Laura Chace

President and CEO of ITS America

IATR is happy to announce that the newest advisory board member is Laura Demeo Chace, President and CEO of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS). Laura was named President and CEO of ITS America in August 2021. Her focus is to champion policies and investments that make our transportation systems safer, more innovative, and more efficient. Working collaboratively with agencies and industry leaders, she advances technology-driven solutions that improve how people and goods move – enhancing quality of life, supporting a thriving economy, and maintaining America’s global competitiveness.

Matt Daus, President of IATR, said, “I am pleased to welcome Laura Chace to the IATR Advisory Board. Laura brings a deep and well-rounded understanding of the intersection between transportation policy, emerging technology, and infrastructure investment, and her leadership at ITS America has been instrumental in advancing innovation across the mobility ecosystem. As the regulatory landscape continues to expand to include new modes, technologies, and stakeholders, her insight will be especially valuable in helping our members navigate these complexities. IATR has long emphasized the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors, and Laura’s experience working across government, industry, and advocacy organizations aligns closely with that mission. Her perspective will help strengthen our ongoing efforts to share global best practices, support forward-looking regulatory frameworks, and promote safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems. We look forward to her contributions and to working together to advance a more innovative and coordinated future for mobility.”

Laura has extensive experience in strategic planning, operations, communications, and advocacy, and a proven record of implementing complex initiatives with strong engagement and collaboration among stakeholders. Chace has served on several advisory committees to the U.S. Department of Transportation regarding the integration of emerging technologies into our transportation system. Chace brings 20 years of experience in trade association management, having previously worked at USTelecom and the American Trucking Association. Early in her career, she served at the U.S. Department of Justice Office and in the White House. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colgate University.

Upon her acceptance of the advisory board position, Laura said, “I am honored to join the leaders on the Advisory Board for the International Association of Transportation Regulators. I am committed to playing a dynamic role in providing insight and guidance to further IATR’s mission of building an innovative and multimodal future of transportation. Collaboration is essential – and I’m proud to work alongside fellow board members to advance our shared priorities that strengthen transportation systems nationwide.”

As transportation regulation and technology progress rapidly, numerous government entities and stakeholders have become involved in overseeing, coordinating, or regulating both new and established industry participants. IATR members now handle regulations not only for taxicabs and limousines, but also for pedicabs, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), liveries, black cars, smartphone app firms, jitneys, shuttles, microtransit services, and public and private paratransit. Many regions gather transport data from licensees and interact with technology vendors, auto manufacturers, and other businesses connected to for-hire ground transportation providers, drivers, and vehicle owners by permitting, authorizing, franchising, or regulating them.

The expanding regulatory landscape encompasses airport authorities, multi-modal public transit agencies, local transportation and traffic departments, state highway and transportation agencies, public utilities commissions, consumer affairs agencies, taxi and limousine/for-hire departments, police departments, state agriculture departments, and weights and measures agencies or divisions. Additionally, State Departments of Motor Vehicles, certain Federal agencies, international ministries, land transport authorities, and social service (Non-Emergency Medical Transportation) regulators are now included. IATR's diverse membership includes government agencies, which helps us collaborate with similar nonprofit organizations that serve educational and advocacy functions. These partnerships align closely with the objectives and mission of the IATR.

It is with this ever-changing landscape of new forms of mobility, oversight, decarbonization, and road safety that IATR includes various organizations on its advisory board to ensure the best guidance, insight, and practices are being discussed at conferences, within the organization’s subcommittees, and via joint projects and industry hack-a-thons. Advisory board members include Together for Safer Roads, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the University Transportation Research Center (UTRC), and the Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Accreditation Commission.

NEMTAC® is conducting a national, voluntary survey to establish a clearer, industry-wide view of how non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services are structured, priced, and delivered across real operating environments.

