House T&I Committee Approves BUILD America 250 Act for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
On May 22 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved H.R. 8870, the BUILD America 250 Act, a bipartisan five‑year surface‑transportation reauthorization. The bill authorizes roughly $580 billion for FY 2027‑31, including $87.5 billion earmarked for public transit—almost identical to the amount provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It introduces a consolidated block‑grant program, reforms formula grants, and adds new safety, accessibility, and crime‑prevention requirements. The legislation also creates dedicated funding for international sporting‑event transportation and expands tribal and rural transit support.
PRT Unveils New FY27 Operating and Capital Budgets, Still Face Future Shortfall
Pittsburgh Regional Transit adopted a FY 2027 operating budget of $595.7 million and a $211.6 million capital budget, preserving current fares and service levels through FY 29. The agency is using $44.8 million of capital funding and $15.4 million of operating reserves to balance the operating...
L.A. Metro Launches Mobile App, Contactless Fare Payments
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority launched a free mobile app and contactless credit‑ and debit‑card fare payment system on June 2, 2026. The app offers real‑time trip planning, service alerts, multimodal integration and accessibility features, while tap‑to‑pay lets riders use cards, digital...
Infrastructure Technology Podcast: Concrete's Importance to Infrastructure
The Infrastructure Technology Podcast featured Dr. Tyler Ley, an Oklahoma State professor and YouTube “concrete freak,” who discussed his research on climate‑specific air‑entrainment, fiber‑reinforced concrete, and fly‑ash cement substitutes that can extend the lifespan of roads and bridges. Ley highlighted...
Best Practices: Foothill Transit’s Strategy to Deploying Zero-Emission Technologies and Managing a Mixed Fleet
Foothill Transit, serving California’s San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys, has built a mixed fleet of compressed natural gas, battery‑electric and fuel‑cell buses, positioning it among the nation’s most innovative transit agencies. Over more than a decade the agency has systematically...
A Look at 2026 Passenger Rail Trends for the U.S.
The U.S. passenger rail sector is in a rapid build‑out phase, with voter‑approved expansions either completed or moving into design and engineering. Several long‑planned extensions, including a new Denver‑to‑Fort Collins service, are now a step closer to operation. Federal and state...
Transit-Oriented Development Starts with Clear Priorities
Transit‑oriented development (TOD) hinges on establishing clear priorities before a project launches. HDR’s lead argues that a prioritization assessment helps agencies pinpoint where BRT stations can act as catalysts for growth. Successful TOD requires market intelligence, local developer insight, and...
ECARX Partners with May Mobility to Expand AV Capabilities
ECARX Holdings and May Mobility have signed a framework agreement to integrate ECARX’s L4 central computing platform and sensor suite into May’s autonomous vehicle fleet, with initial deployment planned for 2027 and commercial scaling by 2028. The partnership targets delivery...
Infrastructure Technology Podcast: Modernizing Public Transit Through Technology and Policy
The Infrastructure Technology Podcast released Episode 11, examining how technology and policy can modernize public transit. Guests—UIC professor Kate Lowe and graduate students Noah Arroyo and Maisie Westerfield—discuss AI tools, funding constraints, and equity challenges in Chicago’s system. The episode also notes Bentley Systems’...
Governments of Canada, Ontario Invest More than C$11 Million in Durham Transit Upgrades
Canada and Ontario are jointly investing C$11.6 million (US$8.4 million) to upgrade Durham Region Transit. The funding will purchase ten new 40‑foot diesel rapid‑transit buses equipped with intelligent fare‑collection technology. It also includes a fuel‑ and fluid‑management software system to improve efficiency,...
Infrastructure Technology Podcast: Building Smarter Infrastructure with AI and Real-Time Data at North Highland
Episode 10 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast spotlights North Highland’s AI partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. The firm is deploying AI‑driven analytics for bridge inspection, roadway monitoring and infrastructure planning, leveraging real‑time sensor data to prioritize maintenance. Guests Doug...
