Transportation
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FTA offers $1.9M in grants for tech that improves riders’ public transportation experience
New payment methods, demand-responsive service and creative financing are among the types of projects that might qualify for a Federal Transit Administration grant program.
By Dan Zukowski • July 3, 2024 -
Amtrak awards $1.3B bridge contract along Northeast Corridor
The railway span will replace a 117-year-old structure and allow a 55% increase in maximum speeds for Amtrak trains.
By Joe Bousquin • July 3, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
jamesteohart via Getty ImagesTrendlineTop 5 stories from Smart Cities Dive
From worsening climate change to a shifting transportation landscape and the housing affordability crisis, cities have their work cut out for them in 2024.
By Smart Cities Dive staff -
DOT awards $1.8B in transportation infrastructure grants
Nearly 150 road, rail, transit and port projects will receive discretionary grant funds from the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity, or RAISE, program.
By Dan Zukowski • July 2, 2024 -
Pedestrian traffic deaths declined in 2023 but remain above pre-pandemic levels
Cities in Texas and California were among those seeing increases in pedestrian deaths from 2020 to 2022, the Governors Highway Safety Association said.
By Dan Zukowski • July 1, 2024 -
Lack of affordable electric vehicles will limit widespread US adoption until at least 2028: BofA
Analysts at Bank of America and Bloomberg say U.S. EV penetration rates are slowing and are unlikely to reach 30% by 2030.
By Robert Walton • June 27, 2024 -
What US mayors want from the next president, Congress
The creation of a first-ever city mental health block grant, affordable housing investments and gun safety legislation are among the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ requests.
By Ysabelle Kempe • June 27, 2024 -
(2024). [Video]. Retrieved from New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority/YouTube.
NY MTA board votes to defer congestion pricing plan until everyone agrees on it
Board members acknowledged that without the agreement of the state and city transportation departments, the tolling program for Manhattan can't go forward.
By Dan Zukowski • June 26, 2024 -
MTA halts 2 more NYC projects in funding fight over congestion pricing
The pause in infrastructure construction is a major setback for the city’s development, said Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York Building Congress.
By Sebastian Obando • June 26, 2024 -
The best U.S. cities for biking in 2024
PeopleForBikes named Minneapolis, Seattle and San Francisco the three best large cities for bicycling in 2024; three other cities were noted for becoming more bike-friendly.
By Dan Zukowski • June 26, 2024 -
Retrieved from New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
MTA votes on New York congestion pricing plan Wednesday
Gov. Hochul halted the tolling plan for vehicles entering Manhattan's business district. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board of directors will vote on it as Inrix names New York the world's most congested city.
By Dan Zukowski • June 25, 2024 -
Air taxi company announces San Francisco Bay Area service plan
The latest news from urban air mobility companies Archer Aviation and Joby Aviation includes acquisitions and agreements to ready themselves for 2025 flights.
By Dan Zukowski • June 24, 2024 -
Micromobility taxes, fees often out of sync with city policy goals: study
The taxes and fees are 23 times higher, on average, than those on private vehicles, according to researchers at Lime and two universities.
By Dan Zukowski • June 21, 2024 -
NY congestion pricing pause already has consequences for infrastructure projects
The region’s transit agency stopped subway extension work that relied on the plan’s revenue. Meanwhile, a final federal approval of the congestion pricing came through.
By Dan Zukowski • June 20, 2024 -
Virginia, Maine announce new state-supported intercity bus routes
Both states are looking to expand their intercity bus services using federal and state funds.
By Dan Zukowski • June 18, 2024 -
Deep Dive
‘A totally different world’: Autonomous trucks prepare to go driverless in Texas
Heavy-duty, driverless AVs could hit the state’s roads this year. The companies operating the vehicles say safety is a priority, but some critics are still concerned.
By David Taube • June 17, 2024 -
(2024). "Revenue, Ridership, and Post-Pandemic Lessons in Public Transit" [Video]. Retrieved from T&I Committee Republicans/YouTube.
Public transit in the post-pandemic world: Views diverge at congressional hearing
Some described transit as “essential” and needing stronger federal support, while others focused on the impact of higher costs and reduced ridership.
By Dan Zukowski • June 17, 2024 -
Megabus owner Coach USA files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The company has struggled to recover from the plummeting ridership and driver shortages sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Dan Zukowski • June 14, 2024 -
Building high-speed rail is ‘not for the faint-hearted.’ Here’s how to get started.
A new document from the U.S. High-Speed Rail Coalition outlines the steps advocates should follow in the early stages of planning a high-speed rail line.
By Dan Zukowski • June 13, 2024 -
Transit agency faces $15B funding gap after NYC congestion pricing reversal
“We’re going to fight like hell to make sure we don’t have to reduce service,” Metropolitan Transportation Authority chair and CEO Janno Lieber said.
By Dan Zukowski • June 12, 2024 -
Amazon’s Zoox expands robotaxi testing to Austin, Miami
The company will use retrofitted Toyota Highlanders with safety drivers instead of its autonomous robotaxi to gather "valuable insights and feedback."
By Haley Cawthon • June 12, 2024 -
Uber loses gig worker court decision
The battle over whether gig workers are independent contractors continues. A separate court case will decide the legality of a Lyft- and Uber-backed ballot measure in California that would define them as such.
By Dan Zukowski • June 11, 2024 -
NY governor stops Manhattan congestion pricing plan ‘indefinitely’
The plan to help fund the transit authority by charging drivers entering Manhattan’s central business district faced fierce opposition from labor unions, taxi drivers and commuters.
By Dan Zukowski • June 5, 2024 -
How climate change is hitting highways
The Federal Highway Administration does not have enough money to continue replacing roads that are not resilient against extreme weather, a federal highway research engineer said.
By Julie Strupp • June 5, 2024 -
Archer Aviation receives FAA certification to operate air taxi service
While eVTOL aircraft may seem futuristic, they will "become reality in the not-too-distant future," Archer's chief operating officer said.
By Dan Zukowski • June 5, 2024 -
$1.3B available for EV charging network expansion in US
Government entities nationwide can apply for federal funding to build charging infrastructure in their communities.
By Haley Cawthon • June 4, 2024