- Massachusetts congressman and noted train fanatic Seth Moulton wants to spend $205 billion on high-speed rail, including lines linking Chicago and Atlanta, Los Angeles and San Francisco, Dallas and Houston, and Portland and Vancouver. (Wired)
- Social distancing is leading to a new vision of permanently pedestrian-friendly cities with better sidewalks, shared streets and more public space. (The City Fix)
- Race and class are often missing from the debate when people talk about how to redesign cities in the wake of COVID-19. (Curbed)
- Bike commuting is up 20 percent over the past decade, much of that increase due to bike-shares, according to a University of Washington study. (MinnPost)
- Scooter companies are testing remote-controlled scooters in Georgia in hopes that the technology will be more convenient — riders can bring the devices to them — and reduce sidewalk clutter. (The Verge)
- The pandemic delivery boom is accelerating a shift in the autonomous vehicle industry from moving people to moving packages. (Reuters)
- Uber and Lyft have long used venture capital to subsidize rides in an effort to win market share, but those days might be ending. Rising ride-hailing prices could drive people back to transit. (Quartz)
- President Trump has taken to “announcing” transit grants on Twitter that were actually awarded weeks ago. (SFGATE)
- Virgin Trains says it won’t restart passenger rail service in Florida for months. (Bloomberg)
- Portland voters extended a gas tax that goes toward maintaining streets and safety improvements. (KATU)
- Detroit’s MoGo bike share is expanding into the suburbs next month. (Daily Detroit)
- Six years later, Pittsburgh drivers still hate the Penn Avenue bike lanes, but data shows they’re drastically improved safety. (Bike PGH)
- Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s coronavirus hot takes are costing him his loyal fan club. (The Atlantic)
High-speed rail
Friday’s Headlines From Around the Nation
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Best of 2024: Yes, People Bike In ‘Bad’ Weather — If We Support Them
Good policy can mean the difference between people getting in the saddle or not — even when Mother Nature is at her worst.
Tuesday’s Headlines Are the Reason for the Season
An MTA worker's delightful after-work hobby, a viral sidewalk meme revisited and a few wonkier deep dives to get you through the holidays.
Best of 2024: The Real (Disappointing) Reason Why Gen Z Is Getting Fewer Drivers Licenses
Yes, fewer young adults are getting behind the wheel. No, it doesn't mean car culture is doomed.
Streetsblog Year in Review: The Biggest Sustainable Transport News of 2024
It was a busy year in the movement to end car dependency — and there's a lot more to come.
Monday’s Headlines Are Knocked Out by Greenways
Greenways are helping to revitalize cities, but how well are they integrated into the overall transportation system?