Monday’s Headlines from the Sun to the Snow
Why can't we have a bullet train for $6 a ride? That question and more answered in today's news digest.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on February 1, 2021
- With GM going all-electric by 2035, the U.S. has some serious work to do on its power grid and needs to build a network of charging stations. (New York Times)
- The CEO of an Irish shipping company suggests that cities should require that delivery vehicles be electric (CNBC). But how is that going to reduce congestion?
- Transportation Secretary nominee Pete Buttigieg was on NPR‘s “All Things Considered” to talk about climate change, transit funding and other topics.
- Political leadership is the biggest factor in committing to Vision Zero and seeing it through (The City Fix). On a related note, political blowback usually means congestion pricing proposals are DOA (Price Tags).
- Investment in property or bigger subsidies through various types of taxes can help pandemic-proof transit. (City Monitor)
- The Bay Area’s transportation commission divvied up the latest round of COVID relief funds, with BART and San Francisco Muni receiving the largest shares. (Examiner)
- A San Antonio council member and former transit planner appointed to a National League of Cities post plans to use her new position to advocate for federal transportation funding. (KSAT)
- A Federal Transit Administration grant will pay for the D.C. Metro to test air filtration and UV technologies that could reduce the spread of coronavirus. (DCist)
- The Seattle DOT says lowering speed limits and pedestrian-first intersections could reduce the number of people on foot killed by drivers by half. (MyNorthwest)
- A majority of New Yorkers are in favor of protected bike lanes, bus lanes and wider sidewalks — even motorists who would lose parking spaces. (Streetsblog)
- Tampa churchgoers are big mad that the city government wants them to pay for parking like everyone else. (Tampa Bay Times)
- Helsinki is adding 105 stations and 1,050 bikes to its bike-share network. (Eltis)
- A Spanish bullet train carries passengers between Madrid and Barcelona for just $6. (CNN)
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
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
Friday’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
NYC Amazon Delivery Drivers Routinely Speed, Block Bus And Bike Lanes
Amazon delivery drivers have violated traffic laws for years, with little accountability.
September 30, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Remain Deadly by Design
Congress should tie transportation funding to measurable improvements in safety, says Transportation for America.
September 30, 2026
Op-Ed: The Problem with Trump’s DC Golf Course Takeover Isn’t What You Think
Many advocates of walkable communities loathe urban golf courses. One urbanist argues that with good policy, his DC course can be the exception to the rule — if the Trump administration doesn't ruin it.
September 30, 2026
