Transportation
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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 -
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 -
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 -
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
