Airports. On August 4, the FAA announced the recipients of another $870 million in Airport Infrastructure Grant program funding, the fifth and final installment of FY 2026 funding provided by the IIJA in its final year. By far the largest single grant (and the largest one we can remember seeing) was $289.3 million for Los Angeles International for its Roadway Improvements Project, key parts of which can be completed in advance of the 2028 Olympics.

Amtrak. On July 31^st, Amtrak announced a plan to restructure the railroad. The preliminary framework would keep Amtrak as the parent company with three subsidiaries: passenger rail service, infrastructure, and fleet management. According to Amtrak, the restructuring is designed to bring greater visibility in business performance, enable faster and better-informed decisions, and align decision-making authority with responsibility and results. The railroad is asking for feedback on the preliminary framework and the deadline for feedback is October 30, 2026.

High-speed rail noise. On August 3, the FRA published a Federal Register notice of proposed rulemaking that changes the noise approval procedures for high-speed trains operating in excess of 160 miles per hour. Comments are due by October 2.

Marine One. The NTSB announced via social media on August 5 that they were looking into an August 4 incident where Marine One, the President’s helicopter, had a “loss of separation event” (a.k.a. a close call) with a jet airliner taking off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at the same time. ABC News reports that “According to an air traffic communication recording provided by ATC.com, Marine One gave air traffic controllers a three-minute notice that it was about to take off, but a controller did not hear the transmission because someone else was talking on the frequency at the same time.” Meanwhile, Marine One’s helipad on the White House South Lawn has been undergoing unexpected changes in recent weeks.

Self-driving trucks. On August 5, the California chapter of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a lawsuit in a state Superior Court against the state transportation and DMV agencies, seeking to overturn the new autonomous vehicle regulations issued in April 2026 which would for the first time, allow self-driving trucks of over 10,000 pounds gross weight to operate on California roads.