Ballot billions: Behind the efforts to fund and finance climate action

In a year that virtually depleted municipal budgets, ballot-derived tax and funding measures can be crucial to support city-level climate action. Outside of these measures, how else can cities secure cash?

By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • Oct. 27, 2020

Advocates urge Chicago to keep transit running amid protests

As potential Election Day-related unrest looms, transportation advocates signed a petition requesting a guarantee that transit will continue during future periods of protest.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 26, 2020

Transit must think outside the box to rebuild ridership

Associations have developed frameworks to guide public transit agencies toward recovery, but they may not go far enough to innovate the industry.

By Ben Haynie • Oct. 26, 2020

DOE, USDOT issue $5.25M in project grants to advance transit tech

MIT, Utah State University and the Chattanooga (TN) Regional Transportation Authority each received $1.75 million grants to improve transit systems using "innovative vehicle technologies."

By Chris Teale • Oct. 26, 2020

Biden revokes ‘anarchist jurisdiction’ designation for 3 cities

Former President Trump sought to cut funding from Seattle, New York and Portland, OR via executive action, but Biden reversed course on Wednesday.

By Chris Teale • Updated Feb. 25, 2021

Cities’ GHG emissions reduction efforts, by the numbers

A new Brookings report assessed the nation's many climate action plans to check if cities are meeting their emissions reduction commitments.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 23, 2020

How would a Biden administration address infrastructure?

Experts from Bloomberg Intelligence analyzed how infrastructure would be addressed if Joe Biden were to become president, with a particular focus on funding and the impact on U.S. transportation.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 22, 2020

Census Bureau reveals 2020 results, shaking up House seats

After months of delays and pandemic-fueled challenges, the results are out: The rate of U.S. population growth was at its second slowest in history between 2010 and 2020.

By Cailin Crowe • Updated April 27, 2021

Pennsylvania bill would allocate $200M in aid to live venues

Rep. Jake Wheatley said there are 225 independent venues in the state that generated $1.36 billion last year. Under this legislation, each would be eligible for up to $2 million in funding for payroll, rent and other costs.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 21, 2020

Death of the downtown: How cities can rebuild using ‘tactical urbanism’

Whether or not cities "bounce back" from the COVID-19 pandemic will be determined by the choices they make to reimagine their downtown hubs, experts say.

By Amanda Loudin • Oct. 20, 2020

Most scooter injuries happening on sidewalks: study

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found three in five scooter riders are injured on the sidewalk versus one in five injured in bike lanes, but there are still doubts over where scooters can be safely ridden.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 19, 2020

Albuquerque, NM breaks ground on 50 MW solar field on tribal lands

The array, through a partnership with utility PNM and the Jicarilla Apache Nation, will help the city get 88% of its electricity from renewable energy by the end of 2021.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 16, 2020

Homicides increased 30% in major cities in 2020: report

New York, Los Angeles and Chicago accounted for 40% of the additional homicide victims in 2020, with report authors attributing the rise to the pandemic, police violence and resulting unrest.

By Cailin Crowe • Updated Feb. 2, 2021

US cities less walkable than international counterparts: study

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, which called on cities to plan for more pedestrian use, found Boston, NYC, San Francisco and Baltimore led the way for walkability.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 15, 2020

City purchasing crew steps up as it grapples with COVID-19

Berkeley, Calif.'s purchasing team continues to deliver through the pandemic

By Michael Keating • Oct. 14, 2020

Transit agencies ‘ill prepared’ for cyberattack: survey

Only 60% of agencies have a cybersecurity plan in place and 43% say their plan is insufficient, according to the Mineta Transportation Institute.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 13, 2020

Tulsa Remote adjusts incentive program to help homebuyers

The program will now offer its $10,000 incentive upfront to select individuals purchasing a home in the area, where the median price is $157,000.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated Feb. 23, 2021

Virgin Hyperloop to build certification center in West Virginia

Officials said the center, which will have testing, training and manufacturing facilities, will "lay the foundation" for commercial deployment of the technology.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 9, 2020

Elected officials urge automakers to support cleaner cars

The Clean Cars Declaration, signed by more than 200 elected officials, called on manufacturers to drop their support for the Trump administration’s rollback of clean car standards.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 8, 2020

Cities bypass police defunding, opt for enhanced oversight

Local officials appear to be taking a different route to reform as they present what is said to be a record number of oversight ballot measures this November.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 7, 2020

Boston issues RFP for first urban forest plan

Mayor Marty Walsh said the 20-year plan will set tree canopy protection goals, respond to the challenges of climate change and improve quality of life. 

By Chris Teale • Oct. 5, 2020

Cornell designs statewide IoT network to close New York’s digital divide

The first-of-its-kind project, supported by a National Science Foundation grant, aims to increase internet access and resident trust in new technologies.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 5, 2020

Pittsburgh mayor: To push a green economy, speak to citizens’ pocketbooks

In a Climate Mayors webinar on Thursday, mayors in the Ohio Valley region said people whose jobs rely on fossil fuels must not be left behind.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 2, 2020

Cities push ahead on EEaaS as private sector plays catch up

Forms of Energy Efficiency as a Service have existed for decades as alternative funding mechanisms in cities. Now, as technologies accelerate and COVID-19 continues, the private sector wants in.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 1, 2020

Why your local government needs a social media policy

Editor's note: This article was originally published in American City & County, which has merged with Smart Cities Dive to bring you expanded coverage of city innovation and local government. For the latest in smart city news, explore Smart Cities Dive or sign up for our newsletter.In the cur...

By David Moser • Sept. 30, 2020