Urban Planning/Transportation / Public News Service

The Peterbilt 520 EV, a fully electric garbage truck, made a test run in Portland, Ore., on Nov. 11, 2023. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Friday, December 8, 2023

Heavy-duty trucks: Rolling toward electric power?

While lawmakers and environmental groups strive to lower vehicle emissions and the nation's carbon footprint, many truckers see unrealistic …

In 2008, Connecticut passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, which established its climate goals. This means getting greenhouse-gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80% below 2001 levels by 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, December 8, 2023

Misinformation slows CT’s new emission standards

Connecticut lawmakers are reluctant to approve new emission standards that would require 90% cleaner emissions from internal-combustion engines and re…

The Environmental Protection Agency is working on rules that will incentivize the transition to heavy-duty electric vehicles. (VanderWolf Images/Adobestock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

Lawmakers, advocates press EPA for strict emissions rule for heavy-duty trucks

As the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai wraps up, Democratic lawmakers and clean-air advocates are calling on the Environmental …

PA schools could soon be powered by sun as solar bill advances to Senate

Bipartisan legislation that proposes the installation of solar panels in schools across Pennsylvania awaits a vote in the state Senate. The Solar …

The Thrive Indianapolis Annual Report 2022 says Indianapolis has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years. (Adobe Stock)

Indy, Bloomington recognized for environmental action plans

Bloomington and Indianapolis are getting some international recognition for the work they're doing to help the environment. The two have been named …

The Port of Long Beach is one of the busiest in the country and is serviced by thousands of trucks per day. (City of Long Beach)

As climate change conference opens, one CA city takes action

As world leaders gather in Dubai for the international conference on climate change, the City of Long Beach is acting on multiple fronts to help the …

Extremes of hot and cold weather have taken their toll on a concrete barrier along Binghamton's Riverwalk. Concrete crumbles between the stones of the wall in upstate New York. (Chet Wiker/Adobe Stock)

Will big oil companies cover climate change costs in NY?

Some state and local lawmakers are on a long list calling on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to require big oil companies to help offset the costs of …

Pittston is one of 56 projects in 37 counties which were selected to expand access to reliability of EV charging in Pennsylvania. (Kevin McGovern/Adobe Stock)<br />

EV companies call for expanded heavy-duty truck charging infrastructure

Clean-energy companies and supporters are calling on federal officials to prioritize the development of charging infrastructure for EV powered medium …

Clean-air advocacy groups and the electric truck sector are calling on state governments to consider tax credits that would make EV trucks more affordable. (Adobe Stock)

EV companies call for building heavy-duty vehicle infrastructure

Clean-energy advocates in Ohio and around the country say now is the time for the government to ensure the nation has the medium- and heavy-duty truck…

Mapping is important part of conserving wildlife corridors. (iploydoy/Adobe Stock)

More support from Congress urged to protect wildlife corridors

Wildlife corridor conservation is in the spotlight in Congress. Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries…

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that wider street lanes contribute to high rates of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. (Olga/Adobestock)<br />

Traffic lanes: the narrower the better?

Redrawing some California traffic lanes to make them narrower would make many city streets safer according to a new study from Johns Hopkins Universit…

Maine's four-year climate plan aims to decrease the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. (Adobe Stock)

ME towns share plans, resources to build climate resilience

Community groups across Maine are helping small towns with fewer resources better prepare for the growing threat of climate change. They are …

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found travel lane width is one of several contributors to the high rates of traffic-related fatalities in the U.S. They urged road engineers to consider narrower lanes. (Adobe Stock)

Could narrower traffic lanes help reduce harmful emissions?

Wisconsin's largest city has seen recent debate over highway expansion plans amid environmental concerns, and a new study suggested for similar …

Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection finds 67% of nitrogen oxide emissions, a key component of smog, came from transportation. (Adobe Stock)

Highway changes could make Hartford a walkable city

A Connecticut Department of Transportation study has outlined plans to make Hartford a walkable city. The Greater Hartford Mobility Study proposes …

According to Pacific Environment, wind-assist propulsion can reduce greenhouse gas emissions per cargo ship by 30% over the course of a voyage. (Cargill and BAR Technologies)

Southern CA ports lead the way for 'green' shipping

The importance of making ports and shipping more environmentally friendly was the topic of a town hall meeting on Tuesday. Three California members …

