Hoboken Celebrates 9 Years without a Traffic Death
Hoboken, New Jersey, has gone nine years without a traffic fatality, a milestone first reached on January 17, 2017. Between 2014 and 2018, pedestrians and cyclists accounted for 40 % of serious crashes despite representing only 8 % of all collisions, with 88 % of those incidents occurring at intersection crosswalks. The city’s Vision Zero strategy targeted these vulnerable users, enforcing a daylighting law and installing physical crosswalk treatments. After extensive upgrades in 2022, injury crashes fell 18 % and serious injuries dropped 62 % from 2022 to 2023.
California’s Half Moon Bay Says Coastal Regulations Hinder Housing Development
Half Moon Bay officials say the town’s location entirely within the California Coastal Commission’s jurisdiction makes housing development difficult. Every rezoning triggers a Coastal Act review, and a voter‑approved measure caps growth at 1‑1.5% annually. Governor Newsom highlighted the town...
Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Train ‘Blows Away’ Ridership Expectations
Amtrak’s newly reinstated Mardi Gras service linking New Orleans and Mobile has far outpaced expectations. In its first three months, the line logged 86% on‑time performance, the third‑best among Amtrak routes. Ridership reached roughly 70,500 passengers by Jan 31, more than double the...
How Cars Killed the Dream of the Moving Sidewalk
Moving sidewalks debuted at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair but never became mainstream, largely eclipsed by the automobile’s rise. Early advocates like Alfred Speer envisioned elevated walkways on New York’s Broadway to ease congestion, yet the concept stalled. Today they...
This Seattle Sidewalk Art only Appears when It Rains
Seattle artist Peregrine Church has created a water‑based, invisible spray that reveals colorful designs on sidewalks only when they get wet. The paint, called Rainworks, adheres to concrete and remains hidden in dry weather, activating for up to four months...
Study: Alabama’s Neglected Rural Roads Make Commutes Longer
A University of Alabama Education Policy Center study reveals that rural residents, especially in the Black Belt, endure significantly longer commutes than their urban counterparts, with 21% facing trips over 45 minutes versus a 15% statewide average. The report attributes...
Denver Considers Data Center Moratorium as It Aims to Reduce Water Use by 20%
Denver city officials are weighing a one‑year moratorium on new data center construction as part of a broader effort to slash municipal water consumption by 20% over the next twelve months. The measure follows recent restrictions that require restaurants to...
El Paso Has Built 1,000 Miles of Bike Lanes in 10 Years
El Paso’s Comprehensive Bike Plan, launched in 2016, has added over 1,000 miles of dedicated bike lanes in ten years, making it one of the fastest‑growing networks in the United States. The city is now seeking public input for a...
Santa Monica Modular Project Offers Hope for Affordable Housing in Pricy California Cities
Santa Monica’s Berkeley Station modular apartment complex demonstrates a faster, lower‑cost path to affordable housing in high‑priced California markets. The 13‑unit development was assembled in just three days on site, completing construction in nine months versus the typical 20‑month timeline....
Downtown Salt Lake City Skyscraper Cleans the Air Around It
Astra Tower, Salt Lake City’s newest skyscraper, opened in 2025 with 372 luxury condos and a built‑in air‑filtration system that cleans incoming air before it reaches residents and then releases it back outside. The building uses a single entry point...
Atlanta Flood Prevention Efforts Are Causing ‘Climate Gentrification’ in Its Black Communities
Atlanta’s new flood‑prevention projects, including Rodney Cook Sr. Park, aim to capture stormwater but have sparked a wave of displacement in historically Black neighborhoods. ZIP‑code analysis shows one in five Black residents have left since the initiatives began, as property...
Charleston Creates ‘Workforce Housing District’ With Permanent Affordability
The Charleston City Council gave initial approval for a new Workforce Housing District, a zoning classification that requires at least half of any new units to remain permanently affordable. Mayor William Cogswell plans to apply the district to city‑owned parcels...
Pedestrian Deaths Fell by Largest Percentage in 15 Years, but Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
Pedestrian fatalities in the United States fell 11% in the first half of 2025, the steepest decline in the 15‑year series tracked by the Governors Highway Safety Association. The GHSA recorded 3,024 deaths, 371 fewer than the same period a...
San Diego Transit Awarded $60 Million for Trolley, Electric Buses
San Diego’s Metropolitan Transit System has secured more than $60 million from California’s Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program. Approximately $48.3 million will be directed to the Orange Line Improvement Project, upgrading tracks and vehicles on the trolley network. An additional $12.1 million...
Oakland Drafts First Revision of General Plan Since 1998
Oakland has issued the draft of the second phase of its General Plan update, the first comprehensive revision since 1998. Phase one already delivered a Downtown Specific Plan that outlines infrastructure, jobs, and housing strategies for key districts. The new...
Miami Considers Airport-to-Port Train to Ease Cruise Ship Traffic
Miami-Dade County’s Transportation Planning Organization is evaluating a non‑stop train linking Miami International Airport to Port Miami, one of the world’s busiest cruise terminals handling over 8.5 million passengers annually. The proposal envisions a 9‑mile extension of the existing people‑mover system,...