TX: The Women of Route 237: After Highland Park Left DART, These Are the Bus Riders with Changed Commutes
Highland Park voted to end its DART partnership, removing Route 237 stops within the town. The decision forces workers—mostly women in service jobs—to add up to a mile to their walk and extra wait time, lengthening commutes that already exceed an...
Mass Transit Magazine’s 2026 Transit Ballot Measure Tracker
Mass Transit’s 2026 Transit Ballot Measure Tracker shows a mixed landscape of voter decisions on transit funding across the United States. In Arizona, Pima County approved a $2.67 billion, 20‑year Regional Transportation Authority Next plan, allocating $1.2 billion to roadway corridors, $726 million...
APTA Releases Resources to Help Public Transit Agencies Utilize AI, ML Tools Across Operations
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) unveiled an AI/ML Primer and four guidance briefs to help transit agencies assess and deploy artificial‑intelligence tools across operations. The research, based on a survey of 32 member agencies and staff interviews, shows that...
Infrastructure Technology Podcast: The Role GIS Plays In Public Transit Planning
Episode nine of Season 3 of the Infrastructure Technology Podcast spotlights how Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and emerging AI tools are reshaping public transit planning. Guest Jackie Strohmeyer, a recent University of New Orleans graduate, explains how GIS‑based accessibility analysis drives equity‑focused...
CO: Denver’s Colfax Rapid Bus Line Project Crosses Into Aurora for First Time, Kicking Off 18 Months of Road Work
The $280 million East Colfax bus rapid transit (BRT) project is extending into Aurora, launching an 18‑month construction phase that will reshape a 3.1‑mile stretch of the corridor. Unlike Denver’s median‑centered BRT design, Aurora will use mixed‑traffic lanes with priority signaling,...
NV: RTC Looking at Bus, Paratransit Fare Hikes to Address $118M Shortfall
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Las Vegas will raise bus and Strip transit fares for the first time in 15 years to close a budget gap exceeding $118 million. Single‑ride fares will climb to $3 on the bus network and...
CT: CT High School Students May Soon Get Free Passes to Ride CTtransit Buses Across the State
Connecticut lawmakers approved a bill that would give free CTtransit bus passes to high‑school students in grades 9‑12 and to military veterans, with $2.5 million earmarked for the first fiscal year. The program, to be administered by the state Department of...
MBTA to Begin Accessibility Project on Symphony Station
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will begin a 35‑month construction project at Symphony Station on June 6, adding four new elevators and extensive station upgrades. The $150.8 million renovation, including $66.6 million in federal funding, will also feature raised platforms, accessible restrooms, improved...
PA: City Survey to Find Out How People Move About the City, and What Would Make It Safer
Pittsburgh’s Department of Mobility and Infrastructure launched a three‑month survey to map how residents, workers and visitors travel and what safety upgrades they desire. Partnering with Carnegie Mellon, POGOH, Bike Pittsburgh, WTS and the American Society of Highway Engineers, the...
CA: Unmet Transit Needs Focus of Thursday Santa Cruz County RTC Meeting
The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission will hold a public meeting to review its 2026 Unmet Transit and Paratransit Needs List, which highlights gaps for seniors, people with disabilities, low‑income families, caregivers and other underserved groups. The agenda also...
Montgomery County Completes Transit Depot Microgrid Project
Montgomery County, Maryland, completed a 6.8‑MW transit‑depot microgrid at the David F. Bone Equipment Maintenance and Transit Operation Center. The system includes 9,800 solar panels, 2 MW/6.9 MWh of battery storage and 2.38 MW of charging capacity to serve 200 Ride On buses and...
MassDOT Opens FY27 Industrial Rail Access Program Applications
MassDOT has opened applications for the FY 2027 Industrial Rail Access Program, a state‑funded grant initiative that will distribute $3 million to improve freight‑rail infrastructure across Massachusetts. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis with the first quarterly deadline on June 30 2026,...
WA: Beloved Olympia Bus Route Ends This Weekend. 270 Signed a Petition to Save It
Intercity Transit’s long‑standing Route 41 in Olympia will run its final service on May 2 before being split into two new routes, 32 and 34, as part of the agency’s first full system redesign. The change introduces the 9X Bus Rapid Transit...
