Trend Category

Transportation and Infrastructure

Emerging trends and shifts within the transportation and infrastructure sectors are quite literally changing how we get around, how we access critical services, and where we live and work.

Trends to Act on Now

Electric vehicles

Decarbonization and electrification of transportation and the trend of electric mobility have been accelerating. At leastfive U.S. states, along with...

Electric trucks

Though larger EVs such as freight trucks and buses have been slower than electric passenger cars to appear, change is...

New charges for car externalities

Interest from state and local governments in new ways to disincentivize vehicle use is growing. In 2022, Bogota, Colombia, piloted...

Reconnecting communities

The trend of removing highways that harmed or destroyed surrounding communities has gained further attention. The U.S. Department of Transportation'sReconnecting...

Fixing U.S. infrastructure

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides $1.2 trillion for transportation and infrastructure spending. This...

Curb management tech

Increased dependence on e-commerce, food delivery, and ridesharing services has created conflicts over curbside space and a concomitant need to...

New public transit needs and related struggles

Most U.S. public transit systems are still struggling post-COVID-19. Withcommutes declining, fare revenue has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. More...

Vehicle-to-grid Technology

Recent blackouts and unreliable electric grids in the U.S. have highlighted the urgent need to improve grid resilience, especially as...

Eliminating parking minimums

Eliminating parking minimums can both reduce the number of cars on the road and lower the cost of building new...

Universal basic mobility

Expanding mobility is a positive step toward making cities more accessible and inclusive for all.The cities ofLos Angeles,Oakland, andPittsburghhave launched...

Micromobility, e-bikes, and cargo bikes

Micromobility is on the rise. Due to the increasing popularity of these lightweight, usually single-person vehicles, planners need to meet...

Trends to Prepare For

Green aviation transformations

Sustainable initiatives are transforming the aviation industry. Examples include an American Airlines pilot program using AI technology to successfully cut...

U.S. high-speed rail investments

Significant investments in high-speed rail are reshaping transportation in the U.S. The $1.2 trillion U.S. infrastructure bill allocated a historic$170...

Advanced air mobility

The concept of flying cars keeps moving closer to reality. A variety of different electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle...

EV charging roads

The latest experiment in electric charging? Roads that can directly charge EVs. Multiple pilots have been operating in Europe for...

Hydrogen in transportation

The use of non-petroleum-based fuel alternatives such as natural gas, biofuels, hydrogen, and electricity is increasing. While the electrification of...

Car-free cities

European cities such asOslo,Paris, and most recentlyStockholmhave converted their downtown districts or city centers into car-free areas. Research shows that...

Autonomous vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) have made headway, as prominent AV companies have been successful in securing local licensing agreements and in...

Trends to Learn About and Watch

Skyscraper cemeteries

In places where land is scarce, or to provide more affordable interment options, building up is a popular alternative for...

4D printing

The latest innovation in the evolving 3D-printing industry is4D printing, which adds a fourth dimension: time. 4D printing usessmart materialsthat...

3D-printed infrastructure

Fromhousestosolar farmsto themoon, 3D printing is vastly expanding in scope. This includes the use of a variety of materials, such...

Trend Reports

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