DC transit agency issues RFPs for digital communication upgrades

One project aims to procure tech that would engage with nearby mobile devices for targeted advertising, while the other intends to assist riders with impaired vision.

By Katie Pyzyk • Sept. 10, 2019

NACTO calls for congestion pricing, real-time monitoring to aid AV rollout

Autonomous technologies can benefit traffic and transit in the near-term, but the report warns against over-reliance on drones and delivery robots.

By Chris Teale • Sept. 10, 2019

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

Micromobility could replace 48% of car trips in 10 US cities

If a fraction of car trips were replaced by shared bikes and scooters, cities would experience less congestion, reduced emissions and an economic boost. 

By Cailin Crowe • Sept. 9, 2019

City grids risk being overwhelmed by EV growth

Electricity supplies could suffer without partnerships between utilities and city agencies, The Rocky Mountain Institute and Seattle City Light warned. 

By Chris Teale • Sept. 9, 2019

Shelby County, TN mayor modifies proposed vehicle ownership fee

To address public feedback, a $145 annual "sustainability fee" would now only be applied to the third car a household owns — not the fourth, fifth or sixth.

By Katie Pyzyk • Updated Oct. 1, 2019

APTA calls for late-night transit to help service-sector workers

Late-shift workers in metropolitan areas are 40% less likely to commute via public transit if there are inadequate connections, according to the association. 

By Chris Teale • Sept. 5, 2019

Testing the future of transportation

Local governments have a key role to play in testing and refining new transportation technologies.

By Brett Roubinek • Sept. 4, 2019

Venture capitalists predict the future of scooter M&As

Bird's acquisition of Scoot could have fired the starting gun for similar moves as dockless providers look to scale up and increase profits.

By Chris Teale • Sept. 3, 2019

Google Maps adds multimodal trip planning feature

The app will display routes that include cycling and ride-hailing as first- and last-mile options along with transit directions.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 29, 2019

Should cities put mobility services on private MaaS platforms?

The idea of the city as a platform for carefully coordinated mobility services may indeed be a framework that can facilitate new services in urban centers.

By Rapahel Gindrat • Aug. 29, 2019

Phoenix voters substantially back light rail expansion

Residents voted against a plan that would block extensions of the Valley Metro system to instead invest in automobile infrastructure.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 28, 2019

Utah researchers analyze transit data to determine pollution offsets

A University of Utah study found the state's public transit system offsets 1.5% of the region's on-road greenhouse gas emissions.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 28, 2019

Parsons to 'revolutionize how cities move' through Smart Cities Challenge

The tech firm is partnering with AWS, Verizon and CoMotion to improve safety at intersections, where 40% of pedestrian accidents occur. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 27, 2019

Letter calls on Congress to try again on federal AV legislation

The lack of federal AV legislation has led to concerns about a patchwork of state laws, so the onus is on Congress to get something done. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 27, 2019

As scooters go mainstream, infrastructure falls behind

Scooter safety has a new urgency with accidents and deaths on the rise. Cities are now questioning where it's best to ride them — and who's going to pay for the infrastructure.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 27, 2019

NYC steps up outreach to homeless using subway as shelter

The city's HOME-STAT initiative has helped more than 2,200 citizens transition off the streets since it launched three years ago. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 23, 2019

RMI calls for national mandates on EV purchases, AV testing

The Rocky Mountain Institute warned the U.S. could fall further behind on new mobility options without stronger central leadership.

By Chris Teale • Aug. 23, 2019

What cities can learn from Stockholm’s congestion pricing plan

Sweden's capital is one of few cities in the world to implement the strategy, winning public opinion by showing quick results. 

By Chris Teale • Aug. 22, 2019

Waymo releases autonomous vehicle sensor data

The company is the latest to make the data public for researchers to advance AV technologies, following competitors Aptiv and Lyft.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 22, 2019

Twin Cities cuts overnight rail service, displacing homeless

The action has sparked a familiar debate: What can be done about people experiencing homelessness who use trains for shelter?  

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 21, 2019

Bird shutters bike lane program due to misuse of funds

The company phased out a program to help cities improve infrastructure after discovering most cities were "plugging budget holes" with the cash.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 21, 2019

Segway-Ninebot's newest e-scooter can drive itself

The three-wheeled devices will automatically return to charging stations without a rider, with Uber and Lyft among the potential customers. 

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 20, 2019

New Uber feature incentivizes shared rides

Non-Stop Shared Rides will make car-pooling more convenient for some passengers, but it's not available on all trips or in all cities.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 19, 2019

DC extends moped pilot through September

During the second part of the pilot, which begins March 1, operators are permitted to run up to 600 vehicles and must distribute vehicles in each of DC's eight wards "at all times."

By Jason Plautz , Cailin Crowe • Updated Jan. 14, 2020

NLC calls on cities to consider congestion pricing

A new guide suggests that cities of all sizes should be proactive and consider congestion pricing as a way to ease traffic and improve quality of life.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 15, 2019