Friday’s Headlines Are Back in the Saddle Again
It really is Infrastructure Week this week, and Donald Trump is big mad. Plus, transit ridership is recovering and more headlines.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on July 30, 2021
- Don’t call it a comeback! Transit ridership is up 80 percent over the early days of the pandemic, according to federal data. (Transportation Today)
- Donald Trump tried to derail the bipartisan infrastructure agreement, because if he can’t have one, no one can (MSNBC). The good news is, Republican senators seem to be tuning him out (The Week). In fact, the lead Republican negotiator, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, is under a lot of pressure to deliver results (Politico).
- Supporters of an infrastructure bill say it would improve racial equity and help fight climate change. (Bloomberg)
- Corporate tax? Carbon tax? Vehicle-miles driven tax? How should we pay for roads as electric vehicles eclipse gas-powered ones? (Next City)
- Improving transit would create job opportunities for tens of thousands of Detroit residents (Free Press). In Pittsburgh, analysis also show that more investment in transit would boost the economy and improve the environment (City Paper).
- The Central Ohio Transit Authority bought an old Greyhound station in Columbus and will convert it into some sort of transit-oriented development. (Dispatch)
- Georgia has still not removed a type of highway guardrail that has proven to be deadly. (11 Alive)
- Houston is painting the town red with bus-only lanes. (Chronicle)
- Boston’s Blue Bikes bike-share program celebrated its 10th anniversary (WCVB). And 500 new Blue Bikes are hitting New Orleans streets (Times-Picayune).
- The El Paso streetcar is once again open, and it’s free. (KLAQ)
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 Go North, Young Man
If you want to walk and bike safely, stay out of the South.
August 7, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: What Does It Cost to Build a Bus?
Lisa Jerram of APTA and Philip Plotch of the Eno Center for Transportation explain the state of bus manufacturing and why buses cost so much.
August 6, 2026
Report: Building More Homes Reduces Overall Driving
Building more homes will get cars off the road, but where they’re built matters.
August 6, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Cut Away
A U.S. Senate bill would result in the loss of $950 million in transit infrastructure funding.
August 6, 2026
State Lawmakers Aim At Illegal E-Motos, But Hit E-Bikes Instead
A deceptive and widespread marketing tactic has tricked families into purchasing dangerous e-motos and fooled lawmakers into pushing laws that would make streets even less safe.
August 5, 2026
