Monday’s Headlines Are Ready for Departure
The alarming new UN climate report underscores the need for cities to take back streets from cars and get more people on transit and bikes. (Smart Cities Dive) Urban areas are growing faster than rural ones, according to recently released U.S. Census data, which will be used to distribute transportation funding, among other things. (USA … Continued
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 16, 2021
- The alarming new UN climate report underscores the need for cities to take back streets from cars and get more people on transit and bikes. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Urban areas are growing faster than rural ones, according to recently released U.S. Census data, which will be used to distribute transportation funding, among other things. (USA Today)
- The infrastructure bill includes transit funding, but local officials still have to figure out ways to spend it that will attract riders, such as bus-only lanes and going fare-free. (Governing)
- Rail advocates say the infrastructure bill falls far short of the hundreds of billions of dollars needed to upgraded existing Amtrak lines and build a high-speed rail network. (The Hill)
- More from The Hill: Increasing the gas tax is better than implementing a vehicle-miles driven tax for reducing pollution and traffic deaths because the gas tax discourages driving and encourages fuel-efficient vehicles.
- Sadly, rumors that President Biden included a VMT in the infrastructure bill in order to make driving obsolete have been ruled false by PolitiFact.
- Financial analysts are forecasting growth in the market for cargo bikes as courier companies buy more. (Cycling Industry News)
- Everyone knows cars pose a threat to pedestrians, but so do e-scooters. (Medium)
- The $1 billion in the infrastructure bill for tearing down urban freeways like I-345 in Dallas is likely to be doled out in small chunks with limited impact. (D Magazine)
- The Texas DOT’s latest plans for widening I-35 through Austin ignore calls to turn the freeway into a six-lane boulevard lined with bike lanes and parks, or put a cap on it instead. (KUT)
- Recent changes to Muni bus routes in San Francisco increased access to jobs. (Mass Transit Mag)
- Detroit’s QLine streetcar will start running again next month and be fare-free for the rest of the year, thanks to CARES Act funds. (Detroit News)
- The New York Times examines all the different jingles announced subway doors are closing around the world.
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: RIP, The D.C. Streetcar
Advocates are mourning the loss of the D.C. streetcar ... but they'e not entirely sad to see it die.
April 10, 2026
You’re Authorized to Read Friday’s Headlines
An important federal transportation funding bill is in the works. Here's what to look out for.
April 10, 2026
Review: ’60 Minutes’ Take On High-Speed Rail Ignored Facts And Offered Nothing New
When 60 Minutes announced a segment on high-speed rail construction in the United States,I feared the worst. What I got was unexpected.
April 9, 2026
Trump Wants to Slash Federal Funding for Public Transit, Rail (Again)
The president’s proposed budget threatens transit projects across the country.
April 9, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are the Taxman
Suspending gas taxes might be politically popular, but it doesn't save drivers money and takes away funding for infrastructure.
April 9, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.