LA Metro Board Approves New 710 Freeway Plan Diana Ionescu Mon, 04/22/2024 - 12:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Anti-710 expansion sign in Pasadena, California protesting the expansion of the northern section of the 710. The Los Angeles Metro Board Planning Committee approved a plan to widen the 710 freeway, citing “no known displacements” of residents or businesses. As Joe Linton explains in Streetsblog LA, a prior plan, which would have widened the freeway significantly and displaced local residents, caused significant concern among environmental justice advocates and community ..read more

Austin’s Proposed EV Charging Rules Regulate Station Locations, Size Diana Ionescu Mon, 04/22/2024 - 11:00 Primary Image The Austin City Council is considering changes to the city’s regulations on electric vehicle charging stations, reports Jo Clifton in Austin Monitor. “According to the city’s Climate Equity Plan, by 2030, Austin should have ‘a compelling and equitably distributed mix of level 1, 2, and DC fast charging infrastructure to accommodate 40 percent of total vehicle miles traveled in the city. This translates to 226 megawatts of electrical load and could mean more than 37,000 c ..read more

Making California State Parks More Climate-Resilient Clement Lau Mon, 04/22/2024 - 10:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Chino Hills State Park in Southern California. California's State Park System is the largest in the U.S.  This system includes 279 separate park units on 1.4 million acres, with more than 280 miles of coastline, 625 miles of lake and river frontage, almost 15,000 campsites, and 3,000 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. However, these cherished spaces are now increasingly threatened by climate change. For example, ancient sequoia grov ..read more

Nashville Proposes $3.1B Plan to Expand Bus System Mary Hammon Mon, 04/22/2024 - 09:00 Primary Image Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced a $3.1 billion dollar plan to expand transit in the city. The proposed initiative, called “Choose How You Move,” would be paid for with a half-cent sales tax increase that will appear on the ballot in November, reports Cassandra Stephenson for the Nashville Tennessean. The majority of the proposed improvements (nearly 60 percent) would come in the form of expanded and enhanced bus service. According to Stephenson, the local WeGo bus service would ..read more

Just Transition: Bringing Equity to the Clean Energy Conversation Clement Lau Mon, 04/22/2024 - 08:00 Primary Image Just Transition is typically defined as a set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy. Just Transition strategies were first forged by labor unions and environmental justice groups that were rooted in low-income communities of color. Specifically, they saw the need to: 1) phase out the industries that were harming workers, community health, and the environment; and 2) pr ..read more

New App Pays Users to Report Illegally Parked Cars Mary Hammon Mon, 04/22/2024 - 07:00 Primary Image Have you ever spotted a car parked where it shouldn't be and wished you could give them a ticket? Sweden now has an app for that. According to Euronews, a company called Smart Scout recently launched an app that pays people to report drivers who aren’t following parking rules. Anyone older than 16 with a Swedish social security number can snap a photo of a wrongly parked car through the app, which will then notify the user that a parking attendant is on the way. If the tip leads to the car ..read more

Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features Diana Ionescu Fri, 04/19/2024 - 08:00 Primary Image New features on Google Maps will make it easier to find electric car charging stations and public transit information, reports Chris Smith in BGR. As Smith explains, Google Maps will start including transit options by default along with driving directions in some cities. “If you prefer public transit over other alternatives, you’ll also love another feature Google just launched for Google Search. You can perform searches along the lines of ‘Boston to Philadelphia train,’ and you’ll get sched ..read more

Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production Diana Ionescu Fri, 04/19/2024 - 07:00 Primary Image A proposed Ohio state bill would incentivize local governments to support pro-housing policies through an annual grant program, reports Avery Kreemer in Dayton Daily News. The program, which would be funded by removing a non-business tax credit for property owners, could create $100 million to $150 million per year in revenue that would be distributed among cities that adopt three or more pro-housing policies. Cities can choose from a list of 12 policies that include increasing new h ..read more

Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant Diana Ionescu Fri, 04/19/2024 - 06:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption The Eisenhower Expressway began construction in 1955. The City of Chicago announced it received a $2 million federal Reconnecting Communities grant aimed at improving “community safety, cohesion, and quality of life through enhanced connectivity over and around the [Eisenhower Expressway],” according to a press release from the city. In an article for Streetsblog Chicago, John Greenfield describes the city’s plans for the Interstate 290 corridor, which are light on ..read more

Financial Literacy as a Tool for Equitable Urban Development Devin Partida Fri, 04/19/2024 - 05:00 Financial literacy refers to understanding and effectively using various financial skills, including personal financial management, budgeting and investing. Financial literacy is crucial for enabling individuals to make informed decisions. It enhances their economic stability and contributes to broader economic growth in urban settings where economic activities are concentrated and diverse. Equitable urban development aims to ensure all city residents have access to the resources and opportunit ..read more