- Cities nationwide are using $5 billion in federal safe-streets funding to right-size roads, build pedestrian islands, add protected bike lanes and more. (Governing)
- Transit agencies cannot continue to use a policing-only approach to houselessness and mental health. (Transit Center)
- Cities should use rebates, parking, charging stations and other methods to encourage the use of e-bikes. (Greater Greater Washington)
- The New York Times reviews Henry Grabar's new book about America's obsession with parking, "Paved Paradise."
- The California government should bail out struggling Bay Area transit systems. (Sacramento Bee)
- Three Republican-appointed federal appeals court judges ruled that Nashville can't force developers to build or pay for sidewalks. (Courthouse News)
- Minnesota's new transportation budget is good news for transit and active transportation. (Minnesota Public Radio)
- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a law increasing penalties for reckless driving. (Wis Politics)
- A Charlotte-area county has dropped out of the region's transit system. (WFAE)
- A Kansas City streetcar extension is gaining momentum. (Flatland KC)
- An Illinois bill would allow Uber and Lyft passengers to sue those companies if they're sexually assaulted by a driver. (WGN)
- The Federal Transit Administration gave the green light to a San Antonio bus rapid transit line. (Metro Magazine)
- A Massachusetts congressman wants to build high-speed rail all over the state. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Oklahoma City is planning a road diet on six-lane Classen Boulevard. (KOCO)
- Connecticut has seen a spike in hit-and-run drivers injuring or killing cyclists and pedestrians. (NBC Connecticut)
- Santa Fe's bus system is a mess. (Reporter)
- Tucson transit will remain fare-free for the rest of the year. (Arizona Daily Star)
- When it comes to bike lanes, one candidate for mayor of Toronto is wrong and stupid, and the other is not. (Bicycling)
- The only thing better than riding a streetcar is drinking a beer while riding a streetcar. (Daily Hive)
Streetsblog
Friday’s Headlines Are Getting Safer
By Blake Aued
Make streets look more like this. Photo: NACTO
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: Poster Sessions at Mpact in Portland
Young professionals discuss the work they’ve been doing including designing new transportation hubs, rethinking parking and improving buses.
January 8, 2026
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and highway expansion between Oregon and Washington was already a boondoggle. Then the costs ballooned to $17.7 billion.
January 8, 2026
Mayor Bowser Blasts U.S. DOT Talk of Eliminating Enforcement Cameras in DC
The federal Department of Transportation is exploring how to dismantle the 26-year-old enforcement camera system in Washington, D.C.
January 8, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Making Progress
By Yonah Freemark's count, 19 North American transit projects opened last year, with another 19 coming in 2026.
January 8, 2026
The ‘Affordability Crisis’ Conversation Can’t Leave Out the Cost of Cars
We can't talk about Americans' empty wallets without talking about our empty buses and sidewalks.
January 7, 2026
Opinion: E-Bikes Are An Economic Boost That Cities Must Seize
E-bikes and scooters are reshaping local retail markets by expanding who can reach neighborhood businesses with frequency, ease, and convenience.
