Thursday’s Headlines Are On the Road Again

As gas tax revenue shrinks, states are considering a mileage charge instead. But maybe they don't need so much money for roads, since building them just makes traffic worse.

By Blake Aued

12:00 AM EDT on June 29, 2023

Atlanta: not walkable.

|AtlantaCitizen

Widening roads actually makes traffic worse, according to a new study encompassing 24 cities. The studies found that speeds slowed by 0.014 percent for every one percent increase in capacity. (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
States are moving toward a mileage-based road usage tax as the gas tax revenue that have historically funded transportation shrinks. (USA Today)
While much has been written about coastal cities' "doom loop" (including on Streetsblog), Midwestern cities are in bigger trouble. Creating walkable neighborhoods is one way they can recover. (Business Insider)
California's budget deal includes $1.1 billion in new spending for transit and rolls back Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed cuts. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Now that Gov. Tina Kotek has told the Oregon DOT to pause toll collections, the DOT is pausing plans to widen two Portland freeways that would have been funded by tolls. (Portland Mercury)
The collapse of I-95 showed why Philadelphia should build the Roosevelt Boulevard subway. (Philadelphia Citizen)
A federal grant will fund a complete streets study of the major Cincinnati artery Westwood Northern Boulevard. (Spectrum News)
Four options have emerged for a "pedestrian-first" Brady Street in Milwaukee. (Urban Milwaukee)
Research Triangle buses will remain free for the next year, but maybe not after that. (Raleigh News & Observer)
The KANcycle bikeshare serving rural Kansas communities is expanding. (KSAL)
Bird is rolling out bikeshare service in Burlington, where another company abruptly went bankrupt last year. (WCAX)
A Richmond filmmaker and Streetsblog contributor's new documentary will delve into how car-centric land use is harming our health. (Greater Greater Washington, Streetsblog USA)
Newly elected Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is a daily bike rider who wants to tear down urban freeways. (Toronto Star)