Is your city minimobility-ready?

Cities must transition from favoring full-sized cars and SUVs to prioritizing slower, smaller passenger vehicles that can meet more travelers’ needs in less space, transportation experts say.

By Austyn Gaffney • March 20, 2023

On climate change, this group of mayors thinks globally and acts locally

Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright discusses how the organization is helping mayors lead on climate policy and implement provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act and 2021 infrastructure law.

By Michael Brady • March 17, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Smart Cities Dive 2023 Outlook

In the year ahead, city leaders will continue to face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage, rethinking land use, dealing with changes in travel behavior and implementing federal spending programs to electrify and decarbonize cars, buses and buildings.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Skanska predicts construction costs will rise above inflation in many US cities

The new report examined construction costs in 21 U.S. markets, including Dallas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; Phoenix; San Francisco; and Seattle.

By Zachary Phillips • March 14, 2023

Biden proposed budget boosts funding for clean energy, permitting, efficiency programs

The budget released Thursday includes $11.9 billion for the Department of Energy climate and clean energy research, development, demonstration and deployment, a 20% hike over the FY 23 enacted amount.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023

Colorado’s lead composter imposes stricter accepted materials rules to curb contamination

A1 Organics says contamination rates are growing as curbside composting programs expand. Even items labeled "compostable" no longer will be accepted.

By Katie Pyzyk • March 7, 2023

US DOT and Austin, Texas, launch first-of-its-kind $22 billion transportation partnership

It’s the first time the Transportation Department has entered an emerging projects agreement with a city to fast-track networks of related projects rather than using a piecemeal approach.

By Michael Brady • March 7, 2023

New Mexico considering bill to mandate, fund protected bike lanes in some roadway improvement projects

The requirement would apply to roadway improvement projects in municipalities with 10,000 or more residents.

By Michael Brady • March 3, 2023

$250M for curbing climate pollution, advancing environmental justice available from US EPA

Each of the 67 most-populated U.S. metropolitan areas is eligible for $1 million in planning grants, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will follow with $4.6 billion to help cities and states implement their plans later this year.

By Michael Brady • March 1, 2023

Intercity bus station closures create problems for riders

The closure of many Greyhound bus stations “is putting a lot of pressure on state and local governments to help find fixes,” said a researcher at the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 27, 2023

PACE programs are a popular strategy for local decarbonization financing: report

Property-assessed clean energy programs are more common than taxes and other strategies as a source of dedicated climate funds for local governments, a Brookings Institution report found.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 27, 2023

First NYC commercial waste zone implementation could begin in 2024, DSNY says

Mayor Eric Adams’ administration has faced criticism over how long it has taken the New York City Department of Sanitation to advance the waste zones program.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 24, 2023

Subway sandwich chain to install EV charging stations at select stores

The smaller stations will have fast EV chargers that provide a 120-mile charge within 17 minutes for about $20.

By Julie Littman • Feb. 23, 2023

Chicago adopts citywide equity and resiliency plan

The We Will Chicago plan aims to address eight issue areas, including housing and economic development, in its 40 goals and 150 objectives. 

By Michael Brady • Feb. 21, 2023

EPA report: US transportation CO2 emissions up 14% from 2020 to 2021

A draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report cites pickup trucks, SUVs and other light-duty trucks as the largest contributor to emissions from fossil fuels in 2021.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 16, 2023

Tesla to make some of its EV chargers public as White House announces rules for national charging network

The rules will require federally funded chargers to be built in the United States, beginning with final assembly and some manufacturing processes.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2023

Smart city conferences to attend in 2023

From electric vehicles and micromobility to housing and climate resiliency, here are some notable events for smart city leaders this year.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 13, 2023

Boston touts initial success of composting program as it plans expansion to 20K households

After collecting over 500 tons so far, the city has about 98% participation among households that started last summer.

By Cole Rosengren • Feb. 9, 2023

Insulating existing buildings with low-carbon and carbon-storing materials can reduce emissions: report

“Deep energy retrofits” that use certain insulation systems can turn existing buildings into storehouses of carbon instead of emitters of greenhouse gases, according to an RMI report.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 9, 2023

House bill aims to create lending institution for infrastructure projects

The Federal Infrastructure Bank would work with state and local partners on private infrastructure investments via loans and loan guarantees, helping finance work such as transportation projects and broadband connectivity.

By Jennifer Goodman • Feb. 8, 2023

EVs reduce asthma, air pollution: California study

Researchers at the University of Southern California’s medical school drilled down to ZIP code-level data, revealing fewer electric vehicles and related health benefits in lower-income communities.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 6, 2023

What Denver’s climate office learned from early e-bike rebate enthusiasm

Mike Salisbury, transportation energy lead in the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency, explains what inspired the program and how the local government adapted to a huge public response.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 3, 2023

More urban trees could prevent heat-related deaths: study

As extreme heat and its negative health effects become more widespread, researchers draw a link between increasing tree cover and minimizing mortality.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 2, 2023

Transit agencies’ zero-emission bus adoption increased in 2022

California, New York, Florida, Texas and Massachusetts together added more than 1,500 zero-emission transit buses to their fleets.

By Dan Zukowski • Feb. 2, 2023

2023 Smart Cities Outlook

In the year ahead, city leaders will face economic headwinds while tackling the housing shortage and changes in travel behavior and decarbonizing transportation and buildings.

By Michael Brady • Feb. 1, 2023

ChargePoint, Stem strike EV charging and battery storage deal for highway corridor fast-charging networks

Combining charging, battery storage and AI-driven energy management will save money for EV site operators, the companies say.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 1, 2023