Wednesday’s Headlines Seek Subsidies

The U.S. and other wealthy western nations have wasted $30 billion on climate change mitigation technologies that don't work, according to a Guardian investigation. What kind of sustainable transportation infrastructure could have have bought with that money?

By Blake Aued

1:44 AM EDT on September 4, 2024

Peabody Energy|

A coal carbon capture facility in use.

The U.S. has spent $12 billion on subsidies for unproven climate change technologies like carbon capture, benefitting Exxon and other polluting companies. That money could have gone toward more effective solutions like electric transportation and green energy, The Guardian says.
Extreme heat and flooding are causing bridges to deteriorate faster. One in four steel bridges may collapse by 2050. (New York Times)
A bipartisan group of 350 mayors signed a pact to electrify their city fleets and add more EV chargers. (Governing)
A 31-mile trail network and a cap over part of the Downtown Connector are among the transportation projects the Atlanta Regional Commission recently approved. (WSB-TV)
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez continues his sidewalk crusade by reporting on the city's lack of a process for getting them fixed.
Philadelphia is considering adding concrete barriers to bike lanes on Spruce and Pine streets. (Philly Voice)
Austin wrapped up the first round of Vision Zero projects that voters agreed to fund with a $15 million bond issue back in 2016. (KXAN)
About 100 Nashville Uber and Lyft drivers voted to form a union last week, then went on strike over Labor Day weekend. (Tennessee Lookout)
The decision to make the Silver Line bus rapid transit rather than light rail could doom a Charlotte transportation referendum. (WFAE)
A proposed Salt Lake City law would prohibit the demolition of housing for parking structures unless the housing is replaced elsewhere. (KSL)
Wichita officials are backing away from a proposal to stop subsidizing car storage on public property after motorists complained. (Eagle)
Boulder is considering getting rid of minimum parking mandates. (Daily Camera)
The Washington Post published a lovely comic about crossing the country by train.