The agreement was announced on April 24, with the partnership focusing on large-scale data centres in key regions of the country. Initial capacity will be several tens of megawatts, with expansion planned in phases to meet growing demand for AI and cloud services. With more than 20 years of experience in data centres and end-to-end capabilities spanning development, construction, and operation, GS E&C will combine its infrastructure expertise with FPT’s ICT, cloud, and digital platform capabilities. GS E&C and FPT will also collaborate on smart city solutions, including intelligent transportation, smart energy management, public safety platforms, and AI- and the Internet of Things-based urban infrastructure. “This collaboration with FPT Group represents a meaningful step towards supporting Vietnam’s digital transformation through data centre and smart city development,” said GS E&C CEO Yoonhong Huh. “GS E&C will lead project development and execution, leveraging its expertise in data centre design and construction as well as integrated smart city infrastructure solutions, while working closely with FPT’s ICT and digital platform capabilities.” "The partnership would pursue a pragmatic, phased approach, starting from an initial tens of megawatts scale and potentially expanding in line with market demand. Through this cooperation, we aim to build mutual trust and create tangible value and job opportunities for both Vietnam and Korea," he said. “The partnership between FPT and GS E&C reflects the growing strategic alignment between Vietnam and South Korea, grounded in the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership in technology and infrastructure development. With our AI-first strategy and AI-augmented workforce, FPT is committed to contributing our technology capabilities to strengthen long-term digital capacity, advance technology transfer, and deepen cross-border cooperation between the two markets,” said Ha Minh Tuan, CEO of FPT Korea, FPT Corporation. Furthermore, GS E&C also signed a separate MoU with BIDV, to support financing for its
Apr 25, 2026 · via vir.com.vn
A delegation of Andhra Pradesh Ministers, during their visit to Singapore, toured Morrow Architects, a leading international consultancy, where they held discussions with the representatives on advanced city design and infrastructure planning.
The Ministers, on Saturday, examined innovative approaches to smart city development, including the use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies through MORROW Intelligence (MI) systems.
Published - April 25, 2026 07:48 pm IST
You are logged in
Loading...
You don’t have any Active Subscription.
Subscribe nowSubscribed with another email? Logout and Login with that one.
Your active subscription(s)
Account subscription benefits alongside Premium Stories, Editorials, Opinions and more. Unlock these with Subscription
Products you've access to
Additional Subscription Benefits
Account Settings
Need help with your subscription?
Apr 25, 2026 · via thehindu.com
Langley City declared a ‘Smart City’
Published 5:00 am Saturday, April 25, 2026
Langley City has been named a Smart21 Community of 2026, becoming a semi-finalist in the selection of the Intelligent Community of the Year Award.
The annual award is organized by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), and this is the second year running that Langley City has received the Smart21 designation.
According to the ICF, becoming an intelligent community comes from projects like deploying broadband network and digital services, engaging the community, sparking innovation, and helping the offline population benefit from the online economy.
“This recognition reflects the work we are doing to build a connected, inclusive city where people and businesses can thrive,” said Mayor Nathan Pachal. “By investing in innovation and community‑informed decision‑making, we’re supporting local businesses today while creating the conditions that attract new opportunities in the future.”
Other cities in the running include Reykjavik, Iceland; Tempe, Ariz.; Parramatta, Australia; Las Rozas de Madrid, Spain; and Brightlands-Limburg, the Netherlands.
Apr 25, 2026 · via langleyadvancetimes.com
Updated: Apr. 24, 2026 at 9:48 PM CDT
Hello, Quad Cities from the Every Child Gala in Davenport aired on April 24, 2026
Updated: Apr. 24, 2026 at 9:48 PM CDT
Hello, Quad Cities from the Bettendorf High School Trebuchet Contest aired on April 23, 2026
Updated: Apr. 24, 2026 at 9:48 PM CDT
Hello, Quad Cities from Riverdale Middle School Community Service Day aired on April 22, 2026
Updated: Apr. 24, 2026 at 9:48 PM CDT
Hello, Quad Cities from Bettendorf High School Students aired on April 20, 2026.
