Today's Transportation Pulse
Seattle‑Tacoma Airport launches 145,000‑sq‑ft C Concourse expansion
Seattle‑Tacoma International Airport opened its 145,000‑sq‑ft C Concourse Expansion under the Upgrade SEA programme. The new atrium adds ten dining venues, six incubator kiosks, wellness rooms, public art and an observation deck. The project targets LEED Platinum certification with all‑electric systems and rooftop solar.
Also developing:
By the numbers: JBM Ecolife Mobility raises $90M to add 2,000 electric buses
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 accessibility. States such as Connecticut are evaluating congestion pricing on I‑95, while California and Romania deploy speed cameras to curb dangerous driving. Redeveloping failing malls and office parks into mixed‑use, walkable, transit‑connected districts reflects a broader shift toward compact, sustainable urban centers.
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...
Smarter Flood Monitoring: Cutting Delays and Costs
AI specialist Purple Transform and delivery partner Central Alliance deployed the SIYTE platform to unify flood‑monitoring sensors and cameras on Network Rail’s Western Route. The single web‑and‑mobile interface gave engineers real‑time visibility of the drainage ecosystem, replacing fragmented data silos....
Boeing Lands up to 90 Jets From Vietnam Carriers
Boeing has secured major aircraft orders from two Vietnam-based carriers — Vietnam Airlines and Sun PhuQuoc Airways — covering up to 90 jets across narrowbody and widebody programmes. The deals signal continued fleet expansion in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing aviation...
From Edison’s Labs to Powering Three‑Quarters of Flights
GE Aerospace traces its roots back to Thomas Edison. Founded in 1892, it started with electricity and industrial technology before building its first aircraft engine during World War I. Today, GE Aerospace and its partners power around 50,000 commercial aircraft engines...
FMCSA Shuts Down 500 'CDL Mills' After Wave of In-Person Audits
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the shutdown of 550 sham commercial driver’s license (CDL) training schools after a massive wave of in‑person audits. Over 1,400 investigations were carried out in December, contributing to a total of more...
Atlanta Expands I-285, Razes Homes for 1950s Vision
Destroying homes in order to add new capacity for an Atlanta interstate. The dream of the 1950s is alive in Georgia in 2026. https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/dekalb-county/dekalb-county-residents-working-roadblock-multi-lane-expansion-i-285/SWUIGAK62JAXZFU4A67C647REQ/
Federation of Professional Truckers Explains ELD Exemption Push with FMCSA
The newly formed Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) has filed a petition with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requesting an exemption that would let its members and other carriers use traditional paper driver logs instead of electronic logging...
Movement on Earth
The article highlights massive human mobility events, noting 9.95 billion trips across China during the Lunar New Year and 650 million pilgrims converging on India’s 2025 Kumbh Mela. It describes how temporary megacities are erected for such gatherings and contrasts them with centuries‑old...
TWA 514 Miscommunication Redefined Aviation Safety Standards
A Fatal Misunderstanding During This Flight Affected Aviation Forever… TWA Flight 514 (Part 1) #aviation #airplane #pilot #planes #mentourpilot
University of Illinois Chicago Unveils New Study Highlighting Economic Value of Rural Transit
The University of Illinois Chicago’s Urban Transportation Center released a study quantifying the economic impact of rural public transit. It finds that every $1 invested generates roughly $4 in societal benefits, driven by better health outcomes, higher workforce participation, and...
SFRTA Breaks Ground on Link at Boca TOD Project
The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) broke ground on the Link at Boca transit‑oriented development adjacent to the Tri‑Rail Boca Raton station. The eight‑story mixed‑use project, built through a public‑private partnership with 13th Floor Investments and Rockpoint, will deliver...
San Antonio Mayor Asks VIA About Plans for Six-Month Fare-Free Pilot
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has formally asked VIA Metropolitan Transit to draft a written plan for a six‑month fare‑free pilot on the system’s five busiest routes, which carry roughly 25 % of total ridership. The mayor’s letter, dated early 2026,...
Heidi Alexander Shares Her Vision with the Rail Industry
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander delivered the Bradshaw address, outlining the new Great British Railways (GBR) framework. She highlighted reforms such as a single profit‑and‑loss structure, a frozen passenger fare for the first time in 30 years, and...
Chicago Freight Bottleneck Named Worst in Nation, ATRI Reports
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has named the I‑294/I‑290/I‑88 interchange in Chicago the most congested truck bottleneck in the United States, overtaking Fort Lee, New Jersey. The 15th annual Top Truck Bottleneck List, based on 2025 GPS‑based truck data, shows...
AGX Freight Goes Bust, Stiffs Carriers, Starts New MC
AGX Freight abruptly shut down after a dispute with Huntington Bank, leaving an estimated hundreds to a thousand carrier partners unpaid. The broker pledged its receivables to the lender, effectively giving the bank first claim on any incoming payments. Within...
FMCSA Revokes Nine ELDs; Carriers Have 60 Days to Replace Noncompliant Devices
On February 12, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration revoked nine electronic logging devices—GTS ELD, UTruckin, ELD365 ELOG, Ironman ELD, Factor ELD, and four AirELD versions—after they failed to meet Title 49 CFR technical standards. Motor carriers have a 60‑day...