Transportation

  • A white car with sensors on the roof along a busy street.
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    Heather Diehl via Getty Images
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    Uber to have 700 robotaxis by year’s end

    The ride-hailing company plans to begin robotaxi service in San Francisco and Houston early next year. “We have relationships with the cities. We have operations in those markets,” its CEO said.

    By • Nov. 6, 2026
  • A person hold a bike at a rack of blue bikes on a sidewalk with people walking nearby.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    The best US cities for bike, pedestrian travel: Streetlight Data

    The report analyzed bicycle and pedestrian miles traveled in 100 U.S. cities. It found that walking accounted for seven times more miles annually than biking.

    By • Nov. 4, 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 construction worker stands in a cherry picker high above a worksite, where a long concrete viaduct is visible.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO steps down

    CEO Ian Choudri's departure becomes another challenge for the California High-Speed Rail Authority amid uncertain funding and a new governor set to take office next year.

    By • Nov. 2, 2026
  • An Amtrak locomotive pulling a train on a bridge.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    $130M FRA grant will upgrade Springfield, Massachusetts, train station

    The funds will help advance plans for future east-west passenger train service between Boston and Albany, New York.

    By • Oct. 29, 2026
  • A flame atop the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at night.
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    Luke Hales via Getty Images
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    World Cup’s lessons will help cities, transit agencies with the 2028 Olympics

    Transportation investments for mega-events can create “sustainable change in cities,” a consultant said.

    By • Oct. 28, 2026
  • Airplane flies over tall buildings.
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    Courtesy of Beta Technologies
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    FAA issues first eVTOL passenger-carrying flight authorization

    Piloted Beta Technologies air taxi flights may carry potential buyers to plan how the air taxi might fit into their business, the company's CEO said.

    By • Oct. 27, 2026
  • People standing in line in front of a building with a banner that reads Early Voting Entrance.
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    Jeff Dean via Getty Images
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    Voters approve $27.4B in local ballot measures to fund public transit

    “Voters across the country are choosing public transit,” the American Public Transportation Association CEO said, citing an 85% win rate including earlier measures.

    By • Updated Nov. 5, 2026
  • Many people getting on and of a transit bus labeled Metro.
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    Courtesy of LA Metro
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    LA Metro breaks ground on 12-mile bus rapid transit corridor

    The project will upgrade 26 bus stations along the route and connect with multiple rail lines and other bus routes.

    By • Oct. 23, 2026
  • Cars at an intersection with a gas price sign on the corner.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Local impacts of high transportation costs

    Inflation hits commuters, drivers and fliers, according to Bureau of Transportation Statistics data. The impacts can change residents' travel, dining and shopping plans.

    By • Oct. 22, 2026
  • Cars parked closely together at a curb with buildings behind.
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    Getty Images
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    Good luck finding parking in these big US cities: Inrix report

    Drivers in downtown areas must choose between searching for on-street parking or paying high fees at public parking lots and garages, the transportation analytics company found.

    By • Oct. 21, 2026
  • A person on stage viewed from the audience.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    AI, battery-powered trains, transit funding among the highlights of APTA Transform 2026

    Mayors, transit leaders and other industry participants showcased new strategies and products at the Chicago conference as the U.S. faces a challenging public transit environment.

    By • Oct. 19, 2026
  • An Amtrak train stopped by a train station with parked cars.
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    The image by Erich Fabricius is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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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 • Oct. 16, 2026
  • A man speaking at a podium
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    Nic Antaya via Getty Images
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    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
  • Several people walking and standing near a display of transit buses.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    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 • Updated Oct. 19, 2026
  • People standing in a train car.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    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 • Oct. 14, 2026
  • Four people at a desk with microphones and a person standing at a podium.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    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 • Oct. 13, 2026
  • Five people seated on a stage.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    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 • Oct. 12, 2026
  • A dark gray bus on a gray background.
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    Courtesy of ABC Companies/Cor
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    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 • Oct. 9, 2026
  • A large group of people stand around one person at a podium.
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    Robyn Griggs Lawrence/Smart Cities Dive
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    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
  • A winged white aircraft flies closely above a sea with tree-lined coast behind.
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    Courtesy of Regent Craft
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    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 • Oct. 1, 2026
  • A person at a podium outdoors with a large group of people behind.
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    (2026). "National Transit Safety & Security Summit" [Video]. Retrieved from Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
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    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 • Sept. 30, 2026
  • New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on the Hudson Tunnel Project in North Bergen, New Jersey
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    Courtesy of Gateway Development Commission
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    $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
  • Several people seated at long desks with microphones and a person standing at a podium with a microphone.
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    Courtesy of American Public Transportation Association
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    Surface Transportation Legislation

    Steep 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 • Sept. 29, 2026
  • A green, white and brown train crosses a bridge over a river surrounded by green trees.
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    Courtesy of Amtrak
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    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 • Sept. 28, 2026
  • The front of a bullet train.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    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 • Sept. 23, 2026