Tuesday’s Headlines Are #TeamTrain
Yes, trains are a better way to commute than ... whatever the buzzword for "helicopter" is these days. Plus, the death of intercity bus service and more.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on April 19, 2022
- Rural and small-town residents are being left behind as the pandemic kills off private intercity and charter bus companies. (Stateline)
- In the early days of the pandemic, before mask mandates or ventilation measures, it appears that COVID did spread on buses and trains, according to a Georgia Tech study that compared federal travel data to confirmed cases in 52 metro areas.
- Even the aviation website AVweb agrees that trains are a better way to move people around cities than airborne Ubers.
- Just giving pedestrians a brief head start at signalized crosswalks can cut close calls by over 40 percent, data from Bellevue, Washington shows. (GCN)
- Electric cargo bikes are becoming a popular way for New Yorkers to carry their kids to school. (NY Times)
- Amtrak is seeking to use eminent domain to take over and renovate D.C.’s Union Station. (Washington Post)
- Colorado Democrats now want to “pause” the gas fee they implemented just last year to pay for transit, environmental mitigation and other transportation programs. (Colorado Public Radio)
- A $13 billion Charlotte regional transit referendum is unlikely to come together in time for a November vote. (WCNC)
- A $750 million infrastructure package is up for a vote in Atlanta next month. (Urbanize Atlanta)
- Commuters want New Jersey Transit to restore five bus routes to Philadelphia. (NJ.com)
- A Kansas City study is the first step toward prioritizing transit-oriented development along bus lines. (KCUR)
- San Francisco is lowering speed limits to 20 miles per hour on another dozen streets. (Chronicle)
- The Colorado town of Cripple Creek is dreaming of a $75 million vintage streetcar system. (Mountain Jackpot)
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
Friday’s Headlines Go North, Young Man
If you want to walk and bike safely, stay out of the South.
August 7, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: What Does It Cost to Build a Bus?
Lisa Jerram of APTA and Philip Plotch of the Eno Center for Transportation explain the state of bus manufacturing and why buses cost so much.
August 6, 2026
Report: Building More Homes Reduces Overall Driving
Building more homes will get cars off the road, but where they’re built matters.
August 6, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Cut Away
A U.S. Senate bill would result in the loss of $950 million in transit infrastructure funding.
August 6, 2026
State Lawmakers Aim At Illegal E-Motos, But Hit E-Bikes Instead
A deceptive and widespread marketing tactic has tricked families into purchasing dangerous e-motos and fooled lawmakers into pushing laws that would make streets even less safe.
August 5, 2026