Wednesday’s Headlines Were Told There Would Be No Math Involved
Wider highways lead to more driving, and more driving leads to more pollution. But just how much damage Do new lanes do to the climate?
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on November 3, 2021
- Everyone knows that reducing driving — and by extension, not inducing demand by widening highways — is essential to curbing climate change. Now environmental and transportation advocates have invented a way to calculate exactly how much highway projects pollute the air. (Quartz)
- Residents of coastal, mountain West and Southern border states are more likely to be concerned about climate change. They’re also the ones most likely to be affected by it. (538)
- Noise pollution is also a thing, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill cracking down on loud cars and motorcycles. (The Week)
- The U.S. DOT is developing a new approach to safer streets in response to a record spike in traffic deaths. (Streetsblog)
- Fare-free transit is a major issue in the Boston mayoral race. (Governing)
- Washington, D.C. has a new dashboard where residents can track traffic safety projects. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Leaning heavily on federal aid, the D.C. Metro’s proposed budget would cut late-night fares and prices weekly and monthly passes to lure riders back. (Washington Post)
- A suburban Minneapolis county is considering pulling funding for the Northstar commuter rail line because ridership has plummeted during the pandemic. (Star Tribune)
- Indianapolis activists are lobbying for more sidewalks and bike lanes. (WFYI)
- A bike lane is coming to a Denver street where a driver killed a cyclist, and it only took two years. (9 News)
- The kids are alright: A Brown Daily Herald writer takes on the sorry cycling situation in Providence.
- Here’s a late Halloween scare: San Jose drivers can’t seem to tell light-rail tracks from the street. (East Bay Times)
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
Talking Headways Podcast: The Urban Truth Collective
Tom Flood, Grant Ennis and Brent Toderian of the Urban Truth Collective discuss pushing back on falsehoods and conspiracies through positive messaging around cities.
April 23, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Shout, Shout, Let It All Out
A public input process that engages all stakeholders early on but doesn't drag out is the key to holding down costs for transit projects, according to the Urban Institute.
April 23, 2026
Judge Blocks Trump Admin’s Attempt to Demolish D.C. Bike Lane
But advocates across America aren't letting their guard down about the future of sustainable infrastructure in their own communities.
April 23, 2026
For Earth Day, the Trump Administration Wants To Expand Highways Across America
US DOT wants states to build more roads and take space away from bikes and give it to cars. It's foolish on so many levels.
April 22, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Are Fare in Love and War
Henry Grabar argues in favor of fare gates in The Atlantic.
April 22, 2026