For more than 25 years, Will Wallace, pictured, has worked with at-risk youth in North Minneapolis. He now leads the Community Peace Builders effort for Nonviolent Peaceforce in the area. (Photo courtesy NP)

New healing space, outreach efforts highlight community safety work in MN

A Minneapolis neighborhood celebrates the opening of a centralized location for community safety initiatives today. The nonprofit behind the effort …

The Sublette Pronghorn herd boast some of the longest distance migrating pronghorns on record, and travel the 'Path of the Pronghorn,' the first federally-designated migration corridor. (Adobe Stock)

Removing barriers along iconic Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department is moving forward with the Sublette Pronghorn migration corridor designation process. Josh Metten, Wyoming …

Community members fought to protect a playground after learning about a zoning proposal for a gas station, which would have required its removal. From left: Jeff Cronin, Al Powell and Paul Rowe. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Prince George’s County playground almost torn down to put up a gas station

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

Each polling place must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the New Hampshire building code, ensuring accessible parking spaces and building entrances as well as tabletop voting screens, which allow a voter to sit at a table and mark a ballot. (Adobe Stock)

NH voters with disabilities encouraged to make a voting plan

Advocates for people with disabilities in New Hampshire are encouraging them to make a voting plan ahead of tomorrow's election, by locating the …

According to the EPA's Toxic Release Inventory, Indiana ranks third out of 56 U.S. states and territories that release the highest total chemicals and pollutants per square mile into the air. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IN gets multiyear grant for climate pollution research

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management is using a $3 million federal grant to track greenhouse-gas pollution in the state. The Climate …

Last year there were 4,900 reported collisions with deer, 166 with elk and 20 with moose. The actual collision number is likely twice as high, though, as many incidents go unreported, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. (Adobe Stock)

Utah allocates funds to build more wildlife crossings

Budget legislation was signed into law in Utah this week that includes $20 million for building wildlife crossing infrastructure. Utah joins other …

Part of MTA's 20 Year Needs Assessment calls for cutting the agency's greenhouse-gas emission by at least 85%. This would mean converting 6,000 buses to zero emissions, retrofitting existing facilities, and investing in energy-saving technologies. (Adobe Stock)

MTA's needs assessment missing helpful cost information

New York advocates want to see changes made to MTA's 20-year needs assessment. Along with infrastructure modernization work, the Metropolitan …

In 2012, North Dakota voters rejected a proposed ballot question to abolish property taxes. They may be asked a similar question next year if a proposed measure is approved for the 2024 ballot. (Adobe Stock)

ND property tax plan spurs debate about hurting local schools, governments

There are warnings of cuts to municipal governments and schools, and some loss of local control for budget decisions, amid efforts to eliminate …

Colorado has set a goal of having 2 million electric vehicles on the road by 2035 to help reduce harmful air pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Public health benefits in new Colorado zero-emissions vehicle rule

A new rule, requiring 82% of new car and truck sales in Colorado to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2032, could begin to turn the tide on the state's …

Advocates gathered at a Monday news conference in Moreno Valley, Calif., to highlight a court ruling against a large warehouse proposal. (Joycelyn Sida)

CA enviro groups celebrate ruling against big warehouse proposal

Local environmental activists are applauding a big win in court against a large warehouse project proposed in Moreno Valley. A Riverside Superior …

Financial literacy fairs allow young people to make mistakes with their finances in a realistic but safe environment while developing problem-solving skills around their finances. (Adobe Stock)

CO students get bites of reality in financial planning

Credit unions in Colorado and across the Mountain West are helping high school students tackle money challenges through "Bites of Reality" fairs…

Studies show communities with access to trees and green spaces are associated with improved health outcomes, reduced crime, lower average temperatures and an influx of other kinds of investments and new economic opportunities, according to the U.S. Forest Service. (Tiago Fernandez/Adobe Stock)

Federal funds to help improve 'tree equity' across NV

Nevada environmentalists are celebrating almost $16 million in funding opportunity grants slated to be used for urban forestry projects, in an effort …

New maps and data are giving communities, planners and people who live in Colorado's wildland-urban interface best-in-class models to help them prepare for wildfire. (Adobe Stock)

More than 1 million Coloradans live in areas with elevated wildfire risk

A warming planet and decadeslong drought are expected to spark bigger and more destructive wildfires across the Mountain West, and new data from the …

An Environmental Defense Fund analysis revealed a shift to electric vehicles could cut more than 800 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year by 2040. (VisualArtStudio/Adobe Stock)

