Urban Planning

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is working with cities to use visualizations to make urban heat island data more accessible. For Washington, D.C., this work led to a virtual reality experience.

High-speed rail projects have proved to be very costly, but experts argue that these projects will serve an essential role in the evolution of the U.S. transportation system as it moves beyond cars and planes.

Arlington County, Va., has announced a partnership with parking technology maker eleven-x for a pilot project to bring sensor technology to some 4,500 public parking spaces. The pilot lays the foundation for other enhancements.

City officials have approved the installation of two charging stations at a cost of $44,272. The money comes from rates customers pay at parking meters, the garage and the borough's parking lease program.

Iowa City-based Alquist 3D is hoping to address the housing shortage facing Johnson County by creating affordable, sustainable and innovative homes using 3D printing technology. Construction is expected to start this summer.

Drones are playing an integral part in keeping birds away from dangerous power lines by placing robotic bird diverters on the lines. Some 1,500 new bird diverters have been launched to protect Atlantic City Electric infrastructure.

The county’s public utility district began mapping out a strategy for a future that relies heavily on electric vehicles. The planning session follows on the heels of the Washington Clean Fuels Standard law, which took effect this year.

Electric bikes are becoming a popular alternative to short- and medium-range trips that would normally have been traveled by car. But experts warn the vehicles are only as good as the infrastructure they travel, which is often lacking in low-income neighborhoods.

Changes to land use zoning, parking requirements and other areas could make way for some 500,000 new housing units in neighborhoods around transit stops in the Puget Sound region of Washington state.

The two startups will join forces on a push to make it easier to view and engage with public documents, including feedback-gathering exercises. The companies become closer via a local gov tech innovation hub.

The gov tech provider is working with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to analyze dangerous intersections in the area and help officials forecast risks. The effort involves the HxGN Connect real-time data tool.

At least six states in the past few years have started pilot programs to test plastic roads. New federal legislation and programs have added to the momentum because of the government’s commitment to using sustainable materials.

Electric scooters and bikes are fast becoming standard forms of transportation in the U.S. The post-pandemic resurgence is spurring those watching the space to call for new standards and thoughtful integration into urban transit.

In March, Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife unveiled two charging stations at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. Since that time, 14 more charging stations have been introduced at parks across the state.

The Metro plan would use one-of-a-kind and much cheaper battery-powered light rail to connect West Chester Borough to downtown Philadelphia. Cutting-edge, fast-charging battery technology with a 60-mile range is envisioned.

The annual traffic congestion survey of Texas roadways in 2021 showed a near return to pre-pandemic traffic levels amid strong population growth. Meanwhile, development patterns and transportation systems remain car-focused.

In an 11-1 vote Thursday, commissioners with the Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission approved an early-phase analysis of a 22-mile electric passenger rail system connecting north and south county.

Mayor Byron W. Brown's capital spending proposal for next year includes a $1 million allocation for an electric vehicle charging network throughout the city, though exact placement of the stations is yet to be determined.