Updated: Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:53 PM CDT
Hello, Quad Cities from the Trebuchet Contest on Bettendorf High School aired on April 16, 2026.
Apr 25, 2026 · via kwqc.com
MELAKA, April 25 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is encouraging local authorities (PBT) across the country to expand the use of solar energy and smart technology in urban management to enhance service efficiency, cleanliness and public safety. Its secretary-general, Datuk Dr M Noor Azman Taib, said that the initiative is in line with the smart city agenda outlined by the ministry through 85 key indicators introduced to assess the readiness level of a city towards smart city status. "Melaka, particularly through the Historic City of Melaka Corporation (MBMB), has achieved a significant portion of the relevant indicators and places the city at a high level in the implementation of the smart city agenda. "Among the initiatives introduced are smart bins, in addition to the use of closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), motion sensors, and monitoring systems that help address security issues," he said to reporters in Bandar Hilir here today. Earlier, he attended the completion ceremony of the MBMB Solar Powered Smart Bin Usage, which was also attended by the MBMB Mayor Datuk Shadan Othman. Commenting further, M Noor Azman said that in the concept of smart cities, there are also elements of safe cities that emphasise public safety and the ability to manage emergency situations more quickly and systematically. He said that the use of solar-powered smart bins also contributes to energy savings because they do not rely on conventional electricity supply, in line with KPKT's encouragement of green energy usage that is being expanded. "Although this is a product developed by MBMB and will be patented, good things like this need to be shared and expanded to other cities and local authorities so that cleanliness can be controlled more effectively. "The smart city agenda needs to be a priority for all parties because it not
Apr 25, 2026 · via bernama.com
Brussels, 24 April 2026 Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how businesses operate, it is reshaping healthcare and revolutionising science. AI makes use of computer science to create systems capable of simulating human-like capabilities such as reasoning, problem-solving and learning. Algorithms are applied to analyse large volumes of data to identify complex patterns and solve complex problems. Among other things, AI systems can automate repetitive tasks, reduce human error and process data faster. As AI develops further, it can offer even more benefits to citizens and businesses across Europe. The European approach to AI aims to position Europe as a leading hub for human-centric and reliable AI. This ambition is underpinned by substantial investments, as the Commission is investing €200 billion to boost AI development in Europe including €1 billion annually for Horizon Europe and Digital Europe programmes. As Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen said: “In today’s fast moving, interconnected world, AI is no longer ‘just’ a competitive advantage; it’s a necessity to be competitive and to close the innovation gap.” In 2024, the EU put in place the world’s first comprehensive legal framework on AI, the AI Act , setting the standards for trustworthy and human-centric AI. To help ensure its smooth rollout, the Commission also launched the AI Act Service Desk and Single Information Platform . Moreover, the European AI Office was established to ensure a coherent implementation and enforcement of the AI Act, but also to promote the development and adoption of AI technologies in Europe. Following the 2024 Draghi report which pointed out that the AI regulatory environment places too many constraints on innovation, the Commission proposed the Digital Omnibus regulations at the end of 2025 to revise and simplify Europe’s digital rulebook. To further ensure the EU’s position as a global
Apr 25, 2026 · via ieu-monitoring.com
Building Information Modeling for Smart City Infrastructure Market to Reach US$20.42 Billion by 2032 as Digital Twins, Cloud BIM, AI, and Public Infrastructure Modernization Redefine Urban Development Global BIM for Smart City Infrastructure Market Set for 10.96% CAGR as Asia-Pacific Leads the Next Digital Infrastructure CycleThe global Building Information Modeling for Smart City Infrastructure Market is moving into a high-growth phase as public infrastructure owners, engineering firms, construction platforms, utilities, and city planners shift from project-level digital modeling to connected infrastructure intelligence. According to Global Report Store, the market was valued at US$9,860 million in 2025 and is projected to reach US$20,420 million by 2032, registering a 10.96% CAGR during 2026 to 2032. The market is segmented by solution type, deployment model, end use, and region, with BIM Authoring, Design and Coordination Platforms leading by solution, Cloud and SaaS BIM Platforms leading by deployment, and Transportation and Mobility Infrastructure