As anxiety rises, cities adapt mental health services on the fly

The new coronavirus pandemic has strained city-run mental health services, resulting in a need for more federal support and reprioritized programs.

By Jason Plautz • May 11, 2020

Sidewalk Labs drops Quayside project

CEO Daniel Doctoroff said the "unprecedented economic uncertainty" made it "too difficult" to continue work on the plan, but Waterfront Toronto assured its commitment to Quayside is still strong.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated May 7, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive

From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them.

By Smart Cities Dive staff

Coalition urges cities to collaborate on resilient pandemic recovery

The Global Resilient Cities Network said the Cities for a Resilient Recovery initiative is a place to share best practices as leaders rebuild their cities. 

By Chris Teale • May 7, 2020

3 steps for improving building resiliency post-coronavirus

There is an unprecedented opportunity to ditch the business-as-usual approach to commercial construction and redefine sustainable buildings.

By Casey Talon • May 7, 2020

ASU scientists searching sewers for traces of COVID-19

The City of Tempe, AZ partnered with a university research team to test levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and identify hotspots of the virus.

By Kristin Musulin • May 7, 2020

Rent relief was needed 'well before a global health crisis': leaders

On a Local Progress press call, local officials called on state and federal leaders to provide financial relief for the country's tens of millions of renters. 

By Cailin Crowe • May 5, 2020

Virginia city outfits school buses with Wi-Fi for remote students

Hopewell City Public Schools will retrofit 31 buses with wireless routers to bridge the digital divide for roughly 1,000 students without internet access at home.

By Cailin Crowe • May 4, 2020

Global GHG emissions could fall 8% in 2020 amid pandemic: IEA

Coronavirus has reduced emissions and energy demand, but a recovery without clean investments could jeopardize those gains, the group said.

By Chris Teale • May 1, 2020

11 mayors form C40's coronavirus recovery task force

Mayors from around the world will convene to explore how local governments can drive economic recovery that best prioritizes health, equality and climate.

By Chris Teale • April 30, 2020

How two red states are enforcing contrasting recovery strategies

The mayors of Atlanta and New Orleans addressed the different approaches their respective governors have taken to easing restrictions, and the potential ramifications of reopening economies too early.

By Chris Teale • April 29, 2020

Transit can glean recovery lessons from Great Recession: T4A

Economic stimulus is no excuse to rebuild public transit the same as before, transportation expert Beth Osborne said in a recent webinar. 

By Kristin Musulin • April 29, 2020

The pandemic pace: A look at congestion-free speeding and its risks

As city streets see drastic dips in vehicular traffic, a by-the-numbers look shows drivers are traveling at unprecedented speeds — putting pedestrians, cyclists and other civilians at risk. 

By Cailin Crowe • April 29, 2020

Spin exec: The scooter industry will see a resurgence

Scooter companies were supposed to focus on becoming profitable in 2020. Spin Co-Founder Euwyn Poon explains how the pandemic shifted that focus. 

By Cailin Crowe • April 28, 2020

Who will save the startups?

At this point, it's not about keeping startups alive — it's about who can last on the other side of an economic downturn.

By Samantha Schwartz • April 28, 2020

Transportation Electrification Partnership proposes $150B federal stimulus package

The proposal calls for investments in zero emission infrastructure, EV adoption, workforce development and other areas to build climate resilience amid COVID-19.

By Cailin Crowe • April 27, 2020

Houston unveils first Climate Action Plan

Houston is home to one of the largest rates of per capita GHG emissions in the country, yet it wasn't until Hurricane Harvey in 2017 that the city's perception of climate urgency turned on its head.

By Kristin Musulin • April 24, 2020

Now more than ever, cities need flexibility in the movement of goods

To ensure resiliency amid future disasters or pandemics, municipalities must prioritize the movement of goods the same as the movement of people.

By Cynthia Albright and Brandon Orr • April 24, 2020

Utilities forced to adjust pre-pandemic emergency plans

Consolidated Edison and other U.S. utilities had developed pandemic operating plans years ago, but officials say flexibility is key to their response.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2020

Populus to help global cities manage flexible street policies

The company has pushed its Street Manager platform as a tool for cities to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe amid changing traffic trends.

By Cailin Crowe • Updated July 9, 2020

Chicago COVID-19 data stresses racial disparities seen nationally

Black individuals are contracting and dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionately high rate. Experts blame long-standing inequities and structural racism — and urge cities to mitigate the racial divide.

By Katie Pyzyk • April 21, 2020

California cities top air pollution list — again

The American Lung Association’s annual "State of the Air" found warmer temperatures are contributing to widespread smog and soot levels in U.S. cities.

By David Oliver • April 21, 2020

'Angeleno Campaign' raises $10M in prepaid debit cards for LA residents

The program, created by Accelerator for America and Mastercard, saw so much immediate demand that the city's phone systems crashed.

By Cailin Crowe • April 21, 2020

Sales at over 77% of restaurants have declined by 50%

Two-thirds of those surveyed say they are uncertain that takeout or delivery will be enough to sustain their businesses until they are able to reopen. 

By Julie Littman • April 20, 2020

New Zealand to fund 'pop-up' bike lanes, sidewalk widening amid pandemic

The transportation minister has called on cities to apply for the funding, which will support tactical urbanism projects to improve cyclist and pedestrian safety.

By Cailin Crowe • April 16, 2020

Clean energy unemployment reaches 18.5%

A new analysis found more than 27,000 clean energy workers filed unemployment claims in May, bringing the total to more than 620,500 clean energy jobs lost since the onset of COVID-19.

By Kristin Musulin • Updated June 15, 2020