Austin, TX braces for change following Prop A's approval

Councilmember Ann Kitchen said the city's property tax bills have already been adjusted and efforts are beginning to select leadership for the Austin Transit Partnership.

By Kristin Musulin • Nov. 5, 2020

CA's Prop 22 passage could bring further challenges to ride-hail regulations

Voters approved the initiative with 58% of the vote, according to unofficial tallies. While labor advocates warn it will undermine drivers, it could embolden companies towards similar efforts elsewhere.

By Chris Teale • Nov. 5, 2020

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

NYC releases terms of e-scooter pilot

The city's Department of Transportation issued an RFEI for the program, slated to begin in March. Operators now face tough competition to serve what has long been the nation's largest untapped market.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 30, 2020

MTA service cuts could cost New York region $65B

An economic study from NYU's Rudin Center for Transportation revealed the consequences of proposed service cuts if the transit agency does not receive at least $12 billion in federal relief.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 30, 2020

Prop 22 will shake up fundamental insurance policies

No matter which side of the fence the California ballot measure falls, it will shake up the gig economy and impact operator insurance strategies.

By Wil Hamory • Oct. 29, 2020

10 statewide ballot measures to watch: results

Of the 10 ballot initiatives identified last week as "measures to watch," only one — a rent control initiative in California — failed at the polls.

By Kristin Musulin , Chris Teale , Cailin Crowe • Updated Nov. 4, 2020

Advocates urge Chicago to keep transit running amid protests

As potential Election Day-related unrest looms, transportation advocates signed a petition requesting a guarantee that transit will continue during future periods of protest.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 26, 2020

Transit must think outside the box to rebuild ridership

Associations have developed frameworks to guide public transit agencies toward recovery, but they may not go far enough to innovate the industry.

By Ben Haynie • Oct. 26, 2020

DOE, USDOT issue $5.25M in project grants to advance transit tech

MIT, Utah State University and the Chattanooga (TN) Regional Transportation Authority each received $1.75 million grants to improve transit systems using "innovative vehicle technologies."

By Chris Teale • Oct. 26, 2020

The gas tax was already broken. The pandemic could end it.

As states and cities face infrastructure budget crunches with gas tax revenues down, some are thinking about alternative ways to secure funding.

By Jason Plautz • Oct. 26, 2020

Lyft, Motional resume Vegas AV service

The reintroduction welcomes passengers to ride in the first Motional-branded AVs, marking a key milestone for the driverless technology venture.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 23, 2020

Lime, WWF partner to promote clean transportation

The micromobility giant and conservation leader will run joint education and advocacy campaigns in a bid to enhance mobility options and safer streets.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 22, 2020

Elon Musk's Vegas Loop system one step closer to reality

Following successful tunneling at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Boring Co. is looking to expand its underground transit system to more destinations on the Strip and beyond.

By Zachary Phillips • Oct. 21, 2020

USDOT issues 4 contracts for data-driven safety research

Among the awarded vendors is micromobility data management platform Populus, which will asses how its existing partners and data can be used to address USDOT safety concerns.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 20, 2020

Group develops global blockchain standard for EV grid integration

The standard could pave the way for an expansion of the vehicle electrification market, but it must support innovation in a manner that benefits entire communities and not just the wealthy few, one expert said.

By Thomas Gresham • Oct. 20, 2020

Most scooter injuries happening on sidewalks: study

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found three in five scooter riders are injured on the sidewalk versus one in five injured in bike lanes, but there are still doubts over where scooters can be safely ridden.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 19, 2020

StreetLight, Ford Mobility team up to reduce fatal crashes

The partners' Safety Solutions toolkit provides data-driven insights for local officials to prevent serious crashes amid a surge in cycling and reckless driving. 

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 16, 2020

Behind the controversial $7.1B plan to transform transit in Austin, TX

Voters will soon decide on a ballot initiative to fund a comprehensive transit revamp dubbed Project Connect. Opponents call the plan a "costly burden."

By Joan Mooney • Oct. 15, 2020

Electric vehicle firms partner to ramp up charging station access, reliability

EV Connect joined three of its industry peers for its Partner Program, designed to increase station reliability and help chargers avoid maintenance issues.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 14, 2020

UAVs can play a vital role in the future of smart cities

Drones could provide important and diverse contributions to cities, offering cost-efficient services for everything from environmental monitoring to traffic management.

By Daniel Browning • Oct. 13, 2020

Transit agencies 'ill prepared' for cyberattack: survey

Only 60% of agencies have a cybersecurity plan in place and 43% say their plan is insufficient, according to the Mineta Transportation Institute.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 13, 2020

Virgin Hyperloop to build certification center in West Virginia

Officials said the center, which will have testing, training and manufacturing facilities, will "lay the foundation" for commercial deployment of the technology.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 9, 2020

Micromobility industry offers free Election Day rides

The North American Bikeshare Association's "Roll to Polls" campaign aims to help voters work around a transportation gap exacerbated by the pandemic.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 8, 2020

Lime unveils MaaS platform to expand micromobilty access

Micromobility operator Wheels will be Lime's first partner on the platform, which is intended to become a "one-stop shop" for shared electric vehicles.

By Kristin Musulin • Oct. 8, 2020

Elected officials urge automakers to support cleaner cars

The Clean Cars Declaration, signed by more than 200 elected officials, called on manufacturers to drop their support for the Trump administration’s rollback of clean car standards.

By Chris Teale • Oct. 8, 2020