Skip to content

Friday’s Headlines Are Melting

A cross-Atlantic heat wave is affecting transit service. Worker shortages are, too.
  • Temperatures soaring above 100 degrees are stressing transit systems in the U.S. and UK because rails can’t handle the heat (Bloomberg). And a lot of that heat in cities is due to cars, not even counting all the CO2 they pump into the air (Treehugger).
  • More than 70 percent of transit agencies have been forced to cut service by shortages of bus operators. (Streetsblog USATransit Center)
  • Lyft is laying off 60 people and closing its car-rental arm. (TechCrunch)
  • This will harsh your buzz: A new study found that fatal car crashes rose 4 percent in states that have legalized recreational marijuana. (Daily Beast)
  • A top Washington, D.C. official says the region should address traffic and equity by building more housing near jobs and transit. (Washington Post)
  • Amazon is halting construction on several office towers near Seattle, another sign that the work-from-home trend is here to stay and could turn transit and land use on their heads. (Seattle Times)
  • Providing up-to-date information and more reliable service, lowering fares and improving accessibility are four ways for the Philadelphia’s transit agency to boost ridership. (WHYY)
  • After the failure of the Durham-Orange light rail line, the North Carolina city now plans to spend $1.1 billion on transit by 2040, but mostly on buses. (Mass Transit Mag)
  • Austin has a new and improved park that not everyone can enjoy because of a sidewalk to nowhere. (KXAN)
  • Columbia, Missouri, residents are comparing their deadliest road to a NASCAR track. (Daily Tribune)
  • Portland’s Pedalpalooza celebrates the city’s beloved bike-lane art. (Bike Portland)
Photo of Blake Aued
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

Urban Truth Collective: The One-Hour City Conspiracy

April 27, 2026

Monday’s Headlines Introduce the New Green New Deal

April 27, 2026

How Intercity Bus Lines Are Rebranding To Attract New Riders

April 27, 2026

Train Tubers: a Talk with the YouTube’s Transit Warriors

April 24, 2026

New E-Mobility Study Actually Reveals Need For Safer Streets, Not E-Bike Crackdowns

April 24, 2026
See all posts