Streetsblog

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Inflated

Transit projects all over the country are feeling the effects of escalating construction costs.

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EDT on April 26, 2023

Light rail in Austin could be one of the casualties of higher-than-expected construction costs.

Cities all over the country, like Atlanta, Philadelphia and Austin, are scaling back ambitious transit plans in the face of rising construction costs. (City Lab)
A study in London found that people who live in low-income neighborhoods have a higher risk of being killed in a crash. (Traffic Technology Today)
As vehicles get heavier and parking garages get older, it could lead to catastrophe. (Curbed)
The Chevy Bolt, one of just two electric sedans eligible for the federal EV tax credit, is being discontinued. (CNBC)
China’s largest electric automaker admitted that fully self-driving cars are “basically impossible.” (The Truth About Cars)
Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield is in the hospital after suffering a serious injury when a pipe in a truckbed hit him while he was riding his bike on the side of the road (Block Club, Streetsblog CHI, StreetsblogUSA). We wish him a speedy recovery.
Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Ayanna Pressley introduced a $25 billion bill to help transit agencies go fare-free. (NBC Boston)
A western Massachusetts bikeshare is on hold because its parent company ran into financial problems. (Vermont Public)
The Washington state legislature has all but abandoned traffic safety bills as the death toll mounts. (The Urbanist)
Striping is underway for dedicated bike lanes in Milwaukee, and the new bus rapid transit line will open in June. (Urban Milwaukee)
Kansas City should go back to the future and restore its once-robust streetcar system. (KCUR)
California gave San Jose the last $46 million it needs to complete a light rail extension. (Mercury News)
Los Angeles traffic signals are timed to prioritize cars over cyclists and pedestrians. (L.A. Times)
The planned Omaha streetcar could cross over into Iowa. (3 News Now)
Phoenix painted a crosswalk purple, orange and yellow in honor of the Suns basketball team, and to promote pedestrian safety. (Arizona Republic)
Canada is looking to the U.S. for ways to stem transit violence. (CBC)

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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