Thursday’s Headlines Across Our Great Big Land
Come for the Buttigieg news, but stay for the cold weather bike tips.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EST on February 4, 2021
- From electrifying the federal fleet to fixing broken sidewalks to building high-speed rail in California, Curbed lists nine things Pete Buttigieg should do as transportation secretary.
- Buttigieg’s confirmation as transportation secretary brings new attention to the idea of replacing the gas tax with a VMT or user fee. (Bloomberg)
- The elderly are at the front of the line for COVID-19 shots, but many don’t have a way to get to a vaccination site. The same problem affects rural residents and people of color in low-income neighborhoods. (Pew Trust)
- An early investor in Uber says the company wasted billions on self-driving cars. (Business Insider)
- Citing Houston’s much-ballyhooed “protected intersection” — really just some bollards across two major arterials — City Observatory’s Joe Cortwright argues at Strong Towns that most pedestrian infrastructure is really meant to relieve drivers of the burden of looking out for people on foot.
- The Minnesota DOT is about to reconstruct I-94 through Minneapolis. Will it make the mistake of widening the freeway, which already divides a historic Black neighborhood? (MinnPost)
- Induced demand from widening I-5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter will result in an additional 17 million to 35 million vehicle-miles traveled per year. (City Commentary)
- Washington, D.C. used eminent domain to acquire Dave Thomas Circle and make improvements to the notoriously dangerous intersection. (Fox 5)
- The Federal Transit Administration approved an environmental permit for East San Fernando Valley light rail in Los Angeles. (Mass Transit Mag)
- When considering a new development in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, the Cincinnati city council faces a choice between affordable housing or streetcar subsidies. (WVXU)
- Boston’s transit agency is studying where to extend the Silver Line. (Globe)
- Carbon-trading hasn’t reduced emissions in New Zealand, so now it’s turning to powering a fleet of electric cars with renewable energy. (The Conversation)
- While U.S. transit agencies cut service and fight for scraps from Congress to survive, Montreal recognizes that transit is an essential part of its economic recovery and is embarking on an ambitious expansion. (City Monitor)
- The Philadelphia Inquirer has tips for dressing warmly and maintaining your bike in cold weather.
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
How To Fix The Broken Gas Tax
Drivers aren't paying their fair share — and no one else is getting their due. Is it time to rethink our federal road funding mechanisms?
March 31, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Peace Out
The congressman at the helm of the House transportation committee is stepping down. Who will step up?
March 31, 2026
Chicago to St. Louis Is the High-Speed Rail Test America Can’t Afford to Fail
A looming deadline could be the end of high speed rail in Illinois — or the beginning of an entire midwest network, a top advocate argues.
March 31, 2026
Trump’s ‘Freedom Means Affordable Cars’ Rings Hollow As Gas Prices Surge
Real freedom is the freedom to choose how you get around — including not driving at all.
March 30, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Pedal Backwards
The Trump administration really does not want to make it easy to ride a bike.
March 30, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.