Running empty? FMCSA to issue proposal for driverless trucks All the way back in May 2019, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking regarding commercial motor vehicles that are equipped with automated driving systems. So that we’re all on the same page, an advance notice isn’t a formal proposal. Instead, think of it as the tire-kicking or information-gathering stage. Basically, the agency seeks feedback to help it develop a proposal. In 2023, the agency determined that it needed even more feedback and published a second advance notice of proposed rulemaking. That brings us to the present, when FMCSA expects to unveil a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding the “Motor Carrier Operation of ADS-Equipped Commercial Motor Vehicles.” “FMCSA proposes to amend certain Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to ensure the safe introduction of ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles onto the nation’s roadways,” the agency wrote in the regulatory agenda. “The proposed changes to the CMV operations, inspection, repair and maintenance regulations prioritize safety and security, promote innovation, foster a consistent regulatory approach to ADS-equipped CMVs and recognize the difference between human operators and ADS.” FMCSA is targeting August for the release of its proposal. Concerns voiced In 2023, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association told FMCSA that autonomous trucks aren’t the “cure-all” some suggest. “While we are still years away from fully automated trucks, decisions made today will have a significant impact on the deployment of autonomous vehicle technologies, ADS-equipped commercial motor vehicles, and ultimately, on the livelihood of professional truck drivers and the economy at large,” OOIDA wrote in 2023. “Elected officials, federal regulators and our industry partners must develop autonomous vehicle policies in a responsible manner that considers the perspective of American truckers.” Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration called out all
Jul 22, 2026 · via landline.media
Why It Matters Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States, claiming an estimated 39,345 lives in 2024 alone, according to a 2026 Congressional Research Service report. As Congress grapples with regulating automated vehicles, a fundamental tension has emerged: the existing federal safety framework was built for human drivers, not self-driving car safety considerations. The question now is whether Congress should overhaul decades-old standards or allow the administration to modernize them through regulatory exemptions and voluntary frameworks that may or may not ensure public safety. The Big Picture Congress has tasked itself with determining whether current federal statutes and automotive safety standards are adequate for a vehicle future that could eliminate steering wheels, pedals, and human oversight entirely. The central friction is technical and regulatory: Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were developed around human-driven vehicle designs, yet Level 4 autonomous vehicles without manual controls may struggle to comply with requirements. The Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced a new framework April 24, 2025, explicitly prioritizing safety, innovation, and commercial deployment. That same framework included plans to let domestic noncommercial automated vehicle producers access exemptions similar to those available to foreign vehicle importers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced plans June 13, 2025 to make its exemption program more flexible, signaling the administration's intent to accelerate deployment pathways. NHTSA has proposed modernizing or adding exemptions for several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to accommodate driverless designs. The agency proposed a voluntary safety evaluation framework, the ADS-Equipped Vehicle Safety, Transparency, and Evaluation Program, that would let companies opt in to safety assessments in exchange for regulatory exemptions. Since May 2025, lawmakers have advocated for several bills aimed at addressing autonomous vehicle safety standards, data reporting, consumer information, equipment restrictions, and advanced driver assistance system guidelines.
