Transportation

  • Rendering of futuristic aircraft with Manhattan skyline.
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    Courtesy of Archer Aviation
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    2026 Trends to Watch

    8 trends that will shape cities in 2026

    As federal funding becomes less predictable, cities face major shifts in transportation, housing and climate resilience in the new year.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 8, 2026
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    Courtesy of California High-Speed Rail Authority
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    California high-speed rail project pivots toward public-private partnership

    Abandoning funding from the federal government, the California High-Speed Rail Authority said it sees strong interest from the private sector.

    By • Jan. 7, 2026
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    Getty Images
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    2026 Predictions

    14 predictions about what 2026 may hold for cities

    AI, infrastructure needs and shifting mobility patterns will shape how cities function in 2026, experts say.

    By Smart Cities Dive Staff • Jan. 7, 2026
  • A black Lucid Gravity robotaxi riding on a an urban street at night with its lights on.
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    Courtesy of Lucid Group
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    Uber, Lucid and Nuro unveil jointly developed ‘global robotaxi’ at CES

    The robotaxi is purpose-built for Uber’s ride-hailing network and features Nuro’s autonomous driving technology.

    By Eric Walz • Jan. 7, 2026
  • A woman wearing a white hard hat labeled "MTA" in a dark tunnel.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    New York’s congestion pricing will face off with Trump administration in court this month

    After a year, the tolling program has reduced air pollution and traffic congestion while improving economic activity in Manhattan, the region’s transit authority said.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
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    CHUYN via Getty Images
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    Bill to improve highway-rail crossing safety moves out of US House committee

    The legislation would direct states to show how they would work with railroads and other stakeholders to reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides along railroad tracks.

    By • Dec. 23, 2025
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    Jeff Chiu/AP

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    Waymo updating software following robotaxi failures during San Francisco blackout

    Waymo explained why its vehicles responded inappropriately during a wide-scale power outage and outlined steps to prevent a recurrence.

    By • Updated Jan. 5, 2026
  • A white vehicle with sensors on the roof and sides of the car and a sign reading "Waymo" next to a sidewalk with apartment buildings across the street.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    GHSA, Waymo partner on safety training for first responders

    As robotaxis expand to cities across the U.S., police, firefighters and EMTs need to learn how to interact with these vehicles safely, the Governors Highway Safety Association says.

    By • Dec. 18, 2025
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    NYC congestion zone air pollution measure fell 22% in 6 months

    Significant emissions reductions in Manhattan’s tolling zone extended to the wider metropolitan New York City area, a Cornell University study found.

    By • Dec. 17, 2025
  • Amtrak trains at a station.
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    Courtesy of Amtrak
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    DOT extends deadline to apply for intercity passenger rail grants

    About $5 billion in funding is available to states or groups of states for new or improved rail service outside the Northeast Corridor.

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • Boxes labeled "Narcan nasal spray" in a vending machine with the word "Free" displayed in digital letters.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Drug use on public transit erodes safety and traumatizes staff. A 7-step plan can help cities respond.

    A five-city assessment of transit drug use calls for an integrated response that includes naloxone policies, station redesign, better partnerships, stronger outreach models and unified communications.

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
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    wellesenterprises via Getty Images
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    Georgia county to launch autonomous shuttle service

    With a grant from the Federal Transit Administration, Cobb County, Georgia, will connect major venues in the Cumberland district beginning in 2027.

    By • Dec. 5, 2025
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    Retrieved from House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
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    Advanced air mobility sees bipartisan support in US House subcommittee

    Air taxis and drones “can redefine how we transport people and goods,” the subcommittee chair said.

    By • Dec. 4, 2025
  • Overhead view of bumper-to-bumper traffic on a highway leading to the tall buildings of Chicago in the background.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Traffic congestion grew this year in U.S. cities, but NYC saw no increase

    Baltimore and Philadelphia saw the largest increases in traffic delays. Congestion pricing may have helped keep New York City traffic in check.

