InfoHive – Transportation

What is happening? The Liberty Canyon Wildlife Corridor over the 101 in Agoura Hills is receiving a $1 million donation from Boeing.

Why is this important? The wildlife bridge will protect mountain lions and other animals

How will this be important? The National Wildlife Federation says ” [Los Angeles] is about to become a world leader in how to coexist with wildlife and how to preserve biodiversity in such an urbanized environment.”

LAist | World’s Largest Urban Wildlife Crossing Project Receives $1 Million Donation

What is happening? On February 17, 2022 SB 1251 (2022 | CA) was filed, to create the EV Equity Ombudsman in California.

Why is this important? The Ombudsman will coordinate activities among state agencies to advance light-, medium-, and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles and zero-emission infrastructure deployment and to ensure related equity, workforce development, economic development, and other needs are addressed to grow and support the sector statewide in order to achieve specified goals relating to zero-emission vehicles.

How will this be important? Interagency communication on electric vehicle issues that’s new and proactive.

What is happening? A paper published in the journal, Computers & Security, identified vulnerabilities in some of the EV charging station industry’s biggest manufacturers

Why is this important? 3 points of access of nefarious hackers: firmware, mobile applications and web applications.

How will this be important? Rapid growth in the industry has led to companies seeking to see up with demand and not having the capacity to identify vulnerabilities

Concordia University.ca | Electric vehicle charging stations are a new focus for Concordia cybersecurity researchers

What’s happening? L.A. is considering ordinances that would give taxis competitive edge with ride share.

Why is this important? The ordinances would give approved ride-hailing applications access to traffic and other city data to make dispatching riders more efficient. Further, taxis will no longer have to be yellow, but simply must bear a taxi decal.

How will this be important? LA is removing existing caps on taxi medallions.

LA Times via Governing | Can New Apps, More Permits Save the Los Angeles Taxi Industry?

What’s happening? Policy experts are trying to discern which mode of transportation is the most environmentally friendly and isn’t walking or riding a bike. Think of it as a bus v. train brawl.

Why is this important? When major fossil fuel companies being setting climate goals of zero carbon and Florida sets clean air standards to protect its tourism industry, let’s say this issue hits all sides.

How will this be important? Oakridge National laboratory energy efficiency researchers say CO2 impacts are:

•  177 grams per passenger mile for trains
• 299 grams per mile for buses
• cars at 371 grams

Governing | Are Trains or Buses Better for the Environment?

What’s happening? Paris has upgraded aerial cable cars to allow commuting to the center city.

Why is this important? It’s electric, its environmental friendly, it doesn’t require property acquisition. And the commute takes half the time as a bus

How will this be important? To address privacy concerns, the cable car windows will fog when near private residences to maintain the privacy of residential life in Paris

@worldeconomicforum

What’s happening? Boston is noticing that a lot of public chargers are located in wealthier areas. That Creates Charging deserts in neighborhoods where the houses have no driveways or garages. Only 57% of Bostonians live close to a charging station.

Why is this important? Cities and rural areas want more control over where EV chargers are located

How will this be important? Some say cities that control their own utilities like Los Angeles, may have the advantage to locate chargers alongside existing transmission lines.

Route Fifty | Millions of Electric Vehicle Chargers Are Coming and Cities Want a Say in Where They Go

What’s happening? After piloting autonomous freight trucking between Phoenix and Tucson, TuSimple of San Diego will begin delivering freight in AZ by partnering with Union Pacific.

Why is this important? Autonomous trucking is one thing they say, but it is the partnership with Union Pacific that shows autonomous trucking can add value to freight delivery system.

How will this be important? “The company expects its operations to be commercially viable on a large scale by the end of 2023, and it has targeted the Texas triangle between Houston, Dallas and San Antonio as one of several areas for expansion.”

San Diego Union-Tribune via Governing | Self-Driving Freight Deliveries to Begin in Arizona This Spring

What’s happening? Kansas is trying to find an alternative to the gas tax to fun road repair and maintenance. During this process it is considering a pay as you drive fee.

Why is this important? Currently EVs in KS pay an annual $100 registration fee. Moving to a pay as you drive model follows moves by Oregon, Virginia and Utah

How will this be important? The current Secretary of Transportation in KS says it’s time to start thinking of ” transportation like a utility.”

Topeka Capital-Journal via Governing | How Will Kansas Fund Road Repairs Without a Gas Tax?

What’s happening? Brightline West , which is developing high speed rail between Los Angeles and Las Vegas is anticipating breaking ground next year.

Why is this important? Brightline is operating an existing high speed rail in Florida, connecting Miami and Orlando, and utilizes existing tracks. California and Nevada both authorized the entity to sell private activity bonds to support the project.

How will this be important? Messaging includes “all electric train” and “environmentally friendly” project

ENR Southwest | Las Vegas to L.A. High-Speed Rail Construction Could Begin Next Year