leading by end use. Asia-Pacific was the largest regional market in 2025 and is also the fastest-growing region, while the USA is the largest country opportunity and Japan is identified as the highest strategic priority market. Request For PDF Sample: https://www.globalreportsstore.com/request-sample/1711/ The demand story is clear. Smart cities now need digital continuity across planning, design, construction, operations, and asset maintenance. The fastest growth momentum is strongest in Asia-Pacific, supported by Japan's BIM/CIM policy direction, South Korea's smart construction initiatives, and the wider regional push toward digital urban infrastructure. In North America, the USA remains a large-scale demand center due to federal infrastructure funding, mature software adoption, and transport modernization. In Europe, Germany, France, and the UK continue to benefit from public-sector digital construction frameworks, openBIM adoption, infrastructure renewal, and lifecycle asset management requirements. Market Disruption: BIM Is Moving from 3D Coordination to AI-Enabled City Infrastructure Intelligence The biggest disruption in this
Apr 25, 2026 · via openpr.com
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 24. Kazakhstan has officially launched the Astana Smart City project as part of the development of an AI-driven urban infrastructure system, Trend reports via the press office of the Kazakh President.
The launch took place during a visit by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the International Center for Artificial Intelligence "Alem.ai" in Astana, on April 24.
The new initiative is positioned as a key step toward creating a next-generation intelligent city ecosystem. It is based on a unified AI platform integrating real-time urban data and municipal systems to improve governance efficiency and service delivery.
During the presentation, Presight CEO Thomas Pramotedham, who is leading the development of the AI-powered urban data platform and digital city infrastructure solutions being implemented within Astana Smart City, showcased the system’s capabilities, demonstrating how integrated city data can be processed in real time to support decision-making across public services and infrastructure management.
The "Alem.ai" center is designed to support research, education programs, startup development, and applied AI solutions. Its activities focus on introducing artificial intelligence technologies into the public sector, business environment, and everyday urban life, supporting Kazakhstan’s broader strategy of building a technologically advanced and competitive economy.
Apr 25, 2026 · via trend.az
Dive Brief: - Houston is expanding its multifamily recycling pilot program in an effort to bring more reliable recycling services to a growing part of the city’s population. - The project, first launched in September, is testing several collection and education methods in a range of apartment buildings. It’s funded by a grant from The Recycling Partnership and the Alliance to End Plastic Waste. - Around 1,334 units are already enrolled, and the city’s Solid Waste Management Department plans to add services for 500 more units this month. By the end of the pilot in late 2026, about 3,000 units across 12 properties are expected to have recycling services, according to The Recycling Partnership. Dive Insight: Houston’s multifamily housing population is growing, but recycling resources for them are not, according to Houston officials and environmental groups. About 1 million Houston residents — about half the city’s population — now live in apartments or other multifamily units, according to Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas. That number is expected to hit 1.6 million by 2040, he wrote in a recent blog post. The Recycling Partnership estimates that 20% of multifamily households in Texas have recycling access, and in Houston, that’s limited to just a “handful of properties.” Houston SWMD estimates about 15% of the city’s waste comes from such units. Looming landfill capacity issues are also at play, Houston SWMD officials noted during a March 31 update to City Council. The nearby McCarty landfill is expected to reach capacity in the next nine years, prompting the city to do more to increase recycling efforts as it also plans to shift waste to other facilities, officials said in their presentation. City Council member Abbie Kamin spearheaded the multifamily recycling initiative, which was established in a 2021 budget amendment. Grant support from
Apr 25, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
