Wednesday’s Headlines for All to See
Transit projects, bike lanes and a takedown of Uber — all in today's news digest.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 18, 2021
- Transit agencies are dusting off their wish lists of capital projects that could be funded by the infrastructure bill, while at the same time bracing for layoffs and service cuts as operating revenue dwindles. (Washington Post)
- The Post editorial board admonishes President Biden for trying to have his climate policies and cheap gas, too.
- Climate change is a local issue as well as a state, national and global one, but often local governments tackle air pollution as an issue unrelated to climate change when in fact the two are linked. (Grist)
- Inside Climate News interviews Streetsblog contributor Courtney Cobbs about the lack of funding for transit compared to roads and the lack of bike infrastructure equity in Black neighborhoods.
- Author and journalist Cory Doctorow‘s takedown of Uber pretty much covers all the bases.
- Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation throws New York City subway repairs and congestion pricing into doubt. (NY Times)
- A movement for zero-emissions trucks in Southern California was hijacked by the natural gas industry, which paid residents who were unaware the money came from fossil fuel companies to speak out for “near zero” trucks over less polluting options, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.
- Charlotte’s efforts to relieve congestion are a mixed bag, from widening roads to building bike lanes to planning for better transit. (WFAE)
- Bus rapid transit could help transform failed malls in suburban Atlanta. (Business Chronicle)
- Seattle built seven miles of bike lanes in 2020 and the first half of 2021. (Seattle Times)
- Nevada decriminalized jaywalking and other minor traffic offenses. (Independent)
- A crash on Boston’s Green Line that injured 20 people raises questions about the T’s lack of safety technology. (Globe)
- A startup that just went public pinky-swears that flying taxis are coming in three years, and they’ll be as cheap as an Uber. (Gizmodo)
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: Take Transit to the World Cup … If You Can Afford It
Why are some cities forced to charge high fares to World Cup visitors who want to take the train, while others are giving away rides nearly for free?
May 1, 2026
Good Public Transit + Good Public Funding = Good Public Health
Transit agencies need to do more to remind policy makers of the connection between good public transportation and good public health, a report argues.
May 1, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Walk Warily
Don't be fooled by declining statistics. Walking in the U.S. is still too dangerous.
May 1, 2026
Boston’s New Climate Plan Is At Odds With Boston’s New Transportation Policies
Mayor Wu's climate plan calls on the city to cut traffic and "transform" its transportation system, but City Hall leadership is cancelling and delaying projects that would actually accomplish those goals.
April 30, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: The Logistics of Package Delivery
Benjamin Fong on out how e-commerce companies like Amazon have built their logistics systems and the difficulty of last-mile delivery.
April 30, 2026
