Latest news with #ArizonaDepartmentofTransportation
Miami Herald
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Elon Musk is bringing Robotaxis to a new city
After extensive promises about how his Robotaxis would change the face of autonomous driving, Tesla's (TSLA) CEO finally came through and launched the Robotaxi in Austin. How well that went depends on who you ask. Musk, naturally, had nothing but good things to say about the big event, posting all over X about its success. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Naturally, the event was closely scrutinized, and that's where very different opinions about it started to pop up. Related: Elon Musk announces a groundbreaking change coming to Tesla Critics noted that the event was not open to the general public, only operated in a small geofenced area of Austin for six hours, and had a safety monitor riding shotgun rather than running solo. Even so, many were excited to see the event finally happen and asked Musk on X what was next for the service. Musk has confirmed a few things. And now, thanks to some new reporting, we know the next city to which he plans to bring the Robotaxi. In a July 9 tweet on X, Elon Musk confirmed that the operation in Austin would be growing. "Expanding to a larger service area in Austin this weekend," he said. This correlates with Tesla seeking more Vehicle Operators in the Austin area, per a tweet from Tesla Autopilot recruiter Ben Costa from June 27. A commenter was quick to ask Musk when the service would come to the Bay Area, to which Musk replied, "Waiting on regulatory approvals, but probably in a month or two." However, the Bay Area is not the only place Robotaxi is coming soon. Influencer Sawyer Merritt reports that there's another state in the works as well, per his own research after contacting the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). Related: Tesla's next bet could flip the robotaxi race "BREAKING: I have confirmed directly with the Arizona Department of Transportation that @Tesla reached out to them on June 26th to begin the certification process to operate an autonomous Robotaxi service in the state," Sawyer reports. "Tesla has applied for both autonomous vehicle testing/operating with a driver and testing/operating without a driver. A decision on those is expected at the end of the month. They have expressed interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area," the ADOT reply reads. Musk may be working on the Robotaxi expansion, but Tesla shareholders are not assured he knows what to do to save his struggling company. On July 10, a group of Tesla shareholders sent the company a letter demanding it schedule an annual meeting, which is a legal requirement, per reporting from CNN. "This delay is particularly troubling in light of the growing investor scrutiny Tesla faces," the letter said. Tesla replied to the inquiry the next day, setting a date for November 6 - which is four months beyond the legal deadline by which the meeting should take place. Tesla stock is down 18.53% for the year as investors' confidence is shaken by watching Musk fight with President Donald Trump publicly, going as far as to suggest he will launch a third political party to challenge the president. Related: Legacy automaker makes drastic cuts as sales slump The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
CNBC
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNBC
Tesla moves to expand Robotaxi to Phoenix, following rival Waymo
Elon Musk's Tesla has applied to test and eventually deploy its Robotaxi vehicles in Phoenix, Arizona, following in the footsteps of market leader Waymo. Tesla has applied to conduct autonomous vehicle testing and operations, with and without human safety drivers on board, in Arizona, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Transportation told CNBC on Thursday. A decision on the application is expected at the end of July, and Tesla has "expressed interest in operating within the Phoenix Metro area," the spokesperson said via email. Reuters first reported Tesla's Arizona ambitions. The effort to expand to Arizona comes after Tesla in June began a pilot test of its robotaxis in Austin, Texas. Tesla's Austin fleet includes Model Y SUVs that are equipped with the company's newest, automated driving systems. Those vehicles are remotely supervised by employees in an undisclosed operations center, and they each include a human safety supervisor who rides with passengers. The safety supervisor sits in the front passenger seat, accompanying riders, who are invited fans of Tesla. The supervisor can intervene should the Tesla Robotaxis get into trouble. Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet, opened up a driverless robotaxi service to the public in the Phoenix area in 2020. Tesla, which was once seen as a self-driving pioneer, is now working to catch up to Waymo. The companies have distinct approaches to self-driving technology. Tesla claims its choice to mostly use cameras instead of expensive sensors like lidar will make its autonomous vehicles more economically viable. The Musk company's initial efforts in Austin have run into issues. One invited passenger, who runs a Tesla-focused YouTube channel called Dirty Tesla, captured an incident on camera where his Robotaxi dinged a parked car outside of a restaurant. Other incidents where Tesla Robotaxis violated rules of the road in Austin have also been captured on camera and circulated on social media, drawing regulatory scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal vehicle safety agency. Tesla is scheduled to hold a second-quarter earnings call on July 23, during which executives are expected to discuss the initial Robotaxi pilot. Separately, Musk on Wednesday said on X that Tesla is awaiting regulatory approvals to bring Robotaxis to the San Francisco Bay Area "probably in a month or two." The California Department of Motor Vehicles sued Tesla in 2022 alleging that the company made false claims in marketing and advertising about its vehicles' self-driving capabilities.
