Monday’s Headlines Climb Mount Doom
The "doom loop" is here, and transit agencies all over the country are facing budget shortfalls and potential service cuts.
By
Blake Aued
1:20 AM EDT on September 23, 2024
- The “doom loop” has arrived, with federal funding for transit running out, cities cutting service and ridership still not fully recovered from the pandemic. (Streetsblog)
- Indeed, the work-from-home trend shouldn’t mean transit agencies cut service. Instead, they should be expanding to help people get places other than work. (Philadelphia Citizen)
- There aren’t enough safeguards on the Biden administration’s tax subsidy for fossil fuel companies that bury carbon underground. (New York Times)
- The Transit app now includes safe bike routes that riders can customize based on their preferences. (Streetsblog, Mass Transit)
- In his latest book, pro-transit architect Vishaan Chakrabarti makes the case that hyperdensity is the key to solving climate change and social divisions. (Bloomberg)
- The Houston Metro will not restart the city’s shuttered bikeshare this year, instead pivoting to microtransit. (Landing)
- Sound Transit should reconsider Seattle light rail extensions that have been beset by cost overruns. (The Urbanist)
- A new proposal for a West Baltimore shared-use path doesn’t even meet the city’s own Complete Streets criteria. (Baltimore Beat)
- Detroit’s transit agency is taking over the QLine streetcar. (Urbanize Detroit)
- Ridership is trending up on the Twin Cities’ Metro Transit, with August the busiest month of the year so far. (Star Tribune)
- No one seems to know when Amtrak will resume service on the Gulf Coast. (Mass Transit)
- New Haven is creating a mixed-use development around its Amtrak station. (Public Square)
- Frankfurt, Kentucky opened a new transit center. (State Journal)
- Arch Daily highlights 15 of the best pedestrian bridges from around the world.
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
Friday Video: What ‘A Week Without Driving’ Costs
...and what you could get back in exchange, at least if you lived in a city with good mobility alternatives.
September 25, 2026
The Interstates Did Not Need Villains; They Had Criteria
"Ask what your region's decision rule rewards. Then ask what it has no way to count."
September 25, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Shockingly Expensive
The 10 most costly highway projects in the U.S. all cost over half a billion dollars per mile.
September 25, 2026
Advocates Skeptical About Waymo’s ‘Transit Rewards’ Program
It could do some good for regional rail, but advocates stress this isn't a substitute for good bus service
September 24, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: People Based Accessibility
Maps aren't just about Point A and Point B, but how you get there.
September 24, 2026
