Wednesday’s Headlines Want Safe Streets Now
Particularly frightening about the 16-year high in traffic deaths: The spike in pedestrians killed, seniors killed and deaths caused by large truck drivers.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on May 18, 2022
- Traffic deaths rose to their highest level since 2005 last year, the biggest percentage increase since the Federal Highway Safety Administration started keeping track in 1975. (Washington Post)
- As part of the 2021 infrastructure act, U.S. DOT is making $5 billion in grants available to cities for safe-streets projects across five years… (Associated Press)
- …but the Biden administration also said it’s already released $110 billion in funding from the same bill this year alone, much of which will go to autocentric projects. (Reuters)
- The $1 billion for urban freeway removal is giving minority communities in California hope, but they also worry that officials will repeat the mistakes of the past with the influx of infrastructure funding. (The American Prospect)
- The Colorado DOT is taking a plan to widen I-25 through Denver off the table, for now. (Colorado Sun)
- USDOT is seeking nominees for an advisory committee on transportation equity. (Transport Topics)
- Soon it will be impossible to pick out an autonomous vehicle from one with a human driver. (MIT Technology Review)
- Uber Eats is launching two robot delivery pilot programs in Los Angeles. (Engadget)
- The railyard where a gunman killed six Santa Clara Valley Authority transit workers in San Jose last year is being torn down. (Trains)
- Arkansas planners are looking to bike and pedestrian projects to reduce congestion, but still haven’t given up on the false idea that widening roads will help, either. (Democrat-Gazette)
- St. Paul has Lime e-scooters but still no bike-share. (Pioneer Press)
- Even Berkeley isn’t immune to bikelash. (CBS News)
- This German suspension railway is a relic of the future from the past. (CNN Travel)
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
Wednesday’s Headlines Feel Pain at the Pump
High gas prices are likely to persist, and people will be driving less in response.
March 25, 2026
D.C. Advocates Sue To Save Key Bike Lane From Trump Teardown
We previously reported that the Trump administration might soon move to dismantle key cycle tracks in the nation's capital. Unfortunately, we were right.
March 24, 2026
How a ‘Universal Basic Neighborhood’ Can Help Americans Live Longer
Want to increase your chances of living to 80? A new paper argues we need to start with our neighborhoods — and we need to do it for everybody.
March 24, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Keep Our Eyes on the Road
How much responsibility do tech companies bear for traffic deaths caused by distracted driving?
March 24, 2026
Opinion: Adding Parking to Sports Stadiums Makes It Harder for Everyone To Get Around
A Chicago advocate makes the case against expanding car storage at Cubs games.
March 23, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.