The Paris Olympics kicks off and LA Metro gets $77M for electric buses

Transit Unplugged Weekly News Minute with Julie Gates

The Olympic Games kicked off in Paris on Friday, and in advance of the 2028 California games L.A. METRO was granted $77 million dollars in federal funds to buy electric buses to ensure it’s a “transit-first games.” Source: LA Times

After six years of hard work, the new Gordie Howe International Bridge has been connected in the middle over the Detroit River. This bridge connects Canada and the United States between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. The official border crossing will open in Fall of 2025. Source: Transport Topics

For over 100 years, traffic lights have used red, yellow, and green signals. But now researchers want to introduce a fourth color, white, for the arrival of autonomous vehicles. In a North Carolina State University position paper, the authors say that adding the forth white light will shorten pedestrian wait times as well as improve traffic flow. Source: NCSU

And, in an effort to reduce stress for transit operators, unions in New York are providing relaxation programs such as yoga, guided meditation, and chair massages. Source: AP