Friday’s Headlines Remain Incomplete
Cities and states aren't devoting enough funding to Complete Streets to put much of a dent in the problem.
By
Blake Aued
12:13 AM EST on November 8, 2024
- Three-quarters of states and more than 1,500 cities and other jurisdictions in the U.S. have a complete streets policy. Yet those initiatives have had little success in reducing road deaths, mainly because state and local governments don’t spend nearly enough money on redesigning auto-centric streets. (CNU Public Square)
- After Donald Trump’s election, President Joe Biden quickly moved to limit future oil drilling at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (CNN)
- All but five of 26 transit measures on ballots nationwide this year passed. (Mass Transit)
- Right turns into a bike’s path are one of the most common ways drivers kill cyclists. Research from Rutgers University shows that installing bike lanes at intersections makes drivers more cautious. (Next City)
- Rather than drain the power grid, solar panels at electric bus depots can make them part of the grid. (EurekAlert)
- The D.C. Metro is facing a budget crisis, and says it needs 35 percent more funding to meet riders’ needs. In the meantime, it’s shifting priorities by getting rid of some bus stops and focusing on frequency along popular routes. (Washington Post)
- In Maryland, the Frederick Douglass Tunnel and Red Line could be on the chopping block under a second Trump administration. (WMAR)
- Two elections we missed: Massachusetts voters approved a measure granting Uber and Lyft drivers the right to unionize (New York Times). And Durham voters signed off on a $115 million bond measure for sidewalks (INDY Week).
- More than 400 people have been killed or seriously injured in Austin crashes this year. The victims are disproportionately “vulnerable users” like cyclists and people of color. (KXAN)
- Philadelphia transit workers could go on strike as early as today, with little progress on negotiations between a union and SEPTA. (Inquirer)
- City Paper takes a deep dive into traffic safety in Pittsburgh during the first year of Vision Zero.
- Louisville is aiming for early 2025 to start construction on a 9th Street revamp. (WDRB)
- The Utah DOT is looking at tolling and enhanced bus service to address wintertime traffic at a popular tourist attraction. (Town Lift)
- A $1 million federal grant will help Oklahoma City plan for transit-oriented development. (Oklahoman)
- Cleveland is using recycled rubber to repair broken sidewalks. (News 5)
- Add some vintage train sounds to your vinyl collection. (Jalopnik)
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:
More from Streetsblog USA
How To Fix The Broken Gas Tax
Drivers aren't paying their fair share — and no one else is getting their due. Is it time to rethink our federal road funding mechanisms?
March 31, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Peace Out
The congressman at the helm of the House transportation committee is stepping down. Who will step up?
March 31, 2026
Chicago to St. Louis Is the High-Speed Rail Test America Can’t Afford to Fail
A looming deadline could be the end of high speed rail in Illinois — or the beginning of an entire midwest network, a top advocate argues.
March 31, 2026
Trump’s ‘Freedom Means Affordable Cars’ Rings Hollow As Gas Prices Surge
Real freedom is the freedom to choose how you get around — including not driving at all.
March 30, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Pedal Backwards
The Trump administration really does not want to make it easy to ride a bike.
March 30, 2026
Comments Are Temporarily Disabled
Streetsblog is in the process of migrating our commenting system. During this transition, commenting is temporarily unavailable.
Once the migration is complete, you will be able to log back in and will have full access to your comment history. We appreciate your patience and look forward to having you back in the conversation soon.