Tuesday’s Headlines Are Just Asking Questions
On one hand, how good is this bipartisan infrastructure deal, exactly? On the other, it's a miracle Biden was able to cut any kind of deal at all.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 3, 2021
- Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is fast-tracking the 2,700-page infrastructure bill, calling for a vote within “a matter of days.” (Associated Press)
- Transit advocates say the $39 billion devoted to transit in the bill isn’t enough to address the many needs. (The Hill)
- Part of the reason it isn’t enough is that U.S. transit projects are the most expensive in the world despite generally being less complex than projects overseas, as recently documented by the Eno Center for Transportation.
- Critics of the final package’s relative lack of investment in transit and road safety say the fact that a deal was made has become more important than what’s in the deal. (Roll Call)
- Love it or hate it, President Biden was able to cut a deal without Mitch McConnell blocking it like he did with President Obama’s stimulus package. New York Magazine explains how.
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Boston train crash that injured 25 people. (Boston 25)
- Dallas is embracing Vision Zero after it was dubbed it the most dangerous city for driving. Even if it’s just drivers looking out for their own self-interests, hey, if that’s what it takes … (Spectrum News)
- San Francisco is considering congestion pricing downtown. (Chronicle)
- The Federal Highway Administration released $1 million in emergency funds to help repair a pedestrian bridge damaged by a truck in Washington, D.C. (WTOP)
- San Diego’s popular trolley turned 40. (Union-Tribune)
- Canada is funding a high-speed, high-frequency rail line connecting Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City. (Engineering News and Record)
- A study found that, in London, neighborhoods designated as low-traffic during the pandemic saw road injuries cut in half. (The Guardian)
- New U.K. laws give cyclists and pedestrians the right-of-way over drivers. (BBC)
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 Video: Inside the Global Far-Right Push To Rip Out Bike Lanes
Toronto might be in the center of the fight to resist bike lane teardown today. But if some far-right politicians have their way, this fight won't be the last.
October 23, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Shoot Themselves in the Foot
Gas taxes pay for transit, too, so what happens when politicians pander to voters, and the highway trust fund runs dry?
October 23, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: A More Humanized Experience in Honolulu
If we look transit just as a distance issue, but as a time issue, performance should be discussed as one big whole.
October 22, 2026
Our Best Bet To Confront Climate Change in the Trump Era? Build More Apartments
Most climate strategies are hamstrung by Washington and culture wars across the country. But zoning reform may be the exception.
October 22, 2026
What ‘Flying Cars’ Could Mean For US Car Culture
Would fleets of flying cars be a dystopian nightmare, or a chance to create more walkable cities on the ground?
October 22, 2026
