Daily Transportation News

May 21, 2026

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We wish you a thoughtful and reflective Memorial Day to honor those who have defended our country.


“A nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”

- Abraham Lincoln


In observance of the holiday, this newsletter will not be sent out on Friday, May 22 or Monday, May 25, and will resume Tuesday, May 26.

InDrive and GoCab Target Ride-Hailing Vehicle Access in Morocco and Chile

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Image: El Español

California-based ride-hailing and delivery platform InDrive has signed an agreement with London-based mobility fintech GoCab to expand vehicle access for ride-hailing drivers in Morocco and Chile.


The partnership will initially see GoCab supply at least 1,000 vehicles to drivers operating on the inDrive platform through leasing and rental schemes, with plans to scale to 4,000 vehicles across the two countries.


InDrive, which operates its platform in more than 1,100 cities across 48 countries, said the model is aimed at drivers who struggle to secure traditional vehicle financing.


Morocco and Chile were chosen because both markets are seeing increasing demand for flexible earning opportunities, while many existing taxi and ride-sharing fleets are thought to be ageing.


Source: Zag Daily

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City of Altamonte Springs & TSG Transportation Advisors Launch Center of Excellence Driving International Innovation

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From Left: Jane Lappin, Partner at Blue Door Strategy and Research; Matt Daus, IATR President; Henry Greenidge, Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel, Autonomy & Robotics at Doordash Labs ; Frank Martz, City Manager of Altamonte Springs; Thomas Dwiggins, Fire Chief of the City of Chandler; and Ellie Casson, Head of City and Community Affairs at Stubhub

The City of Altamonte Springs launched a landmark partnership with TSG Transportation Advisors (TSG Advisors) to establish a new Center of Excellence (COE) through the Altamonte Global Innovation Lab (AGīL). The COE will help international companies understand, navigate and achieve the policy and regulatory compliance necessary to participate in the U.S. marketplace — the only platform of its kind in Florida that combines federal procurement expertise, Buy America compliance advisory, a living government laboratory and workforce development in a single, unified resource for companies ready to compete in the American market.


Each year, the federal government invests hundreds of billions of dollars in infrastructure and technology programs subject to the requirements of the Build America, Buy America Act. For companies seeking to participate in these opportunities, compliance is essential. Failure to meet federal standards can result in disqualification from projects representing billions in potential economic activity, while successful compliance provides access to one of the world’s largest and most stable procurement markets.


Until now, Florida has lacked a single organization capable of delivering the combined regulatory expertise, government engagement and operational deployment infrastructure necessary to support companies in successfully navigating these requirements. Through this strategic partnership, AGīL and TSG Advisors are establishing a new model designed to help organizations compete, comply and succeed.


“Altamonte Springs has always believed that local government can be a platform for innovation, not just a customer of it. This partnership advances that mission. Companies will gain direct access to regulatory guidance, connectivity and go-to-market support,” said Frank Martz, City Manager of Altamonte Springs. “It is not enough to say we are open for business. We are now providing the guidance, the infrastructure and the connections that give companies a genuine path to success in the American market — and in doing so, we are bringing new investment, new technologies and new jobs.”


Source: Tennessean

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Trump Admin Chooses Penn Station Overhaul Plan That Doesn’t Move MSG

The Trump administration and Amtrak announced on Wednesday that they have chosen a so-called “master developer” to lead rebuilding Penn Station — a firm whose plan does not involve moving Madison Square Garden.

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Las Vegas Launches New Traffic Camera Program

The city has awarded a contract of up to $402,080 to Henderson-based transportation consulting agency Ludian, and it included a one-year rental of traffic cameras with an analytics platform.

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Drone Experts Model Medical Network to Cut Cardiac Arrest Deaths in Florida

Aviation researchers have unveiled a blueprint outlining how a drone network could deliver defibrillators, blood products and emergency supplies faster than existing response systems in some areas of the state.

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Taxi, Ride-Hailing Drivers Brace for World Cup Traffic and Antsy Passengers

Weeks before global soccer fans are due to descend on Toronto and Vancouver for the World Cup, some Uber drivers were trying to score better working conditions during the tournament.

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Montreal’s Largest Driverless Metro Expanding

The city of Montreal is experiencing a seismic shift in its public transportation infrastructure through the latest expansion of the Réseau express métropolitain (REM). This ambitious project not only enhances connectivity across the metropolitan area but also solidifies Montreal’s reputation as a leader in sustainable, high-tech urban mobility. As the new extension becomes operational, it promises profound impacts on daily commutes, regional integration, and environmental sustainability.

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National Road Safety Week: Everyday Decisions Carry Serious Consequences

It’s the drive home at the end of a long day - familiar roads, steady traffic, nothing out of the ordinary. You’re a little tired, your focus drifts, you rely more on habit than vigilance to carry you the rest of the way. Most of the time, it does. But those are the moments when attention slips and risk quietly builds. The Canada Safety Council is reminding Canadians that many of the most serious risks on the road are tied to routine decisions made behind the wheel.

