- U.S. PIRG released its annual list of highway boondoggles, including several projects being pushed forward by the Biden administration's infrastructure act. An ongoing Streetsblog series breaks down each project in-depth.
- The Biden administration's "fix it first" infrastructure philosophy primarily benefits whiter, rural states because it pays to maintain roads that, under a more equitable approach, would never have been built in the first place, Eno Center for Transportation argues.
- Rather than the proven approach of designing safer streets, state officials are leaning on police and automated traffic enforcement to curb rising road deaths. Both pose problems, like disproportionately punishing low-income drivers. (Stateline)
- Various billionaires' plans to build "smart cities" from scratch haven't gone anywhere. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Car dealers really do not want to sell electric vehicles. (Clean Technica)
- Los Angeles is bracing for a traffic nightmare — when is L.A. traffic not a nightmare? — after arson shut down a portion of I-10 (City Lab), However, when such things happen, people generally figure out other ways to get around. Meanwhile, apparently setting freeways on fire is the best way to convince L.A. to boost transit service.
- Miami's new bus routes prioritize connecting people and jobs. (Human Transit)
- Houston is planning to build 2,000 new bus shelters over the next five years. (Mass Transit)
- Decatur, Georgia is a pedestrian-friendly town, but drivers injured four people in four separate crashes there in one day. Authorities blamed distracted driving. (AJC)
- Seattle Transit Blog took a deep dive into the West Seattle light rail line.
- British Columbia is considering a bill to provide 100,000 new homes near transit stations. (CBC)
- Overnight trains are making a comeback in Europe as an alternative to flights. (CNN)
Today's Headlines
Wednesday’s Headlines About the Biggest Boondoggles
Why are we still expanding highways in the year of our lord, 2023?
By Blake Aued
U.S. PIRG listed replacing the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington as one of its 2023 boondoggles.
|Wayne HsiehRead More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Confirmed: Non-Driving Infrastructure Creates ‘Induced Demand,’ Too
Widening a highway to cure congestion is like losing weight by buying bigger pants — but thanks to the same principle of "induced demand," adding bike paths and train lines to cure climate actually works.
January 9, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Unsustainably Expensive
To paraphrase former New York City mayoral candidate Jimmy McMillan, the car payment is too damn high.
Talking Headways Podcast: Poster Sessions at Mpact in Portland
Young professionals discuss the work they’ve been doing including designing new transportation hubs, rethinking parking and improving buses.
January 8, 2026
Exploding Costs Could Doom One of America’s Greatest Highway Boondoggles
The Interstate Bridge Replacement Project and highway expansion between Oregon and Washington was already a boondoggle. Then the costs ballooned to $17.7 billion.
January 8, 2026
Mayor Bowser Blasts U.S. DOT Talk of Eliminating Enforcement Cameras in DC
The federal Department of Transportation is exploring how to dismantle the 26-year-old enforcement camera system in Washington, D.C.
January 8, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Making Progress
By Yonah Freemark's count, 19 North American transit projects opened last year, with another 19 coming in 2026.
January 8, 2026
