- While suburban commuter trains run empty during the pandemic, transit agencies are finally refocusing on their highest-ridership routes, which are not coincidentally used mostly by people of color and have often been the most underfunded. (Grist)
- Human Transit's Jarrett Walker debates another transportation expert on whether access to jobs or ridership predictions should be the top priority of transit agencies.
- American drivers are buying bigger and bigger vehicles that kill more and more people (Urban Wire). Convincing people to buy smaller and smaller vehicles that still meet most of their needs is key (Public Square).
- The D.C. Metro says subways will be on reduced service at least through the weekend as an investigation continues into a derailment that forced the transit agency to pull about half its cars off the tracks. (The Hill)
- Austin is fighting for transportation equity on two fronts: for a $7 billion transit plan and against the state's plans to widen I-35 to 20 lanes. (Slate)
- The new bus rapid transit G Line will connect some of Seattle's densest neighborhoods (Intelligent Transport). And it looks like the Center City Streetcar is going back on ice after Mayor Jenny Durkin recommended it in her 2022 budget (The Urbanist)
- As Atlanta prepares to elect a new mayor, light rail on the BeltLine is literally the third rail of city politics and may never fulfill its promise. (Saporta Report)
- Ann Arbor has hired a consultant to make a Vision Zero plan that includes reducing traffic speeds (MLive).
- It's nice that customers pitched in to buy a 60-year-old Virginia fast-food worker a car (WUSA), but wouldn't it be nicer if she had access to a reliable transit system?
- A former prison bus is now an art exhibition/community center in Brooklyn. (Next City)
- Now you can download and 3D print a carbon-friendly wooden bike. (Fast Company)
Streetsblog
Thursday’s Headlines Are Politics-Free
By Blake Aued
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Don’t Believe the Hype: NJ Turnpike Widening Still Happening
Gov. Murphy's late revision will just move the problem around, advocates say.
Wednesday’s Headlines Have a Clean Background
Uber isn't doing everything it can to keep violent felons out of the driver's seat, according to the New York Times.
December 24, 2025
Opinion: Can AI Help Stop Car Crashes Before They Happen?
Proactive safety planning can save more lives than waiting until after crashes kill. But what's the proper role of technology in identifying future hot spots?
December 24, 2025
Scofflaw Manufacturers Could Be The Downfall of E-bikes
If illegal e-motorcycles are the downfall of legitimate e-bikes, manufacturers and retailers should look themselves in the eye, not blame it on their customers.
Failure of Electric Bus System Means Pollution Will Continue in NYC
The Adams administration gives a major bus company a reprieve from idling laws — because battery-powered systems apparently don't exist yet.
Tuesday’s Headlines Let the Kids Cross
Waymos have adopted a dangerous habit of human drivers: swerving to get around stopped school buses.
