Three recent projects in which we have been involved have necessitated a review of recent trends in transportation, including the influence of social media tools on transit use, the implications of self-driving cars and real-time data collection on transportation infrastructure, generational issues related to transit use, and trends in freight movement. Each of these topics has game-changing implications for both community and economic development. Although the exact nature of these changes is not fully predictable at this point, one important takeaway for economic development is the need to be forward-thinking and flexible in strategic planning, and be willing to take a leadership role in other community planning processes in which stakeholders might be less cognizant of some of these trends.