Elon Musk’s company town plans worry some locals, urban planners

The plans for Snailbrook, near Boring Co. and future SpaceX manufacturing facilities in central Texas, raise questions about local governance, environmental impacts and more.

By Adina Solomon • April 24, 2023

Chicago may lose its only intercity bus station, placing burden on disadvantaged travelers

Nearly a half-million passengers could be forced to wait at curbside stops for Greyhound and other intercity bus services, even in Chicago's harsh winters.

By Dan Zukowski • April 24, 2023

ARPA funds used to fill city budget gaps, Brookings analysis finds

Spending American Rescue Plan Act funds on “revenue replacement” allowed localities to free up money for long-term priorities, such as economic development, a Brookings Metro researcher said.

By Kalena Thomhave • April 21, 2023

Cybersecurity best practices for smart cities issued by CISA

Smart city technologies are at risk “of exploitation for espionage and for financial or political gain by malicious threat actors,” according to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

By Michael Brady • April 21, 2023

High-speed rail projects vie for scant federal dollars

There’s not enough money available in the current round of grant funding to meet the needs of the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Brightline West. 

By Dan Zukowski • April 20, 2023

Safer bus transit corridors for pedestrians, cyclists require creative solutions on every corner: report

“Each intersection, station, and even midblock area requires a unique and sometimes creative approach to maximize safety for people walking and biking,” a Transportation Research Board report found.

By Michael Brady • April 20, 2023

New York City to test local delivery hubs

Microhubs will provide designated locations for trucks to unload items for last-mile delivery providers in a pilot program starting this summer. The city hopes they will curb traffic congestion and lower vehicle emissions. 

By Max Garland • April 19, 2023

Creating safe streets for all users takes community engagement, funding, transportation leaders say

As the U.S. Department of Transportation opens grant applications for more than $1 billion to improve local road safety, equity for vulnerable road users is the subject of a new webinar series.

By Dan Zukowski • April 19, 2023

5 major airport projects take off in the South

Funding from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law is fueling aviation construction around the country.

By Julie Strupp • April 19, 2023

US traffic deaths reach highest level since 2005: NHTSA

Nearly 43,000 people died in crashes on U.S. roadways in 2022, finds a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report. The total essentially matches 2021’s, which was the highest estimated fatality rate since 2005.

By Michael Brady • Updated April 21, 2023

$14B for city and state transit awarded in FTA formula grants

The Federal Transit Administration funds can go toward improving public transportation, upgrading stations and tracks, converting bus fleets to zero-emission vehicles and services for older adults and those with disabilities.

By Dan Zukowski • April 17, 2023

With recent crash, road safety again thrust into the spotlight

A Maryland collision that killed six construction workers nabbed national headlines and was a reminder that job sites are at the mercy of speeding drivers.

By Jen Miller • April 17, 2023

Are your operations EV-ready? Share your expertise and insight in landmark industry research survey by April 28

Electric vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure are poised to transform the parking, transportation and mobility industry. IPMI released an EV readiness survey to capture critical benchmarks and data.

By Rachel Yoka, CAPP, LEED AP BD+C • April 17, 2023

Flying electric boat closer to takeoff as Regent unveils full-scale mock-up

With more than 500 orders to date, the company’s CEO said commercial service is expected to begin by mid-decade, starting in Hawaii.

By Dan Zukowski • April 14, 2023

The costs and surprises of EV charging, according to convenience store retailers

Read the EV charging station maintenance challenges, lessons learned and more from convenience and fuel operators, who are a big part of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure nationwide.

By Brett Dworski • April 14, 2023

FedEx and Amazon still haven’t figured out sidewalk delivery robots. Will mass adoption ever come?

Delivery giants' tests of autonomous bots fizzled out. But many logistics experts still believe that the technology can catch on, creating potential challenges for cities.

By Max Garland • April 13, 2023

Booming EV sales amp up the pressure on cities and companies to meet charging demand

“This is a wake-up call,” an executive at an energy management company said. “The transformation required to enable widespread vehicle electrification will be a massive challenge.”

By Dan Zukowski • April 13, 2023

$1 billion in grants to prevent traffic deaths available: DOT

This year’s application process differs significantly from last year’s, including a new portal to submit applications and an updated definition of underserved community, the Transportation Department said.

By Michael Brady • April 12, 2023

On infrastructure jobs, OSHA steps up workplace safety enforcement

As federal funds flood into construction projects thanks to the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is concerned about protecting workers in the infrastructure sector.

By Julie Strupp • April 12, 2023

Tighter EPA vehicle emissions standards may speed up electric vehicle transition

The new emissions standards would apply to 2027 through 2032 model-year vehicles, but they would not mandate EVs, leaving it up to automakers to decide how to meet the rules.

By Dan Zukowski • April 12, 2023

Transit projects not meeting ridership projections: GAO report

While transit agencies have gotten better at estimating project costs, less than half of projects correctly predicted weekday ridership.

By Dan Zukowski • April 11, 2023

Amtrak long-distance passenger rail study groups report back from six regions

Adding routes and increasing service frequency were common themes emerging from the series of meetings with government officials, railroads and NGOs.

By Dan Zukowski • April 10, 2023

The country’s most EV-friendly metro areas

Electric vehicle charger availability varies widely across the U.S. Of the top 10 U.S. metro areas for electric-vehicle friendliness, more than half are in California, a new report found.

By Mary Salmonsen • April 10, 2023

With electric delivery vehicles in high demand, GM’s Brightdrop sold out for the year

The company has over 30 commercial customers covering parcel delivery, retail, rental and service-based utilities.

By Dan Zukowski • April 7, 2023

Walmart to install EV chargers at thousands of stores by 2030

The company noted that there’s “a store or club located within 10 miles of approximately 90% of Americans,” putting these chargers in easy reach of most electric vehicle drivers.

By Jessica Loder • April 7, 2023