The Latest

  • The Origin autonomous robotaxi co-developed by General Motors and Honda for a commercial ride-hailing service.
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    Courtesy of Honda Motor Co.
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    NHTSA seeks to fast-track AV deployment

    The agency’s streamlined process is meant to aid developers and get autonomous driving technology on U.S. roads faster.

  • A city skyline during the day with several office buildings behind trees.
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    hallojulie via Getty Images
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    New policy resource helps cities finance and maintain tree canopies

    Trees can mitigate the effects of urban heat islands, lower energy demand and reduce heat-related illnesses, the Smart Surfaces Coalition report states.

  • Man in a dark suite at a podium with trees in the background.
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    Courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
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    Virginia begins construction on passenger rail extension

    Two daily Amtrak trains will begin operating between Washington, D.C., and Christiansburg, Virginia, in 2027.

  • A rendering shows an elevated light-rail station.
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    Courtesy of City of Inglewood
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    $2.4B Inglewood, California, people mover mothballed

    The city council approved a new phased approach to its Transit Connector project that will instead emphasize new bus lanes ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. 

  • Jacksonville Florida skyline at dusk
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    Aerial_Views via Getty Images
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    Jacksonville, Florida, city council members launch their own DOGE committee

    Some residents question the motivation behind the effort to cut $50 million from the city budget and make local government more efficient.

  • A dark gray car plugged into a charger.
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    Joni Hanebutt via Getty Images
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    EV car sharing comes to Charlotte, N.C.

    The U.S. Department of Energy’s Affordable Mobility Platform helps fund electric vehicle car-sharing programs in 13 cities.

  • Aerial view of city alongside a river.
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    simonkr via Getty Images
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    Housing more than twice as expensive to build in California as in Texas

    Longer project timelines and more regulations contribute to the difference in cost, according to a new report.

  • Side view of a two-door car parked at night with people sitting at tables on the sidewalk.
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    Courtesy of Tesla Motors
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    Tesla to launch robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, in June

    Elon Musk said Tesla robotaxis will “be in many other cities in the U.S. by the end of this year.”

  • U.S. flag flies above the Department of Justice building
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    Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images
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    Justice Department cancels hundreds of public safety grants

    The move will impede progress that’s been made on deterring crime, the U.S. Conference of Mayors says, calling for the grants’ reinstatement.  

  • Empire State Building against orange sky
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    David Dee Delgado via Getty Images
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    Nearly half of US residents breathe unhealthy air: report

    American Lung Association officials call for city leaders to speak up for federal support of air quality research amid record pollution levels.

  • Cars on a bridge with buildings in the background.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    DOT threatens NY highway funds if congestion pricing continues

    The Trump administration set a May 21 deadline for New York state to end its tolling plan for Manhattan.

  • Bumper-to-bumper cars emerge from a tunnel onto a midtown Manhattan street.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    New York expands EV purchase, charging equipment incentives

    New York is making $30 million available to assist with the lease or purchase of new electric vehicles. The state is also expanding efforts to reduce equipment installation costs for Level 2 chargers.

  • Bumper to bumper cars and trucks on a five-lane highway.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    DOT repeals highway GHG emissions reporting rule

    The Biden-era rule, which required states and metropolitan planning organizations to monitor and set targets to reduce CO2 emissions, faced political opposition and lawsuits.

  • Green motor coach making a turn at an intersection among tall city buildings.
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    Courtesy of Flix North America
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    Opinion

    Maximizing ROI in transportation: The case for intercity buses

    Privately operated intercity buses offer one of the highest returns on investment for federal transportation funding. The Trump administration could help expand this transportation mode.

  • The head of the federal Department of Transportation announced on Thursday that the Trump administration would assume control of the $7 billion renovation of Pennsylvania Station
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    Adam Gray/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trump administration takes control of $7B Penn Station redevelopment

    Neither the MTA nor the U.S. Department of Transportation has disclosed how the takeover will affect project timelines or ongoing construction activity at the site.

  • A motor vehicle crash.
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    GummyBone/iStock/Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
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    US traffic deaths declined in 2024: NHTSA

    Domestic traffic fatalities last year were the lowest since 2020, even as people drove more, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s early estimate found.

  • Man wades in flooded street in front of apartment buildings
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    Megan Varner via Getty Images
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    Atlanta to launch Climate Resilience Action Plan

    The city plans to move forward even as federal support is uncertain and the plan’s focus on energy burden equity has put the program in the Trump administration’s crosshairs.

  • Several large plastic waste bins sit directly in front of a building in a fenced-off area. One of them reads "Food & Yard Waste"
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    Jacob Wallace/Smart Cities Dive
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    New York City pauses curbside organics enforcement

    The city issued tens of thousands of warnings before enforcement began on April 1, but Mayor Eric Adams has since paused that plan through the end of the year for most building owners.

    Updated April 21, 2025
  • An illustration of a high-speed train in California's Central Valley.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    Tracker

    US high-speed rail projects: The latest news

    Fort Worth, Texas, investor John Kleinheinz said he acquired a controlling interest in a Dallas-to-Houston high-speed project and will move forward with financing, permits and other issues this year.

    Updated April 18, 2025
  • Image of business person's hand extending a paycheck to another business person.
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    Andrey Popov via Getty Images
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    $100K won’t cover basic costs for a family in 25 of the top metros, report finds

    The “magic number” salary that ensures financial stability is changing, the authors wrote.

  • Rendering of futuristic aircraft with Manhattan skyline.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    Archer Aviation outlines plans for New York air taxi network

    The eVTOL manufacturer, working with United Airlines, looks to link Manhattan with the region’s major airports.

  • Police officer investigates drive-by shooting
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    Scott Olson/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Behavior science, data could provide low-cost solutions to gun violence

    The University of Chicago's Crime Lab director outlined resource-efficient strategies to enhance public safety in a recent webinar.

  • A building rooftop covered in solar panels.
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    Permission granted by LeFrak
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    Q&A

    Jersey City developer completes solar housing retrofit it says is largest of its kind

    The 450 solar panels at the apartment complex offset the property’s HVAC and common area emissions by 13%, the developer's community relations head said.

  • A hand holding a sign reading, "Unfreeze the federal funds now."
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    Judge unfreezes billions in IRA, IIJA funds

    The temporary injunction resumes public health, clean air and climate-resilience efforts halted by Trump’s executive order.

  • A woman photographs a child balancing on a railroad track at a marked train crossing.
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    John M. Chase via Getty Images
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    Federal Highway Administration could improve pedestrian safety at rail crossings: GAO

    The bipartisan infrastructure law increased funding for some state and local railroad crossing safety improvements, but federal guidance needs to be updated.