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