City Accelerator selected four cities to test new options for financing the infrastructure investments of the 21st century and beyond.
City Accelerator recently announced its third cohort, focusing on innovative infrastructure finance programs. Pittsburgh, Saint Paul, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. survived a selection process that began with a December 2015 invitation from the Citi Foundation and Living Cities to 40 of the nation's largest cities.
The winning cities now have an opportunity to explore a new set of financing options to help address the funding gaps for high priority capital projects—everything from "seawalls to stairs, streetlights to stormwater," according to a post by Steven Bosacker and Kristen Scheyder announcing the winners.
According to the post, "[w]e chose the four cities because they correlate their success on closing budget gaps in their capital plans to expanded physical and economic mobility, reactivated land for affordable housing and jobs, and increased public safety. In short, they want to make their cities a better place for all residents."
The post includes a quick summary of each of the winning proposals, each focusing on infrastructure needs that will be familiar to many other cities around the country.
Last year's cohort focused on innovative practices in community engagement.
FULL STORY: Introducing the City Accelerator's Third Cohort
BRT Boom in U.S.
A new study says that Los Angeles, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Eugene and Pittsburgh are leading the surge with the best bus rapid transit (BRT) systems in the nation.
The Transit Catastrophe Continues: San Francisco, D.C. Forecast Service Cuts, Layoffs
Advocates have been waiting for the other shoe to drop as transit agencies deal with cratered revenues during the pandemic without support from Congress.
Bike Share Lessons From the Pandemic
Bike share data from six U.S. cities offer insight into how Americans have changed travel patterns during the pandemic.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service