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It’s Not Easy Being Green, or Tuesday’s Headlines

While President Biden's has long-range plans to tackle climate change, in the short term he's embracing pro-car policies for political gain.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 17, 2021

The Biden administration talks a good game on climate change, but its short-term policies are focused on bringing gas prices down, which will encourage more driving. (Politico)
Senators are spending the August recess in their home states either touting or demonizing the infrastructure bill. (Bloomberg)
The federal government should fund transit at the same level as highways, because cities can’t afford to build transit projects by themselves. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration is investigating Tesla because vehicles on autopilot have hit emergency vehicles at least 11 times. (CNN)
A New Orleans native and architectural critic documents how the Claiborne Expressway erased a vibrant Black neighborhood. (Washington Post)
Some New Yorkers who bought cars during the pandemic will go back to public transit, but unfortunately others have fallen in love with them. (Car and Driver)
With ridership down 90 percent on commuter rail, Virginia Railway Express could become something more like a second D.C. Metro. (Virginia Mercury)
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill fast-tracking high-speed rail between Chicago and St. Louis. (Smart Cities Dive)
Philadelphia transit agency SEPTA is testing two bus-only lanes in Center City. (WHYY)
We love to see parking garages repurposed — but not as COVID wards. (Jackson Clarion-Ledger)
Sound Transit is partnering with the city of Seattle on a community of tiny homes for low-income residents. (Progressive Railroading)
Detroit’s MoGo is using community outreach and education about safe biking and its health benefits to overcome skepticism about bike-shares in neighborhoods of color. (Shareable)
Aspen’s WE-cycle is piloting solar-powered e-bike chargers. (Denver Post)
Low-rise but high-density cities like Paris are in the best position to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a CU Boulder study. (Phys.org)

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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