Skip to content

Thursday’s Headlines Build Back Better?

The Biden administration's planning grants are a start, but it will take decades and billions more to undo the damage of urban freeways.
Thursday’s Headlines Build Back Better?
  • The Biden administration, local officials and residents in dozens of cities are finding out that it’s harder to rebuild Black neighborhoods than it is to send them into decline with an uncrossable highway. (New York Times)
  • Americans take just 12 percent of their trips on foot — one of the lowest walking rates in the world primarily due to lack of infrastructure and poor planning. (Big Think)
  • State DOTs are increasingly giving cities more leeway to lower local speed limits. (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
  • Conspiracy theories aside, the explanation for Trader Joe’s small parking lots is pretty simple: The stores are small, so not much parking is required. (KTLA)
  • The ironically named Entitled Cyclist uses social media to document that it’s possible to get around by bike even in Los Angeles, a city built for cars. (NYT)
  • A long-awaited study in Los Angeles is expected to recommend congestion pricing to relieve traffic in the car-choked city. (L.A. Times)
  • Newly elected Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should invest in slow streets and transit. (Crain’s Chicago Business)
  • A $750 million waterfront development in Seattle does not include a safe path for cyclists. (Seattle Times)
  • Tampa’s latest quick-build complete streets project is on high-injury 14th Street. (WFLA)
  • The El Paso streetcar is up and running again after being shut down for a month in response to an influx of migrants. (Herald-Post)
  • Drivers still have outsized influence in Berlin, one of Europe’s least car-dependent cities. (City Lab)
  • Brazilian industries want the nation’s 15 largest cities to invest heavily in passenger rail. (Railway Gazette)
  • Montreal announced plans to spend $30 million on 53 bike projects. (CTV)
  • Drivers are already taking over Toronto’s newest bike lanes. (BlogTO)
Photo of 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.

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

April 15, 2026

Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully

April 15, 2026

Ask An Insurance Industry Insider: Safe Streets Are The Best Way To Bring Down Insurance Costs

April 15, 2026

What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?

April 14, 2026

“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization

April 14, 2026
See all posts