Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Today's Headlines

Thursday’s Headlines Aren’t Terrified by Trains

Fear-mongering about trains and crime has a long history, intertwined with racism, and persists to this day. But is the fear justified? Probably not.

A light rail train in Paris.

|Hugo Douchet, CC
  • The common trope about rail bringing criminals to previously safe neighborhoods has its roots in racism and white flight, and there's very little data to back it up. (City Lab)
  • Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg seems to be backing off his initial commitment to equity when it comes to undoing the damage to Black neighborhoods caused by urban freeways. (Politico)
  • Apartment managers should provide separate storage areas and charging infrastructure for e-bikes, according to one fire safety expert. (Smart Cities Dive)
  • Even if you're a fan of electric vehicles, the 9,000-pound Hummer EV is an environmental disaster, destroying roads and emitting more greenhouse gases than a typical gas-powered midsized sedan. (Fast Company)
  • Is it really cheaper to charge an EV than to fill up a gas tank? The answer is, probably yes — but it depends on where you live and what kind of car you drive. (Washington Post)
  • An "infrastructure boot camp" run by the National League of Cities, Bloomberg Philanthropies and other groups has helped small towns win $428 million in grants over the past year. (Governing)
  • Lots of transit agencies are adopting fare-capping because it makes transit easier to use and more equitable. (Government Technology)
  • Denver's Regional Transportation District is putting equity first by making transit free for kids and cutting fares across the board. (Rocky Mountain PBS)
  • A beloved Minneapolis radio station that caters to a Black audience could be demolished to make way for the Blue Line. (Star Tribune)
  • Following a series of bus and trolley collisions, the Federal Transit Authority may step in to oversee Philadelphia transit agency SEPTA's safety operations. (Inquirer)
  • Turning car lanes into streetcar-only could actually make Kansas City traffic move faster. (Star)
  • Bike lanes don't cause significant delays for drivers, according to traffic studies in Maryland. (Greater Greater Washington)
  • Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is offering free bike-riding lessons for kids citywide. (WBZ)
  • Toyota's slogan is, "Let's Go Places," but we don't think they mean the second story of a house. (Jalopnik)

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: The Secret History of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service

...and what it means for new passenger rail service across America.

December 19, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Walk the Line

If you're a capitalist, the market says there's a premium for living in a walkable neighborhood. So why not supply more to meet demand?

December 19, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: Fighting to Win

Carter Lavin talks with Jeff Wood about the necessity of messy politics in obtaining street safety.

December 18, 2025

Streetsblog’s ‘Car-Free Carolers’ Bring the Joy, Mirth and Ho-Ho-Hope to this Holiday Season

Streetsblog's singers are back, belting out their parody classics to make a serious point: New York's roadways don't have to be dangerous places for kids and lungs, but can be joyous spaces for people to walk around, shop, eat or just ... hang out.

December 18, 2025

Study: More Protected Bike Lanes = More Micromobility Users

This ought to silence doubters who claim that no one's using that shiny new cycle track.

December 18, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Are Hot-Blooded, Check It and See

Hopefully the Earth won't have a fever of 103 when judges get done with the Trump administration's proposal to dismantle greenhouse gas regulations.

December 18, 2025
See all posts