PA: Indicators 2026: The Value of Transit-Oriented Communities
Transit‑oriented communities (TOCs) cluster housing, jobs and services around public‑transport hubs, encouraging walking, cycling and reduced car use. Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation released a TOD toolkit to guide municipalities in designing mixed‑use, walkable neighborhoods, citing Philadelphia and Lititz as successful...
Denver RTD Breaks Ground on Final Segment of East Colfax BRT Project
Denver Regional Transportation District broke ground on the Aurora segment of the East Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line, initiating simultaneous construction across all five corridor segments. The project, slated for full service in 2028, promises up to a 30‑minute...
CTA Breaks Ground on Red Line Extension Project
The Chicago Transit Authority broke ground on the Red Line Extension, a 5.5‑mile project that will add four new stations from 95th to 130th Street on the Far South Side. Expected to finish by 2030, the extension includes a new...
L.A. Metro to Expand Parking Locations for FIFA World Cup
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (L.A. Metro) is expanding park‑and‑ride options for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding locations in Anaheim, Culver City, Newport Beach, Santa Monica, Torrance and near LAX. Early‑bird parking costs $55‑$95 and includes a reserved spot plus...
MassDOT Completes Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue Bridge Superstructure Replacements Project Nine Months Ahead of Schedule
MassDOT finished the Maffa Way/Mystic Avenue bridge superstructure replacement ahead of schedule, completing the work nine months early. The $54.9 million project replaced two deteriorated bridges over the MBTA Orange Line and commuter rail, adding dedicated sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and...
STM Extends Facility Move Along Order Another Year
The Société de transport de Montréal (STM) has extended its move‑along order—authorizing special constables to clear non‑transport‑related occupations in stations—through April 30, 2027. The tool was deployed roughly 2,500 times per month during the winter, contributing to a 36% drop...
NY: Hinchey, State Lawmakers Push for Metro-North Extension to Albany, Including Rhinecliff
State Senator Michelle Hinchey and 17 fellow lawmakers have filed a letter urging Governor Kathy Hochul to revive the Metro‑North commuter‑rail extension from Poughkeepsie to Albany, adding stops at Rhinecliff and Hudson. The proposal, announced in October 2025, was abandoned in...
IL: Here’s How Officials Want to Spend New Transit Funding This Year
Illinois officials announced how the Regional Transportation Authority will deploy the first $132 million of new transit funding. Roughly $60 million is earmarked for security initiatives—including $20 million for Chicago police staffing on the CTA—while just under $54 million targets service enhancements such as...
TX: Here's How DART Is Trying to Close Dallas' Commuting Gap
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) moved 56 million boardings last year across a 700‑square‑mile service area that includes light rail, the new Silver Line, buses and micro‑transit. The agency’s 10‑year, $2.5 billion "DART Transform" plan is replacing vehicles and upgrading stations, cutting...
KC Streetcar Riverfront Extension to Open for Passenger Service May 18
Kansas City’s Streetcar Authority will launch the $62 million Riverfront Extension on May 18, adding a 0.7‑mile spur that links the existing 5.7‑mile line to the city’s riverfront. The extension features new overhead catenary poles, a traction power sub‑station, and over 8,300 feet...
USDOT to Invest $4.7 Billion Into Northeast Corridor Improvement Projects
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced a $4.7 billion infusion into Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, focusing on station upgrades, service streamlining, and bridge reconstruction. The funding targets high‑traffic hubs such as New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station under the Intercity Passenger...
NYC DOT to Add Bus Lanes, Make Safety Upgrades on Linden Boulevard
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC DOT announced a redesign of Linden Boulevard in Brooklyn, adding dedicated bus lanes and safety upgrades between Fountain Avenue and Conduit Avenue. The project will support six bus routes, serving more than 60,000 daily riders,...
TX: Who Maintains, Decides Where DART Stations Go? Curious Texas Investigates
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) was created in 1983 with a one‑cent sales tax and now operates the nation’s longest light‑rail network, spanning 93 miles. Station locations are determined through corridor‑based studies, capital‑planning reviews and extensive community feedback, a process...