From AI investing to defense tech and city infrastructure, the focus was on turning momentum into results “Our moment is here and now. We are open for business in Miami Beach.” These words from Miami Beach mayor Steven Meiner kicked of the second main conference day of eMerge, the annual conference aiming to showcase everything #MiamiTech to the rest of the world. Local developer Stephen Ross may be one of the people in South Florida taking most advantage of this exact moment. “There’s so much change happening right now, and this is the moment when growth is going to take off here, especially across South Florida,” he told attendees from the main stage. “Florida is probably the best business state in the country,” Ross added. “People just don’t recognize it yet because there hasn’t been as much business activity here historically. Our job is to get the message out and bring people here to South Florida, because the benefits are already here.” Tim Tebow on mindset, purpose, and building for more than yourself Tim Tebow’s conversation with Melissa Medina drew parallels between professional sports and building, leading, and living with purpose. The former Heisman Trophy winner, ESPN analyst, and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation framed impact as a choice. “You have to stand for something to have impact,” Tebow said, arguing that respect lasts longer than being liked. For entrepreneurs, his strongest point was about where drive gets aimed. Competitiveness is useful, he suggested, but only if it serves something bigger than personal success. “You want to live a meaningful and purposeful life? Make it about everybody else,” Tebow said. He also connected that mindset to technology, especially AI, calling it “one of the most vital pieces” in fighting child exploitation and trafficking. For a room full of founders
Apr 25, 2026 · via refreshmiami.com
Chile’s Sonda potential projects pipeline reaches US$6.5bn Sonda entered 2026 with a growing backlog of potential contracts: its pipeline of business opportunities amounted to US$6.5bn at the end of March. This is up 8% from December, led by Brazil and the Southern Cone and concentrated in areas such as smart cities, mobility, cloud and digital communications, according to the company’s latest financial report. Of the total mapped pipeline, around US$2bn corresponds to Brazil and US$2.2bn to the Southern Cone, a region comprising Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. These projects in negotiation or bids in dispute are increasingly weighted toward digital transformation segments, including smart cities (over US$1.4bn), digital communications and cloud solutions. Within the pipeline, cloud and data center solutions account for more than US$470mn in potential opportunities. These projects are tied to enterprise and government migration to cloud environments, as well as the expansion of regional digital infrastructure to support data processing, storage and cybersecurity requirements, BNamericas has learned. Contracts signed and awarded – highlights The company reported a sharp increase in contracts awarded during the first quarter, with closed deals totaling US$636.8mn, up 83.5% year-on-year. Recent awards include transport and payment systems in Chile, digital infrastructure expansion projects in Brazil and a major railway telecommunications system in Mexico, in a pipeline largely tied to public-sector digitization and infrastructure. In Chile, the Teleférico Bicentenario project involves the rollout of an electronic ticketing platform designed for about 55,000 daily users, integrating multiple payment methods including cards, QR codes and account-based ticketing (ABT), under a US$500,000 contract lasting around 10 years. Alongside this, Sonda is implementing an electronic monitoring system for Gendarmería, covering more than 5,000 devices and supported by monitoring centers under a six-year US$3mn contract. The company also secured a smart street lighting project in Copiapó involving more than 20,000
Apr 25, 2026 · via bnamericas.com
South Korea's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) is expanding cooperation with Indonesia on key infrastructure sectors, including transportation and smart cities. The move follows the Korea-Indonesia summit and represents an effort to develop concrete follow-up measures. According to MOLIT on Tuesday, First Vice Minister Kim Yi-tak met Edhie Baskoro Yudhoyono, deputy speaker of Indonesia's People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the previous day to discuss infrastructure cooperation plans. The meeting was arranged as a follow-up to the Korea-Indonesia summit held on the 1st. Held at Indonesia's request, the meeting was an occasion to share Korea's infrastructure policies and development experience and to discuss project cooperation. Deputy Speaker Yudhoyono expressed interest in Korea's infrastructure policies and experience. In response, Vice Minister Kim introduced Korea's infrastructure development achievements along with its investment and development support programs and the K-City Network project. Kim specifically mentioned major projects including the Jakarta light rail project and the new capital smart city center establishment project being pursued through Official Development Assistance (ODA), requesting the Indonesian government's interest and cooperation. "Through this meeting, I hope to strengthen the cooperation framework with Indonesia in infrastructure areas such as sustainable transport infrastructure, smart cities, and land and transport ODA, and to further expand exchanges between the two countries," Kim said.
