More than 200 mayors, from cities in Alabama and across the country, gathered this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at the 92nd U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

Steven Reed, mayor of Montgomery, was among them and said some of his city's biggest challenges are public safety and support for small businesses. Reed explained he is leaning on strategies from other areas finding success in reducing gun violence and boosting the economy.

"Although our homicide and nonfatal shootings are down double digits, percent-wise, we still have too many occurrences taking place in our community as a whole," Reed asserted.

On a policy level, Reed noted he is also exploring ways to promote healthier outcomes for residents. The
conference was held in Kansas City, Missouri, with mayors from both sides of the aisle representing rural and urban communities.

Reed emphasized collaboration at the conference also means sharing Montgomery's successes with other communities. He cited partnerships as a bright spot in the city's economic development plans.

"When you consider that we just landed META with an $800 million project, when you look at the job growth that our city has seen over the last several years -- and we've led the state in that area -- that's significant," Reed stressed.

Representatives of several federal agencies attended the conference. In a push for progress, Reed
noted he is setting his sights on getting their help to obtain grants to improve the energy grid and high-speed internet.

"We want to engage those agencies, as well as the Department of Transportation, Department of Commerce, in other initiatives that they have, that we have prioritized in the city and our residents have brought to us," Reed added.

Reed underscored the importance of ensuring nonprofits and other organizations can also access more
funding. Other topics addressed at the conference include housing and mental health.


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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has revived congestion pricing after a five-month pause.

The program's biggest change is a $9 toll, down from $15 but by 2031, the toll will increase to $15 for all drivers. The program's mixed reception from New Yorkers is partly to blame for the pause.

Renae Reynolds, executive director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, said the program faced opposition from commuters.

"There have been a plethora of critiques from folks in New Jersey who have complained about the cost of the toll, who have made claims that people are going to create congestion in other areas as they aim to avoid the congestion pricing fee," Reynolds noted.

An environmental assessment showed congestion pricing could increase pollution in the outer boroughs and New Jersey. Specifically, the Bronx might see increased soot from more than 700 trucks entering the borough daily. MTA is spending $130 million on mitigation efforts. Congestion pricing will go into effect at midnight on Jan. 5, 2025.

Lawsuits were brought forward or considered to both terminate and reinstate congestion pricing. Estimates showed canceling it would have cost New York 100,000 jobs. The program is slated to generate more than $15 billion for MTA.

Reynolds pointed out it will go toward overdue improvements to the city's subway system.

"That's signal upgrades, making sure our system is accessible for all folks regardless of abilities by installing elevators where there need to be," Reynolds outlined. "Because we are well behind the requirements of ADA accessibility."

Only 113 stations of the entire subway system's 472 are accessible. The MTA's capital plan calls for 70 stations to be made entirely accessible. Congestion pricing would also pay for the next phases of the Second Avenue subway to be built, and transitioning the city's bus fleet to all electric.

Construction is scheduled to begin early next year on improvements to railroad infrastructure in and around Illinois' capital city.

Springfield has received a $157 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act. Nate Bottom, the chief city engineer for Springfield, said the money will go for a number of projects designed to improve safety and rail service across the region.

"It's been one of the bottlenecks for the high-speed rail between Chicago to St. Louis," he said. "It's one track through the city of Springfield, so now it'll be dual track, and there will be a new Amtrak station, multimodal station, where we'll have bus transfers as well as a parking structure."

The grant is part of $2.4 billion in Federal Railroad Administration funding for 122 rail projects in 41 states and Washington, D.C. Agency officials say the projects will make rail travel safer, more reliable and more resilient, getting goods and people where they need to be more quickly.

Bottom said the federal grant will also allow Springfield to make safety and service improvements along rail lines in the city.

"We're going down from 68 to 32 at-grade crossings in the city of Springfield, potentially improving service," he said. "We also increased trespassing countermeasures. Our goal is to get on a January letting. Construction to be completed by August of 2027."

Other rail projects affecting Illinois include money for regional projects including planning for the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission's Invest Midwest project, and a yard-area rail decongestion and safety project involving a group of 12 Midwestern states, including Illinois.


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Two South Dakota cities scored well this year on a national ranking of livable communities.

In AARP's 2024 Livability Index, Pierre ranked 15th in small communities and Sioux Falls ranked 14th in the large community category. The platform scores towns based on indicators like housing, transportation, environment and health. Pierre and Sioux Falls scored highest in the "opportunity" and "engagement" categories.

Lindsey Holmquest, associate state director of community outreach for AARP South Dakota, said such qualities are often underestimated.

"The piece that is often overlooked is that social connection piece," Holmquest pointed out. "It's important for people to feel connected to their community, their neighborhood, their neighbors, their service providers. The people that make up a place are just as important as the infrastructure."

Holmquest noted the index could be a useful checklist for ensuring communities are welcome places for people of all ages. The "neighborhood" category, for example, considers access to grocery stores, parks, libraries and more.

Whether a town made the list, the ranking system could be useful for any community.

Steve Watson, partner at Teton Ridge Consulting, has helped communities across the state with development projects. He said city leaders, economic development organizations and city councils could all use the index.

"I think it would be a really good framework to help ensure that the policies they're creating, the investments they're making, the decisions they're making kind of tie back to these indicators," Watson outlined.

Watson used the Tatanka Trail as an example. The Fort Pierre project, currently in design, includes a pedestrian bridge, plaza, outdoor exhibits and a trail. The project has received federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.