Monthly Archives: July 2026

DoorDash has a pending FAA application for the company’s proprietary drone delivery system. How did DoorDash get here? According to a co-founder “We started from first principles: What’s the actual customer problem that needs to be solved?” TechCrunch

The “gap-to-expenditure (GTE) ratio, which calculates each state’s projected funding gap for maintenance, preservation, repair, and replacement of National Highway System and other roadway infrastructure as a share of its planned budget.” 24 of 33 states reporting Transportation Asset Management Plans  have funding gaps. 5 have GTE ratios above 100%, meaning that their funding gaps […]

San Francisco mayor has asked the state Department of Transportation to impose new limitations on robotaxis because of traffic jams attributed to robotaxis. Turns out robotaxis can run out of power and stop in the middle of traffic. The proposed new regulations focus on “core operational capabilities” and require the companies to immediately remove and […]

An electric plane program has launched in Virginia. Last Friday was the first flight from the federal government’s advanced air mobility pilot program. The program will be healthcare intensive including organ transportation. The program is a partnership between Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. Ultimately, the program will expand to 26 other states. Virginia Mercury

D.C. is working through robotaxi rules. In the opposition corner, Uber. Uber argues D.C.’s proposal hands Waymo a monopoly and displaces driver based ride share. Uber wants robotaxis to operate on a ride share platform. In the supporter corner, Waymo says the proposal allows for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles, supports public transit, equitable […]

Meet Stoke Space, a well-funded Seattle startup building reusable rockets to compete with SpaceX. Bonjour reusable rocket competition. Tech Crunch

Jet fuel prices have more than doubled this year. An economic argument that sustainable jet fuel offers more price stability is garnering attention. The EU announced that it is looking for alternative jet fuel supplies. Corporate Knights

Some say a negotiated targeted liability bill, SB 623 enacted in California, is a model bill to address recurring liability concerns of ride share companies. SB 623 addresses “medical liens, recoverable medical expenses, and litigation-related costs—issues frequently raised in product liability, transportation, and personal injury litigation.” Lexology

“National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Jonathan Morrison issued a directive Wednesday to autonomous vehicle (AV) developers, stating that it is unacceptable for their vehicles to interfere with first responders or law enforcement.” Tech Crunch