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Highways isolate urban communities nationwide. $3 billion from Washington aims to fix that.

Mar 15, 2024
The grants are an attempt to correct decisions made decades ago.
Communities of color generally have greater health impacts, such as higher asthma rates, as a result of these infrastructure decisions, says Christopher Coes of the Department of Transportation.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

How the infrastructure law will upgrade a neglected street in glitzy Las Vegas

Feb 8, 2024
"Marketplace’s" Kai Ryssdal visits a low-income district of the tourist mecca, where a federal grant will improve transportation and safety.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Biking in cities can be complicated, and map apps can only help so much

Jan 31, 2024
For cyclists, navigating town is a complex equation of infrastructure, hills, barriers and more. Apps like Google Maps are still figuring it out.
Navigating a city on a bike is more complicated than simply putting a destination in a map and following the suggested route.
Leon Neal/Getty Images

The New Deal history in LA's freeways

Jan 19, 2024
The backbone of Los Angeles' extensive highway system was built with the aid of FDR's historic public works program.
The first potion of the Arroyo Seco Parkway opened in 1940, connecting Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles.
AFP/Getty Images

How one California startup hopes to make EV infrastructure more reliable

Dec 13, 2023
ChargerHelp is seeking to train a network of field technicians that can keep EV chargers online.
Evette Ellis and Kameale C. Terry, co-founders of ChargerHelp, one of many startups poised to benefit from federal investment in America’s charging network.
Stephen McGee/Michigan Central

Keeping avocados (and other imports) fresh depends on the growing cold chain

Nov 16, 2023
Imported avocados make up roughly 90% of U.S. supply — most are from Mexico. Many of these fruits pass through the Port of Laredo, which has seen recent growth in cold chain infrastructure.
A forklift moves boxes of produce at the Mission Produce distribution facility in Laredo, Texas.
Elizabeth Trovall/Marketplace

Federal "Buy American" rules could be stalling infrastructure projects

Oct 26, 2023
Rules to boost the domestic economy now apply to broadband and water equipment. Delays and higher costs can be part of the trade-off.
The Gila River Indian Community develops projects to conserve water. Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis said federal rules requiring the use of American-made construction materials can be an obstacle.
SafakOguz/Getty Images

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As gas taxes dwindle, states seek ways to charge EVs

Sep 12, 2023
With electric vehicles becoming more common, some states, like Texas, are levying flat fees to make up the shortfall.
Some road maintenance is funded by gasoline tax revenue, so the increasing popularity of  electric vehicles may require new ways to bring in cash.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

States get $42 billion to expand high-speed internet to underserved communities

Jun 27, 2023
The federal funding aims to ensure internet access is as widely accessible as electricity.
Nearly a quarter of Americans don't have high-speed internet at home. People of color, low-income people and rural residents are least likely to have access.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Philadelphia highway collapse will cost time and money

Jun 13, 2023
The race is now on to reconstruct the section of I-95 and minimize economic disruptions.
Firefighters work at a collapsed portion of Interstate 95, caused by a large vehicle fire, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 2023.
Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images