Jul 22, 2026 · via legis1.com
Tesla Robotaxi launches driverless ride service in Tampa TAMPA, Fla. - While driverless vehicles like Waymo have become a familiar sight across the country, Tesla is now entering the market locally with the official launch of its Robotaxi service in Tampa and Orlando. Tampa Tesla Robotaxi expansion By the numbers: According to recent survey data, only 5% of Americans have taken a ride in a driverless car so far, but Tesla's rollout marks a major step toward making autonomous ride-hailing more widespread. Courtesy: Tesla The current Tampa service area spans between 25 and 45 square miles, focused around downtown Tampa and extending into Ybor City, Tampa Heights, West Tampa and portions of East Tampa. It does not currently service South Tampa, Tampa International Airport or most suburban neighborhoods. In Orlando, the service area excludes major hubs like Orlando International (MCO) Airport, downtown Orlando, and theme parks such as Disney, Universal and SeaWorld. Driverless technology adoption Dig deeper: Tesla’s approach to autonomous driving differs significantly from competitor systems. While companies like Waymo use a combination of lidar, radar and sonar sensors, Tesla relies exclusively on cameras and AI software to navigate city streets. The company’s guiding philosophy is that if a human can navigate using their eyes, a vehicle should be able to do the same using visual camera inputs. Vehicles currently operating in the service fleet are Tesla Model Ys. Operations are subject to specific riding rules: - Booking and verification: Passengers must download the Robotaxi app, log into or create a Tesla account, enter a destination within the designated service area, and confirm the ride. Riders should verify the vehicle's license plate before entering. - Rider restrictions: Rides are booked exclusively for the account holder — ordering rides for others is not permitted. Children ages 8 to 17 may
Jul 22, 2026 · via fox13news.com
DART Names Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. President and CEO 7/22/2026 Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) selected Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. to lead the agency as president and chief executive officer. DART Board Chair Randall Bryant said, “Ford brings a proven record of organizational transformation and a deep understanding that transit is about much more than buses and trains.” Ford most recently served as Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) chief executive officer for the past 13 years. JTA’s milestones under Ford’s leadership include developing the largest BRT network in the Southeastern U.S., supporting the passage of a tax extension generating $1 billion for regional infrastructure, implementing the first complete redesign of JTA’s transit system, and launching the nation’s first autonomous vehicle service in public transit. Mayor Donna Deegan called Ford a dedicated partner who helped move the City of Jacksonville forward. “Under Mr. Ford’s leadership, our transportation authority became not only a model for innovation, but a catalyst for economic growth, attracting new businesses and creating quality jobs that strengthened Jacksonville’s future,” she said. Ford is a nationally recognized transportation thought leader and has played key roles at APTA. He was APTA chair from 2017-2018 and sits on numerous APTA committees, including currently serving as chair of the Automated Vehicles Innovation Committee. He was also chair of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and served as U.S. policy board national ambassador for the International Association of Public Transport. In 2020, he was named APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Manager and, under his leadership, JTA won the 2016 APTA Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. Also in 2016, he was acknowledged as a White House Champion of Change in Transportation by USDOT. In 2024, he received the Transportation Research Board’s Sharon D. Banks Award for Humanitarian Leadership
Jul 22, 2026 · via aptapassengertransport.com
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Jul 22, 2026 · via sfchronicle.com
Stratolaunch Achieves Major Milestone: 10+ Successful Hypersonic Flights with Reusable, Fully Autonomous Talon-A Aircraft MOJAVE, Calif., July 21, 2026 -- Stratolaunch, a leading pure-play hypersonics company, proudly announces the completion of more than 10 successful hypersonic flights with its Talon-A, the first reusable, fully autonomous air-launched hypersonic aircraft. This milestone demonstrates Stratolaunch's position at the forefront of hypersonic innovation, enabling rapid, reliable and cost-effective access to the hypersonic regime for government and commercial customers, including the Department of War Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB) program. A New Era in Hypersonic Testing The Talon-A is a fully autonomous, reusable testbed designed to accelerate the development of hypersonic technologies. Capable of reaching speeds exceeding MACH 5, Talon-A is air-launched from Stratolaunch's carrier fleet and operates with no onboard crew throughout its mission. After completing its high-speed flight profile, Talon-A returns safely, landing on a standard runway, for recovery refurbishment and reuse, dramatically reducing the turnaround time and cost per flight. Key Achievements: 10+ Consecutive Hypersonic Flights: Talon-A has now completed more than ten successful hypersonic missions, demonstrating superior reliability and performance in real-world conditions. Full Autonomy: Each Talon-A flight was conducted with no onboard crew and no human in the loop, showcasing the advanced autonomous systems that guide Talon-A from release to recovery. Rapid Reusability: Multiple flights have been performed with the same vehicle, validating Stratolaunch's approach to rapid refurbishment and redeployment. Comprehensive Data Collection: Each mission gathered vital data on aerodynamics, propulsion, thermal protection and advanced flight controls, accelerating customer research and development. Industry Impact Stratolaunch's achievement marks a potential turning point in hypersonic testing. Traditional hypersonic test methods are expensive, infrequent and often limited in scope. The Talon-A platform offers: Increased Flight Frequency: With two carrier aircraft and two Talon-A hypersonic aircraft, customers
Jul 22, 2026 · via theautochannel.com
Waymo autonomous vehicle hit in crash, 1 hospitalized with minor injuries
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — Video captured the aftermath of a crash involving an autonomous Waymo vehicle and another car over the weekend.
