Wednesday’s Headlines Ba-Rum-Pum-Pum-Pum
Congress finally passed another stimulus bill, but is it enough? Plus, Virginia decriminalizes jaywalking and more headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on December 23, 2020

Don’t forget our December donation drive! Thanks!
- If we let transit wither and die, how will people without cars get to work when the pandemic is over, and where will those with cars park when they get there? (The Atlantic)
- A $17-billion annual federal investment could bring every decent-sized city’s transit up to par with Chicago’s. (Government Technology)
- Even with a stimulus package, service cuts loom, and with them U.S. transit stands to lose a generation of choice riders. (City Monitor)
- The D.C. Metro’s share of the $14-billion Congress appropriated in the new coronavirus relief bill will stave off the worst of the cuts — for now (Washington Post). Over at Streetsblog SF, Roger Rudick looks at the impact on Bay Area transit.
- More on that recent Federal Transit Administration grant announcement: The South Shore Line received $50 million (Inside Indiana Business), Chicago is entering the next phase of the Red Line extension (WTTW), and Phoenix got $49 million for its Northwest light rail extension (KTAR).
- Police have applied jaywalking laws to people of color disproportionately since automakers made jaywalking a thing a century ago, but starting in March, police in Virginia won’t be able to stop people for the offense of crossing a street outside a crosswalk. (Mercury)
- Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has joined a regional consortium of states seeking to limit greenhouse gas emissions (CT Post). Massachusetts is officially in, too, reports Christian MilNeil at Streetsblog MASS.
- Birmingham has broken ground on its first bus rapid transit line (CBS 42), and Orange County, California, is laying tracks for a new streetcar (Register).
- Greenville, South Carolina’s B-Cycle bike-share is going electric. (Journal)
- Chicago pedestrians, be on the lookout for a driver who vaguely resembles a young Morrissey. (Tribune; H/T John Greenfield)
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
Friday’s Headlines Do Things Backwards
The best cities have street grids with small blocks, but in recent decades cities have ceded the important responsibility of designing streets to private developers.
October 2, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Architecture’s Role in Population Decline
Good design is great, but if you can't afford it, you can't have babies. A very special edition of the podcast.
October 1, 2026
Steal This Idea: ‘Emergency Streets’ Strategy Gets First Real-World Pilot
The city of Spokane moved quickly to close a lane at the site where an 18-year-old motorcyclist died in a single-vehicle collision just a few days prior.
October 1, 2026
How to Use the ‘Emergency Streets’ Strategy to Move From ‘Crash Response’ to System Change
A deeper look at the inner workings of the 'Emergency Streets' process, and how it could lead to lasting change.
October 1, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Pollute the Air and Pay for the Privilege
President Trump wants to accelerate climate change and force motorists to spend more on gas all at the same time.
October 1, 2026