Tuesday’s Tragic Headlines
Car crashes kill 1.2 million people a year and cost the global economy five percent of GDP. Why isn't this crisis taken more seriously?
By
Blake Aued
12:09 AM EST on February 25, 2025
- Cars claim the lives of 1.2 million people around the world each year, and are the leading cause of death for children and young people. UN and World Health Organization officials compare it to a pandemic that should spark change with the urgency of the search for a vaccine. (The Guardian)
- Many states are not using federal funds effectively to connect rural communities with big cities by bus, according to the Eno Center for Transportation.
- The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw $4 billion in funding for California high-speed rail. (Associated Press)
- Denver became the largest city in the U.S. to commit to fully building out and maintaining its network of sidewalks, rather than rely on property owners to do it themselves. (CityLab)
- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal includes a 4 percent boost for transit funding. That would help the Milwaukee County Transit System, which is facing a deficit of up to $18 million. (Urban Milwaukee)
- The Milwaukee streetcar has repeatedly shut down because snow and salt are affecting its electrical switches. (Journal-Sentinel)
- The chair of Philadelphia transit agency SEPTA warned of a death spiral if Pennsylvania lawmakers don’t come through with more funding. (NBC 10)
- In May Philadelphia will start using AI cameras mounted on buses and trolleys to ticket drivers who park in bus lanes. (Philly Voice). A similar program is now in place in Sacramento (Cities Today).
- Charlotte’s $20 million Vision Zero program is paying for 10 miles of streetlights and new crosswalk beacons at 50 intersections. (WCNC)
- Trump administration cuts could threaten the Interstate 35 cap-and-stitch project, as well as other transportation projects. (CBS Austin)
- Utah Republicans snuck language into a state Senate bill that would prohibit Salt Lake City from making any changes to roads that would impede motor vehicles. (Building Salt Lake)
- Friends and family held a memorial for an Indianapolis man who was killed by a driver while biking earlier this month. (WTHR)
- The Urbanist has an easy way for Seattle to meet its 30 percent tree canopy goal: Tear up 1,000 acres of pavement used for street parking and plant trees there.
- Phoenix offers several free shuttle buses, and carless residents can access up to six free Lyft rides per month. (Arizona Republic)
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: Inside the Global Far-Right Push To Rip Out Bike Lanes
Toronto might be in the center of the fight to resist bike lane teardown today. But if some far-right politicians have their way, this fight won't be the last.
October 23, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Shoot Themselves in the Foot
Gas taxes pay for transit, too, so what happens when politicians pander to voters, and the highway trust fund runs dry?
October 23, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: A More Humanized Experience in Honolulu
If we look transit just as a distance issue, but as a time issue, performance should be discussed as one big whole.
October 22, 2026
Our Best Bet To Confront Climate Change in the Trump Era? Build More Apartments
Most climate strategies are hamstrung by Washington and culture wars across the country. But zoning reform may be the exception.
October 22, 2026
What ‘Flying Cars’ Could Mean For US Car Culture
Would fleets of flying cars be a dystopian nightmare, or a chance to create more walkable cities on the ground?
October 22, 2026