    By • Dec. 2, 2025
  • 12 men and women holding shovels on a grassy area with railroad tracks and buildings in the background.
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    Courtesy of Virginia Passenger Rail Authority
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    Virginia starts construction in Alexandria to improve passenger rail

    A series of projects will increase capacity for Amtrak and commuter rail service in Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
  • A woman and man seated at a desk hold up a sign reading "congestion pricing is working."
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    The unlikely alliances that transformed New York

    Diverse coalitions helped get the nation’s first congestion pricing program implemented. Other cities can follow their lead and see similar benefits, says the leader of a transit advocacy group.

    By Lisa Daglian • Nov. 20, 2025
  • People in an underground subway station board a silver and orange train.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Will Trump kill federal funding for public transportation?

    Cutting mass transit funding and prohibiting states from using highway dollars for transit projects would impact GOP and Democratic congressional districts nearly equally, one analysis shows.

    By • Updated Nov. 20, 2025
  • A man in a heavy coat surrounded by men and woman holding signs reading "Fair pay & safe jobs for Amazon Teamsters" and "Pass the delivery protection act."
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    (2025). "LIVE: Last Mile Report" [Video]. Retrieved from Comptroller Brad Lander/YouTube.
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    Package delivery has taken a toll on New York City, comptroller says. He’s urging action in response.

    Increased traffic collisions, workplace injuries and air pollution are tied to last-mile delivery operations, the comptroller’s report says.

    By • Nov. 17, 2025
  • A white-painted subway train arrives at an underground station with several people standing on the platform.
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    Laser1987 via Getty Images
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    San Francisco commuter railroads face fiscal cliff in 2027

    A November 2026 ballot measure would tax San Francisco and five Bay Area counties to help Caltrain and Bay Area Rapid Transit close their budget gaps.

    By • Updated Nov. 14, 2025
  • A man cycling to work on an e-bike in Downtown Los Angeles.
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    Getty Images
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    CARB defunds California e-bike incentive program

    Overwhelming demand plagued the program, but it could return in “future years,” according to the California Air Resources Board.

    By • Nov. 12, 2025
  • People stand in line to board a green bus seen through a glass partition.
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    Dan Zukowski/Smart Cities Dive
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    Boston downtown bus terminal expansion opens

    With a 60% increase in bus docks and better connections with the train station, the South Station bus terminal will enable growth for the bus carriers, its general manager said.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • People walking on a station platform as a silver trains lettered "CTA" has its doors open.
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    Brian Kersey via Getty Images
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    Illinois legislature passes transit-friendly bill

    The legislation averts proposed service cuts and fare hikes with $1.5 billion in funding for Chicago’s public transit network.

    By • Nov. 3, 2025
  • The U.S. Capitol stands in the distance as morning traffic moves along North Capitol Street Northwest on October 01, 2025 in Washington, DC. The government shut down early Wednesday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal.
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    Chip Somodevilla / Staff via Getty Images
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    Commuters lost nearly 8 work days in 2024 to record-high traffic levels, report finds

    Cities need to make monitoring technologies more efficient, improve road emergency response and diversify development patterns to help relieve congestion, the Texas A&M Transportation Institute says.

    By Ryan Golden • Nov. 3, 2025
  • A white vehicle outfitted with many sensors stopped at a curb in with people and buildings in the background.
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    Permission granted by Dan Zukowski
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    Tracker

    Robotaxis: The latest developments

    Waymo adds four more cities for public robotaxi rides as it sets a ridership record for 2025.

    Updated Dec. 15, 2025
  • Yellow sign with graphic of a traffic signal reads "Red light photo enforced" over another yellow sign depicting pedestrians against a blurred backround of a city street.
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    Getty Images
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    New York City will expand its automated red-light camera program

    Verra Mobility will add 450 more signalized intersections as part of an expanded agreement with the city's transportation department.

    By • Oct. 30, 2025