Friday’s Headlines to Cap the Week
Some good news in local transit, plus all the other headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on October 16, 2020
- A new report from Transportation for America lists five ways to cut vehicle emissions: Build denser housing, make less driving a goal, encourage shorter trips, invest in other modes and prioritize access to destinations.
- The pandemic has shown that transit agencies must refocus from hub-and-spoke systems bringing commuters in from distant suburbs to basic transit access for disadvantaged groups, as well as better coverage within suburbs. (The Conversation)
- Rush hour might be in the rear-view mirror during the pandemic, but traffic has gotten worse at other times of day. (Forbes, Streetsblog)
- Branding them as “anarchist,” the Federal Transit Administration is excluding New York, Portland and Seattle from accessing grant funds to fight COVID-19 (Portland Tribune, Streetsblog). The National Association of City Transportation Officials says the move is politically motivated and puts riders and operators at risk.
- The Southeast is a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, but lags behind on EV sales and charging stations, according to a new report from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
- A new autonomous shuttle launches in Tampa on Monday. It lacks a steering wheel but does have a backup driver who can take over using a video-game controller. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Metro Detroit police are cracking down on people on foot as well as the drivers who kill them during “pedestrian enforcement week.” (WXYZ)
- The Twin Cities’ new 20-mile-per-hour speed limit is now in effect. (Pioneer Press)
- New quick-build bus and bike lanes are popping up in a Boston suburb. (Somerville Times)
- A new bus rapid transit line is now running in Montgomery County, Md. (WAMU)
- If the ‘rona doesn’t get you, a runaway vehicle might: An SUV driver plowed into an outdoor café in San Jose, killing one person and injuring seven others. The crash raises questions about the safety of al fresco dining in car-centric areas. (Planetizen)
- A British Uber passenger assaulted the driver’s sense of smell, then assaulted him physically when the driver raised a stink. (New York Post)
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
Thursday’s Headlines Yearn to Breathe Free
Is our children learning? It helps if they have clean air.
September 10, 2026
I Care About E-Bike Safety 0.02 Percent of The Time
Click-bait media outlets would have you think we should drop everything and do something about the scary threat of battery-powered bicycles and battery-powered motorcycles. But are either the biggest threat that road users face?
September 10, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Still Pretty Dirty
Plug-in hybrids are a "greenwashing stunt" that are not much cleaner or fuel efficient than fully gas-powered cars, according to Transport & Environment.
September 9, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Cheap Out
A bill to keep transportation money flowing rolls back funds to pre-infrastructure act levels.
September 8, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are on a Greyhound Bound for Nowhere
Actually, intercity buses go a lot more places now.
September 4, 2026