MN: As Ridership Swells, Bill to Study Expanding Passenger Rail Service Out of Twin Cities Revived
Minnesota lawmakers have revived a bill that orders MnDOT to study extending passenger rail from the Twin Cities to Fargo and Kansas City, and to seek a $1 million Federal Railroad Administration grant for planning. The push follows a 58% jump...
CO: Letters: What Are the Front Range Passenger Rail Numbers?
A letter to the Loveland Reporter‑Herald questions the Front Range Passenger Rail (FRPR) project’s cost, timeline, and ridership assumptions. The author notes that the rail’s projected expense mirrors the $2 billion highway and $2 billion transit budgets previously discussed for I‑25 expansion,...
Tolar Manufacturing to Provide Signature Custom Bus Shelters to DART
Tolar Manufacturing has secured a contract worth up to $71.5 million to supply Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) with its Signature Custom bus shelters. The shelters, offered in 8‑, 10‑ and 12‑foot configurations, feature solar‑powered LED lighting, real‑time arrival displays and...
OR: New Amtrak Trains Coming Soon to Pacific Northwest, but Not in Time for World Cup
Amtrak announced that its new Airo trainsets for the Cascades corridor will not be in service for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the first revenue run expected in late summer or fall 2026. The rollout includes eight trainsets, two...
MA: Don’t Want the $80 MBTA Ride to the World Cup? Bus Tickets to Foxboro Cost $95
The Boston Host Committee has introduced a $95 per‑ticket bus service, Boston Stadium Express, to ferry fans from Greater Boston to Gillette Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. A family of four would pay $380, while parking at the...
Maryland Gov. Moore Unveils Baltimore Region TOD Strategy
Maryland Governor Wes Moore unveiled a Baltimore Region Transit‑Oriented Development (TOD) Strategy aimed at spurring economic growth and lowering housing costs. The plan accompanies a $1.4 billion light‑rail modernization effort and a $400 million federal investment for 78 new metro cars. Officials...
USDOT Awards More than $54 Million in Rural and Tribal Transportation Grants
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau awarded more than $54.2 million through the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program to 49 projects in rural and tribal communities. The funding, which requires no local match, supports pre‑construction planning such as...
SDOT Releases 2025 Seattle Transportation Levy Annual Report
Seattle’s Department of Transportation released its 2025 Transportation Levy Annual Report, showing that the city is on track to meet the eight‑year, $1.55 billion levy approved by voters in 2024. In 2025 the agency completed the North 130th Street safety corridor, added...
MA: Money and Time Remain Big Challenges in Broadening WMass Transportation System | The Republican Editorials
Western Massachusetts faces steep financial and logistical hurdles in expanding its rail network, with Springfield currently served by only three daily trains to New York City and a single Amtrak service to Boston. State officials cite the Compass Rail plan,...
Indiana Completes West Lake Corridor Project on South Shore Line Under Budget
Indiana’s Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District officially opened the West Lake Corridor on the South Shore Line, completing the eight‑mile extension under budget. The new service provides five one‑seat weekday trips each way between Chicago and the Munster/Dyer station, plus...
Denver RTD Releases 2026 Call for Projects for Partnership Program Funding
Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) announced its 2026 Partnership Program call, offering $6 million in annual funding for up to three years beginning in 2027. The budget is twice the 2025 allocation and targets service‑oriented projects—fixed‑route, on‑demand, or other mobility solutions—while...
Government of Canada Awards C$730,538 in Transit Funding to Six Albertan Communities
The Canadian federal government has allocated C$730,538 (≈US$525,764) through the Rural Transit Solutions Fund to six rural Albertan communities. Recipients will use the money for vehicle purchases—including a mini‑bus for Lac Ste. Anne seniors, two electric buses for the Kehewin Cree Nation, and...
CA: First Weekend Service Goes, Then Stations Close: Caltrain Maps a Path Toward Possible Shutdown
Caltrain’s staff proposes drastic cuts beginning summer 2027 if external funding does not materialize, including canceling weekend service, closing more than a third of stations, reducing weekday frequency to hourly and ending service after 9 p.m. The agency faces a $75 million annual...