[
 {
  "title": "ASCE 2025 Report Card announcement",
  "url": "https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/society-news/article/2025/03/25/asce-report-card-gives-us-infrastructure-highest-ever-c-grade",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "Grades for all 18 US infrastructure categories and the $3.7 trillion gap."
 },
 {
  "title": "Massachusetts DOR guide to Proposition 2½",
  "url": "https://www.mass.gov/doc/chapter-3-proposition-2-12/download",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "The state's own plain explanation of levy limits, overrides and exclusions."
 },
 {
  "title": "SIFMA US Municipal Bonds Statistics",
  "url": "https://www.sifma.org/research/statistics/us-municipal-bonds-statistics",
  "type": "Dataset",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "Regularly updated numbers on muni issuance and debt outstanding."
 },
 {
  "title": "City of Boston FY27 budget release",
  "url": "https://www.boston.gov/node/16575796",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "The official summary of this year's operating budget and capital plan."
 },
 {
  "title": "Boston Municipal Research Bureau on state aid",
  "url": "https://bmrb.org/net-state-aid-continues-to-decline-for-boston/",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "An independent watchdog's read on Boston's finances, if dated."
 },
 {
  "title": "NTUF on unspent IIJA funds",
  "url": "https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/congress-should-account-for-unspent-infrastructure-funds-before-passing-another-highway-bill",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "Obligated versus unobligated federal transportation dollars, measured carefully."
 },
 {
  "title": "NACo on IIJA expiration",
  "url": "https://www.naco.org/news/iija-authorities-expire-september-30-naco-urges-congress-uphold-full-funding-levels-highway",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "money",
  "why": "What the 2026 expiry means for counties and local governments."
 },
 {
  "title": "Barr Foundation on Climate Ready Boston",
  "url": "https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/climate-resiliency-efforts-in-boston/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "climate",
  "why": "A short summary of the 2016 sea level and flood-risk findings."
 },
 {
  "title": "London sewer system (Institution of Civil Engineers)",
  "url": "https://ice.org.uk/what-is-civil-engineering/infrastructure-projects/london-sewer-system",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "A short engineering account of Bazalgette's sewers, numbers included."
 },
 {
  "title": "John Snow: Cholera & the Broad Street pump (London Museum)",
  "url": "https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/john-snow-cholera-broad-street-pump/",
  "type": "Museum",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "A readable museum story with maps and context."
 },
 {
  "title": "IEEE Milestones: Pearl Street Station",
  "url": "https://ethw.org/Milestones:Pearl_Street_Station",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "Engineering-society pages on early networks; see also Boston's 1852 fire alarm and Richmond's streetcars."
 },
 {
  "title": "The Boston Harbor Project (MWRA)",
  "url": "https://www.mwra.com/harbor/html/bostonharborproject.htm",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "The operator's own history of the court-ordered harbor cleanup."
 },
 {
  "title": "Mass Moments (Mass Humanities)",
  "url": "https://www.massmoments.org/moment-details.html?mid=254",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "Short dated stories from Massachusetts history, including the first subway and Quabbin."
 },
 {
  "title": "Mohenjo-daro Street Drains (Harappa.com)",
  "url": "https://www.harappa.com/blog/mohenjo-daro-street-drains",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "Photos of 4,500-year-old covered drains."
 },
 {
  "title": "History of the Clean Water Act (US EPA)",
  "url": "https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/history-clean-water-act",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "The official short history of the law that cleaned up US harbors."
 },
 {
  "title": "Centuries of Civil Engineering (Linda Hall Library)",
  "url": "https://www.lindahall.org/experience/digital-exhibitions/centuries-of-civil-engineering/02-water-supply/a-reversal-of-the-chicago-river/",
  "type": "Museum",
  "topic": "primer",
  "why": "Illustrated history of water supply; skip its 1885 Chicago epidemic claim, which is a myth."
 },
 {
  "title": "ISO New England: Key stats",
  "url": "https://iso-ne.com/about/key-stats",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "grid",
  "why": "A one-page snapshot of how a regional grid works, with numbers."
