Wednesday’s Headlines Are in the End Times

It’s funny how drivers demand more roads when they’re not directly paying for them, but when the government wants to charge a toll, the demand disappears. (Planetizen)

The pandemic biking boom is likely here to stay (Smart Cities Dive). And we could do even better: Tripling cycling in the UK would result in lives saved, cleaner air, more jobs and a $6.5 billion economic benefit (Forbes).

Climate change is leading to more road flooding, but instead of addressing the root issue of greenhouse gas pollution, the solution seems to be to spend more money flood-proofing roads. (Washington Post)

And as the feds continue to point to electric vehicles, the cobalt used to make EV batteries is becoming the new blood diamonds, with rampant corruption and labor exploitation and a powerful lobby in D.C. (New York Times)

As evidenced by Mayor-elect Michelle Wu in Boston, climate change is becoming a potent issue in local elections. (City Lab)

If the Oregon DOT follows through on plans to widen I-5 in Portland’s Rose Quarter, the state won’t meet its climate change goals. (Oregonian)

Illinois’ highway widening plans show that state leaders aren’t serious about tackling climate change (Streetsblog Chicago).

Citing climate change, Toronto is considering ending minimum parking requirements in new developments. (CBC)

The Texas DOT’s proposed I-45 expansion through Houston is a test of the Biden administration’s commitment to equity. (Associated Press)

Just six months after Jacksonville approved a gas-tax hike that will help fund transit improvements, a city council member is already trying to repeal it. (First Coast News)

Washington, D.C. is boosting enforcement against distracted drivers around schools. (WTOP)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Portland Suburb: To Fight Climate Change, Expand Highways!

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Clackamas County, outside of Portland, has some opinions about the region’s plan to address climate change. According to Michael Andersen at Bike Portland, county commissioners have drafted a letter to regional planners saying the right way to control carbon emissions is to build more highways. Scratching your head? Well, the misguided belief that building more roads […]
Photo: Paul Brennan, CC

Opinion: To Halt Wasteful Highways, America Needs a ‘Road Review’

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n February, the government of Wales announced that it was scrapping all major road-building projects. The move came after a year-long “roads review” in which a government-appointed panel systematically reviewed the nation’s road-building program in light of its climate and environmental goals. To an American steeped in our highway-happy, boondoggle-building transportation policy system, the summary of the roads review reads like something out of a particularly good fantasy novel. But could it happen here, too, if the people lead the way?

Just What India Needs: The $3,000 Car

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The Sierra Club points out that in India, there are currently about 7 cars per 1,000 persons (as compared to nearly 500 per 1,000 in the US). With the advent of the $3,000 car, that is surely about to change. The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe reports: If India’s roads seem cluttered and inadequate, things are set […]