Urban Planning

The Akron suburb is upgrading a major corridor with technology to increase communication among vehicles and travelers, and give special priority to emergency vehicles, transit buses and snowplows.

The city is weighing new rules for electric cargo bikes, to free up curb space, fight traffic congestion and reduce greenhouse gases. The proposal before the City Council is similar to one New York City adopted last year.

Developers and owners of multifamily housing complexes should understand the nuances around planning and operating electric vehicle charging, those familiar with the industry said, indicating it will soon be an expected feature.

The Urban Land Institute is partnering with cities and a university in California and Nevada in a one-year program to develop policies and programs around extreme heat mitigation and planning.

A new study by HERE Technologies and SBD Automotive ranks the electric vehicle market in all 50 states, offering insights into the rate of EV adoption and strength of the public charging landscape.

Several municipalities are underway with regulations that seek to provide some protection as data center projects proliferate. Middlesex Township could be an early test model for how such a campus might work.

Staffers in Bellevue, Wash., are using a new tool with artificial intelligence to handle certain tasks, including responding to resident inquiries. The pilot is now focused on “real-world scenarios.”

Officials received the money through a grant originating with American Rescue Plan Act funds. One part will bring fiber Internet to Starbuck residents; the other will improve emergency communications.

With several projects in the works, a big question is who will foot the bill for their power needs. Watchdog groups are eyeing the proceedings, but utility company reps have said they intend to protect consumers.

The company committed to fishing the electric scooters out of local waterways within 24 hours. It also fines people who park them across sidewalks — though prohibited downtown sidewalk riding continues.

The Polaris Forge 2 project in Harwood, near Fargo, is a 900-acre, 280-megawatt endeavor that would be an AI data center. It is being planned with concerns around its water and power usage in mind.

Ridership in the U.S., Canada and Mexico rose more than 30 percent year over year as the industry takes hold, according to the North American Bikeshare and Scootershare Association’s sixth annual ridership report.

The city’s bus system intends to bring three new electric shuttles into its fleet, likely to serve free routes in downtown, St. Elmo and the North Shore. The vehicles will join eight other electrics currently in service.

The city is looking at using drones to learn more about how and to what extent people use parking spaces downtown. The analysis is also aimed at inventorying parking in the area before larger builds increase demand.

The company has grown its fleet of driverless vehicles to three 18-wheelers, it said Wednesday. The service, which launched sans drivers in April, has now driven more than 20,000 miles, many between Dallas and Houston at night.

A long-gestating vacation rental ordinance will soon get an airing, starting with the city planning commission. Leaders are considering using software to get a better idea precisely how many such rentals the city has.

City officials and labor leaders were among those telling city councilors of fears autonomous self-driving cars and ride-share vehicles could be unable to navigate city streets.

City commissioners planned to vote this week on a vendor contract but have continued their conversation about implementing the cameras, to monitor vehicle traffic and deter crime. Some opposition emerged during public comment.