Friday’s Headlines Get Our Kicks
One day you'll be able to see the country the old-fashioned way, instead of through a windshield.
By
Blake Aued
12:00 AM EST on February 17, 2023
- The 3,700-mile Great American Rail-Trail could be hikers and bikers’ version of Route 66 for drivers, and revitalize dozens of communities along the way. (National Geographic)
- The Biden administration’s recent blueprint for carbon neutrality relies heavily on New Urbanist values like mixed-use zoning and walkable streets. (E&E News)
- On-demand shuttle service Via raised another $110 million in venture capital, bringing its valuation to $3.5 billion. (Tech Crunch)
- Preventing crashes and keeping car traffic moving aren’t always mutually exclusive. (Route Fifty)
- Houston’s Memorial Park now goes over an urban highway instead of being divided by it. (Fast Company)
- Suddenly facing layoffs, Google appears to be backing off plans to create a transit-oriented neighborhood in its hometown of San Jose. (Mercury News)
- Some Baltimore residents are concerned a plan to retime traffic lights will benefit drivers at the expense of cyclists and pedestrians. (Brew)
- New Orleans city council members put the brakes on a bus rapid transit line over concerns that it could slow down drivers, even though drivers could hop on a much faster bus. (WWNO)
- Denver is adding bike and pedestrian safety improvements to its widely criticized plan for a new I-25 interchange at Broadway. (Denverite)
- Brightline West has agreed to build three wildlife crossings along I-15 as part of its Los Angeles-Las Vegas passenger rail line. (Review-Journal)
- San Diego expanded the zones where developers are allowed to build taller buildings near transit stops. (Union-Tribune)
- The Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority is seeking proposals for high-density affordable housing around the Garnett station. (Axios)
- Traffic deaths in Raleigh rose 55 percent last year. (CBS 17)
- Madison, Wisconsin traffic deaths and serious injuries declined for the second year in a row, which officials attributed to Vision Zero. (Channel 3000)
- Kalamazoo made its two-way streets downtown one-way so cars could go faster. Now it’s changing them back to slow cars down. (MLive)
- With you my bike/ Has been so wonderful/ I can’t stop now (Bicycling Magazine)
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
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully
Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much.
April 15, 2026
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Try, Try Again
Maybe another climate conference can succeed on phasing out fossil fuels where COP30 failed.
April 14, 2026