Monday’s Headlines Are in the Mail
- Democrats are calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to resign over his multibillion-dollar purchase of gas-guzzling new mail trucks (New York Times). The new trucks get less than 9 miles per gallon (Ars Technica) and pressure is mounting to buy electric vehicles instead (Green Car Reports).
- Transit ridership is down by half since before the pandemic, while traffic deaths are up 27 percent. (The Guardian)
- Traffic fines should be tied to income, since a ticket doesn't really affect a wealthy person, but for someone with a lower income the cost could be catastrophic. In Europe, fines range from less than $10 to six figures. (The Atlantic)
- Congress' failure to agree on a one-year spending bill could tie up $40 billion in infrastructure funds. (Route Fifty)
- Fraudsters could siphon off up to 10 percent of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure act. (Pew Trusts)
- The U.S. DOT is releasing nearly $5 billion in formula funding for transit. (Railway Age)
- Jalopnik takes down an NYT column about a road trip in a self-driving car that, in reality, doesn't even remotely drive itself.
- Seven out 10 pedestrians Portland drivers killed last year were homeless, and deaths are continuing to trend upward in 2022. (Oregonian)
- Massachusetts will get about $9.5 billion for transportation from the federal infrastructure law. (NBC Boston)
- Washington, D.C. announced plans to double its 24 miles of protected bike lanes, starting with 10 this year. (WaPost)
- A Utah lawmaker is proposing a carbon tax that would fund fare-free transit, among other things. (Fox 13)
- Charlotte needs regional transportation planning but can't quite figure out how to get there. (UNC Charlotte Urban Institute)
- Omaha businesses are excited that a new streetcar could bring more people downtown, but worried about rising rents. (WOWT)
- A Minneapolis cyclist is trying to get his local NPR station to air bike commuting reports along with traffic. (MinnPost)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Monday’s Headlines Are All About Pete
From trying to avert a government shutdown to promoting rail safety, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is in the midst of a busy week.
What is the Life of a Dead Pedestrian Worth?
A Seattle police officer sparked outrage when he joked that the death of pedestrian Jaahnavi Kandula might be settled for as little as $11,000. Some families get even less.
Why Reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled Matters
“Our job now is to prioritize solutions that mitigate the impacts of climate change while equitably improving quality of life. To do so we need to rethink how we build so Californians can drive less."
Friday’s Headlines Are Tired Out
Whether it's from degradation or the dust resulting from wear and tear, it's becoming increasingly clear that tire and brake emissions are harmful, perhaps even exceeding tailpipe emissions.
Study: What Road Diets Mean For Older Drivers
"After a road diet, all motorists seem to drive at a rate that feels comfortable to a mildly-impaired older adult."
