Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog

Friday’s Headlines to Close Out a Big Week

    • More takes are rolling in on President Biden's $2-trillion American Jobs Plan. Vox explains how the plan will cut carbon emissions by building up transit and EV infrastructure. But the investment falls short of what climate activists and other progressives wanted (PoliticoThe Urbanist). Meanwhile, Transportation for America notes the plan's "fix it first" philosophy and higher layout for rail and transit than highways, but says the devil's in the details. Streetsblog's Kea Wilson also wants more details and questions whether $174 million for electric vehicles will really do enough to prevent climate change, and what its impact will be on road safety. Yonah Freemark lays out in The Hill how he thinks the administration should fill in those details to maximize climate impact.
    • Amtrak could add 30 new routes with its $80-billion share of funding (Washington Post). You may have seen the proposed map on Twitter.
    • A vehicle-miles tax is probably inevitable. (Slate)
    • The AARP gets behind Complete Streets.
    • With details still sparse, the Philadelphia Inquirer lays out how the plan could help Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. One item that's reportedly a priority for Biden is the Gateway Tunnel, an Amtrak project under the Hudson River. (NJ.com)
    • Ohio spends 40 times as much money on highways as it does on transit. (News 5 Cleveland)
    • Boston is another city that's mulling going fare-free as a way to rebuild transit ridership. A pilot project offers participants a free MBTA pass worth $60 and unlimited free rides on the BlueBikes bike-share. (Smart Cities Dive)
    • Even the Texas DOT is considering doing away with the 85th percentile rule, which sets speed limits at unsafe levels. (Farm and City)
    • In case you missed it when we wrote about it, the Biden administration has paused the I-45 widening project in Houston over potential civil rights violations. (Politico)
    • Kansas City leaders are opposed to a bill allowing guns on Missouri transit. (Fox 4).
    • Five years ago, a Minneapolis man decided to ride his bike every day for 30 days, and he hasn’t stopped since. (Star-Tribune)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Are We All Living in a ‘Carspiracy’?

How does "car-brain" shape the way we think about the world — even in relatively bike-friendly countries like the U.K.?

July 26, 2024

Friday’s Headlines Share and Share Alike

Bikeshares, and e-bikes and scooters generally, are becoming more popular. That's led to more injuries, highlighting the need for better infrastructure.

July 26, 2024

What the Heck is Going on With the California E-Bike Incentive Program?

The program's launch has been delayed for two years, and currently "there is no specific timeline" for it. Plus the administrator, Pedal Ahead, is getting dragged, but details are vague.

July 26, 2024

Talking Headways Podcast: Have Cities Run Out of Land?

Chris Redfearn of USC and Anthony Orlando of Cal Poly Pomona on why "pro-business" Texas housing markets are catching up to "pro-regulation" California and what it might mean for future city growth.

July 25, 2024

The Paris Plan for Olympic Traffic? Build More Bike Lanes

A push to make Paris fully bikable for the Olympics is already paying dividends long before the opening ceremonies.

July 25, 2024
See all posts