Wednesday’s Headlines
The EPA is threatening to withhold federal highway funds from California unless the state addresses a backlog of pollution reduction plans. Yes, this is the same Trump Administration that just took away California’s ability to set stricter emissions standards for cars and trucks. (New York Times) Electric cars will help, but we’re all going to … Continued
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on September 25, 2019
- The EPA is threatening to withhold federal highway funds from California unless the state addresses a backlog of pollution reduction plans. Yes, this is the same Trump Administration that just took away California’s ability to set stricter emissions standards for cars and trucks. (New York Times)
- Electric cars will help, but we’re all going to have to drive less if we want to reduce emissions enough to avoid a climate catastrophe. (City Lab)
- Yonah Freemark at The Transport Politic wonders why commuter rail is both more expensive and less frequent in the U.S. than the rest of the world. Part of the blame, he argues, lies with the hodgepodge of authorities that govern regional transit systems.
- More than half of people say they’d feel safer riding in a driverless car than alone with an Uber or Lyft driver, according to one survey. (Mashable)
- Tim Eyman, the man behind an upcoming referendum in Seattle on capping fees paid by car owners that fund light rail, says he’s “giddy” about “ripping the heart out of Sound Transit.” Voters are unlikely to agree — the region keeps approving transit projects over and over, and people are kind of sick of having to revisit a settled debate. (Seattle Times)
- Transit advocates want Atlanta to prioritize light rail along the Beltline — a popular walking and biking trail encircling the city — not wait 30 years to build it. (Curbed)
- Passengers are packed tight after the L.A. Metro cut rush hour service on the Expo Line. (L.A. Times)
- The director of Walk Bike Nashville says downtown needs better infrastructure for bikes, scooters and pedestrians. (Tennessean)
- Despite Complete Streets and bike infrastructure plans, other modes of transportation often still take a back seat to cars in San Antonio. (Rivard Report)
- Montgomery County leaders were caught off guard when the Maryland DOT nixed funding for a proposed bus rapid transit line. (Maryland Matters)
- A French climate change march turned violent when some protesters set fire to barricades, and police used tear gas on the crowd. (ABC News)
- Why can’t D.C. have statehood? Because congressmen are too worried about parking. (Greater Greater Washington)
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
‘Our Roads Are More Than Just Highways’: Democrats Urge U.S. Senate to Fund Transit Programs
A Trump administration proposal recommends massive cuts to popular programs – and it will cost American communities more than they can afford, Senate Democrats say.
May 14, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Pump It Up
Until you can feel it (gas prices, that is). But you don't really need it (suspending gas taxes).
May 14, 2026
Study: Trump’s Transit Proposal Would Cost the Country So Many Jobs — And Not Just in Cities
... but an increase in funding would be a job-creating juggernaut.
May 13, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bought and Paid For
The Union of Concerned Scientists explains how the highway lobby keeps so many of us in our cars.
May 13, 2026
Opinion: It’s Time to Rethink Our Congestion Obsession
Policymakers constantly suggest that we need to spend billions of dollars and bulldoze countless acres of land to fix traffic jams. But do we?
May 13, 2026