Officers were called to the area of West Sunset Road and Polaris Avenue on Saturday. Waymo said a fully autonomous Waymo vehicle was traveling in Las Vegas when the vehicle behind it lost control, struck the Waymo and crashed into a pole.
Police said one person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
MORE | Waymo launching fully autonomous service in Las Vegas
In a statement, Waymo said, "The data to date, spanning over 220+ million fully autonomous miles demonstrates that Waymo is improving road safety with 94% fewer serious injury-causing collisions compared to human drivers in the cities where we operate."
Jul 21, 2026 · via news3lv.com
Mobileye signs Stellantis to expand cloud-powered driver assistance Jeep and Chrysler parent will adopt the Israeli company's crowdsourced mapping technology as automakers intensify the race toward autonomous driving. Mobileye will supply Stellantis with its cloud-based advanced driver-assistance technology, the Israeli company announced on Tuesday, as automakers race to meet growing demand for connected safety systems and software-defined vehicles. Under the agreement, select Stellantis models, including vehicles from brands such as Jeep and Chrysler, will integrate Mobileye's Road Experience Management (REM) technology beginning in 2027. The system uses crowdsourced road data collected from connected vehicles to improve features such as lane keeping and hands-free driving. Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the automotive industry, as manufacturers compete to offer increasingly sophisticated safety and convenience features while generating higher-margin software revenue. The technology is widely viewed as a stepping stone toward fully autonomous driving, although current regulations still require drivers to remain attentive when using hands-free systems. The first deployment is expected in select U.S. Stellantis models next year, with a broader rollout dependent on vehicle platforms and model configurations. With the agreement, Stellantis becomes the fifth of the world's 10 largest automakers to contribute data to Mobileye's REM platform. According to Mobileye, the platform now maps more than 95% of public roads in the United States and Europe. More than 8 million vehicles contributed approximately 34 billion miles of driving data to the platform last year. Mobileye's REM technology collects road information through front-facing cameras installed in vehicles powered by its EyeQ chips. The data is combined with cloud-based mapping intelligence, allowing vehicles to receive up-to-date information on lane markings, road layouts, construction zones and other changes in road conditions.
Jul 21, 2026 · via calcalistech.com
Applied Intuition Launches Dana, the Agentic Platform for Physical AI New platform pairs agentic AI with the tooling, data, infrastructure and domain expertise Applied Intuition has built over nearly a decade to speed the safe development of intelligent machines for the physical world. Applied Intuition, Inc., a leader in physical AI, today announced the launch of Dana, the first agentic platform for building, testing, deploying and operating physical AI systems across industries. Dana combines the power of agentic AI and rapid application development with nearly a decade of Applied Intuition's tooling, infrastructure and engineering knowledge. The result is a unified system that accelerates the development of intelligent machines in the physical world. "We believe physical AI will become one of the defining technologies of this century," said Qasar Younis, co-founder and CEO of Applied Intuition. "Our ambition is to help bring intelligence to a billion machines, and Dana is the platform we built to make that possible." Unlike general-purpose AI tools designed primarily for digital workflows, Dana is built for the complexities of machines operating in the physical world. Dana comes with all the platform capabilities needed to build and deploy safety-critical physical AI applications, including data, visualization and tooling, as well as the evaluation, traceability and governance these systems require. The platform was designed to work across industries and with a wide range of use cases, from software-defined vehicle development and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) to mining and construction operations, truck fleet management, robotics and intelligent in-vehicle experiences. With Dana, customers can: Deploy Applied Intuition's reference applications — spanning autonomy, fleet operations, and more — or build their own. Use both natural language and command-line interfaces to complete complex development tasks more intuitively and accelerate iteration cycles across teams and systems. Integrate the platform with enterprise systems and
Jul 21, 2026 · via roboticstomorrow.com
