Acting NHTSA administrator is stepping down

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been without a permanent administrator since Ann Carlson was appointed to lead the agency in September 2022.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 19, 2023

US traffic control device standards get long-awaited update

Better protection for cyclists and pedestrians, and adaptations for EVs and autonomous vehicles, are in the Transportation Department's first major update to the standards since 2009.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 19, 2023

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

Automakers could face anti-drunk driving technology mandate

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration aims to publish its final rule before the end of next year, with manufacturers needing to comply as soon as 2026.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 18, 2023

GM’s Cruise dismisses 9 top executives amid robotaxi safety probes

The autonomous vehicle company believes new leadership is key to rebuilding trust after one of its robotaxis hit a pedestrian in October, according to a company memo viewed by Reuters.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 15, 2023

Auto industry groups lobby for federal autonomous vehicle rules as skepticism grows

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was supposed to publish its proposal in November but has not.

By Michael Brady • Dec. 14, 2023

10 passenger rail projects nab $8.2B from bipartisan infrastructure law

The largest grants will go to Brightline West, California High-Speed Rail and a portion of the Raleigh to Richmond rail program on the East Coast.

By Julie Strupp • Dec. 12, 2023

VW is launching a vehicle-to-home EV charging pilot in Sweden

Other automakers are also working on bidirectional charging technology, which allows homeowners to tap into the massive power reserves of EV batteries when the vehicle is stationary.

By Eric Walz • Dec. 11, 2023

House passes CARS Act to halt EPA’s proposed tailpipe emission standards

Proponents of the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act have said the environmental agency’s proposal is a de facto EV mandate.

By Kalena Thomhave • Dec. 7, 2023

Detroit unveils wireless EV charging roadway

The quarter-mile stretch recharges vehicles as they drive or park on the street. The charging technology will cover one mile of the road when complete.

By Kalena Thomhave • Dec. 6, 2023

Low ridership and low revenue continue to plague transit agencies

As federal stimulus funds run out and ridership remains below pre-pandemic norms, many transit agencies must find new revenue sources or face drastic service cuts.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 5, 2023

Having trouble hiring transit workers? Take a look at your hiring process.

In Utah, a bid to streamline the onboarding process for new bus drivers is yielding promising results and may offer lessons for other U.S. communities grappling with a shortage of public transit workers.

By Gaby Galvin • Dec. 5, 2023

US DOT announces $1.5B round of RAISE grants for 2024

The Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity program supports road, rail, transit and port projects, and is open to a wide range of applicants.

By Dan Zukowski • Dec. 1, 2023

House Republicans support high-speed rail but not California’s project

Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee largely supported passenger and high-speed rail in a Wednesday hearing but split along party lines about California's $128 billion project.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 30, 2023

Biden administration sets new rule for monitoring on-road GHG emissions

The Federal Highway Administration rule requires states and metropolitan planning organizations to establish CO2 emissions reductions targets, setting up a fight with congressional Republicans.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 29, 2023

Streetcars’ benefits vary by city: panel

A renewed interest in streetcars has driven numerous cities to invest in systems. Representatives from systems in Cincinnati and Kansas City, Missouri, discussed lessons learned during a Transportation Research Board webinar.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 27, 2023

$176B plan unveiled to rebuild Northeast rail corridor

Amtrak, states, regional commuter railroads and the U.S. Department of Transportation laid out an ambitious 15-year plan to ready the Northeast Corridor for future growth.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 22, 2023

Cruise CEO resigns amid safety probes into company’s robotaxis

The company’s robotaxi fleet remains grounded in California after one of the vehicles struck a pedestrian in downtown San Francisco in early October.

By Eric Walz • Nov. 21, 2023

Transit agencies’ financial woes continue

Two major credit rating agencies hold negative outlooks on public transit systems as revenues and ridership remain soft.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 21, 2023

LA Metro tries to woo riders with customer experience improvements

Mass transit ridership took a hit in the pandemic. Now, the agency is rolling out the red carpet to bring riders back.

By Kristen Doerer • Nov. 20, 2023

FTA proposes tighter rules for state oversight of rail transit systems

The proposal would give state safety oversight agencies new authority and responsibilities to ensure the safety of public rail transportation.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 20, 2023

2 years in, infrastructure law has funded 40,000 projects

The largest portion of 2021 infrastructure law money is flowing to road and bridge construction, according to White House data analyzed by CNBC.

By Julie Strupp • Nov. 17, 2023

Electric buses: Boom times and bumpy roads

Manufacturers are struggling to meet the demand spurred by federal funding and programs that encourage transit agencies to shift to zero-emission buses.

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 16, 2023

LA’s I-10 to reopen in 3 to 5 weeks after intense blaze

No demo is needed to repair the freeway, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. He called the damage "substantially greater” than a portion of Interstate 95 that collapsed on the East Coast in June.

By Joe Bousquin • Nov. 15, 2023

Parking under pressure: Why 3 cities raised prices on the best spots

Variable-price parking is a new way of valuing urban real estate and incentivizing residents to make different transportation choices, advocates say.

By Joan Mooney • Nov. 14, 2023

NYC reveals plans to build air taxi infrastructure as test flights hit its skies

With Volocopter and Joby test flights showing the industry’s progress, Archer Aviation’s CEO named several cities as potential future markets in a Nov. 9 earnings call. 

By Dan Zukowski • Nov. 13, 2023