Friday’s Headlines Counting Down to Zero
Under Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. DOT is officially embracing Vision Zero. Plus, a cycling group spotlights cities where bikes are booming.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EST on January 28, 2022
- The U.S. DOT’s new National Roadway Safety Strategy fully embraces Vision Zero for the first time, but ignores the SUV arms race and traffic enforcement reform (Streetsblog USA). Meanwhile, CityLab says look to the Netherlands, where the pedestrian death rate is about 3 percent that of the U.S.
- Better air quality thanks to less driving during the pandemic prevented 800 deaths in Europe. (The Guardian)
- A new League of American Bicyclists report spotlights five cities where biking is booming: Boston, Chicago, Austin, Oakland and Missoula. (City Lab)
- Curbed pans New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plans for Penn Station.
- The Texas DOT abruptly reversed course and is taking back control of Lower Broadway in San Antonio, some believe to stop a Complete Streets project. (San Antonio Report)
- The Southwest light rail line in Minneapolis will now cost $2.75 billion and open in 2027, four years behind schedule. (Tribune Review)
- The Utah Transit Authority will go fare-free in February to improve air quality. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- The pandemic hindered plans to transform Washington, D.C.’s bus system, and now it’s time to revisit them. (DCist)
- Bikelash hits D.C. (Fox 5) and Columbus, Ohio (ABC 6). But bike lane plans won approval in Norfolk (13 News Now).
- A Cleveland bus rapid transit line is now electric. (FreshWater)
- A Complete Streets project for Detroit’s Woodward Avenue received a $1.2 million grant. (C&G News)
- Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced plans for a downtown streetcar. (KETV)
- Athens, Greece, is using smart sensors to combat illegal parking and make streets safer for pedestrians. (Eltis)
- France is known for its high-speed TGV, but now it’s planning to connect cities that aren’t served by rail via “slow trains” (about 55 mph) on underused secondary tracks. (The Local)
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.
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