Apr 25, 2026 · via en.sedaily.com
The tech sector remains a great place to shop for growth stocks. While most investors have piled into pricey big names such as Microsoft, Nvidia, and Broadcom, there are lesser-known tech stocks you can still gobble up for less than $15 a share. Many lower-priced stocks are highly volatile; however, understanding what's driving the underlying companies' revenue growth can help determine whether they're truly bargains. Three stocks that I see as worth plucking from the bargain bin are UiPath (PATH +2.77%), Gorilla Technology Group (GRRR +2.67%), and Duos Technologies Group (DUOT 0.12%). Here's why each of these tech stocks is worth buying at less than $15 a share. UiPath has already found the path to profitability UiPath, based in New York City, made its mark by automating simple tasks, but is successfully pivoting into agentic artificial intelligence (AI). Its platform now uses specialized AI models to better understand screens and documents, allowing its AI coding agents to make more complex decisions rather than following set scripts. That shift has broadened the mid-cap company's market beyond back-office data entry to adapting to high-level workflows such as supply chain management and handling insurance claims. The company is also succeeding by partnering with tech giants such as Microsoft and Salesforce. NYSE: PATH Key Data Points UiPath acts as the glue that allows companies' mishmash of platforms to communicate and share automated workflows. Its dollar-based net retention rate, currently around 107%, suggests that once a company starts using UiPath, it rapidly expands its use of the platform across other departments, resulting in a sticky revenue model. The company reported healthy fiscal 2026 numbers on March 11. For that fiscal year, which ended Jan. 31, revenues rose 13% to $1.61 billion, and earnings jumped to $0.52 per share compared to a loss of $0.13 per
Apr 24, 2026 · via fool.com
Abstract Technology companies work with governments to increase business opportunities, foster innovation and diversify investment and expertise in smart cities. However, the heightened pace of technological advancements in artificial intelligence, big data analytics, information and communication technologies, the Internet of Things and autonomous systems presents regulatory challenges for inclusive development owing to their inherent uncertainty and unpredictability. To understand how technology companies drive smart city innovation, we ask: How can governments design policies for regulating innovation clusters and networks in inclusive smart cities? We analyse patents collected from PatSnap (a global patent database) and the annual reports of selected technology companies. Our results indicate a heterogeneous and dynamic landscape spanning smart city innovations, digital products, and the geographical location, connections and composition of patent holders. We derive policy implications for dynamic regulatory design, addressing information asymmetry, policy calibration and the development of regulatory sandboxes and living labs for inclusive smart cities. Similar content being viewed by others Acknowledgements This study has been financially supported by the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Ethics declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests. Additional information Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Supplementary information Rights and permissions Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the
Apr 24, 2026 · via nature.com
Dive Brief: - Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday signed legislation establishing a statewide ban on unauthorized camping, sleeping or long-term shelter on public land, effective July 1. - Prior to criminal enforcement, the legislation requires law enforcement to determine whether “emergency mental health detention” is warranted. If it is not, officers are required to issue a warning and provide information about available shelter services. - A person can be criminally charged if they are within 300 feet of where the warning took place after 48 hours have passed. Dive Insight: Since the 2024 Supreme Court ruling that empowered municipalities to ban camping, more local governments are approaching homelessness as a criminal justice issue. California, which has the country’s largest unhoused population, has recently ramped up efforts to dismantle homeless encampments on state property. Braun’s office said the purpose of the Indiana bill is not about criminalizing homelessness, but rather about moving unhoused people “toward social service networks to help them get needed services and stay safe.” The law also seeks to bypass local government policies that do not comply with the state’s anti-camping stance. The bill is in line with President Donald Trump’s call to cut ties with housing-first policies, which Braun’s office said have “demonstrably not reduced homelessness.” Homeless advocacy groups have pushed back on that narrative. The National Low Income Housing Coalition in 2022 credited housing-first efforts with reducing chronic homelessness by 20% since 2007. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has pointed to underinvestment in affordable housing and underfunded federal programs for the country’s rise in homelessness.
