Transportation

  • People on a station platform walking alongside a train.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Massachusetts dedicates $8B to transportation in FY2026 budget

    Public transportation funding will help the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority narrow its deficit. Roads and bridges also received funding.

    By • July 8, 2025
  • Woman holding a brochure that reads "Congestion pricing is working" while a man in a suit looks on.
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    New York congestion pricing at 6 months: the results

    The New York City region has seen less traffic, faster buses and increased transit ridership since the tolling program began Jan. 5.

    By • July 7, 2025
  • A sign alongside a divided highway warns drivers to be on the lookout for deer crossing the roadway.
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    Courtesy of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
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    US faces ‘road safety emergency,’ IIHS president says

    David Harkey criticized the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for not doing more to improve vehicle safety during a House subcommittee hearing last week.

    By Kalena Thomhave • July 2, 2025
  • Man walking on sidewalk near a bus shelter with a blue van parked on the street.
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    Courtesy of Beep
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    Autonomous public transit shuttle launches, a US first

    The microtransit service could be “the very beginning of public transit being disrupted,” according to the chief executive of the company operating it.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • Body of person with white cane and dog on leash crossing a crosswalk.
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    LightFieldStudios via Getty Images
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    Chicago must install accessible pedestrian signals at all signalized intersections by 2040

    The federal court order will “completely transform” Chicago’s pedestrian grid for visually disabled pedestrians, an advocate said.

    By Danielle McLean • July 2, 2025
  • The new Harbor Bridge in Corpus Christi, Texas, with two cable-stayed towers stretches across a body of water.
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    Courtesy of Harbor Bridge Project
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    $1.3B Texas bridge aims to improve traffic safety, facilitate shipping

    The bridge in Corpus Christi adds a shared-use path, a community plaza, LED lighting and xeriscape landscaping, the city says.

    By Julie Strupp • July 1, 2025
  • Person at the wheel of a passenger vehicle reaching for touch screen.
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    GoodLifeStudio via Getty Images
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    Mobility data creates traffic modeling opportunities, privacy challenges: MIT panel

    Panelists from TomTom and StreetLight Data described the benefits of abundant data as well as some shortcomings and gaps.

    By Benton Graham • July 1, 2025
  • A woman looks at her smartphone and while driving.
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    vgajic via Getty Images
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    Enforcement, education could reduce traffic deaths from distracted driving: report

    The National Distracted Driving Coalition reviewed traffic enforcement practices shown to help change behaviors and save lives.

    By • July 1, 2025
  • Two bicyclists, pedestrians, cars and a red tour bus seen framed by a large tree on a sunny day.
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    RAUL RODRIGUEZ via Getty Images
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    Complete streets policy scores show gains

    With Biden administration support, small and large cities developed better policies for safer street designs, the latest report found, but future support is uncertain.

    By • June 27, 2025
  • Locomotive and passenger train at a station with many people.
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    Courtesy of Metrolink
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    LA’s six-county regional railroad to reset fares July 1

    Metrolink looks to restore ridership and revenue with simpler fares, which will cost less for most riders, the agency says.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • Silhouette of a man riding a bike under the Brooklyn Bridge.
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    Eduardo Munoz Alvarez via Getty Images
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    US cities got better for biking: 2025 report

    The nation’s cities continue to build bike-friendly infrastructure, but changes in federal policy may threaten funding for these projects.

    By • June 24, 2025
  • White Tesla car in front of a Tesla dealership.
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Tesla begins robotaxi rollout in Austin, Texas

    The service, initially for invited riders, offers limited hours and range. It's a potential sign of growth for robotaxis, industry observers say.

    By • June 23, 2025
  • Man seated in a four-wheel cargo van in the bike lane of a New York City street.
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    Courtesy of American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
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    Honda launches quadricycle-based urban cargo delivery business

    The automaker designed an electric quadricycle for the last-mile delivery service it plans to offer.

    By • June 20, 2025
  • Large blue bus reading "CapMetro" and "automated" on the destination board.
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    Courtesy of WSP
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    Austin, Texas, tests autonomous transit bus

    Automated buses operating within depots could save money for electric bus fleets and improve safety, engineering firm WSP says.

    By • June 18, 2025
  • A street on a bridge filled with cars, green signs say "Queens Bronx," "Broadway East S 5 St," "Bway West to 278 West Staten Island Exit Only."
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    deberarr via Getty Images
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    ‘Car culture’ still dominates in the US, survey finds

    Nine out of 10 U.S. residents own a vehicle, and most believe they’re essential to daily life, a U.S. Department of Transportation-funded survey finds.

    By Benton Graham • June 17, 2025
  • Woman in t-shirt and shots riding a bike along a paved path aside a large bare tree with water and mountains in the background.
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    Matthew Stockman via Getty Images
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    Colorado DOT releases draft active transportation plan

    The plan aims to improve safety, increase mobility options and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The department is seeking comment through July 18.

    By • June 16, 2025
  • Pilot wearing a helmet looking at digital displays from inside an aircraft.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    Archer Aviation begins piloted air taxi test flights

    “Everything responded exactly as we trained for,” Archer’s test pilot said. The company plans to begin carrying passengers as soon as 2026.

    By • June 12, 2025
  • A man helps a person in a wheelchair up a ramp into a vehicle.
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    Courtesy of May Mobility
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    Seattle outlines 7 priorities for autonomous vehicle adoption

    Robotaxi policies should factor in equity, workforce training, safety and environmental concerns, diverse city residents said.

    By • June 11, 2025
  • A drone in the sky carries a Walmart-branded package.
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    Courtesy of Walmart
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    Walmart to expand drone delivery to 5 more cities

    Customers in Atlanta, Houston and more will be able to tap into the technology by next year as part of the retailer's deepening collaboration with Wing.

    By Max Garland • June 11, 2025
  • A crowd is gathered in front of a shiny train in Phoenix, with colorful smoke in the background.
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    Courtesy of Valley Metro
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    $1.34B Phoenix light rail expansion opens

    The 5.5-mile South Central Extension is expected to add 8,000 riders per day on Valley Metro's light rail lines. The project overcame construction delays and a ballot measure from opponents.

    By Julie Strupp • June 10, 2025
  • Highway construction site with work vehicles.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    $5.4B in federal funds available for bridge construction, repair, maintenance

    The Trump administration changed the criteria for these grant programs to eliminate requirements related to equity, climate and inclusive economic development.

    By • June 10, 2025
  • Two construction workers in hardhats with a highway behind them.
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    John Moore via Getty Images
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    How the Texas DOT uses AI

    Artificial intelligence is helping traffic incident response and promises much more, department leaders said.

    By • June 9, 2025
  • Two men shaking hands in front of a sign that reads "The White House - Washington."
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    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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    5 takeaways from Trump’s proposed 2026 budget for rail and public transit

    Amtrak would be spared budget cuts, while public transit could get a 1.5% funding boost.

    By • June 6, 2025
  • Artist's rendering of an aerial view of an open-air train station with multiple tracks and a sleek high-speed train stopped at a platform.
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    Can California high-speed rail survive without federal funds?

    While the California High-Speed Rail Authority looks for a path forward, some believe additional state or private funding will be hard to find.

    By • June 5, 2025
  • Podcast cover image for "Cities in Motion," presented by TomTalks and Smart Cities Dive, featuring an aerial view of a busy urban highway network.
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    Danielle Ternes/Smart Cities Dive
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    Sponsored by TomTom

    [Podcast] Key trends in urban mobility transformation

    In this podcast series, explore trending topics related to the larger theme of urban mobility transformation challenges and opportunities.

    By Smart Cities Dive's studioID • June 4, 2025