Today's Transportation Pulse
Shipowners demand safety guarantees before Hormuz transits resume
A tentative U.S.-Iran agreement would reopen the Strait of Hormuz with a 60‑day free‑transit window before Iran starts charging for navigation services. Shipowners and major Japanese lines remain cautious, citing missing safety details and the need for coordination with governments and insurers. BIMCO stresses that credible assurances are required before vessels can resume the route.
Also developing:
Tecnam Rolls Out MOSAIC-Aligned Line
Tecnam unveiled the MOSAIK59 product family to meet the FAA’s new MOSAIC rule, which bases Light Sport Aircraft eligibility on a 59‑knot clean stall speed rather than weight limits. Existing models such as the P92 Echo MKII, P2008 and Astore GT are being offered with Rotax engines that already satisfy the requirement, while the four‑seat P2010 receives aerodynamic tweaks and the twin‑engine P2006T NG is under evaluation. Production is booked through 2027, and a new 13,000 m² facility will expand capacity. Initial deliveries are slated for early 2027.
Tesla to Improve One of Its Best Features, Coding Shows
Tesla is set to roll out a software update (2026.2.xxx) that upgrades its Matrix Headlights with two‑stage pixel dimming and enhanced detection of highly reflective objects such as road signs. The new code will allow the system to dim individual...
Further Delay to Alstom Norwegian EMU Fleet
Norway's state‑owned rolling‑stock lessor Norske Tog has called Alstom senior managers to Oslo after the French manufacturer halted local testing of its N05 EMU due to suspected bogie fatigue faults. The contract, signed in 2021 for up to 200 trains, includes...
Lufthansa Advances 787-9 Allegris Bookings
Lufthansa has moved the opening of bookings for its Allegris business‑class seats on Boeing 787‑9 aircraft forward to March 29, ahead of the previously announced April 15 date. At least ten 787‑9s, nine already fitted with the premium Allegris cabin,...
Dublin Based ACIA Delivers Third ATR 72-600 to PNG Air
ACIA Aero Leasing has delivered a third ATR 72-600 turboprop to PNG Air, expanding the carrier's domestic fleet. The aircraft joins two earlier ATRs under a lease agreement, reinforcing PNG Air's three‑year strategic plan to modernise with a single‑type fleet....
Hong Kong Disneyland’s Rail Moves 40,000 Guests Daily
Disney World and Disneyland are connected by a handful of bus routes, while Hong Kong Disneyland is connected by the Disneyland Resort Line, a 2.4-mile rail line that connects guests from the park entrance to the rest of the rail...
5-Year-Old Spots Manual Issue, Gets Southwest Tour
A five‑year‑old Colorado boy spotted a mismatch in Southwest Airlines’ cockpit training graphics and reported it to the carrier. Southwest clarified the inconsistency stemmed from differing display perspectives rather than a safety error. CEO Bob Jordan invited the child and...
Press Release: Gilat Receives $39 Million in Orders for Sidewinder ESA
Gilat Satellite Networks announced $39 million in orders for its Sidewinder electronically steered antenna (ESA) in‑flight connectivity terminals from a leading satellite operator, with deliveries slated over the next 12 months. The orders cover both line‑fit and retrofit installations, underscoring airlines'...
Tesla's EU Market Share Drops to 0.
Tesla's market share in EU, UK, EFTA in January fell to 0.8% vs 1.0% last year. Tesla BEV market share now at 4.3%.
Industry Groups Call for Increased Transport Funding in EU Budget
European transport organisations representing rail, road and logistics have urged EU leaders to dramatically increase funding for the bloc’s transport infrastructure in the 2028‑2034 Multiannual Financial Framework. They propose boosting the Connecting Europe Facility to at least €100 billion and highlight...
FMCSA Proposes Extending State Emergency Exemptions to 30 Days
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has proposed extending state‑issued emergency exemptions from the current 14‑day limit to 30 days, aligning them with federal emergency timelines. The change does not broaden the scope of exemptions, which remain limited to...