This Phase 2 survey builds on earlier findings and now includes:

• Rate structure design (base, mileage, minimums, and add-ons)
• Levels of service aligned with NEMTAC standards
• Trip viability under real operating conditions (urban, rural, distance, assistance)
• Expanded rate bands to capture the full range of current reimbursement environments, including lower-rate structures reported across multiple markets

The survey is:

• Anonymous and aggregated
• Not a rate-setting exercise
• Not an audit or evaluation of any provider, broker, or program

This survey is intended for NEMT providers, brokers, and transportation managers operating across Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, commercial, and private-pay environments.

Your participation will help establish a neutral, system-level view of how current rate structures perform under actual operating conditions.

Peter Hicks, Executive Director of NEMTAC, on this important survey: “The first survey established the foundation. This second phase is where the data becomes more precise, and even at this early stage, we’re seeing insights that will directly inform how standards evolve and are implemented.”

Most respondents complete the survey in under 5 minutes. Please answer only the questions applicable to your role.

If appropriate, you may share this survey within your organization or network. Broader participation improves the accuracy of the aggregated findings.

You can access the survey here: https://forms.office.com/r/uUG8zXS5B9

NEMTAC will publish a summary of findings following the survey close.

You can also find out more about Transform 2026 which will take place in Orlando, Florida on August 16-19 by clicking here.

Connecticut House Passes Transportation Bill Relaxing Clean Bus Mandates

An omnibus transportation bill that pushes off Connecticut’s plans to electrify the state’s school and transit bus fleet cleared the House on Wednesday with a 99-51 vote. Officials say the measures come in response to changes in environmental policy under the Trump administration. The legislation, House Bill 5464, would walk back sections of the state’s 2022 Clean Air Act, which prohibit the state Department of Transportation from purchasing new diesel buses. The restrictions, in effect since 2024, made it difficult for the state to maintain its existing fleet of over 600 transit buses due to a national backlog in the availability of battery-powered alternatives. In March, DOT officials told lawmakers that the ban on purchasing diesel buses had made it difficult for the agency to keep enough buses in service for riders across the state.

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Sacramento Urged to Act on Transportation Safety Report As Traffic Deaths Mount

Sacramento residents rallied online and in-person Tuesday to ask the City Council to prioritize transportation safety in the next budget, which city leaders have said could include some deeper cuts. The Sacramento City Council did not schedule discussion at its 2 p.m. Tuesday meeting of recommendations from the city’s Active Transportation Commission, which advises the council on policies, programs and grants related to alternatives to driving.

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The 10 Most Influential Transportation Companies of 2026

This year, TIME editors launch the TIME100 Companies: Industry Leaders lists, an expansion of the TIME100 Most Influential Companies issue that dives deeper into 20 sectors to look at the companies shaping their industries. These are the 10 most influential companies in transportation of 2026.

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Flixbus Expanding Services in Western Canada Including Medicine Hat

Additional travel destinations will be available for those travelling by FlixBus in Medicine Hat starting on May 7. The transportation company announced new and expanded service on Wednesday. FlixBus launched in Medicine Hat on April 17, 2025, with a route connecting Medicine Hat to Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton. The group will now expand connectivity from Medicine Hat with a route that includes new stops in Lethbridge, Swift Current and Moose Jaw.

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Canada Truck Operators Association Convenes to Advance Safety, Compliance, and Supply Chain Resilience

The Canada Truck Operators Association (CTOA) brought together more than 600 transportation and logistics professionals, policymakers, and industry leaders at a sold-out National Industry Appreciation & Information Session, marking one of the largest recent gatherings of Canada’s trucking sector. The event convened stakeholders from Québec and Ontario for focused discussions on supply chain resilience, operational realities, safety, and the evolving needs of Canada’s transportation industry.