 },
 {
  "title": "Berkeley Lab: 2024 US Data Center Energy Usage Report",
  "url": "https://energyanalysis.lbl.gov/news/berkeley-lab-report-evaluates-increase-electricity-demand-data-centers",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "grid",
  "why": "The reference study on how much power data centers use and may use."
 },
 {
  "title": "NTSB: Merrimack Valley accident report abstract",
  "url": "https://www.ntsb.gov:443/news/events/Documents/2019-PLD18MR003-BMG-abstract.pdf",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "gas-steam",
  "why": "How one disconnected sensing line set three towns on fire, in the board's own words."
 },
 {
  "title": "Canary Media: Boston's century-old steam heat system is getting a low-carbon makeover",
  "url": "https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-industry/bostons-century-old-steam-heat-system-is-getting-a-low-carbon-makeover",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "gas-steam",
  "why": "A readable explainer on Boston's steam and its move to electricity."
 },
 {
  "title": "Wikipedia: New York City steam system",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_steam_system",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "gas-steam",
  "why": "History and hazards of the largest US steam network."
 },
 {
  "title": "London Museum: Gas lamps illuminated London",
  "url": "https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/collections/london-stories/gas-lamps-illuminated-london/",
  "type": "Museum",
  "topic": "light",
  "why": "A short illustrated history of the first gas street lighting and the lamps still burning."
 },
 {
  "title": "City of Boston: Taking care of Boston's streetlights",
  "url": "https://search.boston.gov/node/2181",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "light",
  "why": "The official inventory, the LED program and how to report a dark light."
 },
 {
  "title": "DarkSky International: Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting",
  "url": "https://darksky.org/lighting-principles",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "light",
  "why": "The clearest short guide to lighting that does less harm at night."
 },
 {
  "title": "Wikipedia: 2020s purpling of streetlights",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020s_purpling_of_streetlights",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "light",
  "why": "A well-sourced overview of why the streetlights turned purple."
 },
 {
  "title": "Milestones: Electric Fire Alarm System, 1852",
  "url": "https://ethw.org/Milestones:Electric_Fire_Alarm_System,_1852",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "The IEEE's history of Boston's first-in-the-world alarm telegraph."
 },
 {
  "title": "Boston Globe: fire alarm boxes (2026)",
  "url": "https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/03/metro/fire-alarm-boxes/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "Why Boston still keeps about 1,250 street boxes while neighbors give theirs up."
 },
 {
  "title": "Dial Up the Story of the First 911 Call",
  "url": "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dial-up-the-story-of-the-first-911-call-which-was-placed-on-this-day-in-1968-180985980/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "The 1968 Haleyville call and how slowly 911 spread."
 },
 {
  "title": "NENA: 9-1-1 Statistics",
  "url": "https://nena.org/page/911statistics",
  "type": "Dataset",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "The industry association's headline numbers on US 911."
 },
 {
  "title": "FCC: Next Generation 911",
  "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/node/267074",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "The regulator's own summary of the move to IP-based 911."
 },
 {
  "title": "NWS: 10 years of Wireless Emergency Alerts",
  "url": "https://www.weather.gov/news/062422-wea-10yr",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "How a weather warning becomes the buzz on your phone."
 },
 {
  "title": "GAO-26-108114: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline",
  "url": "https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-26-108114",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "alarm",
  "why": "An independent review of 988's first three years."
 },
 {
  "title": "NYC Mayor's Management Report FY2026: 311",
  "url": "https://www.nyc.gov/assets/operations/downloads/pdf/mmr2026/311.pdf",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "311",
  "why": "Real channel-by-channel numbers from North America's largest 311 operation."
 },
 {
  "title": "Analyze Boston launch post",
  "url": "https://blogs.microsoft.com/newengland/2017/03/30/analyze-boston-new-open-data-hub-helps-citizens-visualize-their-lives/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "311",
  "why": "Background on the portal where Boston's city data is published."
 },
 {
  "title": "NCHRP Report 812: Signal Timing Manual, 2nd ed.",
  "url": "https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/22097/chapter/14",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "The standard practitioner reference on signal timing, free to read online."
