- Carbon emissions rose faster than expected in 2021, outpacing the economic recovery from the pandemic. People are driving again, and utilities burned more coal for electricity because natural gas prices are high. That will make it harder to hit President Biden's overall climate goals. (CNN)
- Biden is facing an increasingly narrow path to pass the Build Back Better bill, which contains $555 billion to curb climate change (New York Times). The bill remains in limbo, with talks with pivotal vote Sen. Joe Manchin stalled out and Biden pivoting to voting rights (E&E News).
- Some good news: Even as they age into their 30s and 40s, millennials are still driving less than Gen Xers and younger Baby Boomers. (Quartz)
- Governing interviewed a University of Michigan sociologist about how government and foundation funding for things like transit often benefit neighborhoods that already have money over communities with greater need where investment is seen as riskier.
- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's goal of zero traffic deaths by 2025 increasingly looks out of reach, with drivers killing 20 percent more people last year than 2020 or 2019. (L.A. Times)
- Washington, D.C. also followed the national trend, with traffic deaths rising to their highest point since 2007. (DCist)
- Like many cities, Atlanta is hoping to use $1 billion set aside in the infrastructure bill to dismantle or bury urban freeways that slice through Black neighborhoods. (AJC)
- The Texas DOT's latest plan for widening I-35 through Austin calls for putting the freeway below grade, allowing for more pedestrian crossings, and lowering speed limits on frontage roads. But the project will still add lanes. (KUT)
- Dallas Area Rapid Transit will be offering free rides for a week when it launches its revamped bus network Jan. 24. Why not go fare-free permanently? (D Magazine)
- Portland is eyeing a $12.5 billion bridge replacement fund in the federal infrastructure package to expand the city's bike network. (Bike Portland)
- Predictably, Elon Musk's tunnel for Teslas and a self-driving car demo both flopped in Las Vegas last weekend. (Curbed)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Deep Dive: St. Louis Launches $300M Sea Change for Sustainable Transportation
But how did it get there — and can it sustain the momentum?
September 16, 2024
Carmageddon: Shift to Remote Work Led to Increase in Driving and Congestion…
Driving miles are higher today than they were before the pandemic, even though more Americans than ever still work from home.
September 16, 2024
…And in NYC, VMTs Had a Double-Digit Increase, Counter to Regional Goal
The Big Apple is driving itself mad, according to new stats from Streetlight Data.
Monday’s Headlines Got a Little Ol’ Convoy
Using big diesel trucks to make deliveries in cities isn't great for the environment or the streets, but there are alternatives, as outlined by Transportation for America.
September 16, 2024
Happy Tenth Anniversary to Streetsblog California
And happy 15th to Streetsblog San Francisco, too!