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Germany Allocates 2026 Funding for Additional 1,500 Zero-Emission Buses

The German Federal Ministry for Transport (BMV) has published a new “Directive for the promotion of alternative drives for buses in passenger transport”, continuing the national support framework for battery-electric and fuel cell buses. The new funding call was officially published in the Federal Gazette on 6 May 2026, while applications will open on 26 May.

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Greece: New Arrest of Taxi Driver for Overcharging

A police statement said the suspect was taken into custody Thursday after allegedly demanding double the legal fare – €15 instead of 7.5 – to drive from Lycabettus Hill to Monastiraki Square in the city center. Police said the suspect had covered the taximeter so that the true charge was not visible, and had tampered with it so that it didn’t issue legal receipts unless he took specific action.

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One Journey, One Ticket, Full Rights: Commission Simplifies Europe-Wide Travel Booking and Train Travel

The European Commission has proposed new rules to make seamless travel across Europe a reality. The three proposals adopted today simplify planning and booking for regional, long-distance and cross-border travel, particularly for rail journeys involving multiple operators, and ensure better protection for rail passengers for the entire journey.

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Tesla Says FSD Is Finally Live in China

The company said in a social media post on X that the driver assistance feature, which still requires the driver to be fully attentive, is available in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, China, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, the Netherlands, and Lithuania.

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Spiro Takes Aim at Gender Gap in Africa’s E-Mobility Sector

Women account for around 10% of Africa’s transport workforce, according to 2023 figures. As the continent’s electric vehicle market is projected to grow from USD $15.6 billion in 2023 to $28.3 billion by 2030, the emerging e-mobility sector is an opportunity to address that imbalance from the ground up. 

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Air Taxi Routes Between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev Could Launch in 2027

Kazakhstan could launch passenger and cargo air taxi services between Alatau, Almaty and Konayev as early as 2027, as the country moves forward with testing a new generation of electric vertical takeoff aircraft, reported the Kazinform news agency.

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New Jersey Assembly Approves Bill Increasing Penalties for Illegal Limo Operators

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Image: RNJ News

The New Jersey General Assembly on Monday approved legislation that would increase penalties for illegal limousine operators accused of bypassing licensing, insurance and safety requirements.


The bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, targets unlicensed chauffeur services operating through online bookings and transporting passengers at airports, sports complexes and entertainment venues across the state.


Under the legislation, penalties would increase for third and subsequent violations involving operating a limousine without a municipal license, allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a limo, carrying insufficient insurance, exceeding seating capacity, or failing to obtain proper registration plates and inspections.


According to the Chauffeured Transportation Association of New Jersey, investigators have documented multiple cases of unlicensed operators advertising transportation services online and transporting passengers without proper commercial insurance coverage.

Enhanced penalties for illegal and unlicensed drivers in New York and New Jersey follows recommendations in a recent report authored by Matt Daus, IATR President, through the University Transportation Research Center at the City College of New York (UTRC), titled Addressing Unlicensed and Illegal Ride Hailing in the NY/NJ Metro Region.

 

The report, which was done in collaboration with the Chauffeured Transportation Association of New Jersey (CTANJ) and the Black Car Assistance Corporation (BCAC), highlights how unlicensed for-hire vehicles and off-platform rideshare drivers exploit enforcement gaps and operate without insurance, background checks, or vehicle inspections. Low penalties allow illegal operators to absorb summonses as a routine cost of doing business, rather than act as a meaningful deterrent.


Recommended measures include targeted patrols at high-risk locations, such as airport, and tougher penalties for repeat offenders. The report also recommends greater use of technology to detect illegal activity and stronger coordination among airport authorities, regulators, and law enforcement.

 

Read the Full Report Here


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Message from IATR President Matthew W. Daus


At the International Association of Transportation Regulators (IATR), our regulators are at the forefront of addressing both the challenges and opportunities facing the mobility paradigm. Our IATR members, partner organizations, and regulated industries will continue on our shared quest to fulfill the mission of our non-profit educational organization - to bring about Multi-Modal Mobility Innovation for All!  This mission can best be accomplished through information sharing, collaboration, identifying and promoting best practices, and educating our membership. These educational updates and electronic media clips are affectionately known as “IATR snips” and endeavor to cover all aspects of mobility around the globe - especially news and developments involving safety, technology innovation, multi-modal integration, automation, sustainability, electrification, accessibility, regulatory modernization, and equity.


If you would like more information about the IATR, you can visit our website at www.iatr.global. Current members can renew their memberships when you log in to your IATR portal on the top right-hand side of our website, or click here. If you forgot your membership password, please email our Membership Director, Eric Richardson, at erichardson@iatr.global.

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