Streetsblog

Wednesday’s Headlines Need Help

Some state DOTs don't have the in-house expertise to design a rail project that the federal government stands ready to fund.

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EST on January 25, 2023

Sound Transit's Link 2 line is scheduled to open this year after the first phase opened in 2025. King County

Billions of federal dollars are available for rail projects, but many road-centered state DOTs don’t have the expertise to take advantage. (Route Fifty)
Cities can provide better transportation services when they’re properly structured. (Governing)
The average driver spends $179 a month on fuel — money that could be saved by riding a bike or transit. (Crossroads Today)
Electric vehicles are the latest front in the culture wars, and maybe the dumbest one yet. (The Verge)
Kansas City is using tax incentives to spur transit-oriented development, but some are concerned about a lack of affordable housing and the effect on school funding. (Beacon)
A Washington state bill would make it easier for cities to develop affordable housing around transit stops. (KUOW)
Plans for commuter rail in North Carolina are still important even if fewer people are commuting. (Raleigh News & Observer)
A Nebraska state senator is trying to block a proposed Omaha streetcar. (Examiner)
Despite progress on roads where Austin has been able to make safety improvements, traffic deaths still hit an all-time high last year. (Axios)
Drunk driving arrests in New Orleans are down by half, even as impaired drivers kill more people. (Times-Picayune)
Philadelphia received a $78 million federal grant for a plan to make deadly Roosevelt Avenue safer. (Inquirer)
Rather than the road diet Nashville officials want, state-drawn plans to replace the Broadway viaduct don’t change much at all. (Nashville Post)
Whether it’s Facebook groups or TikTok influencers, here are some of the best social media accounts to learn more about safe streets. (Mashable)