The interplay of a curbside loading zone for a hotel, a bike lane, a crosswalk, and parking on M Street NW. by BeyondDC licensed under Creative Commons.

Cities are thinking about better ways to use their curbside space. Norway is grappling with the consequences of widespread adoption of electric vehicles. How consistent, incremental improvements to public space in Halifax made their waterfront flourish.

Cities trying to take back curb space: Curbs are some of a city’s most valuable real estate. Because of the heightened demand for deliveries and outdoor dining during the pandemic, they became even more crowded and complicated. The value of the curb, diminished by decades of free parking, is now being seen as an asset that can benefit all curbside users through appropriate pricing. Smart curbs and demand-based parking charges are becoming more common. (Nathaniel Meyersohn | CNN)

Norway rethinking focus on electric vehicles: Norwegian officials are having second thoughts on the all-out promotion of electric cars in the country. While they have reached amazing transition numbers from gas-powered cars, the benefits have been going to more affluent residents at the expense of even more climate-friendly modes like biking and walking. Now cities are committing more to trip growth in active transportation and looking at more efficient ways of reducing emissions. (David Zipper | Vox)

Halifax shows the way on waterfront revitalization: How did Halifax, Nova Scotia, create one of the most vibrant waterfronts in Canada? Not by making big sweeping changes, but smaller targeted investments and changes year after year that all together make a huge difference. The waterfront shouldn’t have worked based on its unfavorable location, but with over 100,000 visitors a year, it is now reliably beating out a recent $200 million redevelopment project of a nearby public space. (Tristan Cleveland | Happy Cities)

Cement industry needs full decarbonization: Global cement production emits more carbon than every country aside from China and the United States. Some companies have figured out how to reduce emissions and production costs by substituting clinker, a key ingredient to make cement. However, other processes are hard to create alternatives for and need solutions if emissions are going to be reduced for construction projects. (Jeff St. John | Grist)

Do highway caps reduce harmful air pollution: A highway cap on I-70 in Denver, Colorado, opened up for use in 2022. The cap is meant to dampen noise and air pollution from the expansion of the road below through one of the most asthma-stricken neighborhoods in the city. But neighbors don’t believe the cap is actually reducing emissions and experts wonder if they only encourage risky activities in areas with high levels of particulate pollution. (Sam Brasch | Colorado Public Radio)

Quote of the Week

“I think the days of just literally bulldozing those projects over, just about anywhere, are gone. People will have to be thoughtful about where they are putting materials and separating materials.”

Michele Crane, Boulder’s city architect for facilities, design, and construction in the Colorado Sun discusses the recycling of a whole hospital.

This week on the podcast we’re joined by Chris Fabian of Resource X to talk about his work on priority-based budgeting.