Newsweek
26-06-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Map Shows Arizona Rail Project After Federal Approval
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Plans for a passenger rail line connecting Phoenix and Tucson advanced this week after the Federal Railroad Administration approved the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) first submission. The approval allows ADOT to begin work on a planning document that will outline details such as potential station locations, infrastructure needs, and funding requirements. Newsweek contacted ADOT for an update on the project via email. Why It Matters The route is intended to provide another option for travelers between Phoenix and Tucson, which are currently linked by the Interstate 10 highway. ADOT stated that the plan could offer improved travel reliability and reduce road traffic. What To Know The rail corridor, running approximately 160 miles from Buckeye in the Phoenix area to Tucson, was first proposed in 2016. Recent developments have built on that proposal with updated studies and technical assessments. The approval of ADOT's early-stage proposal now allows the agency to move ahead with its Service Development Plan, which will take two to three years to complete, according to the state of Arizona. This part will include ridership estimates, projected costs, and timelines. To complete the Service Development Plan, ADOT has an approved budget of $10.6 million budget. Governor Katie Hobbs has committed $3.5 million to the project. A map of the proposed rail corridor between Tucson and Phoenix, in Arizona. A map of the proposed rail corridor between Tucson and Phoenix, in Arizona. ADOT Completion of this phase will allow the state to enter the next round of project work, which includes environmental reviews and engineering studies. The project may share existing Union Pacific Railroad tracks with a separate passenger rail initiative being studied by Amtrak. While the two services are distinct, coordination is expected during the development process. What People Are Saying Governor Katie Hobbs said in a statement: "This is a big step forward for Arizona. I am committed to creating a bright transportation future for our state that fosters economic growth, creates jobs and expands transit opportunities for working people and families." The Arizona Department of Transportation in a report on the project: "This project represents an alternative mode of transportation connecting the state's two largest metropolitan areas to complement vehicular travel on I-10, the one interstate highway linking the two regions. "It's important to note a Phoenix to Tucson passenger rail corridor is not currently funded for implementation. However, this study will provide an important step in determining stakeholder support, service coordination with UPPR and Amtrak, infrastructure needs and project costs to implement this service." What's Next Federal funds are expected to support the development work, pending grant approval, which is expected in the coming weeks. Completion of the Service Development Plan will make way for a third and final step, which includes an engineering and environmental study. This is also expected to take two to three years.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Brush fire closes parts of State Route 87 between Fountain Hills, Payson
Portions of State Route 87 near Fountain Hills were closed due to a brush fire near milepost 199. The Arizona Department of Transportation said SR 87 southbound was reopened at the SR 188 junction as of 1:48 p.m., June 13. There is a left lane closure at milepost 234 on the southbound side, south of Payson. The northbound side was closed at Bush Highway milepost 199, near Fountain Hills. As of noon on June 13, ADOT did not give an estimated time of reopening the highway. ADOT advised motorists to expect delays and seek an alternative route. For real-time highway conditions, motorists can visit AZ 511, download the AZ511 app, or call 511. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Brush fire closes portions of SR 87 near Fountain Hills
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Parts of I-17, Loop 101 closed for weekend roadwork
Not only did metro Phoenix get a break from 100-degree temperatures during the first week of June, but Valley drivers were also expected to encounter few freeway restrictions over the first weekend of the month. Planned closures and lane restrictions for freeway improvement projects in the Phoenix area were limited for the weekend of June 6 through 9. Construction work was confined to portions of Interstate 17 and Loop 101. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, drivers should allow extra travel time and plan on using detour routes as needed when weekend restrictions are in place. ADOT said schedules were subject to change due to weather and other factors. The north- and southbound I-17 ramps to westbound Loop 101 (Agua Fria Freeway) were scheduled to close beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, June 6, until 5 a.m. on Monday, June 9. ADOT said the closures were for bridge work as part of the Loop 101 widening project. The westbound Loop 101 right lane will be closed near 31st Avenue, which will be closed in both directions at Loop 101. Northbound I-17 detour: Exit at Rose Garden Lane. Southbound I-17 detour: Exit at Deer Valley Road before traveling west to southbound 27th Avenue to access westbound Loop 101. Westbound Loop 101 would be narrowed to two lanes overnight, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., near 51st Avenue on Sunday through Thursday nights, June 8 through 12. The westbound Loop 101 on-ramp at 35th Avenue and off-ramp at 51st Avenue are closed for several weeks for reconstruction. ADOT offers several options for checking whether roads are clear: The Arizona Traveler Information site at allows travelers to map routes and see closures affecting travel time. The AZ511 app for Apple and Android mobile devices is a smartphone-friendly version of the Arizona Traveler Information site. Within Arizona, dialing 511 calls the Arizona Traveler Information line, which offers traffic reports. Just say the route you're driving and the automated system will respond with traffic delay information. If 511 doesn't work from a cell phone, dial 1-888-411-ROAD (7623). If you're outside the U.S., dial 1-520-200-0105. ADOT provides updates on highway conditions via its X feed @ArizonaDOT. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Minimal weekend freeway closures and restrictions in metro Phoenix
