Image: Bell-Dancy Industries

Miami International (KMIA), Miami Executive (KTMB), and other local airports plan to begin operational trials of drones and eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxis.

The Miami-Dade Aviation Department (MDAD) will install a new air traffic management system across ramp facilities at Miami Executive, creating a “live testing ground” that will study air taxis under “real conditions,” it said in a news release Tuesday.

The pilot program will also cover Miami International and “surrounding Miami-Dade County airports.” In addition to KMIA and KTMB, MDAD operates Opa-Locka Executive (KOPF), Dade-Collier Training and Transition (KTNT), and Miami Homestead General Aviation (X51) airports.

The pilot, called “SafeLand,” will be facilitated by Bell-Dancy Industries (BDI), a Los Angeles-based provider of autonomous infrastructure for advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft.

The company’s flagship platform, ALTA (Autonomous Landing and Take-off Assistant), uses that infrastructure to create “protected airspaces” specifically for AAM operations at airports, vertiports, distribution centers, offshore locations, and other sites. It is designed for commercial, medical, and military applications.

MDAD’s news release describes SafeLand as a “structured pilot program that will stand up the physical and digital infrastructure necessary to better support air taxi operations in an urban aviation environment.” The partners will begin operations with uncrewed drones to “stress-test” the system before moving to full-scale air taxi operations under FAA oversight.

Source: Flying Magazine

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The IATR is built on the principles of multimodal mobility for all, focusing on safe and sustainable transportation. Leaders in this field include both Empire Clean Cities and the NYC Department of Administrative Services through NYC Fleet.

On Thursday, May 21st, at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Empire Clean Cities, under the leadership of Joy Gardner, Executive Director and Clean Cities Coalition Director, will host their 17th Annual Stakeholders Meeting, bringing together leaders in sustainability, government agencies, transportation professionals, and industry partners to discuss alternative fuels, technologies to reduce emissions, electrification, and new emerging initiatives. Speakers to include Keith Kerman, DCAS Deputy Commissioner, Fleet Management and Chief Fleet Officer, Quintin Haynes, Chief Deputy Director Los Angeles County Internal Services Department, Lauren Filler, Zero Emission Vehicles Lead Office of Sustainability at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Lauren Kesner O’Brien, Policy and Partnerships Manager at ECC, Vinny Riscica, Section Manager, Medium- and Heavy-Duty Infrastructure Program at Con Edison, Steven Levy, Managing Director at Sprague Energy, Matthew Austin, Director of Business Development at Viatec, and Alyssa Wiegers, Project and Outreach Coordinator, Living Streets and Public Spaces in the NYC Mayor's Office of Climate & Environmental Justice.

The event will start with a breakfast and networking session at 7:30 AM, followed by the program at 8:30 AM.

Also taking place at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, starting at 9 AM, will be the 37th Annual Equipment and Vehicle Show, highlighting exhibitors innovating in vehicles, technologies, equipment, and fuels to create a safer and more sustainable transportation sector. With almost 200 exhibitors from the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom registered to participate, attendees will get to see how global leaders are working to transform fleets, both public and private, to maximize operations and efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and make our roads safer.

Both events are free, and IATR looks forward to seeing many of our friends at these events this Thursday.

LIRR Strike Ends As MTA Reaches Deal with Unions after Chaotic Commute

The Long Island Rail Road strike ended Monday night after the MTA reached a tentative deal with five labor unions following days of stalled negotiations and a chaotic first workday for commuters. The unions represent more than half the LIRR workforce and had been working without a raise since 2023.

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Caltrans Explores 140 Mph ‘Bullet Buses’ between L.A. and San Francisco — They Would Connect the Cities in Just Three Hours

From new subway lines to rapid transit lanes and high-speed trains, California is undergoing a public transportation overhaul. Now, a new proposal could reshape long-distance travel entirely, as Caltrans just announced it’s exploring the concept of high-speed buses capable of reaching up to 140 mph on freeways. The proposed statewide network would link major hubs such as Sacramento, the Bay Area, San Diego and L.A.

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Waymo Expands Houston Service Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The robotaxi company will expand its service area in Houston to East Downtown, the Texas Medical Center, the northeast of the city, and the stadium area that will host World Cup matches. Waymo will expand its service in Houston ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with an expansion of nearly 50 square miles that will include areas such as East Downtown, the Texas Medical Center, the northeast of Houston and the NRG Stadium area.

