Transportation
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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 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Getty Images
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 -
Permission granted by Hourcar
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Permission granted by City of Durham
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 Rachel H. Pollack • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Courtesy of Regent Craft
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 8, 2026 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 3, 2026 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
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 Dan Zukowski • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Courtesy of ProKel Mobility
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 31, 2026 -
Getty Images
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 28, 2026 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 27, 2026 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 26, 2026 -
Courtesy of Archer Aviation/AEG
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 25, 2026 -
Permission granted by Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 24, 2026 -
The image by Insightwm is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of Ouster/Georgia Department of Transportation
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 19, 2026 -
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 18, 2026 -
Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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 Dan Zukowski • Aug. 17, 2026 -
Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
California high-speed rail project could run out of money by end of 2027, inspector general says
State infusions of $1 billion a year over 20 years won’t come fast enough to keep construction on track, the authority’s Office of Inspector General said.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 14, 2026 -
Courtesy of Metrolink
Commuter railroads scramble to meet 24% jump in liability insurance coverage requirements
Passenger railroads have until Sept. 4 to find new policies they can afford. If they can't, they may have to cease operating, an industry advocate warns.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 13, 2026 -
Dave Collins via Getty Images
FTA grants $1.28B for Utah commuter rail
The 83-mile FrontRunner rail line connecting Ogden, Salt Lake City and Provo would get more trains and track, but federal funding questions could impact the project.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 12, 2026 -
Courtesy of Wisk Aero
Archer Aviation to acquire eVTOL company Wisk Aero from Boeing
The aircraft giant will acquire nearly 20% of Archer's Class A shares and make a future stock investment in the company.
By Sara Samora • Aug. 12, 2026 -
Courtesy of New Flyer
Transit bus orders remain strong in North America, bus manufacturer says
U.S. transit agencies need to replenish their aging bus fleets, driving demand despite tariffs and uncertain future funding, NFI Group’s CEO said.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 11, 2026 -
Courtesy of Waymo
Uber, Waymo go from robotaxi partners to competitors
Each company plans to grow its robotaxi operations in the coming years as cities deal with regulations, lobbying and safety issues.
By Dan Zukowski • Aug. 10, 2026