Tesla has expanded its Robotaxi service to Tampa, marking the company’s latest move to grow its autonomous ride-hailing network ahead of its second-quarter earnings report Wednesday. The company announced the launch Monday in a post on X that read, “Robotaxi now in Tampa & Orlando!” Maps released by Tesla show the initial Tampa service area centered on downtown, extending into Ybor City, Tampa Heights, West Tampa and parts of East Tampa. The operating zone does not include Tampa International Airport, South Tampa or most suburban neighborhoods. Tesla did not disclose how many vehicles are operating in Tampa or when the service will expand. The company also did not say whether the service is available to the general public or remains limited to invited riders. The expansion comes as Tesla’s unsupervised fleet in Texas has declined in recent months, raising questions about the scale of its Florida rollout. Robotaxi Tracker, an independent website that monitors Tesla’s autonomous fleet, reports that Austin’s unsupervised fleet has fallen from 29 vehicles to 17. Dallas has declined from five vehicles to four, while Houston has fallen from six to none. Waymo, Tesla’s largest U.S. competitor in autonomous ride-hailing, has been testing autonomous vehicles on Tampa streets since late 2025 as it maps the city ahead of a future commercial launch. Waymo operates more than 3,500 fully driverless vehicles across more than 10 U.S. cities. Tesla is expected to provide additional details about Robotaxi during its second-quarter earnings call Wednesday. Chief Executive Elon Musk has called autonomous ride-hailing central to the company’s future and has said he expects the business to become profitable in 2027. Read More Tampa Bay Business News Explore the latest Tampa Bay business news, real estate deals, development projects, executive moves and company updates shaping the region.
Jul 21, 2026 · via tbbwmag.com
Tso Chinese Takeout & Delivery, autonomous vehicle operator Autolane and delivery platform Nash have launched supervised autonomous delivery in Austin, Texas, using a fleet of Tesla Model Y vehicles. Orders from Tso Chinese’s Cherrywood location are fulfilled via an opt-in service where customers track delivery in real time and collect from the kerbside, with no app required.
When an eligible order is matched with an Autolane vehicle, the customer receives an opt-in text and can track the delivery in real time. On arrival, a tap-to-open link unlocks the boot; no tipping is required and no separate account is needed.
The three-way model divides responsibility: Autolane manages the vehicles, supervision, loading and kerbside operations alongside a platform that coordinates arrivals, stall assignments and handoffs. Nash handles delivery decisioning for the restaurant, routing each order to either an autonomous vehicle or a human courier based on suitability, with no separate integration required.
The service launched on July 7, 2026, at Tso Chinese’s Cherrywood location, with plans to expand to the brand’s four other Greater Austin sites. Autolane and Nash expect to add further restaurant and retail brands later in 2026, operating autonomous vehicles as dispatched capacity alongside human couriers.
Source: Business Wire
Jul 21, 2026 · via automotiveworld.com
SINGAPORE, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MOGOX (trading as Zhidao Network Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing),one of China's leading autonomous driving companies, has entered into a strategic partnership with ComfortDelGro Bus Pte. Ltd., Singapore's largest private bus operator, marking another major milestone in its global expansion strategy. Building on its successful delivery of Singapore's first autonomous bus project commissioned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), MOGOX will work with ComfortDelGro Bus to accelerate the deployment and commercialization of autonomous buses through technology integration, operational excellence, and regulatory collaboration. The signing marks another significant step in MOGOX's international growth, reinforcing its position as a key player in the global autonomous driving industry. The ceremony was attended by Seah Poh Yeen, CEO of ComfortDelGro Bus, and Fu Qiang, President of MOGOX. Under the partnership, the two companies will combine their technological capabilities and operational expertise across the entire autonomous driving value chain—from technology development and vehicle operations to market expansion and regulatory engagement—to jointly establish a scalable global operating framework for autonomous buses. MOGOX will provide its mature autonomous driving solutions together with factory-fitted mass-production autonomous buses. Leveraging ComfortDelGro Bus's extensive experience in private transport operations, fleet management and passenger service systems, the partnership aims to enable the safe, efficient, and high-quality operation of autonomous bus services at scale. Commercially, the two companies will jointly expand autonomous mobility across a broad range of scenarios, including government agencies, corporate campuses, business parks, educational institutions, healthcare campuses and other closed-loop shuttle environments. Together, they will develop autonomous driving solutions and brand offerings tailored to global markets, accelerating commercialization and broader market adoption. On the regulatory front, the partners will engage with the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) and other relevant agencies, where appropriate, in relation to pilot applications, deployment approvals and regulatory requirements associated with
