U.S. holiday road trips seen hitting record in post-COVID boom
Notably, the number of expected travelers this year surpasses 2019 levels, showing that the travel industry has recovered from the pandemic and is thriving again.
Transportation
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WNBA to begin full-time charter flights this season, commissioner says
The league plans to commit $50 million over the next two years to provide full-time charter flight service for its teams during the season in a move that addresses years of player safety concerns.
Chevrolet denies participation in Team Penske’s IndyCar cheating scandal
General Motors President Mark Reuss said Chevrolet engaged a third-party law firm to conduct a review of the matter and found no evidence that any Chevrolet employee had any involvement.
INDOT scraps $200M Link 101 road project
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s $200 million Link 101 road endeavor isn’t moving forward, at least in its original form, following a gloomy cost-benefit analysis and sustained public pushback.
Indianapolis airline founder and leader J. George Mikelsons dies at 87
Mikelsons founded and operated the nation’s largest charter airline service and one of the country’s largest airlines, both based in Indianapolis.
U.S. to require automatic emergency braking on new vehicles
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration unveiled the final version of the new regulation on Monday and called it the most significant safety rule in the past two decades.
Tractor-trailers with no one aboard? The future is near for self-driving trucks.
The autonomous semi companies say they can help address a truck driver shortage, estimated by the industry to amount to 64,000 drivers.
What fliers should know about new refund rules for airlines
New federal rules for airlines will go into effect later this year, giving travelers a better picture of the full cost of flights before they book—and getting them an easier refund if things go awry.
Parent sues Pike Township school district after bus driver sentenced for choking student
The mother of the student is suing the district and transportation department for negligence for hiring an unfit employee.
Transportation changes coming to IPS in 2024-25 school year
Families in the school district will be required to opt in to transportation for the next academic year. IPS hopes this move will create more efficiency as it switches to four broad enrollment zones.
Railroad agrees to $600M settlement for fiery Ohio derailment, but residents fear it’s not enough
The company said the agreement, if approved by the court, will resolve all class action claims within a 20-mile radius from the derailment and, for those residents who choose to participate, personal injury claims within a 10-mile radius from the derailment.
Expect eclipse traffic on Monday, Indianapolis officials say
At least 100,000 people are expected to visit Indianapolis for Monday’s solar eclipse and they should expect traffic delays, officials said Thursday. Planners advise choosing a location to watch the eclipse and staying in that spot Monday.
First-quarter auto sales rise nearly 5%, but EV growth slows
Most automakers reported strong year-over-year sales increases from January through March, but General Motors, Stellantis, Kia and Tesla all reported declines.
U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.6% last year, but nearly 41,000 people died
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was the second year in a row that fatalities decreased.
Indianapolis prepares for $17.5 million bridge rehabilitation, including two-year closure
Indianapolis city officials on Thursday announced plans to spend $17.5 million to rehabilitate a 76-year-old bridge over the White River. Construction crews are expected to begin rehab on the 16th Street Bridge, which connects Haughville to the west side of downtown Indianapolis, by the end of 2024. In the first few months, contractors will work […]
Summer gasoline pump prices set to hit $4 a gallon
Futures and pump prices have been boosted the past few weeks by the transition to summer-grade gasoline and as inventories shrink to the lowest level since December.
United Airlines says regulators plan to increase oversight of company following issues
Among the most recent problems, a chunk of outer aluminum skin was discovered to have fallen off the belly of a United Boeing 737 after it landed in Oregon. Earlier this month, a United jet suffered an engine fire during takeoff from Houston, and a tire fell off another United jet as it left San Francisco.
Honda, Nissan agree to work together in developing electric vehicles, intelligent technology
Japanese automakers have fallen behind rivals such as Tesla of the U.S. and BYD of China in developing EVs, partly because they have historically been so successful with combustion engine vehicles.
Southwest plans to reduce capacity, reevaluate outlook on delivery delays from Boeing
Boeing has been facing mounting pressure lately amid multiple government investigations. On Monday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said that Boeing needs to make a “serious transformation” regarding its safety and manufacturing quality.
Former CEO of Carmel-based enVista returns to top job
EnVista co-founder Jim Barnes, who left the company in 2022 when a German tech company acquired a portion of the business, has returned as chief executive.