United States

Midwest Connect Train Project Moves Ahead
The proposed rail line would connect Chicago to Pittsburgh.

Pedestrian Deaths Would Have Risen Without the Pandemic, Study Shows
The alarming rise in pedestrian deaths across the United States was predicted well before Covid-19 provided more opportunities for dangerous driving behaviors.

Making Voting Accessible to Everyone
Voters with disabilities often have a hard time getting to the polls. Mail-in voting helps, but some states are limiting it.

Study: Crosswalk Lighting Radically Improves Pedestrian Safety
In what should come as a surprise to no one, drivers are much more likely to yield to pedestrians when they can actually see them.

Report: Americans Must Reduce Driving to Meet Climate Goals
A USDOT report calls for a set of strategies including but not limited to electrification of the transportation sector.

Beating Extreme Heat Through Community Efforts
U.S. cities don't provide residents with enough protection against heat, the deadliest weather-related killer in the world. In New York City, one organization came together to distribute ACs to neighbors in need.
A Place to Recover from Illness: How Medical Respite Programs Help Unhoused People Heal
For people experiencing homelessness, recuperating after a hospitalization is difficult. Medical respite programs can help. Why aren't they more common?

Wildfires Explode Across the West
Multiple massive fires are burning across the Western United States and Canada, prompting governments to explore new mitigation and response strategies.

20 States Best and Least Prepared for Climate Change and Extreme Weather
A new study from CNBC ranks US states in order of sustainability and preparedness for climate change and extreme weather. A few might surprise you.

Tesla ‘Nearly Crashes’ in Full Self-Driving Mode
A test of Tesla’s autonomous mode showed troubling permissiveness, according to one analyst.

The Challenges of Building Middle-Income Housing
An affordable housing developer explains the hurdles to building more housing for middle-income households.

Study: Bike Lanes, Traffic Calming Don’t Impact First Responders
Despite common concerns that narrower traffic lanes and bike infrastructure can slow emergency response, response times in one study didn’t change.

Essential Strategies for Combating Extreme Heat
Cities can protect residents from extreme heat by enhancing natural and built infrastructure, establishing heat response strategies, and implementing national policies for worker safety and disaster response.

NOAA Awards $575M in Coastal Resilience Grants
The program received over $16 billion in requests from communities around the country.

Addressing the Perils of Extreme Heat
With this year bringing on more record heat waves, governments at the local and federal levels are elevating extreme heat management as an urgent priority.

Bringing Back the Block Party
How a humble neighborhood get-together can help build stronger cities.

State AGs Call for FEMA to Classify Extreme Heat, Smoke as ‘Major Disasters’
State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.

Rural Areas Benefiting From Wind Energy Revenue
For some rural districts, tax revenue from wind energy projects can have a major impact on local school districts and infrastructure.

US Bike Share Ridership Hit Record High in 2023
According to a new NATO report, micromobility ridership in the U.S. was up 16% in 2023. Shared bike ridership set a new record, despite higher fares.

Study: ‘Sweeps’ Don’t Impact Homelessness
A study of three Los Angeles neighborhoods revealed that ‘cleanups’ of encampments don’t result in fewer people on the streets.
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