023

Shared micromobility companies recommended model regulations. Here’s what they didn’t mention.

Bird, Lime, Spin and Superpedestrian’s recommendations largely leave out safety, infrastructure and community engagement concerns, researchers and micromobility consultants said.

By Michael Brady • May 26, 2023

Government workers see benefits of in-person work, but they don’t want mandates: survey

Government employees said they were concerned about how more in-person work will affect their work/life balance, commute time, costs and stress.

By Laurel Kalser • May 25, 2023

Why cities are investing in government-run gig work platforms

Long Beach, California, was the first U.S. city to launch its own gig-work platform. Now others are considering following suit.

By Gaby Galvin • May 24, 2023

NYC region faces significant health inequities: report

All decisions made in the region, from building more housing to expanding highways, affect public health outcomes, one of the report's authors said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 24, 2023

Collecting data to support energy-burdened communities poses unique challenges, experts say

Census data isn’t collected often enough to reflect neighborhood demographic shifts, and asking communities to self-report can present additional burdens, panelists said at a clean energy summit.

By Diana DiGangi • May 24, 2023

Can Boston improve pedestrian safety with redesigned streets, intersections? It’s about to find out.

City leaders hope a new initiative will reduce speeding and crashes by installing more speed humps, redesigning intersections and making traffic signals more pedestrian-friendly.

By Michael Brady • May 24, 2023

The ‘infrastructure decade’ is here, but challenges loom for local governments at the helm

“Money is flowing, grant applications are live, private capital is ready to move. But there are real constraints to achieving public goals,” Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Adie Tomer said at an event last week.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 23, 2023

Salary ranges are growing in tech hub job postings, Indeed finds

California and Washington were home to seven of the top 10 areas with the largest one-year salary range increases, the employment website found. Both states have large technology talent hubs, including San Francisco and Seattle.

By Roberto Torres • May 23, 2023

In San Jose, city climate plans must have ‘the cool factor’

After winning a national climate leadership award, the city’s chief sustainability officer discussed how libraries can win over electric stove skeptics and how house parties might boost community engagement.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 22, 2023

Feds to give ‘first-of-its-kind’ homelessness support to California and 5 cities

The “ALL INside” initiative will work closely for up to two years with selected communities, including Dallas and Chicago, offering each the assistance of a dedicated federal official.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 19, 2023

New federal guidance unveiled for bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility projects

The Federal Highway Administration wants to ensure “that biking, walking and other ways to travel are safe, convenient and enjoyable for everyone,” Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

By Michael Brady • May 19, 2023

Los Angeles mayor announces next steps in plan to build shelters, housing on city properties

Mayor Karen Bass said she would spend the rest of her term trying to make “the disposition and development of City owned land faster, cheaper, and more streamlined” in a Tuesday letter to the public.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 18, 2023

How NYC is preparing its infrastructure for extreme weather

Thu-Loan Dinh, who helps lead infrastructure design for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, discusses the agency’s biggest resilience concerns and how to address them.

By Julie Strupp • May 17, 2023

Why Boston is turning bus stops into digital pop-up libraries

Users are not required to have a library card or download an app to access the primarily English- and Spanish-language offerings.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 16, 2023

NYC hotel reopens as asylum seeker center

The reopening of the Roosevelt Hotel will give the city a space to offer resources and short-term housing to a rising number of asylum seekers.

By Jenna Walters • May 16, 2023

A ‘tech hub’ in your city? Commerce Department launches application process for $500M in grants

The program will focus on key technology areas such as artificial intelligence and batteries. Its first phase will designate at least 20 “tech hubs” with the potential to be globally competitive innovation centers in the next decade. 

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 15, 2023

Rents continue rising, with moderate growth expected through 2023

Major U.S. metros, except Phoenix and Las Vegas, experienced rent increases from March to April, a new report found.

By Mary Salmonsen • May 15, 2023

How Bird, Lime, Spin and Superpedestrian want cities to regulate shared e-bikes and scooters

The companies’ recommendations come as many shared micromobility pilots end, and local governments make them permanent. 

By Michael Brady • May 15, 2023

Chicago environmental justice order signed as mayor’s term ends

The order requires the completion of a citywide environmental justice data project, creates a new environmental justice coordinator role and calls for community engagement standards.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 12, 2023