Traffic fatalities hit 16-year high in 2021, with pedestrian deaths up 13%

While 2020's increases were shocking, 2021's numbers are worse, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data. Communities can now apply for $1 billion from the infrastructure law for greater transportation safety efforts.

By Dan Zukowski • May 18, 2022

Mobility leaders seek to 'unburden' people from private cars

A group of over 50 public, private and nonprofit leaders announced a Shared Action Mobility Agenda at the National Shared Mobility Summit today. Among their goals, the group plans to reframe the narrative around car ownership.

By Cailin Crowe • May 17, 2022

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

Uber increases EV incentives to achieve its all-electric by 2030 goal

The company announced new efforts to entice drivers to switch to EVs and the addition of "premium" electric vehicles in a press conference today on expanding its event, food delivery and travel services.

By Dan Zukowski • May 16, 2022

Motional, Uber Eats launch autonomous delivery pilot project in Santa Monica, California

Uber Eats customers can opt into curbside delivery and a Motional autonomous vehicle might deliver the order using Hyundai IONIQ 5 vehicles.  

By Dan Zukowski • May 16, 2022

These 3 technologies could make self-driving cars safer

With autonomous vehicles already operating in several cities, technology companies are working on high-definition maps, better artificial intelligence models and remote control for fleets when needed. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 11, 2022

States band together to push for nationwide fleet electrification

A coalition of 17 states from across the country as well as Quebec and Washington, D.C., signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on an action plan for pushing truck and bus electrification in their states.

By Kate Magill • May 10, 2022

Transit agencies struggle to access funding, rights-of-way, due to complex governance structures

During a recent Eno Center for Transportation webinar, agency leaders from Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Vancouver, British Columbia, shared the challenges that current governance systems can create. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 9, 2022

California approves $11.7M vehicle-to-grid pilots in PG&E footprint

The programs will support the build-out of bidirectional charging equipment, which regulators say can provide broader resiliency benefits.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated May 9, 2022

As scooter activity rebounds, San Diego cracks down with new restrictions

With the return of riders and tourists following the pandemic's dramatic dip, the city proposes quadrupling operator fees and tightening regulations in response to dangerous sidewalk use. 

By Dan Zukowski • May 6, 2022

Delivery services extend gas incentives as drivers face high gas prices

DoorDash's program, which provides drivers 10% cash back on gas purchases on a prepaid Visa card, will now run through August. Grubhub and Waitr have similar incentives, while Uber Eats has imposed a fuel surcharge on customers. Higher fuel prices and overall inflation are both affecting restaurants' recovery. 

By Alicia Kelso • May 5, 2022

GM and INRIX collaborate to provide safety data, insights to transportation officials

Combining data from GM's connected vehicles and INRIX's analytics platform with public data, the application aims to help communities prioritize road safety needs, evaluate plans and make a case for federal funding.

By Dan Zukowski • May 4, 2022

To reduce transportation emissions, make it realistic for people to ditch cars

Building walkable communities with easy access to public transit is key to reducing our reliance on cars and achieving environmental goals, writes the CEO of Keolis North America.

By David Scorey • May 2, 2022

'Hyperlocalized' service benefits micromobility users, regulators and the public, industry exec says

Responsiveness to safety, access and other concerns is essential for shared bikes and scooters to grow as part of a community's transit mix, according to speakers from Tier Mobility and Joyride at a webinar hosted by Mavenoid.

By Rachel H. Pollack • May 2, 2022

Los Angeles launches $17.8M universal basic mobility pilot

“We have to change the conversation about transportation investments and how they benefit cities if we hope to shake ourselves awake from zombie conversation about how much it all costs,” said one LADOT official.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 29, 2022

Michigan awards grants to spur EV equity and economic development

The grant program aims to increase access to electric vehicles and charging stations in underserved communities while also creating EV-related jobs through public-private partnerships.

By Dan Zukowski • April 29, 2022

The race to add more public EV chargers

To meet President Biden's goal for half of all U.S. vehicles sold to be zero-emission by 2030, the country will need 20 times more EV chargers. To support those ambitions, companies are developing innovative charging technologies.

By Dan Zukowski • April 28, 2022

Lessons from California: Tips to keep transit projects on time, on budget

Local agencies tend to poorly plan infrastructure work and don’t have enough capacity to manage megaprojects, and common procurement methods create a management bottleneck, a new study from UC Berkeley found. 

By Julie Strupp • April 28, 2022

Pittsburgh 'smart loading zones' aim to reduce curbside delivery woes

The city is partnering with curb management company Automotus for the next year to decrease idling, congestion and other safety and efficiency issues, especially in the central business district.

By Austyn Gaffney • April 26, 2022

California readies regulations for zero-emission truck fleets

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles are the next big frontier in transportation electrification. The move to EVs has been slower in this segment because of its higher energy needs.

By Dan Zukowski • April 26, 2022

US transportation sector could cut carbon emissions 34% by 2030: analysis

"We've actually made a lot of progress," said one researcher. Separately, the Biden administration announced $6.4 billion for states to use under the infrastructure law's carbon reduction program.

By Dan Zukowski • April 22, 2022

Part boat, part plane, all electric: Entrepreneurs envision a new way to travel between coastal cities

Regent's initial "seaglider" vehicle could carry 12 passengers at 180 mph up to 180 miles, connecting coastal communities with faster, cleaner transportation, CEO Billy Thalheimer said.

By Dan Zukowski • April 21, 2022

Lyft to acquire bike-share equipment and technology supplier PBSC Urban Solutions

The deal with the Canadian-based supplier will roughly double Lyft's micromobility presence, the company said.

By Dan Zukowski • April 20, 2022

As cities redesign bus networks, planners stress community engagement

"A lot of agencies haven't looked at their system holistically in a long time," said one transportation planner, as Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles and other major cities undertake complex and potentially more equitable system redesigns. 

By Dan Zukowski • April 19, 2022

Proposed California EV regs could be adopted by other states

In a bid to ramp up zero-emission vehicle sales, the policy move could ultimately enable regulators "to set the national standards that we need to meet our climate goals," said one transportation and clean air policy expert.

By Dan Zukowski • April 18, 2022

Robotic balloons could provide high-res images for numerous urban applications

Flying at 60,000 feet, they can help cities monitor vegetation, power lines, roadways and more and could potentially aid navigation for advanced urban transportation tech like AVs and VTOLs, says the CEO of Near Space Labs.

By Dan Zukowski • April 14, 2022