InfoHive – Transportation

Wyoming is proposing a 4% tax per kilowatt hour tax for charging electric vehicles. Supporters say it amounts to roughly a 24 cent tax per gallon of gas. EV owners would also be required to purchase a $100 annual decal with Wyoming’s iconic “bucking horse and rider emblem.” HB 24 (2025 |WY)

To drive teens in California, ride share drivers will have to be fingerprinted. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a ruling Thursday that requires taxi and ride-hail drivers who are carrying unaccompanied minors in the state to pass a fingerprint background check. The ruling also requires transport companies to pay for the cost of those background checks.

TechCrunch | Uber will need to fingerprint drivers in California to transport teens

New York’s transit authority is seeking a contractor for drones to be used within bus depots, at outdoor depot parking lots and along bus service routes. The goal is to make transit management more efficient for its 58,750 trips daily on 252 local and express routes citywide that regularly carry more than 1 million riders on weekdays.

Route Fifty | New York’s MTA considers flying drones to keep watch over buses

A North Texas to San Antonio high speed rail is the goal of HB 483 92025 | TX). A way to open up funding other high speed rail projects by defining them as  “transit oriented projects” is found in HB 542 (2025 | TX).

Texas Public Radio | Bill proposes bullet train between North Texas, Austin and San Antonio

This week $16 million was made available through a new High-Assay Low-Enrichment (HALEU) Transportation Package Funding Opportunity to research, develop, and acquire Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing for HALEU transportation packages. The goal is developing long-term economical solutions to transport HALEU. 

“Transportation is the key link connecting all parts of our domestic HALEU supply chain,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dr. Mike Goff. 

U.S. Department of Energy Issues New Funding Opportunity to Develop HALEU Transportation Packages

This week the US Department of Transportation announced funding for 15 US Ports. That’s $580 Million for Ports to Strengthen American Supply Chains and Lower Costs.

Let’s look at the Texas: Port of Houston, Agricultural Export Improvement and Community Resilience Project (awarded $25,359,216) & Port of Harlingen Resiliency and Asset Management Planning (awarded $708,750).

Sugarland Texas has partnered with Wisk Aero for self flying taxis to offer micro transit services. In Sugarland, land is at a premium as only 4% of its land is undeveloped. Hence, the city is looking for air solutions like flying taxis and gondolas to handle microtransit needs. 

Governing | How Sugar Land Became the Test City for Flying Taxis

The category is….Interesting legislation from the Philippines.  House Bill 11076, or the proposed “Mindful Parking Act, would penalize people who block/save parking spaces by standing in empty parking spaces. “

“The bill’s proponent, Akbayan Rep. Percival Cendaña, described this “unwholesome practice” as a violation of common courtesy and the principle that parking should be on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Daily Tribune | Bill filed to penalize parking space stand ins

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies launched their joint venture on Wednesday, November 13. The total deal size is up to $5.8 billion (up from $5 billion). Volkswagen Group will be in for “about $1.3 billion” in exchange for background IP licenses and a 50% equity stake in the venture.

Electric-vehicles | Rivian and VW Group Officially Launch JV, Expand Deal Size to $5.8 Billion

Today the California Public Utilities Commission announced that it is requiring companies to file detailed trip-level incident reports that cover both collision and non-collision incidents, including citations and stoppage events.

Reuters | California agency boosts reporting requirements for autonomous vehicle incidents