- President Obama laid the groundwork for high-speed rail in his 2009 stimulus package, but 12 years later “Amtrak Joe” Biden doesn’t seem interested in following through despite his long-standing support for transit. (American Prospect)
- Cities nationwide are considering making transit fare-free, but what most riders need more than free fares is better service. (Slate)
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says the U.S. can't afford to have a "dorm room debate" over what's infrastructure before passing a bill. (Politico)
- Electrifying the entire U.S. bus fleet would cost between $56 billion and $89 billion, according to an Eno Center for Transportation report. (Transportation Today)
- Bike-share and e-scooter company Lime is joining the National Complete Streets Coalition to lobby for safer places to ride. (Smart Growth America)
- Transit agencies are better off handling rail projects in-house, rather than hiring consultants. (Pedestrian Observations)
- Federal officials have approved the Gateway tunnel project connecting New York and New Jersey, which promises to speed up rail travel up and down the East Coast (NJ.com). But now New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is throwing a fit about having to pay for it (Streetsblog NYC).
- New York City ride-hailing drivers are forming a worker-owned cooperative to compete with Uber and Lyft. (NY Times)
- NIMBY suburbs surrounding San Diego are fighting a $160 billion transit expansion plan because they don't want higher-density housing. (Union-Tribune)
- Amazon bought a Philadelphia property transit agency SEPTA was eyeing for a trolley yard, which could delay upgrading the system. (Inquirer)
- Environmental justice is at the heart of the fight to stop the I-5 expansion in Houston. (Architect's Newspaper)
- Support is dwindling in the Oregon legislature for tolling to pay for highway projects like the Rose Quarter I-5 widening in Portland. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
- The Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is aiming to link its underperforming streetcar to the popular Beltline walking and biking trail by 2027. (Saporta Report)
- The backlash to New Orleans' new protected bike lanes is underway. (The Advocate)
- Food delivery skyrocketed during the pandemic, and delivery services may be branching out to pot next, which should make that lukewarm takeout taste a lot better (CNBC).
Streetsblog
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Free and Fast
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Wednesday’s Headlines Think Globally, Act Locally
In a world where the federal government is aligned against all your goals, what else can you do?
February 5, 2025
Study: You’re Not That Much Safer In a 4,000+ Pound Car
For decades, American car buyers believed that bigger = safer. A new study finds that rule appears to have hit a ceiling.
February 5, 2025
Op-Ed: Reviewing America’s First (and Last?) Federal ‘Reconnecting Communities’ Pilot
The Biden administration exhausted the funds of the first-in-the-nation Reconnecting Communities program before they left office. But how did they spend the money — and what can we learn about how to do better next time, if advocates ever get another bite at the apple?
February 5, 2025
Tuesday’s Headlines Are a Sanctuary
The Trump administration's latest threat would withhold funding from many big-city transit agencies and transportation projects in some blue states with "sanctuary" policies on immigration.
February 4, 2025
This Automaker Is Attacking Sustainable Transportation Even More Than You Think
The world's largest automaker has been ramping up spending to put climate change deniers in Congress, and crushing support for all kinds of sustainable modes in the process.
February 4, 2025
