Stuck bridges, buckling roads—extreme heat is wreaking havoc on America’s aging infrastructure
COMMENTARY | The rate at which a bridge or road deteriorates depends not only on the materials and construction methods used but also on the climate during the structure’s life span.
Why North Kansas City pays its residents’ internet bills, and your city doesn’t pay yours
North Kansas City built a fiber network almost two decades ago that it now uses to provide its residents with gigabit internet. Here’s how it happened and why other cities in the country are, or aren’t, trying to do the same.
Justice Department sues freight railroad to improve Amtrak service
Trains are late three-quarters of the time along one Amtrak route. The Justice Department blames Norfolk Southern for the chronic delays.
Trump, Harris offer starkly different paths on transportation policy
The next president will decide how best to carry out President Joe Biden’s infrastructure initiatives. They could affect what cars Americans drive, the air they breathe and how easy it is to get a job in construction for transportation projects.
As bike and scooter ridership soars, safety challenges grow
Injuries and deaths are also soaring. Observers say helmet mandates are a good place to start.
The key to safer roads? Narrow the lanes.
COMMENTARY | A study late last year found that the approach significantly enhanced safety for all road users. By narrowing lanes, cities can also reallocate that found space to sidewalks and bike lanes.
How one state is using technology to curb high pedestrian fatality rates
Texas has the second highest pedestrian fatality rates in the country. It is looking beyond just physical infrastructure to curb traffic deaths in the state.
White House looks to safeguard groundwater supplies as aquifers decline nationwide
Nationwide, overconsumption is depleting aquifers that supply communities with fresh water. In some areas, fertilizers used in farming or chemicals used in industry or mining are contaminating the underground reservoirs.
New York idles on green transportation plan
As the state has backpedaled on congestion pricing, it has made no progress on nearly half of its other transit-related climate goals.
The fittest cities in America: See how yours compares
City officials have an important role to play in ensuring the well-being of their communities. Here’s how they can address resident health through policy and resources.
Texas is once more flirting with expanding passenger rail
The state’s booming population, congestion problems and billions of federal dollars on the table have officials eyeing ways to boost passenger rail.
People are still being swallowed by storm drains. One U.S. agency is pushing for safety measures.
A new federal rule requires that local officials in flood-prone areas consider safety features for drain openings. In 2021, ProPublica reported that uncovered storm drains were responsible for at least three dozen deaths over six years.
Major federal bridge grants jump-start long-stalled projects
The Biden administration announced $5 billion to build major bridge replacements, including several grants that were among the largest received by states in their history.
In an era of dam removal, California is building more
Project boosters claim the dams will be the most environmentally focused dams in California’s history, with water earmarked for environmental purposes and minimum flow requirements for the Sacramento River.
Splash pads make waves across communities, replacing public pools
Observers say public pools are necessary community infrastructure and save lives. Splash pads have become a more affordable option.
Rough ride? Data bikes chart the condition of bike paths in more cities
The tools that transportation agencies use to record the condition of pavement on roadways don’t work for biking and walking paths, so several communities are rolling out bikes that can get the job done.
Taking a train during a heat wave? Watch out for ‘sun kinks.’
As tracks heat up, they expand and buckle. That's forcing rail operators to adapt as the climate warms.
Zoning reform made way for an explosion of smaller homes in California. Will it work elsewhere?
Encouraged by California’s success, states across the country are passing laws to allow for more accessory dwelling units to address a shortage of affordable homes. But a slew of factors can keep the housing solution from taking off.
FEMA will now consider climate change when it rebuilds after floods
The federal agency is overhauling its disaster rules in a bid to end a cycle of rebuilding in unsafe areas.
High-speed rail needs national direction to get rolling, report says
A New York University professor emphasizes the need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts—or, in this case, the rail profiles and cross ties—of high-speed rail projects to keep costs down and construction on time.
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