Florida Law Aimed at Increasing Housing Includes Exemption for ‘Large Destination Resorts’
Florida enacted HB 399, a sweeping state law that limits local zoning authority to accelerate housing production. The measure forces municipalities to tie development fees directly to the cost of project review, adopt objective standards, and prioritize conflict resolution over...
Seniors Account for 32% of Traffic Deaths in the Bay Area
Between 2019 and 2023, seniors accounted for 32% of traffic fatalities in the Bay Area’s four counties, despite representing just 16% of the population. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data highlights that older pedestrians are especially vulnerable due to...
Austin Officials Pump the Brakes on I-35 ‘Cap & Stitch’ Project
Austin city staff have asked the council to postpone the next funding round for the I‑35 “cap and stitch” project, which aims to cover sections of the interstate with 14 acres of new parks. The council previously committed $104 million to...
America’s Next Rust Belt Could Be Its Most Digitally Connected Cities
Researchers at Tufts University have coined the term “Wired Belts” to describe U.S. metropolitan areas that are highly digitally connected yet increasingly vulnerable to AI‑driven job displacement. The vulnerability index places Washington, D.C. at the top, followed by New Jersey,...
You Can Live Inside America’s Oldest Indoor Shopping Mall
The Arcade, built in 1828 and America’s oldest indoor shopping mall, has been transformed into a mixed‑use development in downtown Providence. The renovation retains the historic Greek‑inspired façade while converting upper floors into 48 micro‑apartments that rent for $550 each....
Mamdani Budget Funds Queensway, Dimming Hope for Reactivated Long Island Rail
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s 2026 budget earmarks $43 million for the Queensway, a high‑line‑style park in Queens. The proposed park occupies the corridor that the QueensLink extension of the Long Island Rail Road would need to revive the Rockaway Beach branch. Advocates...
Lawsuit Delays DC Bike Lane Closure Until at Least April
A lawsuit filed by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) has forced the District of Columbia to postpone the planned removal of a protected bike lane on 15th Street until at least April 1. The legal challenge alleges the National...
Co-Living ‘Microapartments’ Cost Half as Much to Build as Typical Studios
A Pew and Gensler study finds converting office buildings into small co‑living microapartments costs between $123,300 and $238,700 per unit, roughly half the $400,000 price of a new studio in high‑cost U.S. cities. The design places private units along exterior...
NYC to Upgrade 1/3 of Its Subway Car Fleet
The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will replace up to one‑third of its subway car fleet, roughly 2,390 vehicles, as part of a major rolling‑stock upgrade. The initiative is embedded in the agency’s $68 billion 2025‑2029 capital plan, with funding...
Oklahoma Has Over 200,000 Vacant Homes. None Are Affordable to Low-Income Families.
Oklahoma’s Housing Finance Agency reports more than 220,000 vacant homes, with roughly 39,000 listed for rent. However, virtually none meet affordability criteria for low‑income families, leaving a gap of over 80,000 rental units for the poorest households. The shortage stems...
Study: Driver Assistance Systems Increase Distraction, ‘False Sense of Security’
A new study cited by Electrek finds that advanced driver‑assistance systems, including Tesla’s Full Self‑Driving (FSD) mode, can create a “supervision trap” that distracts drivers and gives a false sense of security. The research, referencing data from the Insurance Institute...
New Washington State Law Lets Cities Give Social Housing Developers City-Owned Land
Washington enacted House Bill 1687, enabling state and local governments to transfer city‑owned land to social housing public development authorities. The law gives Seattle the ability to offer land, planning assistance, and logistical support to the Seattle Social Housing Developer,...
San Diego School District Plans to Build 3,000 Homes for Employees
San Diego Unified School District announced a plan to construct nearly 3,000 workforce‑housing units for its employees. The initiative aims to provide homes for 10% of its 13,559 staff by 2030, exceeding the 1,350 units needed to meet that target....
LA Metro Increases Highway Expansion Budget by 40%
Los Angeles Metro announced a $887.1 million allocation for freeway expansion in the FY 26‑27 budget, marking a 40 percent increase over the prior year. The package includes a modest $46 million earmarked for bus improvements, which critics view as tokenism. Metro’s own studies...
Why Is Canada’s Public Transit so Much Cheaper — and Better — Than the United States’?
George Wu’s analysis highlights why Canada’s public‑transit systems are both cheaper and more heavily used than those in the United States. Building a light‑rail line in Kitchener‑Waterloo costs roughly $71 million CAD per mile (about $52 million USD), compared with Los Angeles’...
400 Maine Affordable Homes Unable to Break Ground Due to Buy America Rules
Developers in Maine have placed ten fully permitted affordable‑housing projects, representing 400 units, on hold after the federal Buy America rule took effect. The regulation mandates that 95 % of construction materials, including HVAC systems, be sourced from U.S. manufacturers, a...
Ridership on Santa Maria Transit Sees 8-10% Increase Thanks to High Gas Prices
Santa Maria’s public transit system recorded an 8‑10% jump in March ridership compared with the same month last year, driven by soaring gasoline prices that topped $6 per gallon. The regional fare remains low at $1.50 per ride or $3...
