Streetsblog

Wednesday’s Headlines as We Face Midweek

The stories you want — at a price you can afford.

By Blake Aued

1:25 AM EST on January 27, 2021

President Joe Biden continues to fill out his DOT. The head of the Massachusetts DOT has been chosen for a top post in the Federal Highway Administration but says she considers all road users equal (Boston Globe). Biden also appointed three Portland officials, including one who will head the U.S. DOT’s Office of Civil Rights. (Willamette Week)
Rural communities are counting on “Amtrak Joe” to reopen long-dormant passenger rail lines. (New York Times)
As part of his “Buy American” executive order, Biden pledged to replace the U.S. government fleet with all-electric vehicles. But the industry currently doesn’t have the capacity, so it could take years and be quite expensive. (CNBC)
Cities want a greater say in transportation spending so they can put money toward transit projects or tearing down freeways instead of widening them. (Houston Chronicle)
A new Uber report presents the ride-hailing company as a partner in transit’s recovery. But transit agencies should be skeptical of Uber’s motives and think carefully before signing on. (Bloomberg)
Electric bikes could outsell cars in Europe within the next decade (Electrek). They’re taking off in the U.S., too, but most American cities aren’t ready (Time).
San Francisco drivers have killed more than 200 people and injured 20,000 since the city set its sights on Vision Zero in 2014. (SF Chronicle)
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is at odds with a new Regional Transportation District staffer who questioned the wisdom of a Boulder-to-Longmont light rail line. (Colorado Public Radio)
Phoenix is establishing a fund to help small businesses affected by light-rail construction. (Mass Transit Mag)
After a pandemic-related pause, St. Augustine is getting back to work on bike-sharing, transit-oriented development and pedestrian-friendly streets. (Record)
Arlington is expanding a deal with Via to provide on-demand transit at $3 to $5 per ride. (Government Technology)
Turin, Italy, turned an abandoned streetcar line into its first linear park. (City Lab)

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.