- Transit ridership has declined since the 1970s, especially in sprawling Rust and Sun Belt cities that have seen their downtowns decline, but wealthier coastal cities have bucked the trend. (Bloomberg)
- A Biden gaffe almost scuttled the bipartisan infrastructure deal. (CNN)
- Rural Republicans are generally opposed to transit, but will vote for rail in sparsely populated areas and for climate change initiatives — as long as you call it something else. (NPR)
- To save lives and prevent climate change, the government should spend more on transit and less on roads. (The Progressive)
- Small cities want to become more pedestrian-friendly, but are having a hard time finding the money. (Governing)
- Some cities are considering making their COVID-era street closures permanent. (Washington Post)
- Drivers value safety over speed in the vehicles they choose, so why don’t transportation planners? (Planetizen)
- The Texas DOT’s options for I-345 through downtown Dallas range from removing it to doing nothing at all. (D Magazine)
- New Jersey continues to raid a clean energy fund to pay for transit despite billions in federal COVID relief. (NJ.com)
- Traffic deaths are climbing in Oregon, and in response the DOT is moving the goalposts while still designing roads for speed over safety. (Willamette Week)
- Philadelphia's transit agency is restoring pre-pandemic service in hopes of luring riders back. (Inquirer)
- The D.C. Metro will no longer charge riders for transferring from a train to a bus. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Minneapolis is considering banning big trucks that block bike lanes and obstruct sightlines from parking within city limits, except to load and unload. (Landline)
- Boston should keep on letting restaurant patios gobble up parking spaces. (Boston Magazine)
- Dallas residents are hoping to put a historic trolley back on the street. (News Nation)
Streetsblog
Monday’s Headlines Kick-Start the Week
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: How ‘Car Brain’ Warps the Way We See the World
How can we fix the brains distorted by car culture?
January 16, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are the Best
People for Bikes named its top bike lane projects of the past year.
January 16, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: The Lost Subways of North America
Author Jake Berman discusses transit histories through the lens of racial dynamics, monopolies, ballot measures and overlooked cities.
January 15, 2026
A ‘Demographic Time Bomb’ Is About To Go Off — And the Transportation Sector Isn’t Ready
A top firm is warning that the "silver tsunami" will have big implications for the climate, unless U.S. communities act fast.
January 15, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Shoot for the Moon
What if the U.S. spent anything near what it spends on highways on transit instead?
January 15, 2026
Passenger Rail Is Headed for a Reckoning — and the First 90 Days of 2026 Will Decide It
Railfans: it's time to go full steam ahead.
January 15, 2026
