Tuesday’s Headlines Go for the Gold

With the Paris Olympics over, attention turns to 2028 host Los Angeles. Can the notoriously car-centric city really pull off a car-free games?

By Blake Aued

12:47 AM EDT on August 13, 2024

Photo: Jay Peeples|

Make America Smoggy Again.

Los Angeles could show its residents and traffic-choked cities everywhere by putting on a car-free Olympics in 2028. But will all the projects necessary get done in time? (New York Times)
Despite his generally pro-union stances, Tim Walz's only veto as governor of Minnesota was of a bill raising wages and providing labor protections for Uber and Lyft drivers. He then brokered a compromise bill that kept the ride-hailing services from the leaving the state. (Insider)
Dedicated bus lanes not only improve transit service, they also calm traffic. (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
With just one exception, metro Charlotte cities have agreed on a plan to form a regional transit authority and raise sales taxes to fund transit expansion. (Observer)
Dallas Area Rapid Transit could lose $6 billion over the next 20 years if member cities follow through on threats to cut their contributions to the agency. (Express)
Caltrain debuted its cutting-edge electric bus fleet in the Bay Area. (ABC 7)
New Jersey Transit is taking over 20 bus routes slated to end when the private company that ran them declared bankruptcy. (NJ.com)
Transit advocates were disappointed when a $3.4-billion plan to redesign Chicago's iconic DuSable Lake Shore Drive did not include bus lanes. (WBEZ)
Organizers behind Salt Lake City's Rio Grande Plan to bury a rail corridor are hoping for 2034 Winter Olympics funding. (KSL)
The Wisconsin capital opted for bus rapid transit over light rail because it's cheaper and easier to build. (Cap Times)
The Boulder Daily Camera editorial board supports safe designs for all streets.
New Orleans is losing its awnings that provide shade and shelter on the sidewalk. (Times-Picayune)