Plus, red wolf puppies at NC State.
 
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Today’s Forecast

84º | 7% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:04 a.m. | Sunset 8:18 p.m.
 

Digging into the data

How does your city rank on the transportation climate index?
An electric vehicle that is charging.
Raleigh’s highest climate factor ranking was in the EV penetration category. | Photo via Pexels
Streetlight released its 2024 US Transportation Climate Impact Index, which ranks the top 100 most populated metros across eight key climate impact factors. We’re breaking down the numbers + diving into Raleigh’s ranking.

Behind the methodology

Each of the eight climate factors — vehicle miles traveled (VMT), fuel economy, transit ridership, EV penetration (number of electric vehicles per 100 people), biking activity, pedestrian activity, truck miles traveled, and VMT change — were assigned a weight “based on their relative climate impact.” Utilizing the ranking results for each factor, cities were then given an overall ranking.

Learn more about how each climate factor was measured.

Key themes

  • Vehicle miles traveled — the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels — bounced back since taking a dip in 2020.
  • Biking sustained popularity, but pedestrian activity “dropped significantly.”
  • The number of electric vehicles per 100 people is still relatively low. Read: We’re still not seeing a large saturation of EVs; most cities saw fewer than one EV per 100 people.
In addition to discovering key themes, the data can aid in identifying where improvements are needed and where current efforts are making an impact in each city.

How we ranked

The City of Oaks ranked No. 42 overall. Take a look at how it ranked across the climate factors:
  • VMT: No. 60
  • Fuel economy: No. 20
  • Transit ridership: No. 55
  • EV penetration: No. 21
  • Biking activity: No. 45
  • Pedestrian activity: No. 58
  • Truck miles traveled: No. 46
  • VMT change: No. 32
No city is perfect. The City of Oaks could improve its ranking on the transportation climate index with a few extra efforts. For example, the city’s emphasis on accessible public transit could boost Raleigh’s transit ridership ranking. Additionally, the new Bike-Ral-E incentive program could positively impact the bike activity ranking. Finally, the continued investment in road improvement projects could improve the metro area’s ranking across several key climate factors.
See how other cities ranked
Asked

Which of the eight key climate factors is the largest contributor to a city’s emission levels?
A. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
B. Fuel economy
C. Transit ridership
D. Other
Choose the correct answer
 
Events
Tuesday, May 21
  • Spring Colors Art Exhibition | Tuesday, May 21-Tuesday, May 28 | 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Cary Gallery of Artists, 200 S. Academy St., Ste. 120, Cary | Free | View art by local artists.
Wednesday, May 22
  • Joel Lane House Tours | Wednesday, May 22 | 10-11 a.m. | Joel Lane Museum House, 728 W. Hargett St., Raleigh | $4-$8 | Explore this historic site and learn about the beginnings of Raleigh, Wake County, and NC.
  • Hatha Yoga | Wednesday, May 22 | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Southeast Regional Library, 908 7th Ave., Garner | Free | Take a mindful moment to practice yoga with gentle poses, meditation, and breathwork.
Thursday, May 23
  • Movies in the Garden: “Moulin Rouge!” | Thursday, May 23 | 8:30 p.m. | Raleigh Little Theater, 301 Pogue St., Raleigh | Pay what you can | Watch a film in the garden with a food truck lineup including Berto’s Chimis and other tasty concessions.
More May events
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Finance

Aspire to retire? This startup wants to help you plan.
grey haired man sitting on a bench in a park in the springtime, wearing a blue t-shirt and a green jacket, smiling at the camera
A financial advisor could help you save and invest for retirement. | Photo provided by SmartAsset
This Princeton grad’s startup raised $161M to help people plan for retirement.

