More cities are using beets to beat icy winter roads
Many cities with harsh winters turn to salt to melt ice and make roads safer, but while this helps out drivers, it doesn’t do the environment any favors. Fifteen to 17 million tons of road salt are used on US roadways each winter, contaminating waterways and natural ecosystems while degrading Read More...
US infrastructure bill sets its sights on the end of drunk driving
Among funding for increased bike paths, roadside green spaces, and improved roadways in the newly-passed $1 trillion US infrastructure bill is another critical safety measure. The Transportation Department has issued a new requirement for car companies in the bill: a mandate to develop tech Read More...
New Illinois bill leads the nation in climate equality
Illinois has thrown a stake in the ground on climate change and equality and established a path towards a 100 percent clean energy future by 2050 with a new law. The bill, SB2408, received bipartisan support in both the Illinois House and Senate and takes on mitigating climate change, creating Read More...
Students conceptualize pedestrian-friendly addition to local bridge
Like other transportation infrastructure in the country, American bridges have been designed with a car-centric mentality, meaning that many of these structures lack designated paths for cyclists or pedestrians. This is the case for a long bridge in Rhode Island that connects the towns of Jamestown Read More...
Texas oil and gas unions support a green energy transition
The fossil fuel industry in Texas employs about 450,000 people, a statistic that has long driven politicians in the state to oppose green energy adoption measures. However, as the impacts of climate change begin to affect more and more communities, even fossil fuel workers in the Lone Star State Read More...
EU launches climate resiliency checklist for new infrastructure projects
In addition to reducing emissions in order to mitigate the effects of climate change, we must also ensure that we are protecting communities by building infrastructure that can withstand the results of climate change we are already experiencing. To address this issue, the EU has created guidelines Read More...
Venice bans cruise ships to protect delicate canals and local ecosystems
Venice is an incredibly popular tourism destination, but in recent years, criticism from locals and environmentalists has prompted calls for the end of cruise lines in the city. Yesterday, the city officially banned large ships in its waters. According to Italian Culture Minister Dario Read More...
This sustainable concrete alternative helps coastal ecosystems thrive
While necessary to support human settlements, the development of infrastructure in coastal areas is often harmful to surrounding natural ecosystems. That's because most of this construction is made of concrete — a material whose chemical composition and flat surface fails to act as a viable Read More...
Northeastern project shows how green infrastructure saves lives and money
We all know that biking and walking are good for our physical health, but it turns out the benefits of promoting these healthy transportation options go far beyond personal health and wellness. A new study analyzing the health and economic benefits of a proposed green infrastructure project found Read More...
Why flight shaming should be directed at those funding pricey airport expansions
Before the Thanksgiving holiday, a record-breaking 31.6 million passengers were expected to fly on US airlines—a 3.7 percent increase over 2018. Airports had to brace for bigger crowds than ever, and that was no coincidence. Rather, it was by design: US airlines added an estimated 859 Read More...