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

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

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

US reaches 140k public EV charging ports as key federal official says $90B infrastructure investment needed

The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation is preparing to finalize rules setting out minimum standards for a nationally-funded electric vehicle charging network.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2022

Demand soars for EV charging at apartments

Infrastructure options and cost incentives have become more complex as the electric vehicle revolution gears up.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Dec. 13, 2022

DC revisiting 2032 zero waste target as it proposes new policies, plans curbside compost pilot

Public works leaders hope that a forthcoming zero waste plan will accelerate efforts and help the District “leapfrog” over other cities. But the nation’s capital also has some unique demographic and infrastructure challenges.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 12, 2022

Interactive ​​​​​​​NYC tree map aims to help residents care for urban forest

The new and improved resource adds park trees to previously tracked street trees in what NYC Parks describes as “the most comprehensive and up-to-date living tree map in the world.”

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 12, 2022

Lyft offers its ride-sharing drivers incentives to switch to EVs

The program is the latest in a series of moves Lyft has taken to fulfill its pledge to transition entirely to electric vehicles by 2030.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 12, 2022

NYC apartment owners weigh the dangers of electric bikes, scooters

Lithium-ion batteries used in mobility devices such as electric bikes and scooters have caused nearly 200 fires and six deaths in New York City this year.

By Leslie Shaver • Dec. 9, 2022

Los Angeles and San Diego ban polystyrene foam, other plastic products, on same day

The policies fit into broader state and local laws limiting plastic products, completing an effort in San Diego that a lawsuit previously blocked. Los Angeles will also look to limit waste at city facilities and events.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 8, 2022

Biden administration releases federal building performance standard, plan to electrify federal buildings

The new standard sets federal building electrification goals for 2030. The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking to require all new or renovated federally-owned buildings to be electrified.

By Danielle McLean • Dec. 7, 2022

Sacramento, California, to add protected bike lanes

Sacramento aims to boost transportation connections between neighborhoods and improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and children at play.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 7, 2022

The states with the biggest influx of new renters

Millions of people are eager to move. Here’s where they’re headed, according to a new analysis.

By Mary Salmonsen • Dec. 7, 2022

3 technologies that could make EVs go farther

Greater range could spur more EV adoption, with implications for charging infrastructure.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 5, 2022

Smart cities in 2022 - what you need to know

Rail expansion, emerging technologies such as digital twins and air taxis and new approaches to transit and housing have driven the news this year. Catch up with highlights from Smart Cities Dive.

By Danielle McLean • Dec. 2, 2022

E-scooter parking ‘corrals’ are coming to this Florida city

Pensacola, Florida, adopted the policy based on community feedback from the city’s micromobility pilot program, aiming to “reduce parking conflicts with pedestrians on sidewalks,” according to a city spokesperson.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 2, 2022

DC-area county spurs electrification of future buildings

Montgomery County, Maryland, is taking aim at its largest source of emissions. Its policy is the latest advancement for building decarbonization on the East Coast.

By Maria Rachal • Dec. 1, 2022

A history of US cities adopting zero waste goals

The concept has become a mainstream part of municipal waste planning, experts say, even as targets largely remain aspirational and some recent efforts have faced pandemic-related setbacks.

By Cole Rosengren • Dec. 1, 2022

9 startups to join AWS’ Sustainable Cities Accelerator for Infrastructure

Each accelerator participant aims to address infrastructure-related sustainability challenges by offering products and services targeting power, utility, transportation and other systems.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 30, 2022

Five US cities target building energy use, emissions with fines

New York, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Boston and St. Louis are poised to implement penalties to curb building-level greenhouse gas emissions or energy use.

By Maura Webber Sadovi • Nov. 30, 2022

Building out nationwide EV charging is taking longer than consumers think, Fuels Institute says

Permit approvals, government funding and knowing where to deploy charging stations are some of the many hurdles EV stakeholders face.

By Brett Dworski • Nov. 23, 2022

NYC to expand bike lanes, public spaces in 2023

The upgrades build on the city’s Open Streets program, which closes streets to vehicle traffic for use by pedestrians and cyclists, and its efforts to create the largest bike network in the U.S.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 23, 2022

Want to electrify your bus fleet? A new FTA-funded research center can help.

Battery and hydrogen fuel-cell electric buses are “fundamentally different technologies” cities and transit agencies will have to learn, said a researcher from The Ohio State University's Center for Automotive Research.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 22, 2022

Austin to double e-bike rebates in 2023

The city increased the rebates to encourage more people, especially “historically underserved populations,” to buy and use e-bikes, a spokesperson for Austin’s publicly-owned utility said.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 22, 2022

Tampa tries sidewalk solar panels as backup power for traffic lights

The Florida city started using solar sidewalks for backup power after 2017’s Hurricane Irma created lengthy power outages at intersections. It assessed the technology's performance this fall during Hurricane Ian.

By Maria Rachal • Nov. 21, 2022