Thursday’s Headlines Are Incomplete

There's too much wiggle room and not enough specific direction for traffic engineers in many Complete Streets policies.

12:01 AM EDT on July 13, 2023

A design guide developed by Phoenix’s Complete Streets Advisory Board would make bike lanes a default feature on many streets, but city officials haven’t approved it.

Failed Complete Streets policies that don't result in fewer cyclist and pedestrian deaths are often so vaguely written that they don't give bureaucrats much guidance, a recent article argues. (Planetizen)
When freight trains block street intersections, forcing pedestrians to wait or risk their lives clambering over them, local governments have little recourse, even with $3 billion in funding from the Biden administration for bypasses. (New York Times)
Congestion pricing like New York City is implementing is a "perfect trade" that both discourages driving and funds transit. (GreenBiz)
Truck manufacturers have agreed to abide by California's 2036 ban on new diesel big rigs to avoid litigation and maintain one nationwide standard. (Washington Post)
A new freight master plan in Portland calls for more separation from cyclists. (Bike Portland)
The contractor for Minneapolis' over-budget Southwest light rail line says recommendations in a critical audit would have led to even more delays and expenses. (Star Tribune)
The New Orleans Regional Transit Authority's new CEO is going back to basics by focusing on improving service and reliability. (Governing)
Building Salt Lake traces the history of Salt Lake City's S-Line.
Denver's popular e-bike rebate program is benefiting cyclists and the environment, but not necessarily local bike shops. (Axios)
Los Angeles is following the lead of Barcelona's "superblocks" by reclaiming portions of neighborhood streets for car-free parks. (Smart Cities Dive)
Even one Dutch airline CEO wants to put short-haul passengers on trains as European airlines try to meet carbon emission goals. (Politico)
Bikes now outnumber cars in the City of London, the sprawling metropolis' central square mile. (Forbes)