Wednesday’s Headlines Are Burning Down the House
An infrastructure bill will save the planet, President Biden says. And investment in bikes, walking and transit pay economic dividends, according to a Colorado study.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on September 15, 2021
- California wildfires are a sign that Congress needs to approve a green infrastructure package to combat climate change, President Biden said in Sacramento. (Bloomberg)
- The U.S. doesn’t really need half a million public electric vehicle chargers. (Vice)
- Nobody has figured out a way to get drivers to stop idling their engines. (Jalopnik)
- Exposure to traffic noise raises the risk of dementia, according to a new study. (Medical News Today)
- Georgia Democrats are pushing a bill that would tie transit funding to affordable housing and let transit agencies use federal grants for operating expenses. (Moultrie Observer)
- Elevated cycleways preceded freeways by more than 50 years, but then cars killed them off. (The Drive)
- A Colorado study found that shifting transportation funding from highways to transit, sidewalks and bike projects would bring $40 billion in economic benefits. (Colorado Public Radio)
- Charlotte is looking for a site for a new light rail station. (Observer)
- A week into going fare-free, Alexandria’s transit system is already looking for funding to extend the program. (WUSA)
- Lincoln is projected to get more congested in the next 30 years, and the city doesn’t have enough transportation funding to deal with the issue. (Journal-Star)
- Ordinarily, a bike lane down the middle of the street might seem like a bad idea. But Portland is utilizing them to help cyclists navigate offset intersections where the cross-streets don’t quite match up. (Bike Portland)
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
‘Diversity’ in Transportation Planning is Under Attack — But These Experts Say It’s More Important Now Than Ever
Minority-owned planning firms are as essential as they ever were, these four top experts argue — no matter what the White House says.
September 23, 2026
Transgender Americans Harassed on Transit at High Rate, But Problem Goes Unrecognized: Study
Nearly 6 in 10 transgender respondents in a new study say that they've faced harassment onboard.
September 23, 2026
Where the Battles Against Harmful Highways and Hyper-Scale Data Centers Collide
Hyperscale AI data centers and highways are both harmful forms of fossil fuel infrastructure that get built without much community input — and it's time to fight back against both, one of our favorite podcasters argues.
September 22, 2026
I Survived the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Crash
A survivor of a mass casualty reflects on what she's learned about car culture, grief, and resilience.
September 22, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Are a Speed Trap
There's a downside to enforcing traffic laws when cities do it to raise revenue rather than to save lives.
September 22, 2026