InfoHive – Transportation

What’s happening? Seattle Mayor signed an Executive Order extending free transportation to middle school students, expanded from the current free for high school students.

Why is this important?  More than 13,500 high school students in the city participate in the current program, this expansion could add as many as 8500 students.

How will this be important? The goal is to free up roadways and teach transit use to younger generations & will improve diversity and inclusion by offering greater access to schools for BIPOC students who have disproportionately less access to transportation options.

Seattle Times via Governing | Seattle Extends Climate Policies, Including Students’ Free Transit

What’s happening? Elon Musk’s The Boring Company is proposing building tunnels that would use auto driving Teslas to transport people to beaches.

Why is this important? The local goal is to improve traffic flow and downtown congestion.

How will this be important? The Boring pitch is we can cut the cost from $1B a mile to $10 M a mile with new technology that allows us to build while we excavate making the process 15 times faster.

South Florida Sun Sentinel | Elon Musk Wants to Build Beach Tunnels in Fort Lauderdale

What’s happening? Miami Beach is elevating roadways to preserve its infrastructure as sea levels rise.

Why is this important? Miami Beach’s rational : “Miami Beach is at the forefront of resilience efforts to reduce flood risk from storms, high tides and sea level rise. We strongly believe the city’s resilience program benefits all properties, including this one.”

How will this be important? Property owners contend that elevating the roadways instead directed flood waters to their property.

Miami Herald via Governing | Miami Beach Lifts Roads Due to Sea Rise, Floods Nearby Homes

What’s happening? California has a statewide program to encourage TNCs to move to EVs. The California Air Resources Board crafted the the nation’s first vehicle electrification plan for transportation network companies and finalized it with the miles standard program that  2% of all TNC trips must be in electric vehicles by 2023 and that ramps up to 13% by 2025, 50% by 2027 and 90% by 2030.

Why is this important? Whether the EV standards are realistic for TNC companies is a point of contention. TNCs operating in California have until January 2022 to submit two-year plans to begin meeting the regulation.

How will this be important? Let watch and see what incentive programs emerge for EV adoption because of these programs

Freightwaves | Bay Area Uber EV drivers can get discounts on Wallbox chargers

What’s happening? Uber and Wallbox are partnering to make it easier for Uber drivers to have access to a callbox charger for their EVs.

Why is this important? The pilot projects currently limited to the Bay Area and will offer Uber drivers a discounted package for a Wallbox charger, installation and financing options. If successful the program will be nationwide.

How will this be important? “Climate is a team sport and Uber is committed to doing our part to expedite the transition to zero-emissions mobility. Making electric vehicle charging solutions available at scale is essential to achieving our goals and we are excited to partner with Wallbox on this mission.” – Andrew MacDonald, Uber senior vice president of mobility and business operations

Freightwaves | Bay Area Uber EV drivers can get discounts on Wallbox chargers

What’s happening? Chic 1960s luxury train service is returning in Europe as a sign that luxury rail will be a viable option in lieu of short range flights.

Why is this important? Alternatives to short range flights is a competitive service. Think of the business bus services moving between Austin Dallas and Houston.

How will this be important? Luxury trains on existing tracks have an allure as short term air travel and luxury don’t often overlap.

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What’s happening? Prague is a tourist city and yet it has found a way to prove its transit fares help its citizens by charging more for single use tickets that are often used by tourists.

How is this important? The scale of Prague’s transit fares are roughly:

• Free for under 15 and over 65
• Reduced annual passes for senior light of about $65
• Regular annual fare $165
• Student prices for 15-26 years old $65

For tourists the fares are $1.50 for 30 minutes, $2 for 40 minutes, and $6 for 24 hours.

Why will this be important? By offering low rate annual fares it trains citizens into long term thinking for transit and frees up roadways.

Governing | Why Prague Has One of the Best Tram Systems in the World

What’s happening? Nashville is adopting new regulations for large party vehicles. Party Vehicles are back?! Supporters include Nashville Downtown Partnership, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and community coalition Safe Fun Nashville.

Why is this important? Nashville regulations will cover:

• permitting
• route approval
• driver eligibility and training
• vehicles’ adherence to operation standards
• liability insurance standards.
• restrict alcohol consumption on unenclosed vehicles for the first time

How will this be important? The large party vehicles had gone largely unregulated in Nashville- how about your city? Add in the state legislature where Nashville wants to clarify that it has the authority to regulate these vehicles.

Tennessean | Rules for revelry: Nashville passes its first regulations for large party vehicles

What’s happening? New South Wales Parliament in Australia just passed new EV reforms the are being told as the most generous for EV drivers.

Why is this important? The new EV incentives include:

• $3,000 rebate for new electric cars priced below $68,7500
• EVs below $78,000 get a stamp duty exemption
• incentives like the right to travel in T2 and T3 transit lanes
• $161 million on expanding the EV-charging network
• zero interest loans and a stamp duty exemption.

How will this be important? The program was designed to meet Australia’s goal of 50% EV sales by 2030

The Driven | Australia’s most generous EV support package passed into law

What’s happening? Los Angeles Mayor’s office created a non-profit, Urban Movement Labs, to work with citizens & air taxi service companies to avoid the regulatory issues that ride share and scooters had. Regulations would include infrastructure like vertiports, noise issues, and zoning laws.

Why is this important? Getting stakeholders involved before regulations can streamline the process by recommending a proposed regulatory structure.

How will this be important? Sets forth a model to handle all new novel issues.

Tech Crunch | How Los Angeles is preparing for the air taxi takeoff