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Lawsuit by Auto Insurers Against Honda, Toyota, Stellantis

On April 13, 2026, insurers Beneva and L’Unique, which are both headquartered in Quebec City, filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Quebec against three automakers: Honda, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (Stellantis). Beneva and L’Unique — which is actually Beneva’s brokerage subsidiary — are seeking a fairly substantial $72 million which equates to the full reimbursement of claims they say they paid to their policyholders following the theft of their Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, and Ram vehicles.

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France Scraps Low-Emission Zones, Reshaping the Rules of the Road

The French parliament’s decision to abolish low-emission zones (ZFE) brings to an end one of the most controversial regulatory experiments of recent years. If the decision takes effect in its current form, it could change how urban transport operates and weaken the existing system for curbing emissions in metropolitan areas.

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Two Million Electric Vehicles Registered in the UK

More than two million electric vehicles (EV) have been registered across the UK, according to new Department for Transport statistics. The figures show that the Electric Car Grant (ECG) has assisted more than 100,000 drivers save up to £3750 off a new EV. EV registrations are up 15% on last year, with March 2026 seeing the highest demand ever recorded. Electric cars are now cheaper to buy, on average, than petrol models for the first time, according to recent figures from Autotrader. The UK Government said it is also investing £7.5 billion to support businesses in the transition to EVs, and there has “never been a better time to switch” due to the ECG, it added.

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Italy Has Enough Jet Fuel Until End-May, Transport Minister Says

Italy's jet fuel reserves are enough to cover airport ​operations at least until the end of May, Transport ‌Minister Matteo Salvini said on Wednesday, while urging the European Union to loosen its budget rules to let governments respond to the energy crisis. Europe's imports of jet fuel from the Middle East have ​been disrupted by the Iran war, raising concerns about ⁠a supply crunch before the peak summer travel season.

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Can BasiGo’s Electric Buses Survive East Africa’s Transport Reality?

At first glance, without the graffiti that has come to be the hallmark of Nairobi’s irreverent matatus, the privately owned buses that are the primary means of public transport in parts of Kenya, one could mistake the KL-9s for just random buses for private use. Their seats are pristine and new. The air conditioning works, and they are rarely seen at the petrol station where many matatus form long queues waiting for passengers. Also, they are electric.

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Uber’s First Japan Taxi Partnership Will Give (Only) Tourists More Options

Uber is finally making a deeper move into Japan – but not in the way many expected. In a new partnership with Sony Group-owned taxi app S.Ride, the company is launching a service that lets foreign visitors use their existing Uber app to hail S.Ride taxis in Japan. The twist? This service is for tourists only. Japanese residents, who can already use the S.Ride app directly, won’t see anything different.

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Hong Kong Taxis, Minibuses to Get 2-Month LPG Subsidy amid Soaring Fuel Prices

Hong Kong will introduce a two-month subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by taxis, minibuses and school buses starting in May amid soaring fuel prices, while previously announced support on diesel costs for other transport operators begins on Thursday. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said on Wednesday that the interdepartmental task force monitoring fuel price movements had proposed a 50 HK cents per litre subsidy for two months, starting in May, to alleviate operational pressure on taxis and minibuses, among others. 

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Image: Tripadvisor

Taxi drivers are viewed by most UK adults as an essential part of local transport networks, with new polling suggesting strong public recognition of their role in daily life, emergency travel and support for vulnerable passengers.

An Opinion Matters survey of 2,000 UK adults, commissioned by Acorn Insurance, found 82% believe taxi drivers play an essential role in their local community. A similar proportion said taxis are essential to daily life.

The findings show taxis remain a key fallback when other transport options are unavailable. Nearly two-fifths of respondents, 39%, said they rely on taxis when public transport is not running, while 38% said they had used one in an emergency.

Almost a third, 29%, said they would struggle to manage without taxis. More than 28% said they rely on taxis more now than they did five years ago, pointing to continued demand despite wider changes in travel habits.

The survey also found 58% of respondents had relied on a taxi driver during a difficult or important moment. That figure rose to 72% among Gen Z respondents and 71% among Millennials.

Source: TaxiPoint

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