California autonomous vehicle bill advances as legislators worry about heavy-duty truck safety

If the proposed law passes, a human operator could need to be onboard heavy-duty, autonomous trucks in the Golden State until at least Jan. 1, 2029.

By David Taube • June 7, 2023

Intercity passenger rail expansion sought by 90-plus cities and states, Amtrak CEO tells House committee

Some lawmakers made the case for why Amtrak should add service to their regions, while others questioned the railroad’s commitment to passenger safety and security and its need for ongoing federal funding.

By Dan Zukowski • June 7, 2023

Boston commuter rail lines need overhaul, advocates say, as transit agency tackles safety, financial issues

Electric, regional rail would be “an absolute game changer,” says a rail expert, but even 2020 cost estimates top $40 billion, and the MBTA is still recovering from safety failures and revenue shortfalls.

By Dan Zukowski • June 6, 2023

State-owned roads blamed for traffic fatality uptick in Austin, Texas, in new report

“Fatal crashes occurring on State-owned roadways increased substantially while those occurring on City-owned streets remained relatively flat,” the city says in a new report.

By Michael Brady • June 5, 2023

How Panasonic is working on connected-vehicle technology in three states

The Panasonic Smart Mobility office's goal for these real-world projects is to demonstrate the use of vehicle-to-everything technologies at scale and help prepare cities and states for the rollout of connected vehicles.

By Dan Zukowski • June 5, 2023

St. Paul, Minnesota, bans truck parking on city streets

The ordinance followed complaints about commercial vehicles crowding roads and blocking a brewery.

By Colin Campbell • June 2, 2023

Debt ceiling deal leaves DOT mostly unscathed, but transportation, housing funds may still be at risk

“We're still assessing the best ways to accommodate the caps and restraints that are part of this deal,” said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

By Dan Zukowski • June 2, 2023

Serve Robotics, Uber Eats will deploy up to 2K delivery robots

Over 200 restaurants in the Los Angeles market already use Serve’s robots to complete deliveries, which the company claims can reduce air pollution.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • June 1, 2023

Robotaxi companies are expanding existing operations — and coming soon to new cities

Despite pushback from the city of San Francisco, two companies received approval to operate driverless ride-hailing vehicles for paying passengers anywhere in the city at any time. 

By Dan Zukowski • June 1, 2023

DOT’s Reconnecting Communities highway removal program lacks performance measures: GAO report

The Government Accountability Office report comes as El Paso, Texas; New York City and Philadelphia are looking into decking over major highways that split communities. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 31, 2023

$400M for low-emission school buses available from EPA grant program

The zero- and low-emission school bus funding has a “particular focus on reducing air pollution in disadvantaged communities overburdened by dirty air," said David Cash, EPA New England regional administrator.

By Stephen Singer • May 31, 2023

Shared micromobility boosts job access when linked with public transit: report

While other analyses often make cars falsely appear faster than other modes, this study may provide a more accurate assessment by accounting for factors such as traffic congestion and how people use micromobility, researchers said.

By Michael Brady • May 30, 2023

How AI can advance, harm transportation equity

“Responsible AI” is critical because “AI has the potential to either exacerbate or alleviate existing biases and discrimination in transportation,” one researcher said during a Transportation Research Board webinar.

By Kalena Thomhave • May 29, 2023

Utility plan to build 460 EV fast-charging stations in Colorado angers retailers, other charging proponents

Gas stations, convenience store owners and other businesses say Xcel Energy's plan to own chargers makes it less likely they will install them.

By Robert Walton • May 26, 2023

Shared micromobility companies recommended model regulations. Here’s what they didn’t mention.

Bird, Lime, Spin and Superpedestrian’s recommendations largely leave out safety, infrastructure and community engagement concerns, researchers and micromobility consultants said.

By Michael Brady • May 26, 2023

With $200M for electric vehicles, Minnesota aims to boost ownership, charging infrastructure

To increase EV adoption in the state, the new state budget provides consumer rebates, auto dealer grants and more funds for the statewide EV charging network.

By Dan Zukowski • May 25, 2023

NYC region faces significant health inequities: report

All decisions made in the region, from building more housing to expanding highways, affect public health outcomes, one of the report's authors said.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 24, 2023

Collecting data to support energy-burdened communities poses unique challenges, experts say

Census data isn’t collected often enough to reflect neighborhood demographic shifts, and asking communities to self-report can present additional burdens, panelists said at a clean energy summit.

By Diana DiGangi • May 24, 2023

Can Boston improve pedestrian safety with redesigned streets, intersections? It’s about to find out.

City leaders hope a new initiative will reduce speeding and crashes by installing more speed humps, redesigning intersections and making traffic signals more pedestrian-friendly.

By Michael Brady • May 24, 2023

The ‘infrastructure decade’ is here, but challenges loom for local governments at the helm

“Money is flowing, grant applications are live, private capital is ready to move. But there are real constraints to achieving public goals,” Brookings Metro Senior Fellow Adie Tomer said at an event last week.

By Ysabelle Kempe • May 23, 2023

High-speed rail gains steam as Atlanta, Dallas aim to come aboard

With Texas and Georgia looking seriously into future bullet trains, high-speed rail could appear in states outside California.

By Dan Zukowski • May 23, 2023

E-scooter riding on the sidewalk? Speed restrictions may be to blame: study

“If cities are serious about reducing or eliminating sidewalk riding, they will reduce the speed of cars on local streets and invest in Infrastructure like protected bike lanes, ” a Lime spokesperson said.

By Michael Brady • May 22, 2023

New federal guidance unveiled for bicycle, pedestrian and micromobility projects

The Federal Highway Administration wants to ensure “that biking, walking and other ways to travel are safe, convenient and enjoyable for everyone,” Administrator Shailen Bhatt said.

By Michael Brady • May 19, 2023

How a federal program meant to help communities buy zero-emission buses instead favors fossil fuels: report

A legal requirement added to the Federal Transit Administration program in 2015 led to the disparity, advocacy organization Transportation for America said.

By Dan Zukowski • May 18, 2023

How NYC is preparing its infrastructure for extreme weather

Thu-Loan Dinh, who helps lead infrastructure design for the city’s Department of Design and Construction, discusses the agency’s biggest resilience concerns and how to address them.

By Julie Strupp • May 17, 2023