Friday’s Headlines
- President Trump claimed he walked out on infrastructure talks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer because House Democrats are investigating him. The real reason was that he finally figured out spending $2 trillion on infrastructure is a non-starter in the Republican-controlled Senate. (Slate)
- New reports from the World Resources Institute offer transit agencies a roadmap for electrifying their fleets — a quick and simple way to fight climate change. (Curbed)
- Simple signage can help integrate e-scooters into city streets. (Mobility Lab)
- Vision Zero isn’t working in Washington, D.C., where drivers have killed 10 people so far this year. The city’s goal is zero traffic deaths by 2024 (WUSA). Maybe Cincinnati, which is rolling out its own Vision Zero initiative, will fare better (City Beat).
- Nashville's transit agency, WeGo, is proposed cuts to two dozen bus routes and a fare hike in response to a projected $8.7-million shortfall (Nashville Public Radio). Gee, if only there were some sort of tax people could vote on that would fund transit.
- Milwaukee council members halted funding for a streetcar expansion, meaning it won’t be done in time for next summer’s Democratic National Convention. (Fox 6)
- Berkeley, Calif., is preparing for a transit-oriented future by seeking a developer to build housing on parking lots surrounding a train station. (Next City)
- Some officials are balking at the $1-billion cost for two tunnels along the planned West Seattle and Ballard light rail lines. (Daily Herald)
- The National Transportation Safety Board is blaming Sound Transit’s lack of training and safety equipment for a 2017 Amtrak derailment in Seattle. (Seattle Transit Blog)
- Charlotte is cracking down on drivers who drive or park in bike lanes. (WBTV)
- So, apparently Tesla is actually a software company. Insert eyeroll emoji here. (Forbes)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Wednesday’s Headlines Ask How Much a Life Is Worth
There isn't much of a financial penalty for drivers who kill pedestrians — even if those drivers are cops.
‘I’m Not Grieving Alone’: New Play Explores a Father’s Journey After Losing Two Children to Traffic Violence
Colin Campbell and his wife Gail Lerner lost both their children in a car crash with impaired driver. A new play explores how to talk about similar tragedies.
How Transit Saved Lives — And Became a Lifeline — During and After the Maui Fires
A Hawaii bus agency helped transport 42,000 people off the island in the wake of the most devastating fires in the state's history — and highlighted the critical role that shared modes can play not just in preventing climate-related disasters, but saving lives when they happen.
California Has to Stop Building Freeways. Now.
"People aren't used to thinking of freeways as fossil fuel infrastructure, but they are." And once built, there's no going back, no making up for the extra driving by trying to convince people that a bus or train might be a better choice - we're stuck with it.
Streetfilms Tours Emeryville, Calif., the Little City that Can
Did somebody say "encore?" Safe streets rock star John Bauters, Mayor of Emeryville, population less-than 13,000, gave Streetfilms producer Clarence Eckerson a tour of his city.
