Governance & Finance
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Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
Steep insurance cost increases loom for commuter rail
With liability insurance costs expected to rise nearly 24% next year, a bipartisan bill would give Amtrak, Brightline and commuter rail operators more time to obtain it.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 20, 2025 -
Permission granted by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
StadiumsAs stadium boom resumes, ‘private funding’ often comes with public strings
Cities eager to tout privately financed sports stadiums are still spending big through tax breaks, land deals and public financing that shift costs back to taxpayers.
By Vicky Uhland • Oct. 20, 2025 -
Permission granted by Thomasville Parks and Recreation
Great leadership builds more than facilities: Exemplary Public Servant Cory Tobin
The Thomasville, North Carolina, parks and recreation director led development and construction of a state-of-the-art community center that delivers long-term community benefits without raising costs.
By Lori Tobias • Oct. 16, 2025 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Chicago transit agencies propose fare hikes, restate 2026 budgets
Hope now rides with the Illinois General Assembly to provide state funding that could prevent rail and bus service cuts.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 15, 2025 -
Getty Images
How the government shutdown is (and isn’t) impacting housing funds for cities
Previously approved federal housing funding streams remain available, but staff reductions could threaten core functions.
By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 8, 2025 -
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Florida leaders used state DOGE effort to call out ‘wasteful spending.’ Communities are pushing back.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state CFO primarily criticized funding used for equity and LGBT-related initiatives as wasteful.
By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 7, 2025 -
The image by Renelibrary is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Guiding a small but growing city: Exemplary Public Servant John Noblitt
The Sanger, Texas, city manager obtained more reliable electricity, worked toward a larger wastewater treatment plant and helped attract the city’s first supermarket.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 7, 2025 -
Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
Trump blocks Chicago funding as Illinois moves forward with $50.6B infrastructure plan
The White House froze $2.1 billion in funding for a transit rail line and a viaduct project as federal and local officials battle over diversity and inclusion.
By Sebastian Obando • Oct. 7, 2025 -
Permission granted by Skyler Barton, Prescott Valley, Arizona
Municipalities join forces to conserve more than 2,000 acres of diverse Arizona landscape
The land is on its way to becoming a shared regional park with connected hiking and biking trails.
By Ryan Kushner • Oct. 3, 2025 -
Win McNamee via Getty Images
Trump administration freezes $18B for NY-NJ region transportation projects
The Transportation Department said a review of the projects would take more time because of the government shutdown.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 2, 2025 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
Top smart city conferences in 2026
Technology, housing, climate action, transportation, public safety and more take center stage at events for local government leaders in 2026.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Oct. 1, 2025 -
Permission granted by Mike McMonagle, EDC Lancaster
Horse-drawn carts? High-tech manufacturing? Lancaster County wants to be known for both.
With urban redevelopment, public-private partnerships and diversified manufacturing, the county wants to become a destination for opportunity and growth while honoring its Amish and agrarian roots.
By Michelle Havich • Sept. 15, 2025 -
Adobe Stock | 376633906 | releon8211
Sponsored by NeumoBalancing business taxes: A better approach to local tax collections for cities and counties
Budget-strapped cities turn to local business taxes—but are they prepared to manage them effectively?
Sept. 15, 2025 -
Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
Sponsored by TomTom[Podcast] Key trends in urban mobility transformation
In this podcast series, explore trending topics related to the larger theme of urban mobility transformation challenges and opportunities.
By Smart Cities Dive's studioID • Updated July 10, 2025 -
(2022). "I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project Complete" [Video]. Retrieved from Virginia Department of Transportation.
How one firm uses digital twins to develop large transportation infrastructure projects
The technology can help build buy-in, minimize costly errors and facilitate monitoring and maintenance, a Bentley Systems senior director says.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 9, 2025 -
Permission granted by Schneider Electric
Sponsored by Schneider ElectricCreating economic opportunity through facility modernization
Cut costs, boost growth: your city’s future starts with facility planning.
Sept. 8, 2025 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
Local governments press online payments
About half of local governments cover credit and debit card costs such as fees to encourage online payments, one payments system executive said.
By Justin Bachman • Sept. 5, 2025 -
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Trump grantmaking order heightens uncertainty for city funding
The new rule directs federal agencies to align awards with Trump’s policies and gives them power to revoke funds already in place. This threatens the stability of health, safety and infrastructure projects, cities and counties say.
By Danielle McLean • Aug. 26, 2025 -
Courtesy of SEPTA News
Philadelphia judge temporarily halts SEPTA cuts and fare hikes
The ruling relates to a lawsuit filed last week alleging the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s actions would disproportionately harm disadvantaged riders.
By Dan Zukowski • Updated Sept. 3, 2025 -
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As federal funding dries up, 72% of Michigan city leaders fear fiscal problems: survey
Uncertainty and limited capacity are factors in local governments' lack of preparation, researchers said.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 25, 2025 -
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
FTA seeks to eliminate environmental criteria from capital investment grant guidelines
The Federal Transit Administration requests public comment on updated guidelines that would remove the “social cost of carbon” calculation and make broader changes to the multibillion-dollar program.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 22, 2025 -
Getty Images
Salesforce debuts AI agents for city services
The tool joins a growing field of AI products intended to increase local government efficiency and responsiveness.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 21, 2025 -
Getty Images
Dallas says it’s the first major Texas city to use AI for procurement
The city’s partnership with Hazel AI aims to cut costs, boost transparency and expand access for small and local businesses.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 13, 2025 -
Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via Getty Images
After federal job cuts, initiative aims to redirect talent to local government roles
Kansas City, Missouri, is the first city to pilot a Spotlight Cities program that matches laid-off federal workers with local government jobs.
By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 11, 2025 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Tariffs make transit buses more expensive
North American bus manufacturer New Flyer reported strong demand for transit buses and a shift away from zero-emission vehicles in its second-quarter earnings call.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 4, 2025
