- In addition to the short-term drop in ridership, the pandemic poses a long-term threat to public transit by accelerating the trend of working from home and a migration away from dense cities. In response, agencies’ focus is shifting away from white-collar commutes. (Politico)
- West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin wants to spend $4 trillion on infrastructure, which sounds like a staggering amount of money but might not be enough. If it included $250 billion for transit, that would only pay for high-speed rail in California and the Northeast corridor, for example. (Vice)
- Mayors are urging future Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to send more money directly to cities, rather than routing it through states that might not share the same policy goals. (Route Fifty)
- Something is wrong with this picture: Demand for gasoline is up, but that hasn't led to an increase in supply or higher prices. (AAA)
- A coalition of 74 traffic safety organizations are calling on President Biden to commit to zero traffic deaths by 2050. (Streetsblog)
- Uber and Lyft spent nearly $5 million combined lobbying Washington for favorable labor rules. (Marketwatch)
- Federal regulators are trying to figure out how to enforce Biden's mask mandate for interstate travelers. (CNN)
- New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority received a federal grant to study how coronavirus moves through the air on mass transit, potentially restoring riders’ confidence in its safety. (WAMC)
- Charlotte’s ambitious mobility plan could transform the city — if it can find billions of dollars to pay for it. (Agenda)
- Fighting words? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s architecture critic calls New York City’s Moynihan Train Hall a “romanticized stage-set version” of a train station and says Philadelphia can do better.
- Washington Gov. Jay Inslee is halting highway projects to free up money to remove barriers to salmon habitats. (Everett Herald)
- The Gainesville Sun wants the Florida city to stop simply paying lip service to bike and pedestrian safety.
- Bus rapid transit is losing support among metro Atlanta mayors. (Reporter)
- Treehugger tested and ranked the best shared e-scooters, with Lime topping the list.
Streetsblog
Tuesday’s Headlines Because You’re on a Roll
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Confirmed: Non-Driving Infrastructure Creates ‘Induced Demand,’ Too
Widening a highway to cure congestion is like losing weight by buying bigger pants — but thanks to the same principle of "induced demand," adding bike paths and train lines to cure climate actually works.
January 9, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Unsustainably Expensive
To paraphrase former New York City mayoral candidate Jimmy McMillan, the car payment is too damn high.
Talking Headways Podcast: Poster Sessions at Mpact in Portland
Young professionals discuss the work they’ve been doing including designing new transportation hubs, rethinking parking and improving buses.
January 8, 2026
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and highway expansion between Oregon and Washington was already a boondoggle. Then the costs ballooned to $17.7 billion.
January 8, 2026
Mayor Bowser Blasts U.S. DOT Talk of Eliminating Enforcement Cameras in DC
The federal Department of Transportation is exploring how to dismantle the 26-year-old enforcement camera system in Washington, D.C.
January 8, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Making Progress
By Yonah Freemark's count, 19 North American transit projects opened last year, with another 19 coming in 2026.
January 8, 2026