 },
 {
  "title": "FHWA: Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices",
  "url": "https://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/index.htm",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "The US rulebook for signals, signs and markings, 11th edition."
 },
 {
  "title": "FHWA: Traffic Detector Handbook, 3rd ed.",
  "url": "https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/operations/its/06108/01.cfm",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "How loops, radar and video detection work, with the physics."
 },
 {
  "title": "IIHS: Roundabouts",
  "url": "https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/roundabouts",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "Safety evidence on roundabouts, caveats included."
 },
 {
  "title": "IIHS: Red light running",
  "url": "https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/red-light-running",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "Crash data and camera studies, from an insurer-funded institute that supports cameras."
 },
 {
  "title": "Cleveland Police Museum: Early Electric Traffic Signals",
  "url": "https://www.clevelandpolicemuseum.org/historical/early-electric-traffic-signals/",
  "type": "Museum",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "Local history of the 1914 signal and Garrett Morgan's patent."
 },
 {
  "title": "The Henry Ford: First Tri-Color, Four-Directional Traffic Signal, 1920",
  "url": "https://www.thehenryford.org/collections/explore/artifact/227457",
  "type": "Museum",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "The original Potts signal, still in a museum."
 },
 {
  "title": "GBH News: A look at Boston's traffic signal system",
  "url": "https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2020-01-15/a-look-at-bostons-traffic-signal-system",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "A rare look inside Boston's traffic management center."
 },
 {
  "title": "SCATS (Transport for NSW)",
  "url": "https://scats.nsw.gov.au/about-us",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "signals",
  "why": "The adaptive system that runs at more than 65,000 intersections."
 },
 {
  "title": "America's First Subway",
  "url": "https://www.leventhalmap.org/digital-exhibitions/getting-around-town/topics/americas-first-subway",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "transit",
  "why": "Maps and history of why Boston put its streetcars underground in 1897."
 },
 {
  "title": "Milestones: Richmond Union Passenger Railway, 1888",
  "url": "https://ethw.org/Milestones:Richmond_Union_Passenger_Railway,_1888",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "transit",
  "why": "IEEE's account of the streetcar system other cities copied."
 },
 {
  "title": "Pioneering Open Data Standards: The GTFS Story",
  "url": "https://beyondtransparency.org/part-2/pioneering-open-data-standards-the-gtfs-story/",
  "type": "Book",
  "topic": "transit",
  "why": "The people who built the transit data format behind every trip-planning app, in their own words."
 },
 {
  "title": "FTA Safety Management Inspection of the MBTA",
  "url": "https://www.transit.dot.gov/regulations-and-programs/safety/safety-management-inspection-massachusetts-bay-transportation",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "transit",
  "why": "Primary documents from the 2022 federal safety intervention, including the open directives."
 },
 {
  "title": "General Motors streetcar conspiracy",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "transit",
  "why": "A survey of the 1949 case that separates the conviction from the legend."
 },
 {
  "title": "How Do Potholes Work?",
  "url": "https://practical.engineering/blog/2020/8/31/how-do-potholes-work",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "roads",
  "why": "A clear, illustrated walk through pavement failure from crack to crater."
 },
 {
  "title": "Tables of Frequently Requested NBI Information",
  "url": "https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/britab.cfm",
  "type": "Dataset",
  "topic": "roads",
  "why": "Official US bridge condition counts and the good, fair and poor definitions."
 },
 {
  "title": "About Dig Safe",
  "url": "https://www.mass.gov/guides/about-dig-safe",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "roads",
  "why": "What Massachusetts requires before you put a shovel in the ground."
 },
 {
  "title": "MWRA: Reservoirs & Watersheds",
  "url": "https://www.mwra.com/node/1491",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "water",
  "why": "Live figures on Quabbin and Wachusett storage, demand and drought status."
 },
 {
  "title": "MWRA: John J. Carroll Water Treatment Plant",
  "url": "https://www.mwra.com/node/1437",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "water",
  "why": "Every chemical and step in Boston's unfiltered treatment, with doses."
