Streetsblog

Monday’s Headlines and We’re Off to the Races

A Biden adviser said the new administration will boost funding for transit, while the president-elect took a bike ride around Delaware. Click here for those headlines and more.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on November 16, 2020

Transportation for America is calling on Congress to fund highways and transit equally, rather than the current 80/20 split in favor of roads.
A former deputy transportation secretary and Joe Biden advisor says the Biden administration will boost funding for programs like Obama-era TIGER grants and focus on the worthiest projects, rather than those that are most “shovel ready.” (Engineering News-Record, Streetsblog)
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot used transportation infrastructure as a weapon against Black Lives Matter protestors, raising bridges and shutting down public transit, which stranded many workers. (The Appeal)
While it’s unclear why a Portland transportation referendum failed earlier this month, officials’ decision to fund it with a payroll tax instead of a fuel tax amounted to a 30-cent subsidy on a gallon of gas. Notably, the measure failed in Southwest Portland, which stood to land the biggest project, a $1 billion light rail line. (City Commentary)
Charlotte officials are working on a package of light rail, road and bike lane projects that could total in the $4 billion to $6 billion range. Mayor Harvey Gantt calls it a “transformational moment.” (WSOC)
Uber and Lyft are bouncing back, but New York City’s taxi industry is still devastated by the pandemic. (NY Times)
The Twin Cities’ Metro Transit is sending police onto buses and trains to encourage passengers to wear masks. (Star-Tribune)
A Northern Kentucky foundation is investing $3 million in walking and biking infrastructure in the Cincinnati region. (WCPO)
Dallas transit agency DART received approval for a hybrid bus-route redesign that will focus more on frequency on high-ridership routes while also putting 73 percent of residents within a half-mile of a stop. (Community Impact)
The Utah Transit Authority’s new five-year plan includes service every 15 minutes on core routes. (Salt Lake Tribune)
The embattled director of Honolulu’s rail authority is still pursuing a public-private partnership for a light-rail extension despite numerous setbacks. (Civil Beat)
Boston’s conflicting traffic signals are a danger to pedestrians. (WCVB)
Don’t call him Amtrak Joe. The president-elect has a new nickname: Bikin’ Biden. (Streetsblog NYC)

Blake Aued

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.

Streetsblog

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

autonomous vehicles

Are U.S. Cities Ready for the Robo-Taxi Revolution?

And how can they get ready to regulate the shared AV revolution?

Streetsblog

April 28, 2026

Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Headlines Pay for Roads Whether We Use Them or Not

Over half of road funding does not come directly from road users, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Blake Aued

April 28, 2026

Car Dependence

Urban Truth Collective: The One-Hour City Conspiracy

Here's the real conspiracy: Too many people are forced into car-dependent lives, with more health harms, more crashes, more noise, more air pollution, more social isolation — and less space for everything good our streets should be giving us.