Jul 21, 2026 · via english.kyodonews.net
SOAFEE enters new chapter of open software collaboration as CoreCollective Working Group Physical AI is bringing advanced intelligence into the machines operating in the real world — from robots to next-generation vehicles. AI-defined vehicles are among the most advanced examples, integrating AI throughout the driving experience while significantly increasing software complexity. Addressing these software challenges was never intended to be the work of a single company. That’s why SOAFEE (Scalable Open Architecture for Embedded Edge) was launched in 2021 as an open, industry initiative, bringing together automakers, silicon providers, cloud companies, software vendors, and open source communities to advance common software architectures for the future of automotive. As automotive software continues to evolve, SOAFEE is entering its next chapter as a Working Group within CoreCollective, the recently launched open collaboration initiative for the Arm software ecosystem. CoreCollective provides a common home for open source communities working across cloud, edge, physical AI – including automotive and robotics – and developer technologies, enabling projects to share governance, infrastructure, and technical expertise. The next phase of open collaboration Since launching with 13 founding members, SOAFEE has grown to more than 150 organizations, advancing practical cloud-native automotive software through member-led Blueprints. That mission remains unchanged. As a dedicated CoreCollective working group, SOAFEE members will be able to: - Collaborate across multiple communities, industries, and technologies to address common challenges; - Benefit from access to shared infrastructure, governance, and operational support; and - Continue developing technologies that differentiate for their own automotive solutions. SOAFEE will retain its existing governance, including its Governing Body, Technical Steering Committee, Blueprint program, and regional activities, including the APAC Hub, while gaining a seat on the CoreCollective Technical Advisory Committee. Arm will continue as an active technical contributor and governing member. I’m pleased to be taking the role of SOAFEE
Jul 21, 2026 · via newsroom.arm.com
This week, Applied Intuition is launching Dana, an agentic platform for developing physical AI applications. Applied Intuition began by building the tools engineers needed to develop autonomous systems, then the OS that underpins them all, and finally moved into the intelligence running on the machines themselves. As co-founder and CEO Qasar Younis describes the company today, the destination was always much bigger than tooling for self-driving vehicles. The mission is intelligence on a billion machines. The unfashionable layer In 2017, the autonomy industry shared a collective prediction: one of a small number of vertically-integrated companies would solve self-driving cars, operate the vehicles, and capture the entire market. As a result, capital overwhelmingly flowed into full-stack robotaxi programs. Each program hired its own engineers, assembled its own fleet, and rebuilt roughly the same internal development infrastructure. Engineers who moved between major autonomy programs encountered a funny ritual. They left behind the tools they had used to develop and test autonomous systems, arrived at the next company, and began building those tools again. The industry had plenty of conviction about autonomy but very little shared best-practices for producing it. Applied Intuition proposed to make those best-practices a company. This was a minority view, and it wasn’t a conventional way to participate in an increasingly fashionable market. The large Level 4 autonomy developers did not think they needed an outside tooling supplier. Applied Intuition tried to sell to them anyway. Prominent self-driving programs like Cruise said no. Maybe it was an understandable position at the time: they weren’t going to wait for a startup like Applied Intuition to build tools that their own engineers already intended to build internally. Many of the era’s prominent full-stack programs no longer exist in the form they did then. Cruise, for example, was acquired by General Motors
Jul 21, 2026 · via a16z.com
