- Drivers killed nearly 7,000 pedestrians in 2018, the highest figure since 1990, according to the Federal Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Cyclist deaths were also up 6% over 2017. (Smart Cities Dive, Streetsblog)
- A bipartisan group of governors from a dozen East Coast states are working on a cap-and-trade plan to limit emissions from fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks. (Politico)
- The Charlotte city council is expected to vote today on starting preliminary work for the 26-mile Silver Line. The project faces financial challenges: At over $6 billion, it's several times more expensive than Charlotte's previous light rail lines, and the feds are not expected to kick in as much money. Possibilities include public-private partnerships and raising a sales tax that funds transit. (Observer)
- Sound Transit has rejected two proposed tunnels for a new rail line connecting Seattle and Ballard, citing the $650-million price tag. But a simpler and less expensive tunnel favored by Mayor Jenny Durkin is still on the table. Another alternative is a drawbridge, which would require massive ramps and could impede migrating salmon. (Seattle Times)
- Gordon Chaffin of the newsletter Street Justice reports that an aide to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is holding up three protected bike lane projects.
- A Montgomery County council member wants to clear the way for more development to raise tax revenue for a bus rapid transit line the Maryland DOT canceled. (Bethesda Mag)
- Austin is contracting with a company called Swiftmile to open 10 e-scooter charging stations. (Tech Crunch)
- Lime is pushing to bring more e-scooters to the Boston area (Curbed). Meanwhile, a committee of Georgia lawmakers is considering how to regulate e-scooters (AJC).
- A driver was cited for killing a cyclist on a stretch of St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans where bike advocates said they'd sought a protected bike lane in 2017, but the city didn't install one. (Advocate)
- Copenhagen is drastically raising the price of residential parking to up to 4,000 kroner a year, or about $400, in an effort to keep cars out of the city. The exact rate is based on emissions and fuel efficiency. (Eltis)
Today's Headlines
Monday’s Headlines
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Trump’s ‘EV Mandate’ Does Not Exist. But Car Dependency Does — And We Can End It
The new president has sworn to unravel Biden's EV plans. But would they have been enough to decarbonize the transportation sector without confronting how much Americans drive?
January 22, 2025
Wednesday’s Headlines Get a Gentleman’s ‘C’
Transportation for America gave the Biden administration middling grades. Meanwhile, President Trump is already following through on promises to cancel EVs.
January 22, 2025
Drivers Keep Hitting Pedestrians In Front of An Iconic St. Louis Ice Cream Shop. Advocates Are Fighting Back.
A series of crashes outside a popular St. Louis landmark carries a larger lesson about traffic violence, and the cost of government inaction.
January 22, 2025
Tuesday’s Headlines Take Me Home, Country Roads
Getting around without a car in a small town isn't easy, as one Fast Company writer found out. More bike lanes and denser town centers would help.
January 21, 2025
How America Can Reconnect Its Neighborhoods Before the Next Climate Catastrophe
America is replete with sprawling, disconnected neighborhoods that send residents out of their way by design. A new study explores just how bad it is — and what we can do about it.
January 21, 2025
