Venice's flood control mega-project | Transit tech making moves | Vancouver's infrastructure challenges

According to Lord Byron, "Venice sinks, like a seaweed, into whence she rose." And La Serenissima is indeed literally sinking at a rate of two millimeters annually (since 1950-1970 when groundwater pumping for a nearby port caused the city to sink by 5 inches). In my opinion, it's the world's most beautiful city so preserving it should be imperative for both Italian and foreign leaders alike.

There is good news: all isn't lost. A terrific recent overview in the NYT about MOSE, Venice's $5B flood control system that's been in the making since 1970, is worth your time. During the first 20 years of the 1900s, Venice only saw high tides above around 3.5 feet six times. But since 2000, tides have exceeded that 3.5-foot threshold a staggering 150 times. And the average sea level in Venice has grown over a foot since 1900. So if you've ever visited the city in the tourist offseason you've probably had to wade through the Piazza San Marco on the way to your albergo.