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What’s happening? A podcast interview with Texas Central Rail CEO illuminates that the federal Infrastructure Bill could impact construction which is not expected within the next 6 months.
Why is this important? The federal infrastructure bill could open up $12 billion in federal loans
How will this be important? 40% of the land n necessary for the project has been secured
Railway Age | Texas Central CEO Not Optimistic Construction Will Start in Six Months
What’s happening? Heart Aerospace, a Swedish start up, is building EV airplanes.
Why is this important? Their initial electric airplane, ES-19, will have an operating range of 400 km
How will this be important? Maintenance costs are estimated to be 100 times less.
What’s happening? 8 states, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Oklahoma and Utah, will allow digital drivers licenses on Apple Devices in apple wallet
Why is this important? users will upload their physical drivers license and a selfie, and other photos for verification, and the state’s approval will add the license to Apple wallet.
How will this be important? 8 states now, but as we grow more accustomed to touches payment systems, this number will grow. Airports are touting it as making travel more seamless.
The Hill | Apple to introduce digital drivers licenses in eight states
What’s happening? 3 truck companies are embracing solar power on their trucks: Rush Enterprises; Marten Transport, and Mesilla Valley Transportation
Why is this important? Solar power on trucks is augmenting truck battery life for liftgates, telematics and refrigeration units in trailers
How will this be important? Solar power is also being integrated into their facilities and influencing their suppliers and manufacturers
Transport Dive | Solar power in trucking’s forecast as fleets find energy, cost savings
What’s happening? The trucking industry has a driver shortage. States like Oregon and New York are waiving certification fees for women.
Why is this important? Anticipating a shortage of 100,000 drivers by 2023, recruitment of women is increasingly common.
How will this be important? In 2019 only 6.7% of long haul truckers were women
What is happening? Tennessee Valley Authority, the entity that brought electricity to Appalachia, is pledging to switch its fleet to EV by 2030. With all its passenger cars converting, and 1/2 of its trucks.
Why is this important? The plan is not immediate purchase, but as vehicles age out, the replacement will be an EV, allowing for the EV market to reduce its costs too.
How will this be important? TVA also partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to build.a network of recharging stations at least every 50 miles on Tennessee’s major highways
Chattanooga Times via Governing | At Least Half of TVA Vehicles to Be Electric By 2030
What is happening? Rural roads see 50% of traffic fatalities even though the rural population is 1/5. That means the fatality rate is twice that of urban areas.
Why is this important?
How will this be important? Access to funding and creative solutions are the name of the game.
Pew Charitable Trusts via Governing | Car Crashes, Deaths on Rural Roads Spark Safety Discussions
What’s happening? Pennsylvania is adding a miles driven fee to compensate for declining gas tax revenues.
Why is this important? The numbers behind the new miles driven fee:
How will this be important? Every state has declining gas tax revenues and many are considering miles driven fees.
What is happening? Phase 1 goals of identifying technology modes and alignments, two modes are proposed to be carried forward: high-speed rail and hyperloop. Phase 1 recommended moving into Phase 2.
Why is this important? High-speed transportation alternatives would “accommodate the current growth and provide residents with safe, reliable and efficient travel. “
How will this be important? The final recommendation will connect to local transportation systems & link to future high-speed options.
What is happening? Iowa has new rules for autonomous vehicles and trucks that include demarkation on registrations that indicate if the vehicle can operate without a driver on gravel.
Why is this important? Iowa wants to be prepared for when vehicles arrive in Iowa so that business know what the rules of the road are.
How will this be important? Iowa is laying the frame work for restricted registrations of vehicles “just to make sure that they are not operating in scenarios that they might not be prepared for.”
Automated Vehicle Project in Iowa
Radio Iowa | Transportation Commission approves rules for driverless cars and trucks