Wednesday’s Headlines Have Stalled Out
Transit had appeared to be on a trajectory for a slow post-pandemic recovery, but not even high gases are nudging ridership upwards now.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EDT on July 13, 2022
- Transit’s post-pandemic recovery has stalled out despite sky-high gas prices, with a labor shortage limiting service and seemingly permanent changes to riders’ commuting patterns. (Government Technology)
- President Biden will continue to push for suspending federal gas taxes despite congressional opposition and already-falling gas prices, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said during a visit to Michigan. (Detroit Free Press)
- Banning cars from cities would create space for all the other activities people used to do in streets before cars completely took them over. (The Guardian)
- Former top Uber executive Mark MacGann has stepped forward as the whistleblower who leaked a massive trove of company documents, saying, “We had actually sold people a lie.” (StreetsblogUSA, Washington Post)
- The application process for federal infrastructure grants still favors big cities and big projects over smaller projects and first-time applicants. (Brookings)
- California cities are banning new gas stations as a way to fight climate change. (Los Angeles Times)
- Charlotte’s new mobility plan aims to slash single-occupancy driving to 50 percent of trips and expand transit access for Black residents. (Smart Cities Dive)
- A Phoenix mall could be redeveloped into a walkable mixed-use community centered around a new light rail station. (Fox 10)
- Houston is considering building the nation’s longest bus rapid transit line. (Chronicle)
- A behind-schedule and over-budget Honolulu rail line is supported by just 36 percent of voters. (Civil Beat)
- Seattle has started work on an extension of Sound Transit’s Link light rail. (KOMO)
- Connecticut’s transportation commissioner wants to use federal infrastructure funds to convert an intercity bus line to light rail. (CT News Junkie)
- High gas prices are contributing to record-high e-bike and scooter use in Denver. (Denver Post)
- Baton Rouge now has three electric buses, with 25 more on the way. (The Advocate)
- Voting ends today on a name for Nashville’s new bike-lane sweeper. (WKRN)
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
Friday Video: Five Bike Advocacy Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making
For one thing, make sure that political leaders who say "no" to livable streets experience consequences for their decisions.
March 27, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Take a Free Ride
Waymo has remote response teams, but when a robotaxi gets stuck, emergency responders have to get behind the wheel.
March 27, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Congestion Pricing Data Collection
New York's congestion pricing data whiz discusses the program's first year.
March 26, 2026
How DC’s Mayor and Council Chair Thwarted Every Effort to Better Its Streetcar
There are two reasons why D.C. doesn't have the streetcar system it was promised — and their names are Mayor Muriel Bowser and DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson, one urbanist argues.
March 26, 2026
An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Thursday’s Headlines
There's so much the U.S. could have done to insulate residents from spiraling gas prices, other than suspend taxes.
March 26, 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.