Transportation

  • A Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority bus drives along a lane by a bus stop.
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    Courtesy of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
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    US transit bus industry generated $1.1B in federal, state and local tax revenue in 2025: report

    “The industry’s economic footprint extends well beyond the firms that assemble transit buses,” according to an Oxford Economics report.

    By • Sept. 18, 2026
  • A person wearing a visibility vest walks next to a small white and blue aircraft.
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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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    Air taxis will need a trained workforce. Here’s how one California region is making that happen.

    “The critical step here is to make sure that the workforce will be prepared,” the Monterey Bay Economic Partnership's CEO says.

    By • Sept. 17, 2026
  • smart city, smart cities Explore the Trendline➔
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    Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 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.

    By Smart Cities Dive staff
  • A man in a hardhat and orange vest stands amid exposed dirt alongside a large backhoe on a sunny day.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    Opinion

    Why the U.S. can’t build high-speed rail — and how to change that

    A national railroad infrastructure bank could bring federal, state and private-sector interests together to build and operate HSR corridors, a Commuter Rail Coalition board member writes.

    By Jonathan McDonald • Sept. 17, 2026
  • Man in suit at podium on a construction site.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Las Vegas high-speed rail project may hinge on $6B federal loan

    Brightline’s passenger rail projects in Florida and California haven’t made required equity and bond payments. Can they continue without new financing?

    By • Sept. 16, 2026
  • Railroad tracks with a subway train and station on the right.
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    Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/MTA
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    New York City’s first light-rail project could take 5 years to build

    The $5.5 billion, 14-mile rail line will reach historically underserved communities in Brooklyn and Queens.

    By • Sept. 15, 2026
  • A person wearing a visibility vest walks next to a small white and blue aircraft as another person holds onto the front door.
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    Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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    Air taxis take flight in Texas

    Joby Aviation began demonstration flights in North Texas, while Archer Aviation plans to build out a charging network across the state for electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

    By • Sept. 14, 2026
  • An Amtrak train at a train station with a sign reading "Manassas" and a crowd of people on the station platform.
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    Courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
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    As Amtrak seeks to expand, restructure rail service, congressional support remains a question

    The railroad’s board of directors looks to address growing ridership, but future funding hangs on the stalled congressional surface transportation legislation.

    By • Sept. 11, 2026
  • White car that says "Evie/Car Share" parked in front of a bridge.
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    Permission granted by Hourcar
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    2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award Winners: Solving real community needs

    Addressing energy costs, housing, transportation and community engagement, these initiatives exemplify the innovation that helps cities and counties improve residents’ lives.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • A person standing by the side of a car.
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    Permission granted by Hourcar
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    EV car-sharing and curbside charging network expands clean transportation in Minnesota’s Twin Cities

    The EV Spot Network may be the nation’s first municipally-owned car-sharing and clean-energy-powered curbside charging program. It’s a 2026 Smart Cities Dive Community Project Award winner.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • Five people standing in front of a wall.
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    Permission granted by City of Durham
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    The Smart Cities Dive Awards

    To highlight notable people and projects in U.S. city, county and regional government, Smart Cities Dive presents the Public Service Awards and the Community Project Awards.

    By • Sept. 10, 2026
  • A white aircraft with 12 propellers labeled "Regent" flies above the water with a small boat in the distance and a tree-covered shoreline.
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    Courtesy of Regent Craft
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    An air taxi that floats: Regent’s Seaglider takes flight with people on board

    An electric vessel that’s part boat, part plane aims to be the air taxi for coastal communities. “It's a fundamentally new mode of transportation,” Regent Craft’s CEO says.

    By • Sept. 9, 2026
  • An aircraft with multiple rotors in flight among blue skies and clouds.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    Archer Aviation to send its air taxi on tour in 3 states

    The air taxi developer aims to show how its electric vertical takeoff and landing  aircraft can beat driving on local trips.

    By • Sept. 8, 2026
  • People stand on a subway platform next to a silver train.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Ridership up, crime down on LA Metro transit system

    New transit openings, major events and a drop in crime helped bring riders back, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority said.

    By • Sept. 3, 2026
  • A line of vehicles passing a sign that reads "Begin toll zone."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    New York’s congestion pricing program has not affected air quality, study finds

    The study addresses fears that the program would increase pollution if drivers tried to avoid the toll.

    By • Sept. 2, 2026
  • A silver elevated train over a city street with a tall building in the background.
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    Chicago-area transit agencies start operating under new regional authority

    The state restructured the six-county Northern Illinois transit system last year and provided $1.5 billion for transportation and transit-oriented development.

    By • Sept. 1, 2026
  • A green, blue and white SUV lettered "Prokel Mobility" on a road in front of a multistory building.
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    Courtesy of ProKel Mobility
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    As transit ridership more than doubles in North Miami Beach, first- and last-mile service expands

    Transit provider ProKel Mobility helped the community redesign its bus routes to connect with surrounding transit networks.

    By • Aug. 31, 2026
  • A winding road with a few cars through a hilly landscape.
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    Getty Images
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    DOT proposes streamlining land leases along roads, railroads for utility use

    Revenues from the leases could fund repairs and upgrades for roads, bridges, tunnels and railroads along the corridors, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation proposal.

    By • Aug. 28, 2026
  • Standing people with luggage lean against a low fence with dark gray buses lined up behind them.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Greyhound’s 5-year turnaround: new buses, more routes, new customers

    The company is part of an intercity bus revival, with better intermodal terminals in major cities and an upgraded customer experience.

    By • Aug. 27, 2026
  • Multicolor ribbons of confetti rain down on people.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Tracking new transit openings in 2026

    More than a dozen new light rail, bus rapid transit, streetcar, subway and commuter rail extensions are due to go into service this year. Another light rail line in Illinois and bus rapid transit lines in Louisiana, California and Houston are underway.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • A small aircraft with six propellers on the ground in front of restaurants and entertainment venues.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation/AEG
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    Air taxi vertiport coming to downtown LA sports complex

    Archer Aviation, the official air taxi provider for the 2028 Olympic Games in Southern California, adds the venue to its network of flight facilities in the region.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • A long blue bus on an empty road next to a bus shelter in late evening.
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    Permission granted by Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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    Las Vegas debuts bus rapid transit line to grow ridership, improve service

    The $378 million project along a 7.3-mile corridor includes bike and bus lanes, wider sidewalks and shade trees.

    By • Aug. 24, 2026
  • Aerial view of an airport with runways, air traffic control tower, parking lot and other buildings.
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    The image by Insightwm is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    125-mph passenger trains could connect San Antonio and Austin, Texas, in about an hour: HNTB study

    The trains would run on a dedicated rail line and cost about $13.5 billion, according to a feasibility study commissioned by Travis County.

    By • Aug. 21, 2026
  • A person stands on a sidewalk next to a traffic signal as cars whiz by.
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    Courtesy of Ouster/Georgia Department of Transportation
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    Utah to add intelligent intersections

    The Utah Department of Transportation aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users by using lidar-based traffic management technology.

    By • Aug. 19, 2026
  • A sleek 2-door bronze color vehicle crosses an intersection with trees and buildings in the background.
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    The image by 9yz is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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    Tesla readying Cybercab launch in Austin, Texas: The Information

    The two-seat Cybercab, which lacks typical driver controls, will likely begin test rides with Tesla employees before opening to the public, according to news reports.

    By • Aug. 18, 2026
  • Two locomotive lable Amtrak next to a station platform with people on it.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Amtrak, cities and states get $5.3B in federal rail grants

    Using funds from the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded grants to 41 projects across 23 states.

    By • Aug. 17, 2026