Streetsblog

Thursday’s Headlines Are Automatic

Traffic cameras make it easier than ever for cities to catch scofflaw drivers. So why are so many still driving after racking up dozens of tickets?

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EDT on April 6, 2023

Photo: Mads Eneqvist, CC

Automated enforcement gives cities the tools to catch repeat traffic offenders, but the worst drivers are still on the streets. (City Lab)
Amid rising cyclist and pedestrian deaths, U.S. House Democrats have introduced a bill encouraging states to fill in gaps in their bike networks, named after the diplomat who was killed on a bike by a driver in Maryland last year. (Smart Cities Dive, Streetsblog USA)
Car-sharing offers an alternative to urban parking and could bring down housing costs if more widespread. (Urban Land)
Planting street trees makes cities more resilient to heat waves and climate change. (Planetizen)
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney and other Republicans need to educate themselves on the benefits of e-bikes and bike infrastructure. (Bicycling)
A survey of Seattle commuters found that faster, more frequent service and availability of denser housing near stops would get more people to ride transit. (The Urbanist)
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is paying a consultant $280,000 to lobby Sound Transit for his positions on light rail. (Seattle Times)
The Biden administration awarded Houston a $150 million grant for a 25-mile bus rapid transit line. (Axios)
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill allowing police to impound vehicles belonging to repeat reckless driving offenders. (Wis Politics)
Will Philadelphia’s Vision Zero program continue once Mayor Jim Kenney leaves office? (Audacy)
A $9 million Virginia state grant will allow Richmond to improve its 500 most dangerous intersections. (WTVR)
Pittsburgh bikeshare POGOH is adding 220 bikes and 22 new stations. (Pittsburgh Magazine)
California will require half of all heavy trucks sold there to be electric by 2035. (New York Times)
Former Obama administration transportation secretary Ray LaHood says a lack of federal investment is holding up California high-speed rail. (Cal Matters)
In a tactic straight out of Guantanamo, the L.A. Metro is blasting loud classical music in subway stations to drive out the homeless. (Curbed)