Apr 24, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
- About - People - What We Do - Public Programming - Initiatives - When the Map Is Useless - Cities + Climate - Moving in a Livable Region - The Dialogue on Technology Project (DoT) - Urban Resilient Futures Burnaby - Action on Climate Team - Clean Energy Canada - Hey Neighbour Collective - New Economy Canada - Renewable Cities - Renovate the Public Hearing - SFU Demshot Challenge - Mitigating Wildfire Initiative - Signature Events - Jack P. Blaney Award for Dialogue - Award Recipients - 2024/25: Bringing Justice Home with Judge Abby Abinanti - 2021/22: Reimagining Social Justice and Racial Equity with adrienne maree brown - 2019/20: Climate Change and Human Rights with Sheila Watt-Cloutier - 2017/18: Peace, Pluralism and Gender Equality with Alice Wairimu Nderitu - 2015/16: Climate Solutions with Tim Flannery - 2013/14: Reconciliation with Chief Robert Joseph - 2011/12: Twelve Days of Compassion with Karen Armstrong - 2009/10: Widening the Circle with Liz Lerman - 2005: Corporate Social Responsibility and the Right to Health with Mary Robinson - 2002: Environmental Sustainability with Maurice Strong - Nomination Details - History of the Award - Award Recipients - Bruce & Lis Welch Community Dialogue - 2026: Economics for the People: Inside Inequality with Mohsen Javdani - 2024: AI: Beyond the Hype—Shaping the Future Together with Stephanie Dick and Daniel Barcay - 2022: Facing the Flames: New and Old Ways of Co-Existing with Fire with Joe Gilchrist and Paul Hessburg - 2021: All My Relations: Trauma-Informed Engagement with Karine Duhamel - 2019: Power of Empathy with Kimberly Jackson Davidson - 2019: Rethinking BC Referendums with John Gastil - 2017: Strengthening Democratic Engagement with Valerie Lemmie - 2015-16: THRIVE! Surrey in 2030 - 2014: Citizen Engagement and Political Civility with Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer - 2013: Building a
Apr 24, 2026 · via sfu.ca
Dive Brief: - Austin, Texas, is leveraging Google Earth tree canopy data and machine learning models to prioritize tree planting in low-canopy areas with the highest heat vulnerability. - The city’s Climate Action and Resilience department is layering heat severity and demographics data onto Google’s Environmental Insights Explorer geospatial data to identify urban heat islands and test “cool corridors” that combine tree planting with cool pavements and bus shelters. - Using remote sensing and satellite data to map tree canopy “is much faster, cheaper, and easier to scale than counting every tree on the ground,” Alan Halter, a senior IT geospatial analyst for Austin Climate Action and Resilience, said in an email. “This makes it a highly adaptable model for any city looking to track its environmental progress.” Dive Insight: Summers in Austin are getting hotter and heat waves more frequent, according to University of Texas research. In February, Austin released its Resilient Austin Playbook, which calls for investments in cooling infrastructure and green open spaces to reduce heat risk, including “cool corridors” that deploy strategies such as trees, built shade and cool pavements using energy-reflective coatings. Austin’s Climate Equity Plan includes a goal of achieving 50% tree cover by 2050. The city is currently at about 41%, Halter said. “To ensure this growth is equitable, we focus on where those trees go, not just how many we plant,” he said. “Three out of every five trees distributed through programs like NeighborWoods must go to high-priority, low-canopy neighborhoods. This ensures that our resources are helping the communities that need shade and cooling the most.” A block-by-block analysis published in the journal Building and Environment in February found that elderly populations in Austin face “significantly higher extreme heat risk during extreme events.” Austin’s climate team is working to align “cool corridors”
Apr 24, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com
Research, development, and dissemination of information infrastructure for the realization of smart cities
