The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions – such as stay-at-home orders – led to a “drastic drop” in U.S. road travel and a sharp increase in the number of people stayed at home in the spring of 2020, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. [Above photo by the Oregon […]

A new report from the Mineta Transportation Institute found greater use of “microtransit” could help develop more wide-ranging and affordable on-demand transportation services and help build up ridership and expand geographic coverage for “traditional” public transit service as well. [Above photo via the American Public Transportation Association] For this study – entitled Steps to Supplement […]

The Federal Highway Administration plans to provide up to $10 million in grants from its Accelerated Innovation Deployment or AID demonstration program via a notice of funding opportunity issued on July 16. [Above photo by Georgia Department of Transportation] That program seeks to promote the deployment of “proven innovations” that can deliver road and bridge […]

The Federal Transit Administration issued a Request for Information or RFI on July 15 to help identify, assess, and mitigate “high-priority safety concerns” among both transit riders and transit agencies. The RFI closes on August 16. [Above photo by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority] “Safety is our highest priority, and we want to hear from our public […]

Transportation consulting firm StreetLight Data recently released a comprehensive analysis of U.S. states and communities most at risk during an evacuation. [Above photo by Caltrans] Building on earlier research, which focused on the top 100 at-risk communities, the new report includes an analysis of more than 670 communities across the country – research intended to help […]

A recent report by the Mineta Transportation Institute indicates that the demands outlined in cybersecurity-focused executive orders or EOs issued by President Biden may create “sourcing limitations” for transit operators trying to comply with them. [Above photo by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority] The MTI said the recent cyberattacks against the Bay Area Rapid Transit or BART system […]

The most recent forecast released by the Energy Information Administration indicates that fuel prices should remain elevated for the rest of 2021 and into 2022, though oil prices should start to decline in 2022. [Above photo via ExxonMobil] The EIA cautioned in the July update to its Short-Term Energy Outlook that its forecast remains “subject […]

Federal Aviation Administration recently activated a system that can track space launches and reentries in near-real time through the National Airspace System. The agency said this new capability increases safety for all airspace users and helps it more efficiently managing air traffic during space operations. [Above photo by Pat Corkery/United Launch Alliance] The FAA said its […]

The Cherokee Nation is the first tribe in the nation to participate in a U.S. Department of Transportation “self-governance program” developed in 2020 – giving the tribe the ability to plan and oversee road construction and transit projects on the reservation without having to seek federal permission and oversight. [Above photo by the Cherokee Nation] […]

The Federal Highway Administration issued a notice of funding opportunity on July 7 for $60 million worth of Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment or ATCMTD program grants – a program that, for the first time, includes a focus on racial equity, environmental justice, and access to opportunity. [Above photo by the FHWA] Established […]