In the News

Dive Brief: If cities are to close the digital divide and end so-called "digital redlining," they must partner with the private sector to help locally, but they also will need sustained federal help, speakers said at a virtual event Wednesday. Partnering with telecommunication companies and public entities like schools and recreation centers has been effective... read more →

Queens may be a New York City borough, but it has smart city ambitions. The densely populated district aims to become a "smart borough" through an initiative that emphasizes tech and infrastructure modernization. The effort is led by Queens President Donovan Richards Jr., who was elected last year, and his staff.... read more →

Dive Brief: Even as many cities adopt new technologies, they often lack basic governance policies around data privacy, accessibility and cybersecurity, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF). The report, based on detailed surveys with officials from 36 global cities, found that less than a quarter conduct privacy impact... read more →

Dive Brief: The New York City-Newark-Connecticut metropolitan region was the most congested urban area in the country in 2020, surpassing the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim region, which took top honors in 2019, a new report found. Congestion decreased in cities throughout the U.S. during the pandemic, with travel delays on par... read more →

Cycling has enjoyed huge gains in popularity across the United States and much of the world as a result of the pandemic, even leading to serious bicycle shortages. As millions of Americans went out and grabbed a bike as the country locked down last year, the area where they lived... read more →

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a hard-earned bipartisan agreement on a pared-down infrastructure plan that would make a start on his top legislative priority and validate his efforts to reach across the political aisle. But he openly acknowledged that Democrats will likely have to tackle much of the... read more →

Dive Brief: Pittsburgh's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) is launching the city's first pedestrian safety action plan, intended to provide policy and infrastructure improvements to support the city's five mobility goals. Those goals are that nobody dies or is seriously injured on city streets; everyone can access fresh fruit and vegetables within 20 minutes... read more →

The New York legislature passed a bill last week designed to encourage the use of low-carbon concrete and cement, a major step aimed at tackling the climate impact of the construction industry. The bill has not yet reached Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk. The bill, S-542A, instructs the state’s Office of General Services... read more →

Major e-bus makers Proterra and Vicinity Motor make the case for a national bus electrification strategy. The electric bus industry in the U.S. could get a significant infusion of federal funding under proposals now being considered in Washington, D.C. The leaders of two major e-bus manufacturers, U.S.-based Proterra and Canada-based... read more →

Atlanta has installed fiber-optic cable for a new “smart city” corridor to connect dozens of neighborhoods with an advanced communications network, according to a Thursday announcement from a vendor working with the city. The “Atlanta BeltLine” project, which aims to connect 45 neighborhoods with trails, streetcars and parks, is now... read more →