Streetsblog

Monday’s Headlines Are Drilling Deep

Democrats are under pressure from lobbyists to keep a lucrative tax write-off for oil wells, and more headlines.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 30, 2021

The fossil fuel industry is pushing Democrats to keep a lucrative subsidy for oil drilling when they write their $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill. Removing the deduction would reduce the number of domestic oil wells by 25 percent. (The Hill)
A report from Yonah Freemark shows that more affluent cities and towns offer better transit service than their lower-income peers. (Urban Institute)
Rail projects take longer to build and cost more money in the U.S. than in other countries. (Smart Cities Dive)
Improving service and adding conveniences like tracking and payment apps can help solve the stigma of buses. (UNC Charlotte)
In the UK, Uber is adhering to a court ruling classifying drivers as employees and is calling on its competitors to follow suit. (Forbes)
New Orleans transit is suspended as Hurricane Ida hammers the Gulf Coast. (Fox 8)
South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg was fined just $1,000 and avoided jail time for hitting and killing a man walking on the side of the road. Ravnsborg pleaded guilty to using his phone while driving and an illegal lane change, both misdemeanors. He initially told 911 that he hit a deer, and Joseph Boever’s body wasn’t discovered until the next day. (NPR)
Tearing down I-345 in Dallas is the only option that makes sense. (Morning News)
Baltimore has been losing population for the past decade, and improving transit service is key to convincing people to stay or to move there. (Sun)
San Jose is the latest city to consider eliminating minimum parking requirements. (Mercury News)
Charlotte’s Gold Line streetcar is now open for business. (WCCB)
The Loop trolley in St. Louis, starved for funding, is in the running for a $1.3 million federal grant. (Business Journal)
Lower speed limits in Madison, Wisconsin, start taking effect today. (Channel 3000)
Alexandria, Virginia’s transit system is going fare-free after Labor Day. (Washington Post)

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.

Streetsblog

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.