Thursday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
Cities need better planning and transit, and road safety is a public health crisis — things that are becoming more and more clear during the coronavirus pandemic.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on April 16, 2020
- File under: things Streetsblog has been saying for years. The coronavirus pandemic is exposing the fragility of auto-centric communities, and highlighting the need for better planning and transportation options (Rocky Mountain Institute). And the over 1 million people killed by car crashes each year is also a public health crisis (World Bank).
- With most flights grounded due to coronavirus, governments should take the opportunity to put policies in place to discourage high-emissions air travel and invest in cleaner alternatives like rail and buses. (The Guardian)
- Filling out your Census form will help determine how much transportation funding your community receives. (Mobility Lab)
- Gas tax revenue has fallen sharply during the coronavirus pandemic, and the federal Highway Trust Fund — which funds roads, bridges and transit — is quickly running out of money. (Roll Call)
- Walking and biking is important for mental and physical health while sheltering in place — but more people outdoors means it’s harder to maintain a proper distance (Omaha World-Herald). One Boston suburb has found a solution: one-way foot traffic on sidewalks (WCVB). Austin has made trails one-way as well (KXAN).
- A federal judge cleared the way for Maryland’s Purple Line by dismissing opponents’ third and final lawsuit. (Washington Post)
- California will allow Virgin Trains to sell $600 million in tax-exempt bonds to help finance a light-rail line to Las Vegas. (Bloomberg)
- Baltimore is one of the largest cities in the country that doesn’t have its own transit agency; instead, transit is controlled by the state of Maryland. Greater Greater Washington says it’s time for that to change.
- Skies are clearing in cities around the world during the coronavirus pandemic because fewer people are driving. Not in Atlanta, though, and no one knows why. (Curbed)
- A Reno hospital has turned a parking garage into a 1,400-bed temporary facility for COVID-19 victims. (Gazette Journal)
- The Bay Area City of Emeryville got rid of much-loathed beg buttons — the ones you press to get a walk signal at intersections — to help halt the spread of coronavirus. (SFGate)
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
‘Big Brother’ At U.S. DOT: Bike Lanes Aren’t Just ‘DEI,’ They’re Also Unsafe
Taking a page from George Orwell, the government is now saying that bike lanes are unsafe and speed cameras are not proven to reduce crashes. In other words, freedom is slavery.
July 17, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Slow Down
Driving over the speed limit doesn't even save much time, according to a new study.
July 17, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: What San Francisco’s Muni Learned from COVID
SFMTA’s Julie Kirschbaum discusses the lessons her agency learned from COVID and Muni’s post-pandemic recovery.
July 16, 2026
Fifth Time’s The Harm: Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro Again Signed A Budget With No Money For Transit
New budget refuses a single cent for transit, cuts service for most vulnerable residents.
July 16, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Deadly By Design
Turns out, designing roads for fast-moving cars means people will die.
July 16, 2026
