Senators grill Boston transit leaders on safety lapses

"Shameful" is how Sen. Markey described the safety lapses of America's first public transit system in the rare hearing.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 14, 2022

CA, MA put high-earner tax increases on November ballots for transit, EVs, other initiatives

Proposals to tax high-income individuals are meeting stiff opposition, including one big-name surprise. Polls show voters largely favor these measures.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 14, 2022

Explore the 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

Transit measures are on the November ballot in these city and county elections

Will voters agree to new taxes to fund public transit, streets, roads, and bike and pedestrian paths? That question is on November’s ballot in local elections across the country. 

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 13, 2022

Oakland tests electric transit buses for resilience in vehicle-to-building pilot

The California city will be the site for analyzing how zero-emission transit buses can maintain critical loads during emergency conditions.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2022

GM partners with Pilot, EVGo to launch massive convenience store EV-charging initiative

Convenience store chains are adding hundreds of EV charging stations, but the Pilot chain's goal to install thousands could signal the beginning of an EV charging arms race in that industry.

By Brett Dworski • Oct. 12, 2022

DOL proposes new test for independent contractors

The ruling could have major implications for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft, which rely on independent contractors for drivers.

By Ryan Golden • Updated Oct. 11, 2022

GM partners with utilities, solar and storage providers on vehicle-to-grid, home EV charging

General Motors hopes the new services will spur EV adoption while improving grid resiliency, it said as part of a broader business announcement Tuesday.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 11, 2022

Lyft, micromobility advocates eye infrastructure funding opportunities for shared bikes and scooters

The Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act offer unprecedented chances for cities to expand transportation systems for all residents, industry leaders discussed during a recent event.

By Charles Pekow • Oct. 10, 2022

Rising prices, labor shortages threaten infrastructure law implementation: DOT report

To manage the many projects under the IIJA, the Transportation Department will need to staff up, but states and cities also face staffing shortages, the report states.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 10, 2022

AV industry still needs to prove safety to cities and states, mobility leaders say

Consider public acceptance of autonomous vehicles now and when taxpayers may have to pay for the technology that enables connected roads, MOVE America conference speakers said. 

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 7, 2022

MobilityData takes over micromobility open-data standard

Nearly 9 in 10 cities in North America require micromobility service providers to use the General Bikeshare Feed Specification, which provides real-time information about a shared mobility system.

By Michael Brady • Oct. 7, 2022

Amazon ends field tests for delivery bot Scout

The program, which debuted in a Washington state neighborhood in 2019, wasn't meeting customers' needs, a company spokesperson said.

By Max Garland • Oct. 7, 2022

Uber and Motional to roll out autonomous ride-hail and delivery services in US cities

AV developer Motional, which also works with Lyft, announced a 10-year agreement with Uber on Thursday. The partnership’s first driverless rides are slated for later this year.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 6, 2022

$100 monthly transit subsidy bill advances in Washington, DC

Such a program may help mitigate the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority’s pandemic-era financial losses and could support other priorities related to traffic safety, health and climate.

By Kalena Thomhave • Oct. 5, 2022

How cities and states can compete for infrastructure funds

Massachusetts’ mobility chief said the FHWA is looking for innovative and data-backed projects focused on safety and vehicle electrification at the MOVE America conference in Austin, Texas.

By Dan Zukowski • Oct. 5, 2022

Building EV charging through public-private partnerships

Cities and companies can work together to install charging stations along curbs, at multifamily housing, in parking lots and at public facilities, panelists said at Smart Cities Connect.

By Danielle McLean • Oct. 4, 2022

‘Minimobility’ could fill the gap between micromobility and electric cars, analysts say

Three- or four-wheeled electric-powered vehicles, whether shared or privately owned, could become an important option for urban transport, according to a new report from the McKinsey Center for Future Mobility.

By Charles Pekow • Oct. 3, 2022

3 takeaways from the Smart Cities Connect fall conference

Public- and private-sector professionals shared ideas on how to get support for procurement, make progress on open-source and interoperable technologies and more.

By Maria Rachal • Sept. 30, 2022

New York begins implementation of 2035 ban on new gas-powered cars and trucks, following California lead

Boosting sales of EVs in New York may require changing the law around how vehicles are sold, according to the Alliance for Clean Energy New York.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2022

BP and Hertz to develop national EV charging network

The move sets the foundation for BP and Hertz to “drive the future of mobility and accelerate EV consumer adoption,” the companies said in a statement.

By Brett Dworski • Sept. 29, 2022

Ridership surpasses 70% of pre-pandemic levels, boosting transit agency finances: APTA

Growing ridership could help transit agencies address their financial problems, avoiding service cuts and fare hikes.

By Michael Brady • Sept. 29, 2022

EV charging network plans approved for all 50 states

The FHWA’s approval unlocks $1.5 billion in NEVI program funds through fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for all jurisdictions across the U.S., allowing the build-out of chargers covering about 75,000 miles of highway.

By Danielle McLean • Sept. 28, 2022

Boston to grow bike lane network

The city aims to add 9.4 miles by the end of 2023, becoming the latest since the pandemic began to substantially expand its bike network.

By Charles Pekow • Sept. 28, 2022

Don’t let flying taxis be the next scooters, city planners warn

Private companies could begin operating air taxi services by 2024, experts said during the ITS World Congress in Los Angeles. Cities need to plan their regulatory approach now.

By Michael Brady • Sept. 27, 2022

Community involvement needed in traffic safety strategies, Vision Zero manager says

A systematic approach to planning that assumes human error was among the strategies urged at a Washington, D.C.-area summit. Meanwhile, U.S. DOT seeks public input on vulnerable individuals and intersection safety.

By Charles Pekow • Sept. 23, 2022