Wednesday’s Headlines
U.S. motorists set a record by driving 3.225 trillion miles last year — and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao thinks that’s a good thing. (Transportation Today) In Houston’s immigrant communities, many people walk to bus stops. But a third of streets in one such neighborhood lack sidewalks, and the ones that do exist are often obstructed, … Continued
By
Blake Aued
8:30 AM EDT on March 27, 2019
- U.S. motorists set a record by driving 3.225 trillion miles last year — and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao thinks that’s a good thing. (Transportation Today)
- In Houston’s immigrant communities, many people walk to bus stops. But a third of streets in one such neighborhood lack sidewalks, and the ones that do exist are often obstructed, forcing people to carve out their own unsafe paths. (Houston Public Media)
- Ohio keeps widening highways, even though it can’t afford to maintain the ones it’s already built. (WCPO)
- The average Detroit driver spends as much on car insurance as some people do on rent. It’s so expensive because in Michigan benefits for crash victims are unlimited, combined with some of the worst roads in the country. (Jalopnik)
- In South Carolina — one of the most dangerous states to walk or bike — a Charleston lawmaker is pushing a bill to force SCDOT to adopt Complete Streets. (Post and Courier)
- Oregon legislation would protect cyclists from liability if drivers hit them while they’re passing through an intersection. (Portland Tribune)
- Washington, D.C. is seeking proposals from nonprofits to plan and execute a car-free “open streets” event this fall. (Curbed)
- Meet the new head of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority. (Tampa Bay Times)
- A Vancouver study found that people who live near bike lanes are more likely to be physically active. (Daily Hive and Streetsblog)
- London’s congestion pricing zone may undertake a radical plan to keep out polluting vehicles and improve air quality. (BBC)
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Opinion: The Case For Letting An Awful Urban Highway Fail
The same activism that once saved a New York City neighborhood could bring down the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
July 1, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Brake Out
Look, ma, no hands is about to become look, ma, no brakes.
July 1, 2026
Streetsblog LA Honored At Press Club Awards
Streetsblog team members were finalists for nine different awards for calendar year 2025 reporting, and placed second or third in six categories.
July 1, 2026
The Explainer: Everything You Need To Know About President Trump’s Penn Station Renovation Scheme
It's hard to keep all these trains of thought on the right track. Fortunately for you, The Explainer is back.
June 30, 2026
So, How Is ‘Vision Zero’ Doing in Beantown?
A new report singles out a Boston suburb, where there have been no fatal crashes since 2022.
June 30, 2026