Wednesday’s Headlines From All Over the Place
A Canadian province quadrupled the fine for dooring a cyclist (can we move to Canada?). Plus all the other news.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on September 23, 2020
- More than 50 years after the Federal Railroad Administration first recommended it, most railroads are on track to install an automated braking system called positive train control by December. Congress finally mandated the technology after a deadly 2008 train crash in California, but the deadline was extended several times. (Washington Post)
- Uber is falling behind in the race to develop a viable self-driving car, and investors are not happy about it. (Bloomberg)
- The Federal Railroad Administration gave final clearance for a privately built and financed high-speed rail line between Houston and Dallas, but it is likely to be challenged in court. (Houston Chronicle)
- Indianapolis businesses love the Massachusetts Avenue street closure, but a 50-year contract with a company that collects parking fines means the city can’t make it permanent. (Star)
- Honolulu budgeted $1.4 billion to build a light-rail extension, but one company’s bid is over $2 billion, the CEO revealed on an earnings call. (Civil Beat)
- Omaha is experimenting with an app that allows delivery drivers to find, reserve and pay for curb space. (Streetsblog)
- Philadelphia’s five-lane Washington Avenue is going on a road diet that will replace car lanes with bike lanes, bus islands and loading zones. (WHYY)
- A bus rapid transit line connecting downtown Pittsburgh and the Oakland neighborhood is slated to open in 2023. (Post-Gazette)
- Tampa officials hope colorful street murals imitating bulb-outs will be a quick and cheap way of keeping pedestrians safer while also beautifying Ashley Drive. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Boulder received a Colorado state grant for shared streets and street closures. (Times-Call)
- Uber has entered into a partnership with Renault and Nissan to supply electric cars to drivers in Europe. (Clean Technica)
- Dutch e-bike startup Van Moof — the company whose recent TV commercial was banned in France, as we reported — raised $40 million from venture capitalists. (CNN)
- British Columbia quadrupled the fine for dooring a cyclist to $368. (Daily Hive)
- A Toronto poll found that 84 percent of residents want more protected bike lanes. (CBC)
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
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Try, Try Again
Maybe another climate conference can succeed on phasing out fossil fuels where COP30 failed.
April 14, 2026
Push Grows To Move Parking Enforcement From NYPD To DOT
Two community boards want the job to go to the agency already in charge of the streets.
April 13, 2026