Transportation
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North Carolina passenger rail line to get $550M from US DOT
The project will relieve train congestion and allow North Carolina and Virginia to schedule more frequent passenger trains, according to the North Carolina transportation department.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 16, 2026 -
Nic Antaya via Getty Images
DOT proposal tying grants to birth, marriage rates could disrupt projects, senator says
The change could affect transit project funding and trigger new reviews and requirements. Sen. Patty Murray called it "bizarre and dystopian."
By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 15, 2026 -
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TrendlineTop 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 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
AI, rider communications and accessibility innovations showcased at Chicago APTA Expo
One rail car company plans to launch an innovation hub in the U.S., it announced at the event.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 15, 2026 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
Battery-powered trains coming to Chicago: a first look
Commuter rail systems like Chicago's Metra are exploring battery-electric trains to increase service while reducing diesel exhaust pollution and noise.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 14, 2026 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
3 transit leaders explain how they fund major projects
Chicago, New York and Seattle transit leaders outlined their solutions to revenue shortfalls, legal challenges and inflationary pressures at an American Public Transportation Association conference.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 13, 2026 -
Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
3 Sun Belt mayors seek more public transportation as their cities grow
Voters who once turned down funding for public transportation now see the need as their cities' populations grow and residents gravitate to downtowns, panelists at an American Public Transportation Association conference said.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 12, 2026 -
Courtesy of ABC Companies/Cor
2 bus companies plan to enter US transit market by 2028
ABC Cos. is launching a new line of transit buses, while VinFast will bring its Vietnamese-made electric buses here via a new partnership.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 9, 2026 -
Robyn Griggs Lawrence/Smart Cities Dive
Plan now for 2027’s top smart city conferences and events
Technology, transportation, housing, climate, finance and more are on the agenda for local government leaders at these upcoming gatherings.
By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Oct. 6, 2026 -
Courtesy of Regent Craft
Seaglider electric plane-boat hybrid takes flight in first public demo
More than 600 guests watched the prototype vessel rise 30 feet above Narragansett Bay off Rhode Island.
By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 1, 2026 -
(2026). "National Transit Safety & Security Summit" [Video]. Retrieved from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
White House, DOT officials meet with transit leaders on safety and security
While transit funding remains uncertain, transit agency officials cite fare evasion, disruptive riders, cybersecurity and terrorism as potential threats to riders.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 30, 2026 -
Courtesy of Gateway Development Commission
$16B Hudson Tunnel rail project begins boring
“We've taken the Trump administration to court five times … we’ve won five times,” said New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill during an event marking the start of tunneling for the embattled project.
By Sebastian Obando • Sept. 30, 2026 -
Courtesy of American Public Transportation Association
Surface Transportation LegislationSteep cuts to federal transit funding take effect Thursday
Smaller communities and rural towns are "especially vulnerable” to the public transit and passenger rail cuts, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 29, 2026 -
Courtesy of Amtrak
Amtrak Airo trains to start this week in Pacific Northwest
The route serving Oregon, Washington and Vancouver, Canada, gets the first of Amtrak’s 83 new train sets.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 28, 2026 -
Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
California High-Speed Rail Authority’s ‘wasteful’ spending criticized by its inspector general
The watchdog questioned over $2 million in expenses the authority paid for consultants while facing a financial crisis.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 23, 2026 -
Permission granted by New York City
Green roofs, reflective materials on bus shelters aim to beat the heat in NYC pilot
The pilot in one of the city’s most heat-vulnerable neighborhoods is testing how changes to everyday transit infrastructure can help cities adapt to extreme heat.
By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 23, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
Robotaxi competition revs up as Uber makes $10B investment in autonomous vehicles
Waymo disrupted the ride-hailing space when it launched robotaxis in San Francisco. Uber, Zoox and Tesla are now on its tail.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 22, 2026 -
Alex Wong via Getty Images
US DOT’s new road safety plan emphasizes reducing congestion, national AV strategy
The 2026 National Roadway Safety Strategy gives priority to rural and tribal communities while relying on advanced technology to reduce preventable crashes.
By Dan Zukowski • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 18, 2026 -
Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
OpinionWhy 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 -
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 16, 2026 -
Courtesy of Marc A. Hermann/MTA
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 15, 2026 -
Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 14, 2026 -
Courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 11, 2026 -
Permission granted by Hourcar
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 Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 10, 2026
