Resilience: Page 2

Boston pilots free public transit in bid for equitable COVID recovery

The city is one of many turning to zero-fare programs, which could entice riders back onto public transit following the pandemic. But concerns over lost fare revenue may remain a deterrent.

By Cailin Crowe • March 31, 2021

Few mayors expect to keep COVID-inspired changes to public spaces, survey finds

The Menino Survey of Mayors found that although leaders predict residents will spend more time outside, only 6% of mayors plan to keep recent changes to those spaces like closed roads and new bike lanes.

By Chris Teale • March 31, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

Trendline

The Smart Cities Dive Outlook on 2021

As government leaders continue to reflect on the challenges of 2020, the team at Smart Cities Dive has outlined key trends and technologies likely to take hold in the year ahead.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Cities face new roadblock in quest to decarbonize buildings

The International Code Council removed the rights of local governments to vote on energy-efficient building codes, a move with major implications for cities as they seek to dramatically reduce emissions. 

By Cailin Crowe • March 24, 2021

Community-led design of public spaces could have 'ripple effect' in COVID recovery: report

Analysis of public spaces in Detroit; Philadelphia; San Jose, CA; and Akron, OH by the Knight Foundation and design firm Gehl found successful and resilient programming could have long-term effects after the pandemic.

By Chris Teale • March 24, 2021

Cities turn to resilience corps as pandemic recovery tactic

San Jose, CA is the latest major city to embrace the initiative, which provides jobs and skills training to residents hardest-hit by the pandemic. 

By Chris Teale • March 22, 2021

Waterfront Toronto to design 'complete community' after Sidewalk Labs split

The group launched a competition to find a new development partner, seeking a plan that includes affordable housing and support for aging in place.

By Cailin Crowe • March 17, 2021

San Antonio power provider sues ERCOT, citing 'unlawful' pricing

Mayor Ron Nirenburg gave the city's full support for the suit against the Texas grid operator, saying "state regulators are presiding over one of the largest illegal transfers of wealth" in state history.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 16, 2021

DOE to spend billions on electric vehicle R&D in jobs fight with China

President Biden's administration is tackling transportation electrification in part to prevent China from cornering a $23 trillion market in carbon-reducing tech, according to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. 

By Robert Walton • March 11, 2021

House Democrats clear pathway to 100% clean energy by 2035

The bill would require economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, targeting transportation electrification, environmental justice and building efficiency. 

By Catherine Morehouse • March 03, 2021

USPS to continue purchasing gas vehicles, despite Biden all-electric pledge

The postal service says the procurement allows for flexibility, and hinted at the ability to "retrofit" some vehicles. But EV advocates say "this will lock USPS into an outdated technology for many years."

By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2021

Resilient Cities Catalyst to tackle California's compounding crises

The group, born out of the 100 Resilient Cities initiative, launched the public-philanthropic California Resilience Partnership to address challenges stemming from racial injustice, climate change and the pandemic.

By Cailin Crowe • Feb. 24, 2021

Residents' climate anecdotes to inform San Diego resilience plan

Following hazard vulnerability assessments, the city is nearing a resilience draft plan focused on wildfires, sea level rise, extreme heat and flooding.

By Maria Rachal • Feb. 19, 2021

Deep Dive

Power sector experts fight misinformation around Texas outages

Operators will often prepare for peak loads based on historical data, but those forecasts can be less predictable under a changing climate, one expert said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 18, 2021

Security flaws enabled Tampa-area water utility hack

Authorities found poor security hygiene — weak passwords and an outdated operating system — played a role in the hack. 

By Samantha Schwartz • UPDATED: Feb. 12, 2021 at 10:05 a.m.

US could derail decarbonization without equitable policies: report

Decarbonization is technically and financially feasible, but government must ensure the coming economic transition is just and fair to all, experts said.

By Emma Penrod • Feb. 04, 2021

Q&A

New SUMC CEO ponders mobility sector's 'moment of inflection'

Benjamin de la Peña, who recently became CEO of the Shared-Use Mobility Center, discussed pandemic-fueled mobility opportunities and his unfinished business as the Seattle DOT's former innovation chief.

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 28, 2021

Biden orders aim to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035

In total, the president signed three executive orders all aimed at placing the climate crisis at the center of his administration. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 28, 2021

Uber pitches ride-sharing as a public transit mode

As the role of public transportation evolves amid COVID-19 recovery, Uber Transit has laid the foundation for an integrated, multi-modal transportation network of the future.

By Kristin Musulin • Jan. 26, 2021

Q&A

Honolulu's resilience officer outlines path to carbon neutrality

Chief Resilience Officer Matthew Gonser discussed Honolulu's first Climate Action Plan and the creative way local leaders tackled tough climate conversations with local residents. 

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 21, 2021

7 mobility startups to watch in 2021

These startups offer compelling solutions to the range of challenges the pandemic has introduced to U.S. cities. 

By Cailin Crowe • Jan. 05, 2021

The smart city news that shaped 2020

Smart Cities Dive identified 20 stories detailing the prevalent and groundbreaking trends that influenced a year like no other.

Federal stimulus includes wind, solar tax credit extensions

The omnibus bill includes several provisions from the Senate's American Energy Innovation Act and the House's companion bill, marking the first time energy policy has been comprehensively updated in 13 years.

By Catherine Morehouse • Dec. 22, 2020

Consumers want curbside, outdoor dining to stay in 2021: survey

Demand for restaurants is high, with 83% of adults saying they are not eating on the premises at restaurants as often as they would like.

By Alicia Kelso • Dec. 22, 2020

California tops ACEEE energy efficiency scorecard

This is the first report since 2010 that Massachusetts has not held the No. 1 spot, falling to second as California "continued to set the pace in energy savings."

By Kristin Musulin • Dec. 17, 2020

11 experts predict what will shape smart cities in 2021

From electrification to digital twins and the "15-minute city," respondents shared a wide variety of trends to watch in the new year.

By Kristin Musulin , Cailin Crowe , Chris Teale • Dec. 15, 2020