Urban Planning

Residents concerned by their potential for high water and electricity use are organizing, as the Pavilion Township Planning Commission prepares to consider changing zoning ordinances to allow the facilities, in November.

A decade after Ohio voters forbade the devices, City Council members are weighing whether they should stage a return, as a tool to combat reckless driving. State and local hurdles remain, including at the ballot box.

City Council members unanimously approved a motion to amend the city’s Homeless Action Plan with AI-generated recommendations from ChatGPT. The shift restricts how public funds can be used.

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in large ridership declines for commuter rail systems, which are now being reimagined for new riders and travel patterns. Systems in California and Philadelphia have made notable gains.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation has announced four operators to lead its International Landing Pad Network, which aims to attract international technology and AI business.

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.