Infrastructure

States’ Role in Water and Wastewater Spending Secure, Says EPA

An agency official reassured state and federal officials that “states are very much in the driver's seat” in picking which projects to spend funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

  • By Kery Murakami

In Race to Build Out EV Charging Stations, Some Cities and States Have a Leg Up

As the number of electric vehicles surge, a new ranking looks at the state of charging infrastructure and which cities and states are ready to receive them.

  • By Molly Bolan and Elizabeth Daigneau

A Troubling Trend: Pedestrian Deaths Continue to Rise

The number of people killed on U.S. streets in early 2022 was 5% higher than the same period a year earlier, showing a dramatic increase over the last decade.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Biden Administration Recognizes States’ Role in Highway Spending

A new memo from the Federal Highway Administration that replaces one from last year explicitly acknowledges the role of states in deciding how to use federal highway dollars—allaying concerns raised by Republicans in Congress.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

As Texas Booms, Local Governments — Especially in Small Towns — Struggle to Find Workers

A cascade of issues including inflation and growing distrust in government aren’t helping local governments hire for critical positions in public safety and utilities.

  • By Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune

Putting Federal Aid into Local Hands Works, White House Says

State budget surpluses are a sign the American Rescue Plan worked, Biden adviser Gene Sperling told the National Association of Counties conference.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Can Women Help Fill the Shortage of Trade Workers? Unions Are Betting On It.

But with only about 2 percent of tradespersons identifying as women, recruitment and retention initiatives by unions are just scratching the surface.

  • By Jessica Kutz  , The 19th

Machine Learning Maps Location of Lead Pipes

An open-source map will help communities find and remove pipes faster.

  • By Kaitlyn Levinson

City Planners Are Questioning the Point of Parking Garages

COMMENTARY | As many cities grapple with the housing crisis, some places are rewriting regulations and finding creative ways to repurpose these hulking masses of concrete that suck up valuable real estate.

  • By Kevin J. Krizek and John Hersey, The Conversation

White House Launches New Push to Help States Remove Lead Pipes That Carry Drinking Water

Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will be part of the Lead Service Replacement Accelerators program.

  • By Ashley Murray, Pennsylvania Capital-Star

State & Local Roundup: Wealth Tax Proposals on the Rise

While some states debate the so-called millionaires taxes, others are weighting cuts to levies on income and property. Plus: News you can use from across the country.

  • By Elizabeth Daigneau

New Boil Water Notices Are Being Issued Every Other Day in Jackson

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves lifted the citywide boil water advisory on Sept. 15, 2022. Since then, 70 new boil water notices, or more than one every other day, have been issued.

  • By Alex Rozier, Mississippi Today
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
Federal Recovery Funds at the State and Local Level
Infrastructure at a Turning Point

A New Initiative Seeks to Help Small Cities Access Infrastructure Funding

The program will work with communities to assemble strong grant applications that can win some of the billions of dollars available.

  • By Molly Bolan

Railroad Tracks Can be an Obstacle for High-Speed Internet Buildouts

State lawmakers are looking at the issue. Virginia’s Legislature wants to cap fees and streamline reviews for fiber infrastructure that crosses rail rights-of-way. Railroads say existing procedures are important for safety.

  • By Chris Teale

Executive Order Blocks State Business With ‘Evil Foreign Governments’

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem’s order will ensure companies associated with hostile nations do not access state infrastructure or data through IT or telecommunications contracts.

  • By Chris Teale

5 Ways to Build Cities That Can Better Withstand Climate Extremes

Smarter land-use and nature-based solutions are among the approaches highlighted in a new report, which also focuses on equity considerations and how to pay for projects.

  • By Molly Bolan

Cheap Sewer Pipe Repairs Can Push Toxic Fumes Into Homes, Schools

COMMENTARY | Here’s how to lower the risk.

  • By Andrew J. Whelton, The Conversation

When the Infrastructure Boom Meets the Workforce Crash

With federal dollars pouring into state and local governments for infrastructure, there’s one huge challenge: Who will do all the work?

  • By Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

A Recipe for Supporting Our Innovation Nation

COMMENTARY | How should the public and private sectors work together to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in technology? Here are four key steps.

  • By Ahmad Thomas

Miami-Dade Debuts Plan to Tackle Extreme Heat Problem

The Florida county, which has the most days of extreme heat in the nation, will, among other things, plant more trees and install cool pavement.

  • By David Volz

A ‘Bootcamp’ to Help Smaller Cities Win Infrastructure Grants

Small and midsize localities tend to lack the dedicated grant-writing teams and expertise that bigger towns use to score federal dollars. A new–and free–initiative aims to get them onto more equal footing competing for the funding.

  • By Bill Lucia