If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise millennial planning ahead — SmartAsset’s free quiz makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors who serve your area. Research suggests that people who work with a financial advisor could end up with 15% more money to spend in retirement.¹

Ready to kickstart your retirement plans?
Get your financial advisor matches today
¹ “Journal of Retirement Study Winter” (2020). The projections or other information regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results, and are not guarantees of your future results. Please follow the link to see the methodologies employed in the Journal of Retirement study.
News Notes
Sports
  • Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour signed a multi-year contract extension. Brind’Amour holds a 278-130-44 coaching record with the Canes + has lead the team to at least one postseason round win in each of his six seasons of coaching.
Environment
  • Welcome to the Pack. NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine has made quite the accomplishment this week, welcoming three endangered red wolf puppies. The college is doing its part to prevent the extinction of the endangered animals by caring for them and being involved in the Red Wolf Recovery Program since 2001.
Trending
  • Raleigh’s own Videri Chocolate Factory is in the running for USA Today’s 10Best chocolate shops. Cast up to one vote daily through Monday, June 10 at 12 p.m. to help the local institution receive recognition. The top 10 readers picks will be announced Wednesday, June 19.
Try This
  • Adventure is calling. The NC Museums of Art, History, and Natural Sciences are hosting a Summer Passport Program that invites participants to explore each institution and complete a family-friendly scavenger hunt. To participate, pick up a passport at one of the museums and complete the scavenger hunts by August.
Cause
  • Join North State Bank for its Summer Salute fundraising event on Saturday, June 1 at the North Ridge Country Club. The annual fundraiser supports Transitions LifeCare + will feature a beach-themed evening with live music from The Embers, hors d’oeuvres, and a live auction.
Shop
  • We have a gem among us, according to Southern Living. Raleigh’s Union Camp Collective was featured on the publication’s list of best home decor shops in the South. The vintage shop was lauded for its selection that’s “heavy on vintage furnishings” + emphasized shop owner Charlotte Smith Jeffers’ excellent knack for antique curation. (The News & Observer)
Home
  • Did you know the cost of solar has dropped 50% in the last 10 years? While the math works in your favor, we know going solar is still a big decision. Enter: Freedom Solar Power, who answered your reader-submitted questions. See their answers about costs, savings, hurricanes, home value + more.*
Featured Condos
  • Close your eyes and picture this: A brand-new luxury condo community overlooking the Village District with 1, 2, and 3-bedroom options, lofted ceilings, and gorgeous designer finishes throughout. Is this what you were imagining? Or are the kitchens even more luxurious than you envisioned?*
Health
  • A quick, non-invasive scan from Craft Body Scan Raleigh can detect cancerous stage one tumors before they progress. The result? Better health outcomes + greater peace of mind. Bonus: Save 20% on a potentially life-saving cancer scan now through May 31.*
 
Listen

🎶 Let’s make a Raleigh playlist

The ultimate Raleigh playlist
Raleigh skyline
What tunes do you play that remind you of Raleigh? | Photo by Michael Robson
Whether it’s jamming to tunes as we drive down Hillsborough Street or listening to some tracks while we enjoy a local cup of joe — we’re big fans of music that gives Raleigh vibes. Sometimes that means the music is produced by a local singer-songwriter, and other times it’s because a song’s lyrics mention Raleigh or NC.

Since summertime is upon us and we love a sun-soaked dance party moment, we’d like your help making a Raleigh playlist.

Here are some of the tracks we have so far:
What songs should we add? Tell us by clicking the button below + stay tuned — we’ll be dropping the full playlist this Friday, May 24.
Share your favorite Raleigh songs
The Buy
Pet accessories. Have the prettiest pooch at the park with these themed prints for summer thanks to Covey Collection.
 
The Wrap
 
Emily Shea wearing a black shirt next to houseplants

Today’s edition by:
Emily
From the editor
Raleigh runners — I’ve recently gotten into running and I need your help. What are your running essentials? I’m talking running vests, sneakers, headphones, water bottles, nutrition, and everything in between. Please drop me a line. One thing I do have narrowed down — a good watch. A neighbor recommended the Garmin vivoactive 4S + I’m loving it so far.
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