- President Biden touted climate-change measures like converting to electric vehicles while also admitting the U.S. will be dependent on oil for "at least another decade" during his State of the Union address. (The Hill) He also announced that all construction materials used in federally funded infrastructure projects must be made in the U.S. (CNBC)
- Ezra Klein at the New York Times ponders why American construction is getting less efficient. Most of the problems are bureaucratic or political, according to an NYU study on why U.S. transit projects cost more than other countries,' creating rising costs and long timelines that frustrate the public and sap support for these generally popular projects. (Transit Costs Project)
- Transit riders are frustrated by "ghost buses" that show up on their apps but never arrive. (Pew Stateline)
- I-794 bulldozed through a vibrant Black Milwaukee community in the 1960s, and the easy access to downtown via car spurred white residents to flee to the suburbs. Now activists want the freeway taken down. (Fast Company)
- It has lots of attractions but doesn't really connect anything, so "America's Main Street" of Pennsylvania Avenue is a strong candidate for D.C. to start experimenting with closing streets to cars. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Benefits for Boston city employees now include Bluebike bike-share memberships. (Globe)
- A Houston developer is hoping to turn car-centric neighborhoods into walkable ones. (Greater Houston Partnership)
- An Arlington, Texas project will map sidewalk conditions in low-income neighborhoods as way to help residents access food and find safe routes to school. (KERA)
- Palm Beach, Florida residents are asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to cancel a plan to add bike lanes to A1A and widen a multiuse path. (Daily News)
- A Philadelphia high-school student writes about how biking is a necessity for her family. (Inquirer)
- New Orleans has a 1907 San Francisco streetcar tucked away in a barn, and yes, it's named "Desire." (Boing Boing)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: The Lost Subways of North America
Author Jake Berman discusses transit histories through the lens of racial dynamics, monopolies, ballot measures and overlooked cities.
January 15, 2026
A ‘Demographic Time Bomb’ Is About To Go Off — And the Transportation Sector Isn’t Ready
A top firm is warning that the "silver tsunami" will have big implications for the climate, unless U.S. communities act fast.
January 15, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Shoot for the Moon
What if the U.S. spent anything near what it spends on highways on transit instead?
January 15, 2026
Passenger Rail Is Headed for a Reckoning — and the First 90 Days of 2026 Will Decide It
Railfans: it's time to go full steam ahead.
January 15, 2026
Is it Time to Try Congestion Pricing in San Francisco?
Congestion pricing has been an unqualified success in New York (and lots of other places). Why wouldn't it work elsewhere?
Analysis: What It Would Take To Put America First in Transit Again
No, it won't be easy. Yes, it can be done.
January 14, 2026
