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:
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
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Try, Try Again
Maybe another climate conference can succeed on phasing out fossil fuels where COP30 failed.
April 14, 2026
Push Grows To Move Parking Enforcement From NYPD To DOT
Two community boards want the job to go to the agency already in charge of the streets.
April 13, 2026
Can This Tool Predict Where Your City’s Next Car Crash Will Happen?
But will U.S. transportation leaders use it to take preemptive action to make roadways safer?
April 13, 2026
