Technology

China to Ban Gas and Diesel Car Sales to Spur EVs
Electric vehicles (EVs) have a bright future in the world's most populous nation and largest auto market, unlike those powered by oil. That was a ministry chief's message at an auto forum on Saturday.

First 'Smart Cities' Grant-Enabled Hardware Online in Columbus
Columbus has spent the first year since its selection as the $50 million Smart Cities Challenge grant recipient devoted to planning and research. The grant has also proven a very enticing fundraising tool.

Uber Releases Trip Data in Select Cities
Uber Movement makes publicly available data for two billion trips taken on the transportation network company. Uber says the data should benefit urban planners.

How NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo Came to Support Congestion Pricing
Gov. Andrew Cuomo was not an early endorser of congestion pricing. Why the sudden embrace, particularly when Mayor Bill de Blasio is opposed? Turns out that electronic tolling technology, embraced by the MTA, appears to have moved the governor.

Subsidized Uber Rides to Transit Stations Now Available in Five Florida Cities
Altamonte Springs was the first to subsidize Uber rides connecting to transit stations, in March 2016. Now Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, and Sanford join the ranks of this unique public-private partnership.
Nation's First All-Electric Bus Route Launches in Stockton, California
A city once infamous for municipal bankruptcy is now setting a standard for public transit technology.

Fire Tests Enable New Timber Typologies
After a long time lost in the woods, architects and engineers are rediscovering timber. Recent fire tests have demonstrated that timber can be a viable building material and meet existing code requirements.

Using Drones to Inspect Urban Building Façades
Many cities require the owners of multistory buildings to regularly inspect their façades, looking for problems that may lead to injury or property damage. Drones can potentially help ease the process and cost of doing so.
Drone Delivery Takes to the Sky in Iceland
Iceland is the answer to the trivia question of which country is the first to approve drone delivery service.

'Smart Road' Pilot Project Coming to Kansas City
The infrastructure to support a future of connected cars and automated vehicles is one step closer to reality.
Car Crash Reporting Guidelines Prepare for Self-Driving Vehicles
The Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria's latest edition has new instructions for reporting the emerging sector of autonomous vehicles.

Criticisms Emerge for New Orleans' Biggest Post-Katrina Streetcar Projects
Advocates have reason to be concerned about the performance of the two newest streetcar lines in New Orleans—both the largest transit projects after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina.

Digital Divide Broadens with Broadband
Accessing the internet is too expensive for many, not just in rural areas but also in cities.

Designing a Better Trash Chute
Programs that make folks pay for garbage services based on how much they throw away can cut down trash in landfills. Designers are looking for ways to adapt these programs to multiunit buildings.

Hints of a North Texas Freeway Rebellion
At the helm of a movement to think beyond concrete solutions to transportation challenges in North Texas are the mayors of Fort Worth, Grapevine, and Arlington.

Impacts of AVs and E-Commerce on Municipal Budgets
A new report from Urbanism Next/SCI takes you through a city’s budget—both revenues and expenditures—and describes the areas that will be affected as AVs become commonplace and e-commerce takes on an even larger role in retail

Lyft Partnering With Amtrak for First-Last Mile Connections
Amtrak is partnering with Lyft to offer train passengers a discounted option for first and last mile needs. New Lyft riders qualify for a $5 savings on each of their first four rides.

Are Reports Predicting a Future of Electric Vehicles Exaggerated?
David Yager, an oil industry consultant, writes that recent reports predicting electric vehicles will eventually outsell those with internal combustion engines are vastly exaggerated, notwithstanding national bans on future sales of such cars.

Electrifying California: Volkswagen Settlement Approved
The biggest obstacle to the adoption of electric vehicles in California, a shortage of charging infrastructure, just became a lot more manageable thanks to $200 million from Volkswagen stemming the from the dieselgate settlement.

Los Angeles Metro Takes Initial Step Toward Conversion to Electric Buses by 2030
The board of L.A. Metro voted Thursday to spend $138 million to purchase 95 electric buses plus chargers and wiring upgrades for two transit lines that now use natural gas buses, and approved a motion to convert all buses to battery-electrics by 2030
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