Apr 24, 2026 · via keio.ac.jp
Welcome back to the latest episode of The Future of Automotive on CBT News, where we put recent automotive and mobility news into the context of the broader themes impacting the industry. I’m Steve Greenfield from Automotive Ventures, and I’m glad that you could join us. Ten years ago, there was a confident prediction circulating through boardrooms and consulting reports alike: by now, every new car on the road would be fully autonomous. Ownership, they said, would be obsolete. Instead, we’d summon a vehicle the way we order a ride today—on demand, seamless, invisible. It didn’t happen. At least not yet. But look closer, and you could argue the timeline wasn’t wrong—just early. Waymo, one of the leaders in autonomous driving, is now expanding into roughly 20 additional cities this year. That kind of momentum suggests the shift many envisioned a decade ago may finally be taking shape. The economics help explain why. According to Cox Automotive, the average cost to operate a personally owned vehicle in the U.S. is about 88 cents per mile. That figure includes depreciation, financing, insurance, and maintenance. Compare that to traditional alternatives: New York City taxis run closer to $2.50 per mile, while Uber averages around $2.30. Now consider the promise of autonomy. A fully autonomous “cybertaxi” could potentially bring that cost down to 50 cents per mile—or even less. At that level, for some consumers—especially in dense urban areas—the math begins to shift. The average U.S. household owns nearly two vehicles. If autonomous ride-hailing becomes significantly cheaper than ownership, a natural question emerges: does that second car still make sense? Or does it quietly disappear from the driveway? And then there’s Uber, the world’s largest Ridehailing company. Back in 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Uber made a decisive move. It sold
Apr 24, 2026 · via cbtnews.com
Dive Brief: - U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., introduced legislation this month to bring parity to the federal permitting process for transit and passenger rail projects in line with highway construction projects by allowing them to acquire property before completing the National Environmental Policy Act permitting process. - The current process establishes distinct permitting regulations for each mode, potentially confusing sponsors who work across multiple transportation projects, Titus said in a news release. - Titus aims to include this bill in the upcoming surface transportation legislation to provide funding and policies for highways and mass transit. Dive Insight: Titus is a member of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which is developing the next surface transportation bill. Brightline West is building a high-speed rail line in Titus’ district, which includes parts of Las Vegas and southern Nevada. “When high-speed rail comes to Southern Nevada, it will support tourism, improve air quality, and ease traffic congestion,” Titus said in a statement. “The Modal Parity in Permitting Act will help ensure that the permitting process that allows these services to be built in our community is in line with the process for highway projects.” The bill, H.R. 8315, was co-sponsored by Reps. Robert Bresnahan Jr., R-Pa., and Laura Friedman, D-Calif. “Right now, unnecessary delays in permitting are holding back critical transit projects in communities like ours,” Bresnahan said in a statement. “This [bill] is about cutting red tape, supporting smart growth, and delivering the modern, connected transportation systems our region deserves.” The American Public Transportation Association also supports the bill. “For too long, public transit and passenger rail projects have faced a structural disadvantage in the permitting process — highway projects can acquire land before NEPA is complete, while [Federal Transit Administration] and [Federal Railroad Administration] projects cannot,” APTA President
Apr 24, 2026 · via smartcitiesdive.com