- Small cars are more efficient and less dangerous for pedestrians, but because automakers make higher profits off of trucks and SUVs, many refuse to even sell them (Ars Technica). In related news, the 10,000-pound electric Hummer has the lowest gas mileage equivalent of any EV on the market — even lower than some gas-powered sedans (Jalopnik).
- Traffic engineers should be looking at transportation from a public health perspective, according to a new research paper. (Governing)
- A California bill would overhaul the state's racist highway-building practices that have exacerbated poor air quality in low-income communities. (Natural Resources Defense Council)
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is abandoning plans for a public-private Beltway widening partnership and asking the feds for $2.4 billion to complete the $6 billion project. (Washington Post)
- A recent D.C. study that tracked more than 300,000 vehicles found that 70 percent were exceeding the speed limit. (Greater Greater Washington)
- The Twin Cities have a deal with Hennepin County to split the remaining $535 million cost for the Southwest Corridor light rail project. (Minnesota Public Radio)
- Seattle is spending an extra $170 million on a light rail project to avoid impacting a street that only carries 9,000 cars a day. (The Urbanist)
- As unpredictable as robotaxis can be, the greatest threat they pose is to San Francisco's transit system. (48 Hills)
- Eliminating parking mandates and reducing dependency on cars allows developers to free up urban space for humans. (Milwaukee Independent)
- The only thing worse than Dallas drivers might be its roads. (Morning News)
- Light rail in Austin is still six to eight years away. (CBS Austin)
- Starting Sept. 1 transit will be free for Philadelphia city government employees. (WHYY)
- The driver of a Philadelphia trolley that crashed in July didn't know the brakes had been disabled while being repaired. (KYW)
- Richmond has found a new bikeshare vendor to replace a company that suddenly went belly-up. (Axios)
- Transit isn't just for people — according to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, it's good for fish, too. (Alaska Sporting Journal)
- Toronto is considering a parking tax that would encourage using transit and bring the city half a billion dollars annually. (CBC)
Today's Headlines
Wednesday’s Headlines Think Smaller Is Better
American drivers need to break their addiction to ever-bigger trucks and SUVs. But automakers don't give them much of a choice.

In Britain small cars like this are the norm, but they’re not even available in the U.S.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Tuesday’s Sprawling Headlines
Sprawl seems to be having a moment, but it remains a very shortsighted and environmentally disastrous way to solve the housing crisis.
Does Constant Driving Really Make Our Country Richer?
A new study reveals that constant driving is making America less productive and prosperous — and getting people on other modes could help right the ship.
‘We’re Not Copenhagen’ Is No Excuse Not to Build a Great Biking And Walking City
A team of researchers identified eight under-the-radar cities leading the local active transportation revolution — and a menu of strategies that other communities can and should steal.
Monday’s Headlines, Ranked
New reports rank the best cities for biking and the best complete streets policies. Plus, the robotaxi wars have begun.
Washington State Is About To Have the First Pro-‘Woonerf’ Law in America
Washington state is making it legal for cities to have people-centered streets in a first-in-the-nation law.
Friday’s Headlines Are Doomed
Philadelphia transit is falling off the fiscal cliff, with other major cities not far behind. And the effects of service cuts on their economies could be brutal.