- Fare-free transit is common in Europe, and American cities ought to give it another look. Benefits include fewer people driving, lower emissions and fewer costs for low-income families. Revenue would take a hit, but most transit agencies only get a small portion of their funding from fareboxes, and that might be offset by savings on road repairs. (Governing)
- The U.S. Department of Transportation rejected a nationwide mask mandate on planes, buses and trains just hours after President Trump revealed he had COVID-19. (Business Insider)
- Almost every car in the U.S. will need to be electric in order to meet climate goals, according to a new University of Toronto study. Since that's probably not feasible for a variety of reasons, including the strain on the power grid, it's also a good idea to invest in transit. (Scientific American, Streetsblog)
- Despite the fact that people are driving less during the pandemic, traffic deaths are at a 15-year high. That's a sign that we need to redesign our roads. (Streetsblog)
- The BBC has another story about how coronavirus sparked a cycling revolution in Europe.
- New York City's two-year-old regulations guaranteed Uber and Lyft drivers a living wage without raising prices much. They could serve as a model for other cities. (NY Times)
- Transit cuts in Denver are making it harder for essential workers to get to work. (Colorado Public Radio)
- South Florida's Brightline shut down in March. When will it start up again? (Sun-Sentinel)
- Milwaukee is redesigning its bus system, focusing on high-frequency routes where buses come every 15 minutes or less. (Urban Milwaukee)
- As the pandemic improves in Texas, Austin is winding down a pop-up traffic calming initiative, but some of the changes will be made permanent. (Monitor)
- Washington, D.C. motorists are mad that cameras might catch them breaking traffic laws. (WJLA)
- A driver was caught on video spitting on a New York woman who was using a new bike lane. (NBC New York)
- A study by a civil rights lawyers' group found that Black Bay Area residents are three times more likely than whites to be arrested for minor infractions like jaywalking or riding a bike without a light. (Long Beach Post)
- A Black fashion executive says he was racially profiled and harassed by cops who confronted him about jaywalking after he walked out of his own company's Beverly Hills store. (TMZ)
Transit
Monday’s Headlines To Start Your Week Off
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Analysis: What It Would Take To Put America First in Transit Again
No, it won't be easy. Yes, it can be done.
January 14, 2026
Opinion: Transportation Researchers Still Care About Equity. This Week They’re Proving It
This Thursday, progressives in transportation will fight back against the Trump administration.
January 14, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Still Value Life
The EPA is backtracking on stronger ozone and fine particulate regulations, which could kill thousands of people.
January 14, 2026
Why Other States Should Imitate Illinois’ Groundbreaking Transportation Reform Law
One Illinois law saved the state's transit networks from a fiscal cliff — and created a model that other communities should follow, this group argues.
In NYC, Unlicensed Drivers Comprise One-Quarter Of Street Fatalities: Data
Unlicensed drivers are linked to fatal crashes much more often now than pre-pandemic
Tuesday’s Headlines Need Exercise
Every hour in a car increases the risk of obesity by 6 percent, while walking a kilometer lowers it 5 percent.
January 13, 2026