Florida Legislature Passes Bill to Encourage Infill Housing on Brownfields
Florida’s Legislature passed a bill requiring counties with over 1.475 million residents to allow residential development on any parcel of five acres or larger, targeting infill housing on brownfield sites. The measure preempts certain local zoning restrictions on multifamily and mixed‑use...
Nation’s Shortest Car Ferry Travels Just 200 Feet in a National Park
The Green River Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park is the nation’s shortest car ferry, spanning just 200 feet and completing the crossing in roughly 30 seconds. Established in 1934, the single‑engine barge now transports about 135,000 vehicles and 270,000...
San Diego to Lower Speed Limits on 20% of Its Streets
San Diego City Council approved a resolution to lower speed limits on roughly 20% of the city’s streets, covering about 679 miles. The changes follow a new California law that gives municipalities flexibility to reduce limits in crash‑heavy corridors, high...
Provo Rejects Data Center Rezoning Proposal
The Provo City Council unanimously rejected Timpanogos Tech Center’s request to rezone industrial‑commercial land for a new data center. Council members cited a pending city‑wide economic development study, agreeing to defer the decision until the plan is finalized in late...
Chicago to Add or Upgrade 200 Bike Share Stations
Chicago’s Divvy bike‑share system will receive roughly 100 brand‑new stations and 100 upgraded docks, targeting high‑demand corridors such as the lakefront and dense neighborhoods. The upgrades will add extra bike capacity to existing sites, while new stations fill gaps in...
Seattle Launches 24/7 Bus Service to SeaTac Airport
Sound Transit is launching a 24‑hour night‑bus pilot, Route 570, linking downtown Seattle, Tukwila International Boulevard, and SeaTac Airport Station. The service will run every 30 minutes after trains cease operation on March 28, providing continuous public‑transit access to Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport....
Nevada Is No Longer a Haven of Housing Affordability
Nevada, once celebrated for affordable housing, is now facing soaring costs that threaten its reputation as a low‑price market. In Las Vegas, investor‑owned single‑family rentals have climbed to roughly 11 percent, far above the national 3 percent average. Clark County’s...
New Federal Grant Rules Could Kill Detroit Road Diets
The Trump administration’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program has introduced new grant rules that restrict funding for projects that reduce vehicle lane capacity, a practice known as road dieting. Detroit’s $12.5 million federal grant for a Gratiot Avenue redesign—one...
Miami Restaurant Rebuild Includes 10 Units of Affordable Workforce Housing
Miami restaurateur Matt Kuscher is rebuilding his Kush Wynwood venue while adding ten affordable apartments for hospitality workers. The Omni Community Redevelopment Agency provided financing, and Kuscher signed a 50‑year affordability covenant. The mixed‑use project aims to reduce long commutes...
The Bittersweet Path to the Housing Crisis — and How to Find Our Way Home
Jamie Madden’s new book, “Bittersweet Lane,” blends memoir with a deep dive into the financing maze of U.S. affordable housing. It illustrates how developers must layer Chapter 40B, SHARP, 221(d)(3) and other programs to make projects viable, and argues that a...
Google Razed 80 Acres in Downtown San Jose. Then… Nothing Happened.
Google paused its ambitious 80‑acre downtown San Jose redevelopment, leaving demolished lots as empty concrete slabs. The mixed‑use megacampus, envisioned to house up to 25,000 employees and a blend of offices, retail, recreation, and housing, has been on hold for...
Trump Has Slashed Over $750 Million From Bike and Walking Trail Projects
The Trump administration has eliminated more than $750 million in federal funding earmarked for bike lanes and walking trails, primarily by cutting the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. The cuts are framed as a rollback of DEI‑related initiatives, leaving dozens of...
Another Reminder of the Futility of Carpool Lanes
Caltrans has shortened the morning HOV lane hours on US 101 through Marin and Sonoma counties, now restricting southbound access to 6‑9 am and northbound to 3‑6:30 pm. The 16‑mile Marin‑Sonoma Narrows project, opened in September 2025 at a cost of $762 million, completes...
Study: Self-Driving Cars Could Raise VMT by 6%, Increasing Congestion
A University of Texas‑Arlington analysis predicts that a major shift to autonomous vehicles in U.S. cities would lift vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by about 6%, even when users switch from privately owned cars to shared robotaxis. The study warns that...
US Senate Passes Housing Bill With Focus on Financing, Deregulation
The U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan housing bill aimed at easing the nation’s affordability crisis. The legislation gives local governments greater authority, permits banks to invest more in affordable housing, and expands Section 8 private‑financing eligibility for public housing units. It...
Report: Just 17% of Gen Z Americans Own Homes
A new report finds that only 17% of Gen Z Americans own a home, a stark contrast to the more than half of Millennials who have already bought property. In the past five years, Gen Z renters surged sixfold, climbing from 700,000...
Chicago Transit Authority to Boost Policing Hours by 75%
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has filed a Revised Security Enhancement Plan with the Federal Transit Administration, committing to a 75% increase in monthly policing hours. The plan introduces the Transit Rider Interaction Program (TRIP), which deploys officers to high‑incident...