Bipartisan affordable housing legislation just cleared the Senate. Here’s what it could mean for cities.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does not tamper with local zoning regulations or include unfunded mandates, experts say.

By Ryan Kushner • March 13, 2026

Chicago might buy its downtown intercity bus station

Four bus lines serve the Midwest from the former Greyhound terminal. If the city doesn’t act, bus operators could lose access to the station.

By Dan Zukowski • March 12, 2026

FIFA World Cup US host cities to get $100M for public transportation

The Federal Transit Administration will offer each host city $8 million to $10 million to enhance public transportation during this summer’s events.

By Dan Zukowski • March 9, 2026

Nearly 40,000 ‘shovel-ready’ affordable homes in California are stuck in financial limbo, report finds

Billions in additional state funding are needed to unlock construction for 461 approved developments, according to a new analysis by Enterprise Community Partners.

By Ryan Kushner • March 9, 2026

Top public service awards in 2026

Officials and public servants who drive impact in their communities can get recognized for their service related to civic innovation, climate action, the arts and more. 

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Updated March 11, 2026

EPA properly awarded $1.5B of now-terminated grants, federal watchdog says

The report is further evidence that Community Change Grants should not have been terminated, environmental groups say.

By Jacob Wallace • March 9, 2026

4 ways Oklahoma can ease its affordable housing crisis

An Urban Institute study detailed challenges in Oklahoma’s housing market but also noted solutions for the state.

By Ryan Kushner • March 4, 2026

APTA calls for $268B investment in public transit and passenger rail over 5 years

The American Public Transportation Association urges Congress to support transit investment in the upcoming surface transportation legislation.

By Dan Zukowski • March 4, 2026

Nominate someone today for the 2026 Smart Cities Dive Public Service Awards

Submit your nominations by March 31 to recognize outstanding local leaders who are making an impact in their communities.

By Smart Cities Dive Staff • March 4, 2026

What Trump said about housing in his State of the Union address

The president emphasized affordability in his economy-focused annual speech but offered little new information.

By Julie Strupp • Feb. 26, 2026

US homes are becoming uninsurable, study says. Here are 3 things states can do.

As natural disasters drive up home insurance costs, states are in a position to curb a looming insurability crisis, a Natural Resources Defense Council report says.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 25, 2026

California lends $590M to keep Bay Area transit running

The loan will prevent service cuts in the near term, but a long-term solution depends on a November 2026 regional ballot measure.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 23, 2026

3 state-level parking reform efforts to watch

To encourage housing development, more states are ending parking spot minimums.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 23, 2026

How a skills-first hiring strategy transforms organizational performance for local governments

The public sector can set a standard showing that capability matters more than pedigree and economic opportunity should be based on what a person can do, not just whether they have a college degree.

By Blair Corcoran de Castillo and Bob Lavigna • Feb. 23, 2026

Pritzker proposes statewide zoning standards to boost housing in Illinois

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker targeted local housing regulations in his State of the State this week, unveiling a path for more “missing middle” development.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 20, 2026

States sue Energy Department for terminating $8B in clean energy funding

The Trump administration unlawfully bypassed Congress and made politically motivated cuts to programs created through the IRA and IIJA, the lawsuit claims.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 20, 2026

Local leaders want more say in federal transportation funding

Local officials will meet with congressional leaders in the coming weeks to discuss bipartisan legislation that aims to deliver funds to communities more efficiently.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 18, 2026

Gaps persist between impact and opportunity in youth civic participation

Local government leaders saw K-12 schools as the most valuable institutions for positive effects on civic participation, according to a recent CivicPulse survey.

By Ed Finkel • Feb. 12, 2026

Los Angeles’ encampment cleanup program may displace more people than it helps, study finds

As efforts to clear encampments continue, unhoused individuals in LA are being forced to move around, according to a UCLA study.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 10, 2026

Local governments hired hundreds of former federal workers last year

Following DOGE efforts that led to a mass exodus of federal employees in 2025, Civic Match says it has connected nearly 200 of them with local government jobs.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 9, 2026

What the 2026 business owner experience data reveals about government

What the 2026 data reveals about business frustration with local government processes.

By Marcy Swisher • Feb. 9, 2026

Federal energy-assistance programs survive budget gauntlet

President Trump signed budget bills to maintain funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Weatherization Assistance Program on Feb. 3, 2026.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 6, 2026

Kansas City, Missouri, moves to the forefront of data center zoning with new ordinance

U.S. communities are watching closely as Kansas City reclassifies data centers as industrial facilities and launches a review of their impacts on water, power, climate goals and economic growth.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Feb. 6, 2026

Can the maker economy drive local economic revitalization? 6 Michigan communities are about to find out.

Leaders from six Southeastern Michigan communities will receive training on revitalizing downtowns by supporting small-scale manufacturing.

By Danielle McLean • Feb. 2, 2026

Utah is planning to construct a vast homeless shelter. Some critics are calling it a ‘detention camp.’

Two members of Congress joined the National Homelessness Law Center in calling for a rejection of federal funding for the 1,300-bed facility in Salt Lake City.

By Ryan Kushner • Feb. 2, 2026