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Canada’s Electrified Vehicle Sales Surge 75% before Chinese Cars Even Arrived

Canada may not be the first country you’d back to lead an electrified car revolution, but it seems that the tides are changing, with buyers snapping up 21,574 new ZEVs (Zero Emission Vehicles) in March 2026 alone, according to a Statistics Canada report. That’s a 74.7% increase over March 2025 figures.

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Auto VIN Cloning Worsening in Alberta despite Calgary’s Decreasing Theft Rate

While the price and prominence of vehicle theft are becoming less of a worry in Calgary, insurance experts have warned that the province is becoming a hotspot for organized auto crime. Despite recent reports showing a drop in vehicle theft, the cost of related auto insurance claims has surpassed the 10-year average across Canada — including in Alberta, where the worsening recovery rate for stolen vehicles has identified a different issue.

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Toronto Introduces Body Cameras for Select Station Staff to Enhance Security

The phased introduction of the cameras for station staff follows the successful rollout of the devices with TTC Special Constables and Provincial Offenses Officers in January 2025.

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The Knowledge Versus the Algorithm: Inside London’s £42bn Robotaxi Reckoning

The black cab is the most reliable piece of street furniture in London. It has outlasted hansom carriages, two world wars and the rise of Uber. But the trade now faces an opponent it cannot intimidate with a beep of the horn, an artificial intelligence that drives two million miles a week and never has to learn a single street name.

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Cabbies Fight Back As Fare Dodgers Cost Edinburgh Trade £40,000 a Year

Edinburgh's black cab drivers are demanding urgent action from the police and local council as rampant fare dodging bleeds the local trade of an estimated £40,000 every year. Drivers warn that taxi fraud is a damaging financial blow that forces many in the industry to work longer hours just to make a living.

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Inclusion Taxi Must Be Included in the Social Code

In Germany, the discussion about accessible mobility is often reduced to elevators, train platforms, and low-floor buses – but that's only part of the problem. Taxi and rental car services have so far mostly played a minor role. The VSPV (Association of Private Transport Companies) and the SoVD (Social Association of Germany) are urging that inclusive taxis be enshrined in the Social Code as a legally binding provision.

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China Isn’t Copying Western Cars Anymore—It’s Reinventing Them

In 2023, China’s mammoth automaker BYD unveiled the Yangwang U8, an SUV with four independent electric motors that can do a ‘tank turn’ and spin 360 degrees on itself. The Zeekr 001 FR, made by Geely, can do the same.

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Service Drivers Switch to EVs As Fuel Savings Boost Profits

Many taxi and transport service operators in Vietnam are moving from internal-combustion vehicles to electric cars as lower running costs help them increase daily profits and recover their investment faster. Thach Hoa of Hai Phong City, a long-time owner of a transport company, says he had long favoured Japanese petrol cars because of their reliability, durability and high resale value. His rental fleet of five to seven vehicles used to consist entirely of Japanese brands.

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Uber Introduces 'Drift' Experience in Japan with JDM Cars

Uber has launched a limited-edition product called Uber Drift in Tokyo, Japan, giving tourists a chance to experience drifting from the passenger seat. The service is part of Uber's global "Go Anywhere" series and marks its debut in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Image: Curb

Curb, a leading mobility solutions provider committed to supporting black cab drivers and enhancing urban transportation, today announced that Curb Flow is partnering with Taxi Butler, HQ (Summit Quest) and GRiDD, bringing the total number of demand sources available to London cab drivers through a single platform to five

This driver-first platform aggregates ride requests from multiple sources into a single platform, enabling more metered trip opportunities directly to drivers and more consistent access to trips without needing to switch between systems.

"Most platforms have asked drivers to do more for less. We're asking the opposite, join our network, keep your full fare, and we'll keep adding partners that bring you more business," said Dorel Tamam, Vice President of the Mobile Business Unit at Curb.

Following a successful operation across several American cities, Curb Flow launched in London last month. The platform operates on a 0% commission model, meaning drivers retain the full fare from every metered trip, with full control over which demand sources they accept and no penalties or acceptance quotas.

Taxi Butler operates across the U.S., U.K., Europe, Australia, and beyond, connecting hotel and venue guests with drivers at the tap of a button, and has already driven strong results across major U.S. cities with Curb.

Source: PRNewswire

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