By Jordan Fitzgerald, Bloomberg After hearing Tesla Inc.’s seemingly countless promises about artificial intelligence, autonomous driving and robotics, Wall Street wants the company to start putting its money where its mouth is. Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle maker has spent just $2.5 billion of the $25 billion in 2026 capital expenditures it forecast in April. The slow pace raises questions about whether Tesla’s spending enough to deliver the progress that AI-hungry investors are eager to see. RELATED: Tesla’s robotaxi falls short with long waits and stalled rides “It’s a capital-intensive industry,” said Jay Van Sciver, partner and managing director at Hedgeye Risk Management. “There’s no way they can actually get from A to B spending less.” This puts the company on a completely different trajectory than most other tech giants, whose stocks are being punished when their AI spending is considered too profligate. For Tesla, on the other hand, an uptick in capital expenditures in its earnings report Wednesday afternoon and a higher outlook for AI outlays from management would likely give the shares a boost by signaling that the firm’s product development is moving in the right direction. “For a growth stock, capex is the best indication you have of future growth,” said HSBC analyst Mike Tyndall, who has a sell rating on the stock. “If you’re not spending the money, then you’re not going to get the growth.” Capex is a “credibility check” for companies like Tesla that sell long-term visions, according to Haris Khurshid, chief investment officer at Karobaar Capital, which owns Tesla stock through derivatives. But the reality is Musk’s track record is littered with missed deadlines and abandoned projects. Investors know this, which is why they want to start seeing signs of tangible progress. “I’m less focused on any single number but rather seeing if the overall
Jul 21, 2026 · via siliconvalley.com
Question of the Day: Will Lucid Motors Make It? The automotive world was in a dither last week when rumors surfaced that EV startup, Lucid Motors, hired AlixPartners, a financial consulting firm, to well, consult. Since the arrival of AlixPartners often portends a company’s bankruptcy filing, tongues got to wagging. Lucid’s leadership quickly offered denials, and it should be noted that AlixPartners does more than help organizations prepare for bankruptcy filings. After a day or two of denials, things appear to have calmed down and Lucid’s stock price has rebounded some. However, the automotive world hasn’t been kind to nascent EV makers. The list of defunct companies with exciting products and big bankrolls is long and prestige … well, long. Many of those survived multiple rounds of denials before succumbing to bankruptcy. Today’s question has two parts: Will Lucid survive and will some other new EV maker fall? Tell us what you think? [Images: Lucid Motors] Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter. Michael Strong has spent more than 25 years writing about the automotive industry. A Detroit-area native, he’s written about everything from local car shows to product reviews to financial news. Currently he writes and edits for a variety of national and local publications. He’s also a longtime member of the Automotive Press Association and the International Motor Press Association, and a graduate of Georgia Southern University. Hail Southern! Despite a love for ’70s land yachts and BMWs from the late ’80s and early ’90s, his personal vehicle is neither of those. More by Michael Strong Latest Car Reviews Read moreLatest Product Reviews Read moreRecent Comments - Calrson Fan "we’re talking $144/year for the service vs. thousands of
Jul 21, 2026 · via thetruthaboutcars.com
Are Waymo cars safer? Maybe. But will they make our streets and neighborhoods more livable? Way no. If unleashed in New York City, autonomous taxis will dramatically increase the amount of congestion on our streets, according to a report released on Monday by the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Hunter College in collaboration with Open Plans. The reason? Waymo cabs spend far more time driving around without passengers than comparable human-driven Uber and Lyft cabs. In California, where Waymo’s autonomous taxis have been operating and churning out trip data for years, a Waymo will travel 0.71 miles empty for every one mile. But in New York City, so-called high-volume taxis — Uber, Lyft and the like — drive empty for 0.49 miles for every one mile with a passenger. That 14.8-percent gap would translate to tens of thousands of additional vehicle miles every single day. The amount of additional miles depends on the extent to which robotaxis replace existing taxi trips — and the report offers a range. If robotaxis are deployed and only add to existing taxi trips, obviously, the additional number of VMTs will be much higher than if robotaxis slowly replace existing taxi trips. Under both scenarios, VMTs increase. If 2,000 new autonomous taxis show up in New York City and there is no commensurate decrease in taxi trips, suddenly there will be 293,800 more vehicle miles traveled in New York City every day. No, that’s not epic, glacial congestion, but it is the equivalent of more than 3,750 trips around Manhattan every day. In the more-likely scenario that robotaxis slowly replace human-driven Uber and Lyft trips, there will still be an increase in vehicle miles traveled because of that 14.8-percent higher “deadheading” rate for robotaxis. “As it stands, replacing a HV-FHV with a robotaxi would
Jul 21, 2026 · via nyc.streetsblog.org