Current and Proposed Overnight Service Along the Link 1 Line
Sound Transit’s 2026 Service Plan proposes an overnight bus corridor mirroring the Link 1 and 2 lines, with a pilot launching March 28 between downtown Seattle and SeaTac at roughly 30‑minute intervals. The full service, extending to Everett, Tacoma and Lakewood, is...
Mondays 186: Datamatize Pedestrian Data
The Overhead Wire’s Monday episode spotlights a new MIT‑backed model that maps foot traffic across New York City, highlighting how data‑driven insights are reshaping pedestrian planning. It also cites a Scientific American study showing that relocating to walkable cities can...
Spatial Patterns of Access-Density Mismatch Reveal Infrastructure Gaps and Strategic Opportunities for New Housing
Researchers Jantabadi, Ermagun, and Levinson analyze access‑density mismatch across the fifty most populous U.S. metropolitan areas. They find a statistically significant positive correlation between local residential density and both automobile and transit access, with automobile access exerting a stronger effect....
Streetcar and Interurban Deployment in the United States: 1894-1926
The study by Li, Hoang, and Lahoorpoor compiles operating track lengths for U.S. streetcar and interurban systems from 1894 to 1926, using McGraw American Street Railway Investments Directories. It aggregates data by state and metropolitan area, revealing a national peak...
Tuesday’s Headlines Went the Wrong Way
Urban planners are reversing 1950s one‑way street conversions, citing safety, pedestrian, pollution, and local business concerns. At the same time, cities from San Antonio to Boston are investing in bus rapid transit and extending fare‑free bus pilots to improve transit...
Tap to Pay Starts
Open payments, branded as Tap to Pay, launched today on Sound Transit and Metro, allowing riders to use credit cards and digital wallets alongside ORCA cards. Early adopters report ambiguous on‑board confirmations, making it unclear which card is charged and...
Streets Cleared to Asphalt Within 30 Minutes
30 mins post snowfall and some streets are already at asphalt. Mayor Mamdani I wasn’t familiar with your game.
OTR Trucker-Songwriter Long Haul Paul's New 'After Party Sessions' Live Record
Long Haul Paul, the OTR trucker‑songwriter known from Overdrive Radio, is releasing two new records: the archival “1994: The Lost Tapes” and the live compilation “The After Party Sessions.” The live album captures performances from recent trucking events, many recorded...
Airbus Presents Rotorcraft Concepts For NATO Study
Airbus Helicopters, together with Collins Aerospace, Raytheon and MBDA, has submitted two next‑generation rotorcraft concepts to NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capabilities study. The proposals include a conventional helicopter and a high‑speed compound aircraft that share common systems, training and maintenance...
Enter Overdrive's 2026 Trucker of the Year Competition
Overdrive has opened nominations for its 2026 Trucker of the Year competition, accepting entries until September 30, 2026. The contest targets independent owner‑operators who have run three or fewer Class 8 trucks and demonstrated strong profit and safety performance from 2022‑2025. Winners will...
Pilots Win Court Fight Over Housing Near California Airport
A Santa Cruz County judge ruled that Watsonville violated the State Aeronautics Act and CEQA by approving a 21‑unit housing project inside the safety zone of Watsonville Municipal Airport. The court ordered the city to adopt state‑mandated airport compatibility standards...
Test Drive and Review of Mack Trucks Pioneer Model
Mack Trucks unveiled the Pioneer, a ground‑up redesign aimed at the long‑haul segment, replacing the Anthem with a wider, more aerodynamic cab and a new MP13 powertrain. The model promises up to 7% fuel‑efficiency gains from aerodynamics and an additional...
Aveva Buys First Green Jet Fuel Certificates Five Years Early
Aveva announced it has completed its first major purchase of sustainable aviation fuel certificates (SAFcs) five years ahead of its World Economic Forum First Movers Coalition commitment. The certificates were bought from British Airways, which sources the fuel from renewable...
