- High-speed rail has the potential to transform the country, but has not succeeded in the U.S. primarily due to the lack of a dedicated funding source and an onerous permitting process, according to an NYU study. (Smart Cities Dive)
- Reece Martin predicts that North America's lackluster passenger rail system is going to hold back economic growth compared to Europe and China.
- The Conversation delves into how to turn stroads into complete streets.
- Massachusetts voters could decide whether Uber and Lyft drivers have the right to form a union. (ABC News)
- Oakland is expanding its "universal basic mobility" program that gives prepaid debit cards to low- and middle-income residents to spend on transit. (Los Angeles Times)
- Chicago transit agencies are asking for more funding but resisting efforts at administrative reform. (Sun-Times)
- Tampa is making strides on a protected two-way bike path. (That's So Tampa)
- Minneapolis is planning a pilot program to install speeding and red-light cameras. (KSTP)
- Norman, Okla. abolished parking requirements simply by changing the word "required" to "recommended" in its code. (CNU Public Square)
- Billings is drafting a new bike and pedestrian master plan. (KULR)
- Toledo is adding bike lanes but also more parking to downtown streets. (WTOL)
- Jarrett Walker talks about how he helped an Irish town double its transit service. (Human Transit)
- Berlin officials say its new longer trams will encourage drivers to leave their cars at home. (Railway Gazette)
- Berlin also built a cycle track underneath an elevated rail line. (Momentum)
Today's Headlines
Monday’s Headlines Go Through Basic Training
An NYU study looks into why the U.S. is lagging behind on high-speed rail, and one transportation expert ponders the impact on growth.
By Blake Aued
Say goodbye to California high-speed rail if Republicans win in November. Photo via CAHSRA
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
In NYC, Unlicensed Drivers Comprise One-Quarter Of Street Fatalities: Data
Unlicensed drivers are linked to fatal crashes much more often now than pre-pandemic
Tuesday’s Headlines Need Exercise
Every hour in a car increases the risk of obesity by 6 percent, while walking a kilometer lowers it 5 percent.
January 13, 2026
Opinion: Stop Asking If People Want to Ride Bikes
"We shouldn’t be aiming to nudge a few percentage points in public opinion. Our goal should be to make freedom of mobility so compelling that people demand it."
January 13, 2026
When the Government Says You’re ‘Weaponizing’ Your Car
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers have been brutalizing and killing people who they perceive as threats. Is mass automobility multiplying their pretext to do it?
January 12, 2026
Should Monday’s Headlines Carry a Carrot or a Stick?
Human beings generally don't like being forced to do anything, so Grist wonders whether policies like car bans could actually be counterproductive?
January 12, 2026
Chicago Explores Black Perspectives on Public Transit
"We're not going to fix decades of inequitable investment in one year, and things like the high-frequency bus network and the Red Line Extension are really important, but the work isn't done."