More PA motorists make the switch to electric vehicles

A Pennsylvania environmental group is touting electric vehicles as both cost-effective for drivers and a means to address climate change. Keystone …

Pipeline Number 5 lies beneath the Straits of Mackinaw. Opponents claim the aging oil line threatens the largest freshwater system in the world. (ehrlif/Adobe Stock)

Fast-track Line 5 permitting push met with protest

Michigan's Senate GOP pushed for fast track of Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel construction at a press conference this week. Sen. John Damoose, R-Harbor …

The Watt EV depot at the Port of Long Beach is the first in a planned network of charging stations for heavy- and medium-duty electric trucks. (WattEV)

Companies press EPA to adopt ambitious rules for zero-emission trucks

Advocates for electric vehicles and clean air are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to take aggressive measures as it decides on new emission…

September marked the planet's fourth-hottest month in a row, and 2023 is on track to be the hottest year on record. (Adobe Stock)

Surge in renewables keeps hopes of averting worst climate impacts alive

Record growth in wind and solar energy, battery storage and electric vehicle sales have kept the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 within …

The TeraWatt Charging Centers are located about 150 miles apart, to support the mileage range of commercially available electric trucks. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: AZ's medium-to-heavy-duty EV infrastructure needs to grow

Since Interstate 10 crosses Arizona, experts believe the state is in need of more electric vehicle infrastructure to support the transition to more …

CALSTART's Drive to Zero campaign calls for 30% new commercial vehicle sales being zero-emission by 2030 and 100% being zero-emission by 2040. (Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)

As an EV producer, experts push for more NV infrastructure

Nevada is a leader in electric vehicle production, but some EV experts are now calling for more investments in the sector. A decision for the …

According to 'Stacker.com,' in 2022, there were nearly 360 EV charging stations statewide in Indiana. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Environment, economy spark EV sales growth in Indiana

Electric vehicles are being called the "cars of the future." But how quickly are Indiana residents willing to drive into that future by buying one? …

About 3,700 students attend Western Oregon University in Monmouth where the summit will be held. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

'Making communities work for everyone' focus of Age-Friendly Oregon Summit

Supporters of efforts to make Oregon cities more livable and accessible for people of all ages are meeting this week. The Age-Friendly Oregon …

The United States saw 626 trespass-related fatalities and almost 550 trespass injuries in 2022, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Safety expert warns drivers, pedestrians of dangers at IL railroad crossings

Illinois ranks third in the nation for collisions at railroad crossings, and safety experts urged pedestrians and motorists to follow some basic …

If FEMA can't carry out its nationwide emergency alert test on the planned date of Wednesday, a backup date of Oct. 11 will be utilized. (Photo courtesy of FEMA)

FEMA alert test brings emergency preparedness into focus

Cell phones around Wisconsin and the rest of the country will be buzzing this Wednesday afternoon for a test of the federal Emergency Alert System and…

Campaigns bring focus to safety concerns for railroad tracks, crossings

Minnesota is among the top 25 states for collisions at railroad crossings. Safety experts shared common tips to avoid tragedy, and not just for …

A 2019 law in New York City requires new buildings, new roofs from building enlargement and replacement of an existing building's roof requires installation of a

Proposed bill puts solar on NYC public building roofs

A proposed bill aims to have solar panels placed on the roofs of all public buildings in New York City. The bill's goal is 100 megawatts of solar on …

There were 626 trespass-related fatalities and almost 550 trespass injuries across the country in 2022, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: People underestimate railroad collision risks

Utah saw 13 railroad-crossing collisions that included three fatalities in 2020, according to the most recent data available from the Federal …

The EPA is proposing changes to the federal emission standards to ensure 67% of new light-duty vehicles and 25% of new heavy-duty trucks sold in the United States be electric by 2032. (Valeriia/Adobe Stock)

UAW strike continues: Officials say EPA standards must catch up

Amid the United Auto Workers strike, some advocates argued it is time to implement clean car standards. Gary Schlack, a city council member in Allen …

$Nizer Lukerson, a delivery driver, stands outside Cleveland Heights City Hall after appearing in municipal court for driving under suspension. Lukerson owes $1,000 in fines to remove a number of suspensions issued in local courts for minor infractions. (GUS CHAN FOR THE MARSHALL PROJECT)<br />$

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Urban Planning and Transportation