Thursday’s Headlines From Around the World
The U.S. has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to infrastructure, pedestrian deaths spiked last year and more headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on March 25, 2021
- President Biden hopes a $3 trillion infrastructure plan will keep the U.S. competitive with China for decades to come. But it won’t be easy — China plans to add 50,000 kilometers of new rail by 2035 (Bloomberg). China is responsible for 60 percent of global transit growth since 1995, while North America has built just 3 percent (Reorientations).
- Speeding, distracted and impaired driving and other dangerous behaviors while streets have been relatively empty and more people are walking during the pandemic led to a 22 percent spike in pedestrian deaths during the first half of 2020. (Streetsblog USA)
- One labor organizer thinks a government-run public exchange for gig workers could improve working conditions for Uber and Lyft drivers. (New Yorker)
- The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority reversed course and will restore full pre-pandemic transit service. (WBUR)
- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to widen I-94 in Milwaukee is wasteful spending that will exacerbate disinvestment in minority neighborhoods. (Urban Milwaukee)
- Almost half of the $930 million raised by a proposed gas-tax hike in Jacksonville would go toward expanding Skyline, the city’s automated people-mover. (First Coast News)
- Miami-Dade officials have approved a partnership with private train company Brightline for a new commuter rail line. (Miami Today)
- The cost of a wall separating light rail and freight on Minneapolis’ Southwest line has more than tripled to $93 million. (Star Tribune)
- As part of Mayor John Cooper’s Vision Zero plan, Nashville is lowering residential speed limits to 25 miles per hour. (WKRN)
- Charlotte is removing a temporary bus lane on one of its busiest corridors, Central Avenue, and turning it back over to drivers. (Spectrum News)
- Autonomous shuttles are running in Arlington, Texas, as part of a Federal Transit Administration pilot program. (State Scoop)
- San Francisco’s 48-year-old Transit First policy has become a punchline. (Examiner)
- Philadelphia is not spending enough money on sidewalks. (Inquirer)
- Tempe’s new streetcar has arrived. (Fox 10)
- Free transit in Estonia did not reduce car trips, according to a government audit, probably because the system is not designed to meet people’s needs. (Eltis)
- Plans for an elevated light rail line in Montreal are drawing harsh reviews for its big, ugly concrete pillars. (CBC)
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
Friday’s Headlines Do Things Backwards
The best cities have street grids with small blocks, but in recent decades cities have ceded the important responsibility of designing streets to private developers.
October 2, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Architecture’s Role in Population Decline
Good design is great, but if you can't afford it, you can't have babies. A very special edition of the podcast.
October 1, 2026
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
How to Use the ‘Emergency Streets’ Strategy to Move From ‘Crash Response’ to System Change
A deeper look at the inner workings of the 'Emergency Streets' process, and how it could lead to lasting change.
October 1, 2026
Thursday’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
