US DOT proposes streamlining land leases along roads, railroads for utility needs

Revenues from the leases could fund repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, tunnels and railroads along the corridors, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 28, 2026

10 best cities for work, according to a job search site

Indeed’s new report looks beyond salaries, highlighting how cities can balance wages and career opportunities with job access, flexibility and economic opportunity to attract workers.

By Stephanie Kanowitz • Aug. 26, 2026

NLC program offers AI to assist local governments with cybersecurity efforts

The National League of Cities is partnering with CyberAlliance to offer an AI-powered platform that provides risk assessments and guidance.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 24, 2026

125-mph passenger trains could connect San Antonio and Austin, Texas, in about an hour: HNTB study

The trains would run on a dedicated rail line and cost about $13.5 billion, according to a feasibility study commissioned by Travis County.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 21, 2026

As states move to cut property taxes, cities brace for fallout

Florida and Oklahoma voters could soon weigh major property tax cuts, and Iowa has capped local revenue growth. The reforms will squeeze local budgets, municipal leaders say.

By Vicky Uhland • Aug. 20, 2026

FEMA public safety grant policy challenged in city, county lawsuit

Four local governments sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over new requirements that would withhold $200 million in funding unless they verify voter citizenship and switch to paper ballots.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Updated Aug. 19, 2026

Amtrak, cities and states get $5.3B in federal rail grants

Using funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded grants to 41 projects across 23 states.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 17, 2026

California high-speed rail project could run out of money by end of 2027, inspector general says

State infusions of $1 billion a year over 20 years won’t come fast enough to keep construction on track, the authority’s Office of Inspector General said.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 14, 2026

State preemption laws are changing the land use landscape

More than 500 state bills containing clauses preempting county land use authority were introduced across 40 states, a National Association of Counties analysis found.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 14, 2026

Commuter railroads scramble to meet 24% jump in liability insurance coverage requirements

Passenger railroads have until Sept. 4 to find new policies they can afford. If they can't, they may have to cease operating, an industry advocate warns.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 13, 2026

NYC luxury home tax moves ahead while courts review lawsuit

A Staten Island judge ordered a halt to the city’s rollout of a new “pied-à-terre” tax. The city’s appeal stayed the order.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 13, 2026

Online payments: 8 ways cities can make them easier and safer

Cities need to think beyond the payment portal to consider integration, security and user experience when implementing electronic payments, experts say.

By Vicky Uhland • Aug. 13, 2026

FTA grants $1.28B for Utah commuter rail

The 83-mile FrontRunner rail line connecting Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo would get more trains and track, but federal funding questions could impact the project.

By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 12, 2026

Changes to HUD homelessness aid again blocked by court

The agency’s new criteria for access to $4 billion in funding for local governments to address homelessness failed to follow administrative procedures, a Rhode Island judge ruled.

By Ryan Kushner • Aug. 10, 2026

Cities need a new workforce strategy. Universities should be part of it.

Local governments facing labor shortages can build stronger talent pipelines and improve public services through deeper partnerships with higher education, a criminal justice professor says.

By Michael Birzer • Aug. 7, 2026

The American Dream has evolved. Cities need to catch up, a new report says.

Economic mobility depends on far more than income. Cities must also invest in health, jobs and community connection to help residents thrive, the McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation found.

By Stephanie Kanowitz • Aug. 6, 2026

Reduced transportation funding approved by Senate in stopgap bill

Public transit faces a 20% cut and passenger rail an 83% cut in the Senate reconciliation bill, which funds the federal government until Dec. 11.

By Dan Zukowski • Updated Aug. 10, 2026

$20B in federal climate grants unblocked by appeals court

A divided court rejected the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to reclaim Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants “based solely on a policy disagreement” with the Inflation Reduction Act. 

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Aug. 5, 2026

Smaller communities wary of proposed federal grant overhaul

The changes could discourage small cities from applying for federal funding and increase municipal budget uncertainty, College Park, Georgia, Mayor Bianca Motley Broom says.

By Vicky Uhland • Aug. 4, 2026

SNAP cuts could shift new costs onto cities, mayors say

Emergency services could be impacted, and the reduced federal food assistance and higher administrative costs will ripple through local economies, city leaders warn.

By Vicky Uhland • July 31, 2026

Boston’s $10B coastal resilience infrastructure plan wins access to billions in federal funding

The city qualifies for a 65% federal cost share following a U.S. Army Corps feasibility study, paving the way for more than 20 flood-protection projects expected to prevent $41 billion in damages.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • July 30, 2026

Washington Union Station renovation seeks private investment

The U.S. Department of Transportation will invest $24 million to develop a public-private partnership, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

By Dan Zukowski • July 29, 2026

HUD fair housing funding changes blocked in court

The agency must reinstate a prior structure for its latest funding round after a judge said explanations for its recent changes did not “add up.” HUD says it stands behind the legality of the changes.

By Ryan Kushner • Updated Aug. 27, 2026

Mass transit, bike lanes, EV infrastructure face substantial cuts in DOT proposal

Building and expanding interstate highways is a priority for the administration’s next surface transportation legislation, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a letter to six Senate leaders.

By Dan Zukowski • July 27, 2026

$530M from state millionaire tax will go to Boston-area transit agency

The infusion from the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget will help cover the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s operating expenses.

By Dan Zukowski • July 24, 2026