Author Archives: Tessa Zavala

What is happening? Virginia is addressing the privacy concerns related to pay as you drive tax programs by: prohibiting the sale of data collected under that state’s pilot fee-per-mile program prohibiting access to the data through a public records request Prohibiting the data to be used for any purpose other than to collect unpaid fees […]

What is happening? In 2022, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Washington all considered programs, or pilot programs, to establish a pay as you drive tax system for vehicles. The technicalities may differ (self reporting, annual odometer readings, or device attached to vehicle) but all programs were voluntary. Why does this matter? Let’s […]

What is happening? The City of Hoboken, NJ has the goal of placing a EV charger within. 5 minute walk of every household. Like San Antonio, TX, Hoboken is patterning with a private company to make this goal happen. Hoboken’s partner is Volta that uses video advertising to support the EV infrastructure. Volta will handle […]

What is happening? NYC has cleared $200 million in taxi medallion debt for 3,000 medallion holders. The taxi industry was hit hard by COVID. . 7,156 of the city’s 13,500 yellow taxis were on the streets in July. That’s down from 13, 320 in 2012. Why does this matter? The restructuring of this taxi medallion […]

What is happening? Some say that a switch to EVs will make gas stations extinct. Gas Stations by nature are in busy locations, low cost, high volume. Where as EV charging requires time. Since the 1980s the number of gas stations has been in decline. Why does this matter? the California Fuels & Convenience Alliance […]

What is happening? Washington D.C. is considering banning right turns on red. This warms my heart. Turning right on red is nerve wracking- is there a pedestrian coming? Is there a scooter on the sidewalk that’s going to barrel through the intersection? It is impossible to see around the construction zone at 10th and Guadalupe, […]

What is happening? Kids are riding their bike to school in mass on a specific day each week supported by watchful parents, community members. A teacher rides with the kids blasting upbeat music. Why does this matter? The idea is a brain child of a physical education teacher in Oregon who wanted to encourage kids […]

What is happening? The Asphalt Art Initiative provides grants to create art to modify dangerous streets. Why is this important? At one asphalt art initiative site, pedestrian/car dangerous situations decreased by 30 % and the percentage of people who felt unsafe crossing fell from 85% to 6% How will this be important? Cars are slowing down, […]

What is happening? Mexico City has been working to improve traffic. To that end, it has been rethinking how it uses right of ways to “remove space for cars, incentivized other transport modes and enabled more productive land use. “ Why is this important? Right of ways are used for transit platforms and pay stations; park-lets, […]

What is happening? A new report from Urban Institute warns that policies surrounding self driving cars shouldn’t leave out historically disadvantaged communities. Why is this important? The report discusses the benefits of self driving cars like, reducing emissions, improved traffic safety, increase transportation options for older people or people with disabilities, How will this be […]