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Thursday’s Headlines Stay Flexible

Only a few states are really taking advantage of the Biden administration's leeway in spending funding earmarked for roads on transit instead.

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EST on December 1, 2022

Vermont spent money that could have gone to highways on Amtrak instead.

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More states are spending less than four percent of their flexible highway dollars on transit. But the ones that are shifting the most money from highways to transit — like Vermont and New Jersey — are seeing a big impact. (Transit Center)

As trucks and SUVs get bigger and bigger, they’re edging into bike lanes and squeezing cyclists, leaving them with just a few inches of space compared to more reasonably sized vehicles…. which is all the more reason to build more protected bike lanes. (Bicycling)

Putting more money into freight rail will help reduce traffic congestion and pollution. (City Lab)

The Guardian busts myths about low-emissions zones.

Crumbling sidewalks and unreliable transit are stopping older Americans from accessing health care. (ABC San Diego)

The Conversation talks to UC-Davis professor Kari Watkins about the pandemic’s impact on transit and more.

Kansas City is the largest U.S. city to make transit fare-free, but its success might not be replicable elsewhere because so few people used the transit system to begin with that it didn’t have a lot of revenue to lose. (Governing)

Amtrak is doing better all of a sudden. (Reuters)

Would an abandoned Queens commuter rail line be better off turned into a linear park or restored to its original use? (New York Times)

The Oregon legislature will consider a bill next year creating a rebate program for e-bike purchases. (Bike Portland)

Twenty years ago Baltimore built the “underpass to nowhere” a pedestrian tunnel that dead-ended due to a series of government missteps. (Brew)

Young people can get involved with bike advocacy by organizing an after-school bike bus or painting a traffic-calming mural. (CalBikes)

For $300,000 robots will park your car in New York City. (CNBC)

Why are some streetlights suddenly turning purple? (Business Insider)

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.

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