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Thursday’s Headlines Don’t Wanna Play Head Games

Climate change is urgent. Republicans are hot-blooded. Democrats are cold as ice. Get rid of cars, and it'd feel like the first time.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on July 22, 2021

In a bit of parliamentary maneuvering, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for a vote on a bipartisan infrastructure agreement Wednesday night, and Senate Republicans blocked it (CNN). Next, either an agreement is reached, or Democrats will bring forward bills they’ve already passed through committee but stand no chance of gaining Republican support (Route Fifty).
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg hit up transit agencies in Oregon, Phoenix and Chicago on a tour to drum up support for President Biden’s infrastructure plan. (Mass Transit Mag)
Transportation for America gave Biden good marks on what he’s been able to accomplish so far, but six months into his presidency, much of his work deserves an incomplete.
Exactly what does it take to create a 15-minute city? (Governing)
Also from Governing:For a mid-sized transit system like Raleigh’s, plugging in federal COVID relief funds to go fare-free was easy. Doing so sustainably when those funds run out is a different story.
Amidst a historic heat wave, more than 20 Oregon groups want ODOT to address climate change by not widening freeways and instituting congestion pricing. (Willamette Week)
Utah is using pollution sensors on buses to track air quality in real time. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Boston has sacrificed everything for cars. But its pre-car origins also mean it has the opportunity to change. (Boston Magazine)
Virginia has a good plan to slow down drivers — as long as enforcement is equitable. (Mercury)
Boston is building five miles of bus lanes this summer. (WBUR)
The Seattle Times wants to hear from readers on Sound Transit’s plans to delay projects.
It’s been two weeks, and Pittsburgh is already having problems with people parking e-scooters just wherever. (Pittsburgh Magazine)

Blake Aued

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.

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