Streetsblog

Thursday’s Headlines Hear That Train A’ Comin’

Transit in a death spiral? Maybe cities need to charge drivers more and transit riders less. Click here for those stories and more.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on September 24, 2020

Transit systems are in danger of falling into a death spiral and need government support as part of a green, sustainable economic recovery. (Policy Options)
Think cities don’t privilege drivers over transit riders? A monthly transit pass in the 30 largest U.S. cities costs an average of $77, while a monthly parking pass costs $2.25. And that doesn’t even take into account cities where on-street parking is free. (City Observatory)
The West Coast wildfires are a reminder of the need to take cars off the road to protect our air quality. (National Resources Defense Council)
Desperate for revenue to repair roads while motorists are staying off the road, some states are raising the gas tax. (USA Today)
Contractors have stopped work on the Purple Line and are preparing to walk off the job as they negotiate a settlement with Maryland on cost overruns. (Washington Post)
A new report from a transit advocacy group calls for the Pittsburgh Port Authority to let low-income people ride fare-free and tweak routes to meet pandemic-related changes in demand. The program would work by letting Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program-eligible riders show their EBT cards to board. (Post-Gazette)
Portland transportation officials are studying four different options for congestion pricing. While one of the goals is to change driver behavior, about two-thirds of commuters don’t have any choice but to drive. E-bikes could give them an alternative. (Bike Portland)
Austin TV station KVUE interviews Mayor Steve Adler and Cap Metro board chairman Wade Cooper about the upcoming $7 billion Project Connect transit referendum.
A new method of building tunnels will shave almost a year off the construction time for Brightline’s West Palm Beach-to-Orlando extension. (Construction Dive)
Ridership on the recently reopened — and free — Cincinnati streetcar is starting to tick up. (WKRC)
Workers discovered the century-old remains of a Native American woman during construction on the Orange County streetcar. (NBC Los Angeles)
Want to start commuting by bike? Here’s how to do it with confidence. (Bicycling Magazine)