Governance


  • U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the U.S. Conference of Mayors 93rd Winter Meeting on Jan. 17, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Biden urges mayors to continue the climate change fight

    Former President Biden and then-Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke at a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting Friday.

    By Danielle McLean • Jan. 21, 2025
  • President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Sen. JD Vance will be sworn in on January 20.
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    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    5 ways builders say Trump can support construction

    The Associated General Contractors of America itemized priorities for the new administration that will help bolster building activity.

    By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 21, 2025
  • President Donald Trump , seated wearing a dark suit, holds up typed order with his signature on it.
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    Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
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    Surface transportation reauthorization a top priority for House T&I committee

    Separately, President Donald Trump put a freeze on new federal regulations and also ordered a halt to federal funding of electric vehicle charging stations.

    By Jan. 21, 2025
  • Examining a grocery receipt
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    LordHenriVoton via Getty Images
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    States ramp up efforts to cut their grocery taxes

    Kansas just eliminated its tax on food ingredients, while at least four other states are working to cut or reduce theirs.

    By Catherine Douglas Moran • Jan. 17, 2025
  • an aerial view of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges spanning the East River between Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan in New York City.
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    Art Wager via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    We need another infrastructure law

    Carlo Scissura has a message for Congress and President-elect Trump: Building a stronger country can’t stop now.

    By Carlo Scissura • Jan. 16, 2025
  • Transportation nominee Duffy: ‘We will usher in a golden age of travel.’

    President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Transportation pledged to work with both parties on issues such as AVs, EVs, Amtrak and other hot topics.

    By Jan. 16, 2025
  • A worker peers out from a worksite in New York City
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    Spencer Platt/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    NY mandates contractor registration for publicly funded projects

    Consultant Kathleen Bloss talks about the type of work the law covers and steps that firms must take to comply.

    By Sebastian Obando • Jan. 13, 2025
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    Permission granted by Smart Futures Lab
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    Sponsored by Smart Futures Lab

    Free incubator and accelerator empowers smart city growth

    Smart Futures Lab empowers tech startups: $4.5M raised, 6 patents, 22 jobs—join the next cohort today!

    Jan. 13, 2025
  • A man is a dark suit and white shirt going up an escalator while hands holding smartphones and notebooks point at him.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    California leaders ask for more federal transportation money before Trump takes over

    The California Latino Legislative Caucus and a Democratic senator from the state argue for immediate and continued funding of public transit and high-speed rail.

    By Jan. 8, 2025
  • A line of vehicles passing a sign that reads "Begin toll zone."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Congestion pricing begins in New York, a US first

    Overcoming opposition, the plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan's central business district went into effect Sunday. Revenues will go to the transit authority's capital investments.

    By Jan. 6, 2025
  • President Joe Biden seated at a table with pen in hand surrounded by men and woman officials.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Inflation-adjusted transportation spending at all levels fell in the 2010-2022 period, BTS says

    Federal funding helps state and local governments, which account for 90% of transportation spending, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

    By Jan. 3, 2025
  • Man in gray suit with hands clasped standing in front of a blurred sign that reads "Clinton Global Initiative."
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    Craig Barritt via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    How an Oklahoma City sales tax fuels the city’s ‘renaissance’

    Mayor David Holt led the planning process for the fourth voter-approved renewal of a sales tax for public infrastructure focused on human needs.

    By Jan. 2, 2025
  • People walk across a city street at a crosswalk. Tall buildings and streetlights line the road,
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    tunart via Getty Images
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    9 predictions about what 2025 may hold for US cities

    “Playground” cities will thrive, innovative housing programs will proliferate and technology will transform transit and municipal services, these sources say.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff • Jan. 2, 2025
  • Side view of a man in blue suit standing next to an American flag.
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    These two men will lead transportation policy in the Trump administration

    The Governors Highway Safety Association this week endorsed Trump nominee Sean Duffy as the next U.S. transportation secretary.

    By Updated Jan. 10, 2025
  • A massive complex with bright buildings and a Ferris wheel sit along a river bed at night.
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    Permission granted by AE7
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    Pittsburgh to transform waterfront industrial site for housing, entertainment and shopping

    In addition to the $740 million development, the Steel City is getting a $64 million concert venue expected to attract events that might otherwise bypass the area for places like New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia.

    By Matthew Thibault • Nov. 25, 2024
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    coldsnowstorm via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Loosening alcohol laws to revitalize your city’s economy is a mistake

    Cities must keep our public spaces alcohol-free to preserve health and safety, warns a policy consultant at the Institute for Public Strategies, a public health organization.

    By Daniel Skiles • Nov. 22, 2024
  • Highway construction site with work vehicles.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    How the IIJA is funding increased transportation carbon emissions

    Although the 2021 infrastructure law provided record funding for rail and mass transit, money going to highway expansion projects may lead to a net increase in transportation CO2 emissions by 2040. 

    By Nov. 20, 2024
  • New York congestion pricing to start Jan. 5

    Gov. Kathy Hochul announced plans to begin the controversial program with reduced fees, but President-elect Donald Trump, House Republicans and some New Jersey Democrats remain opposed to the plan.

    By Updated Nov. 19, 2024
  • Cars, buses and trucks bumper to bumper on a city street.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    NY Gov. Hochul pressured to reinstate congestion pricing before Trump takes office

    President-elect Donald Trump opposes New York's plan to toll drivers entering Manhattan's central business district. Advocates want the plan implemented now.

    By Nov. 13, 2024
  • Gavin Newsom
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Trump agenda has states, advocacy groups girding for legal battles

    California, New York and Illinois are among states readying to sue the Trump administration over divisive issues such as reproductive rights, climate regulation and immigration.

    By Justin Bachman • Nov. 11, 2024
  • President-elect Donald Trump giving the thumbs-up against a background of U.S. flags.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    How will a second Trump administration affect transportation policy?

    Federal support for public transportation, Amtrak, high-speed rail and electric vehicles may be at risk, experts said.

    By Nov. 6, 2024
  • Construction continues on a mixed-use apartment complex
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    Mario Tama/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    National Housing Crisis Task Force unveils agenda for next president, Congress

    The federal government must “fundamentally restructure” its organization to address the housing crisis, according to recommendations from 28 public, civic and corporate leaders. 

    By Nov. 5, 2024
  • A man wearing a hardhat and safety vest climbs down the stairs to a subway station.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    Transit agencies must improve rail worker safety under new FTA rule

    The Federal Transit Administration seeks to reduce the number of workers killed and injured while working on or around tracks.

    By Nov. 4, 2024
  • Large group of people in front of an eVTOL aircraft inside a building.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    FAA sets air taxi pilot training, operations final rule

    Powered-lift aircraft like eVTOL, which operate like both helicopters and airplanes, are "the first new category of aircraft in nearly 80 years," the FAA administrator said in announcing the new rule.

    By Oct. 25, 2024
  • An aerial view of a Texas Oil Refinery
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    NYC comptroller proposes stopping pensions’ private market investments in fossil fuels

    The funds would be the first U.S. public pension plans to have exclusions on investing in fossil fuel infrastructure like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals.

    By Lamar Johnson • Oct. 25, 2024