 },
 {
  "title": "MWRA: Metropolitan Water Tunnel Program",
  "url": "https://www.mwra.com/node/4287",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "water",
  "why": "Boston's $2 billion-plus plan for backup deep-rock water tunnels through 2040."
 },
 {
  "title": "NRDC: AWWA v. EPA (Lead and Copper Rule Improvements)",
  "url": "https://www.nrdc.org/court-battles/american-water-works-association-et-v-epa-lead-and-copper-rule-improvements",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "water",
  "why": "A running docket of the court fight over the US lead pipe rule."
 },
 {
  "title": "Vital City: New York's Wooden Water Tanks",
  "url": "https://www.vitalcitynyc.org/nyc-wooden-water-tanks-architecture-history/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "tall",
  "why": "An architectural historian on why New York still builds cedar tanks (2026)."
 },
 {
  "title": "PHCP Pros: High-rise plumbing design and plumbing codes",
  "url": "https://www.phcppros.com/articles/1899-high-rise-plumbing-design-and-plumbing-codes",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "tall",
  "why": "An engineer's guide to pressure zones and booster pumps in tall buildings."
 },
 {
  "title": "EPA: Combined Sewer Overflow Basics",
  "url": "https://www.epa.gov/npdes/combined-sewer-overflow-basics",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "sewer",
  "why": "How combined sewers and overflows work, with links to a national outfall map."
 },
 {
  "title": "The Conversation: Tumor-free flounder and the cleanup of Boston Harbor",
  "url": "https://theconversation.com/tumor-free-flounder-are-just-1-dividend-from-the-cleanup-of-boston-harbor-109217",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "sewer",
  "why": "A scientist's account of the harbor's ecological recovery."
 },
 {
  "title": "Thames Water: Tideway",
  "url": "https://www.thameswater.co.uk/tideway",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "sewer",
  "why": "The operator's overview of London's new super sewer."
 },
 {
  "title": "EPA: Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling",
  "url": "https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials",
  "type": "Dataset",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "The official US numbers, still stuck at 2018."
 },
 {
  "title": "BackStory: The Pig Apple",
  "url": "https://backstory.newamericanhistory.org/episodes/another-mans-treasure/3",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "Historians on New York's street pigs and the riots to keep them."
 },
 {
  "title": "Wikipedia: Great horse manure crisis of 1894",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_horse_manure_crisis_of_1894",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "How a famous quote turned out to have no source."
 },
 {
  "title": "Freshkills Park: 25th anniversary of the landfill closure",
  "url": "https://freshkillspark.org/blog/reflecting-on-the-25th-anniversary-of-the-fresh-kills-landfill-closure",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "From the world's largest landfill to a park three times Central Park."
 },
 {
  "title": "University at Buffalo: National Sword study",
  "url": "https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2022/03/029.html",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "What China's import ban did to US recycling."
 },
 {
  "title": "NYC DSNY: rat sightings and containerization",
  "url": "https://www.nyc.gov/site/dsny/news/25-039/nyc-rats-fleeing-an-incredible-12-straight-months-",
  "type": "Report",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "Fighting rats with bins, with numbers."
 },
 {
  "title": "Nippon.com: Taking out the trash in Japan",
  "url": "https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h10031/",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "A practical guide to Japan's sorting rules, up to Kamikatsu's 45 types."
 },
 {
  "title": "Waste Dive: Boston zero waste RFI and contracts",
  "url": "https://wastedive.com/news/boston-zero-waste-rfi-collection-recycling-disposal-contracts/732052",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "waste",
  "why": "Who handles Boston's trash, recycling and compost, and when the contracts end."
 },
 {
  "title": "City of Boston: What to do with your car when it snows",
  "url": "https://boston.gov/snow-cars",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "streets",
  "why": "The official snow emergency and space saver rules."
 },
 {
  "title": "City of Boston: All about street sweeping",
  "url": "https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/all-about-street-sweeping",
  "type": "Website",
  "topic": "streets",
  "why": "Sweeping seasons, tow fees and alerts."
 }
]