Study: Most Of America’s Paint-Only Bike Paths Are On Our Deadliest Roads
A new Journal of Cycling and Micromobility Research study finds that 77% of America’s on‑road bike infrastructure consists solely of painted lines, and 61% of those paint‑only lanes are classified as high‑stress corridors on fast, multi‑lane arterials. The research links...
Monday’s Headlines Take a Walk on the Not-So-Wild Side
A wave of recent reports highlights the expanding link between pedestrian‑friendly design and mental health, while revealing stark funding imbalances in U.S. transportation. Federal allocations deliver just 16% of transit dollars to local jurisdictions despite most roads being locally managed,...
Monday's Friday Reads for 23 February
The Monday Friday Reads roundup highlights several transport developments on 23 February 2026. London’s Northern line upgrade may repurpose a former horse hospital into a new train depot, coinciding with the inaugural train arrival at Northumberland Park. High‑speed services across Europe...
Shipping Industry Faces Legal, Political, and Trade Turbulence
What the Ship (Ep139) 1⃣ Supreme Court's Tariff Decision & President Trump's Reaction 2⃣Shipping Stocks 3⃣North American Shipbuilding 4⃣The IMO, Stateless Ships &False Flags 5⃣Container Trade Video: https://youtu.be/oy057GWUxbM
Crosslake Simulated Service Suspended Indefinitely (Update: Service Has Resumed)
A power outage between Bel‑Red and Downtown Redmond forced Sound Transit to suspend simulated service on the 2 Line, halting trains across the Eastside corridor. The agency issued a series of five contradictory alerts, leaving riders uncertain about which segments...
Future‑Proofed LAX Map Highlights New Terminals 9, 0, APM
LAX airport in Los Angeles CA. One of the busiest as well as one of the most internationaly connected airports in the USA I like to future proof my maps so this version shows the airport with several projects completed...
Transit Expansion Must Pair With Near‑Line Density
Atlanta's freeway damage, its 1970s-era MARTA rail footprint, and the way forward...Expanding transit is worth the enormous cost, but realistically we need to put an equal weight on adding density near existing transit lines. https://atlurbanist.substack.com/p/atlantas-freeway-damage-its-1970s
FMCSA Announces Rapid Actions to Shut Down ‘Chameleon Carriers,’ CDL Mills, ELD Cheating
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration unveiled three rulemakings and a sweeping fraud‑crackdown targeting ghost offices, sham CDL schools, and fraudulent electronic logging devices. Carriers and training providers must now maintain a physical office inspectable within 48 hours, and drivers...
TNflygirl and the Beech Debonair
On 7 December 2023 a Beech 35‑C33 Debonair crashed in Tennessee, killing the private pilot known as “TNflygirl” and her father. The pilot, a YouTube creator documenting her flight‑training journey, had 390 total flight hours—about 200 in the Debonair—but had not demonstrated...
'Great News for Spot Rates'? Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Emergency Tariffs
In a 6‑3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that President Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Power Act to impose sweeping tariffs, invalidating duties that had reached 145% on certain Chinese imports. The decision dismantles a cornerstone of...
Guest: Fab Brasca of Kinaxis on Who Is Leading in AI Adoption; The Top Five Freight Bottlenecks; A New Data...
The podcast features Fab Brasca, Kinaxis senior VP, discussing how AI is reshaping supply chains and which firms are leading adoption. It also reveals the American Transportation Research Institute’s ranking, naming Chicago as the nation’s most severe freight bottleneck. Additionally,...
Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Transit Tariffs, Saving Agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court just now struck down Trump's tariffs, saying that he overstepped his authority. 🙌 Among other things, this is good news for transit agencies which were faced will big increases in the costs of vehicles. https://www.planetizen.com/news/2025/11/136296-trumps-10-tariff-buses-could-raise-transit-costs-across-north-america
The Joy of Flying: Pilots Reveal Their Top Satisfaction
What’s The Most Satisfying Thing About Being a Pilot? Captains Speaking Episode 27 #aviation #airplane #pilot #pilotsofinstagram #mentourpilot
ATA Seeks Expanded Compliance Latitude for EPA 2027 NOx Rules
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has asked the EPA to soften key provisions of the 2027 nitrogen‑oxide (NOx) emissions rule for heavy‑duty trucks, arguing that the required technologies are not yet proven in real‑world use. ATA’s letter cites ongoing freight...
