Shared-Use Mobility Center highlights opportunities for micromobility in city climate action plans

The role of micromobility is not discussed much in climate action plans, but that could be improved going forward, one Shared-Use Mobility Center representative explained during a webinar last week.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 30, 2023

New York to have citywide curbside composting by end of 2024, mayor says

The timeline gives the city less than two years to bring curbside composting to all five boroughs, a long-held goal that has eluded city officials through administration changes and budget cuts.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 27, 2023

NYC to require zero-emission fleets from Uber, Lyft by 2030

“That’s zero emissions for over 100,000 vehicles on our city streets. And it will be achieved with no new costs for individual drivers,” Mayor Eric Adams said in the State of the City address Thursday.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 27, 2023

How green building policy could evolve in 2023

After reducing energy use in buildings, cutting embodied carbon is next on the green policy agenda for state and local leaders, potentially prompting a shift from concrete and steel to materials like timber or straw, experts say.

By Adina Solomon • Jan. 26, 2023

Analysis of local climate action plans and solid waste planning shows overlapping opportunities

Environmental services firm HDR examined hundreds of solid waste-related actions across city and county climate action plans.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 26, 2023

El Paso to reconnect neighborhoods divided by highway with deck plaza

The Texas city will work with Stantec on the design and planning for a downtown public space with regional amenities over Interstate 10, which might also be widened as part of the project.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 25, 2023

DOT provides $29.4M to repair California roads damaged by floods

The money will support efforts by the state transportation department and four federal agencies to fix highways, bridges and other infrastructure.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 25, 2023

Electric vehicles near ‘tipping point’ in 2023

Key developments for EV adoption this year include implementing federal incentives, developing a national charging network and addressing utility issues, according to transportation, energy and real estate professionals.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 20, 2023

Nearly all US mayors worry about climate change’s local effects: report

Mayors said their regulatory powers, especially building codes and zoning, are their most effective tools to address climate change. But they are reluctant to limit residents’ behavior or the use of old technology.

By Michael Brady • Jan. 19, 2023

4 trends that could shape smart cities in 2023

These overarching trends affect the decisions communities are making around transportation design, street space, housing and revitalizing downtowns that have struggled with fewer office workers.

By Smart Cities Dive Team • Jan. 13, 2023

From flooding to wildfires, US communities just faced a costly year

The $165 billion and 474 deaths linked to weather and climate disaster events in 2022 make it the third-costliest year on record, U.S. weather scientists reported Tuesday.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 11, 2023

California storms disrupt transit, Amtrak service

A series of strong winter rain storms led to canceled and delayed trains and flooded a major rail station.

By Dan Zukowski • Jan. 11, 2023

Federal agencies share ‘blueprint’ for transportation decarbonization

Energy, environment, housing and transportation regulators teamed up on strategies to realize a 100% clean electrical grid by 2035 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with nods to micromobility, zoning reform and more.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 10, 2023

Madison, Wisconsin, approves complete green streets policy

The capital city’s new guide attempts to align with safety and sustainability goals and provide a more consistent and equitable framework for making decisions about the public right of way.

By Maria Rachal • Jan. 6, 2023

Updating local regulations may ease EV charging rollout

Improved regulations make it easier for developers to “know what they’re getting into,” said one transportation planner.

By Kalena Thomhave • Jan. 4, 2023

13 predictions about the trends that will shape smart cities in 2023

Cities will get smarter about transportation infrastructure needs, continue to rethink the use of downtown spaces and look at where data can help inform various operations, readers said.

By Danielle McLean • Jan. 3, 2023

10 conversations in 2022 on the future of mobility, high-speed rail, resilience and more

Smart Cities Dive caught up with executives from businesses including GM and Replica; officials from Austin, Oakland and other cities; and leaders from the U.S. Congress and Ukraine.

Jan. 3, 2023

Next steps for the Great Lakes region’s circular economy strategy

The Council of the Great Lakes Region and its partners are figuring out the first steps toward implementing a plan released this year. Plastics will be a prime focus in efforts to preserve water quality in the area.

By Katie Pyzyk • Dec. 22, 2022

Chicago launches climate infrastructure fund for nonprofits, small businesses

The $5 million Climate Infrastructure Fund intends to help pay for building efficiency improvements, electric vehicles, EV charging infrastructure and stormwater reduction efforts.

By Danielle McLean • Dec. 21, 2022

Postal Service to acquire 66,000 EVs by 2028

The electric delivery vehicles will start hitting the streets by the end of 2023, the U.S. Postal Service stated. The announcement followed criticism that the agency wasn’t transitioning enough of its fleet.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 21, 2022

New York state climate panel outlines ambitious road map to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The plan is a “bold, monumental achievement,” New York’s environmental commissioner said, but the head of an independent power producer industry group said it fails to adequately address grid reliability.

By Stephen Singer • Dec. 20, 2022

Jersey City to fund community projects based on resident feedback

Local officials said the New Jersey city’s first participatory budgeting pilot worked better than expected, allowing them to understand residents’ priorities.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 20, 2022

Miami-Dade County releases extreme heat action plan

After appointing a chief heat officer last year, the county and its neighbors are doubling down on cooling strategies and educating the public, describing extreme heat as even more harmful than hurricanes.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 16, 2022

Seize the moment for climate action, mayors group says

“The federal government is making unprecedented investments in climate action,” and implementation in 2023 and beyond will be critical, said ​​​​​​Madison, Wisconsin’s mayor, the incoming chair of Climate Mayors.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 15, 2022

DOT to provide $1.5 billion for hard-to-fund transportation projects

Rural and urban areas will each receive half the funding, with at least $15 million guaranteed for projects in communities where there is persistent poverty or those considered historically disadvantaged.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 15, 2022