Tuesday’s Headlines Turn Up the Heat
The ongoing global heat wave has environmental scientists worried that manmade climate change is happening even faster than previously thought, the Washington Post reports — and our addiction to automobiles is still driving the change.
By
Blake Aued
1:14 AM EDT on June 25, 2024
- Climate change caused by burning fossil fuels contributed to the past week’s global heat wave that killed thousands, and it’s only going to get worse — next month could be the hottest July in 100,000 years, surpassing 2023. (Washington Post)
- Cities are undermining their climate goals with high taxes and fees on micromobility, according to a new study funded by Lime. Researchers at Portland State and Sonoma State University found that taxes and fees on micromobility devices are more than 20 times higher than those paid by private vehicle owners. (Smart Cities Dive, Streetsblog USA)
- Highway construction costs have risen by 68 percent since 2020. (Eno Center for Transportation)
- “Killed by a Traffic Engineer” author Wes Marshall compares the failure of engineers to build safe roads with the auto industry’s arms race to make ever-bigger SUVs. (The Conversation)
- Soapbox Cincinnati has a recap of this year’s Congress for the New Urbanism convention.
- Despite California officials’ stated commitment to halting freeway widening projects that only induce more traffic, dozens of such projects, like the expansion of I-80 in Sacramento, remain on the books. (Los Angeles Times)
- California regulators approved driverless car company Waymo’s expansion from San Francisco into San Mateo County and Los Angeles. (Government Technology)
- A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against congestion pricing, dealing another blow to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s rationale for putting it on hold. (Streetsblog NYC )
- New York state is offering $32 million in grants for shared electric transportation. (Green Car Congress)
- The Urbanist suggests getting rid of wraparound bus ads on King County buses.
- Once a year people can get a glimpse of Cleveland’s old streetcar system underneath Veterans Memorial Bridge. (Cleveland Magazine)
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Talking Headways Podcast: How Money for Highways Could Have Built 36 Paris Metros
The money we spent on urban freeways could have transformed American cities for the better.
August 20, 2026
Take Thursday’s Headlines Home, Country Roads
The Trump administration wants to build roads through pristine public lands.
August 20, 2026
A New US-Canada Bridge Opposed By Trump Has a One-of-a-Kind Bike Path
The bike-ped path on the brand new Gordie Howe International Bridge opened on Aug. 5 despite the president's opposition.
August 19, 2026
It’s Me, Wednesday’s Headlines, Hi, I’m the Problem, It’s Me
Is the next Taylor Swift, Drake, Bad Bunny or (insert popular artist here) album drop going to kill you?
August 19, 2026
Opinion: San Francisco Should Not Give Free Curb Space to Waymo
There's no reason one of the most valuable companies in the world should get free access to a public right-of-way.
August 19, 2026