Tuesday’s Headlines: Way Mo’ Human Edition We've been tracking Waymo cars. Plus other news. 12:01 AM EDT on July 21, 2026 Tabloid legend Gersh Kuntzman has been with New York newspapers since 1989, including stints at the New York Daily News, the Post, the Brooklyn Paper and even a cup of coffee with the Times. He's also the writer and producer of "Murder at the Food Coop," which was a hit at the NYC Fringe Festival in 2016, and “SUV: The Musical” in 2007. He also writes the Cycle of Rage column, which is archived here. Read More: Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org. More from Streetsblog New York City Analysis: Through-Running Tease Is The Latest Gloss On Trump’s Penn Station Shell Game Andrew Byford hopes a new FRA report touting potential service benefits like through-running will boost President Trump's Penn Station rehab. July 21, 2026 Report: Waymo Cars Mean Way Mo’ Traffic Are Waymo cars safer? Maybe. But will they make our streets and neighborhoods more livable? Way no. July 21, 2026 State Senators Urge AG James to Issue Illegal E-Moto Warning State pols want Attorney General Letitia James to alert consumers and businesses about high-speed illegal e-bikes and scooters. July 21, 2026 Mamdani’s Charter Panel Wants to Speed Up Bike and Bus Lanes by 33% The proposed ballot measures will save lives, advocates said. July 20,
Jul 21, 2026 · via nyc.streetsblog.org
Nearly 200 firearms were taken out of circulation at a community gun buyback in at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Clinton Hill on July 18. Locals surrendered a total of 191 firearms at the event, including nine assault weapons, 162 handguns and four long guns, according to the Attorney General’s office, which hosted the event in partnership with the District Attorney, the NYPD, and Emmanuel Baptist Church. The first 60 participants in the “no ID, no questions asked” buyback received a $100 retail gift card. Those who turned in operable handguns and assault rifles received a $500 bank card, while ghost or 3D-printed guns were exchanged for $200. Each rifle or shotgun earned $75 and air guns, imitation pistols or non-operable firearms earned $25. “Every gun removed from our communities is a potential life saved and crisis averted,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “This weekend’s gun buyback event resulted in the removal of 191 unwanted guns from our streets, marking a critical step in our fight to protect our communities from gun violence.” Since she took office in 2019, James’ office has helped remove nearly 10,000 guns from the streets of New York City. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said buybacks help prevent firearms from being used in crimes, suicides or accidental shootings involving children. “I sleep better at night after events like this, knowing that close to 200 weapons are no longer in homes and potentially on our streets,” he said. “As Brooklyn continues to experience a historically safe year and summer in terms of gun violence, we are committed to keep reducing the proliferation of guns, engaging our communities and further improving public safety.” In a statement, Dr. Shareka N. Newton, senior pastor-elect of Emmanuel Baptist Church, said hosting the buyback was a small make the community safer for
Jul 21, 2026 · via brooklynpaper.com
Waymo says it gave more than 2,300 rides to Miami FIFA Fan Festival during 2026 World Cup: "This summer of soccer gave us exactly what we needed" As the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to a close, Waymo is offering a glimpse into how autonomous vehicles helped move thousands of soccer fans around Miami during one of the city's busiest tourism events. The company announced Monday that it provided more than 2,300 rides to the Downtown Miami FIFA Fan Festival while completing thousands of additional trips to Hard Rock Stadium throughout the tournament. Waymo now serves more than 150 square miles across Miami, including recently expanded service areas in North Miami and Miami Gardens, placing many World Cup venues and fan destinations within its operating area. The company said Miami became one of its busiest markets during the tournament as international visitors increasingly chose autonomous vehicles over traditional rideshare options. According to Waymo, the company saw a more than 40% increase in international app activations during the World Cup, the highest level in its history. The largest number of downloads came from visitors from the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan, while riders used the app in dozens of languages, including Spanish, Japanese and German. One viral social media video shared by the company showed members of Scotland's "Tartan Army" enthusiastically singing inside a Waymo vehicle after initially expressing skepticism about riding in a driverless car. Nationwide, Waymo operated in six World Cup host cities, where it said it completed more than 90,000 trips to stadiums and official watch parties, supported more than 400 fan events, and welcomed more than 200,000 first-time riders during the tournament. "This summer of soccer gave us exactly what we needed: great matches and a reason to come together," Shweta Shrivastava, Waymo's senior director of product
Jul 21, 2026 · via cbsnews.com