Friday Roundtable: ORCA Tap to Pay Begins on Monday
Sound Transit announced that ORCA’s Tap to Pay system will launch on February 23, 2026, allowing riders to tap a credit or debit card—or a mobile wallet such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay—directly at fare readers. The...
Friday Reads for 20 February
London Reconnections’ Friday Reads roundup highlights a mix of transport heritage, major infrastructure projects and sustainability initiatives. It spotlights LA’s $25 billion subway expansion aimed at easing freeway congestion, Boston’s pilot of green‑roofed bus shelters, and Toronto’s 30 km downtown pedestrian tunnel...
Non-Domiciled CDL Drivers, Advocates Call for States to Fight DOT
Non‑domiciled commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for thousands of immigrant truckers are slated to expire on March 6, prompting advocacy groups to urge California, Pennsylvania and other states to defy the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). DOT has warned that non‑compliance could...
Detroit Diesel Unveils Gen 6 Engines for 2027 Compliance
Detroit Diesel unveiled its sixth‑generation DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines, slated for release in early 2027, to satisfy the EPA’s 2027 heavy‑duty NOx rule that trims tailpipe NOx by more than 80 % and particulate matter by 50 %. The Gen 6 platform...
Charlotte's Blue Line Spurs Transit‑Focused Urban Growth
🚈 Would you want to live in close walking proximity to public transit? Or prefer using a car to get around? Here’s a look into how Charlotte, North Carolina is developing around its Light Rail Blue Line.
New Report From Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority Details Economic Benefits for Claremount Extension of Metro A Line Light-Rail System
The Foothill Gold Line Construction Authority released a report quantifying the economic impact of the 2.3‑mile Claremont Extension of the Metro A Line light‑rail system. The study projects more than $1.1 billion in construction‑phase economic output, over 4,700 jobs, and $154 million...
Austin Transit Partnership Selects Austin Rail Constructors for Austin Light Rail Project
The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) has chosen Austin Rail Constructors (ARC), a joint venture of Stacy Witbeck and Sundt Construction, as its development partner for the city’s first light‑rail system. Construction is slated to start in 2027 after a design‑build procurement...
Dry Van and Reefer Spot Rates Slip as Flatbed Spot Rates Climb
Dry van and refrigerated spot rates slipped week‑over‑week, with dry van down about 6 cents and reefer down roughly 17 cents, yet both remain 22‑33% above last year. Flatbed spot rates, by contrast, posted modest gains of just over 4 cents and are...
WA: Light Rail Carried over 200K Riders on Seahawks Super Bowl Parade Day
Sound Transit’s 1 Line logged more than 200,000 boardings on the Seahawks Super Bowl parade day, setting a new regional transit record. The figure eclipses the previous high of 160,000 rides recorded during a multi‑event weekend in September. Heavy fan participation...
TX: Costs, Crime Rates and Riders: Five Charts that Show How People Use DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is confronting a funding crisis as half of its 13 member cities consider exiting, prompting scrutiny of ridership, costs and safety. Ridership has rebounded to about 78% of pre‑COVID levels, with the newly added Silver...
CA: Long-Sought Coaster Extension to San Diego Convention Center Will Break Ground This Year
North County Transit District (NCTD) will break ground this year on a $33 million extension of the Coaster commuter rail to San Diego’s Convention Center, creating a new downtown station steps from Petco Park, the Gaslamp Quarter and the Rady Shell. The...
PA: Next Stop, Centre County? New Survey Seeks Residents’ Input on Passenger Rail
The Centre County Metropolitan Planning Organization, together with Penn State, launched a 10‑15‑minute survey on Feb. 9 to assess resident interest in passenger rail options for the region. Backed by $60,000—$48,000 from the Federal Highway Administration and $12,000 local match—the study...