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What’s happening? States are paying for the build out of EV charging stations in rural areas with grant funding, incentives, tax credits, and public private partnerships.
Why is this important? The start ups are coming into urban areas to own and manage charging.
How will this be important? The federal Infrastructure Bill has funds for just this purpose.
Governing | Finding the Funding for Rural Outposts in America’s EV Grid
What is happening? Virginia passed a law enforcement reform package that included prohibiting traffic stops & searches for things like smelling marijuana to minor traffic offenses.
Why is this important? The goal of the legislation was to address that a disproportionate number who are pulled over are BIPOC.
How will this be important? Let’s watch who follows suit.
NPR | Cities Looking To Reform Police Traffic Stops To Combat ‘Fishing Expeditions’
What is happening? Philadelphia police will not conduct low level traffic stops like when a tail light is out.
Why is this important? The purpose is to address racial disparities in traffic stops without compromising public safety. Instead of the stop a ticket could be mailed to the registered address of the vehicle.
How will it be important? Minneapolis has scaled back similar police stops, and other states have passed legislation.
What is happening? Meet the High Speed Rail Alliance, ” a growing community working to bring the game-changing power of fast, frequent and affordable trains to North America.”
Why is this important? It covers projects in California, Texas, Florida and the Upper Midwest
How will this be important? “And in an era of intensifying climate change, it has the lowest carbon footprint—by far—of the three options.”
What is happening? A proposal for high speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis is added to the list of high speed rail projects that include California, Texas Central, and Florida.
Why is this important? The funding for foundational work for the Chicago project came from the Infrastructure Bill and in August lawmakers in Illinois created the Illinois High-Speed Railway Commission.
How will this be important? The Chicago project points out that not everyone has a car to make the 284 mile trip, and the same goes for the HSR lines in other states too, a time efficient train trip is a solution.
Government Technology | Anticipation Grows for Illinois High-Speed Rail Project
What’s happening? Meet Opibus, a US VC funded, Kenya- Sweden partnership to convert existing buses and motorcycles to EV.
Why is this important? Opibus was founded in 2017 when it focused on vehicle to EV conversation
How will this be important? The biggest set backs are scaling up fast enough and adequate charging infrastructure
Tech Crunch | EV conversion startup Opibus raises $7.5M to start bus and motorcycle mass production
What’s happening? Lyft is self imposing regulations that if a passenger establishes their account with anonymous payment source, like Venmo or a gift card, the passenger must also provide an alternative form of identification
Why is this important? Minneapolis is experiencing a spate of carjackings of ride share drivers
How will this be important? Codification of this is in the future
Bring Me the News | Lyft adds new safety feature amid spate of Minneapolis carjackings
What’s happening? Data shows that 3 of 5 scooter accidents happen when scooters are on sidewalks. 1/3 of these accidents occur on sidewalks when sidewalk riding is not permitted
Why is this important?
How will this be important? Cities have taken away from these safety ordinances that working with a few companies makes it easier to reach an agreement on agreed to safety measures.
Route Fifty | Localities Pose Stricter Rules on E-Scooter Use, But Challenges Remain
What is happening? Part of the federal infrastructure bill is to require all new vehicles by 2026 to have a mechanism to stop drunks from driving.
Why is this important? US DOT will determine the appropriate technology.
How will this be important? The technology most likely to come out on top is infrared cameras that monitor driver behavior
AP | Congress mandates new car technology to stop drunken driving
What’s happening? Seattle Mayor Executive Order during the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference includes ways to incentivize the electrification of vehicles
Why is this important? The order establishes establishes a $1 million program to convert heavy-duty diesel trucks — including school buses, garbage trucks and drayage port trucks
How will this be important? Converting the drayage vehicles to EV, which travel from he port through neighborhoods that are more dramatically impacted by clean air will help Seattle be a leader in for environmental justice.
Seattle Times via Governing | Seattle Extends Climate Policies, Including Students’ Free Transit