U.S. rail agencies are slowly making the shift to zero-emissions trains, which can travel longer distances without refueling and reduce air pollution.

U.S. rail agencies are looking to shift to zero-emissions trains by using battery-powered and hydrogen-fueled trains, and Smart Cities Dive’s Dan Zukowski outlines some of the biggest projects currently underway.
In California, where the state has committed to building a zero-emission passenger rail network by 2050, a hydrogen-powered train is expected to go into service in San Bernardino County in November. The train broke a record during testing for traveling 1,741.7 miles without refueling or recharging. Hydrogen-powered trains emit only water vapor as a byproduct, limiting air pollution in surrounding communities, and are a better solution for longer distances where electric trains might require recharging.
While electrified trains and streetcars are nothing new — in fact, they’re more than a century old — many of the networks that existed in U.S. cities were dismantled or fell into disrepair, and systems using overhead wires or third rails are expensive to maintain. Battery-powered trains can operate on the same rails with less infrastructure, making it possible to extend electrification projects into more areas where the cost of wiring would be prohibitive.
FULL STORY: Where battery and hydrogen-powered trains are coming to US commuter rail

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Poorest NYC Neighborhoods Pay Price for Delivery Boom
The rise of ‘last-mile’ e-commerce warehouses — and their attendant truck traffic and air pollution — is disproportionately impacting the most historically disadvantaged parts of the city.

Greening Oakland’s School Grounds
With help from community partners like the Trust for Public Land, Oakland Unified School District is turning barren, asphalt-covered schoolyards into vibrant, green spaces that support outdoor learning, play, and student well-being.
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