Thursday’s Headlines Cross That Bridge

But you shouldn't have to if you're on foot. Plus, Amtrak's 2021 expansion plan faces grim prospects under President Trump.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on August 14, 2025

Photo: Nick Y-C

Amtrak's plans for new state-supported passenger rail lines are not looking good under the Trump administration. (Railway Age)
The Trump administration's NEPA rollback will let cities get local projects approved faster but also reduce their influence on federal projects. (Smart Cities Dive)
Fuel taxes should be seen not as a fair way to pay for road construction and maintenance, but as a charge on drivers for the pollution their vehicles produce. (The Conversation)
Pedestrian bridges are hostile architecture. Design streets that are safe to cross instead. (For the City Girls)
For a lot of households, it's becoming easier to get by with just one car. (Future of Where)
The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate passed a temporary transit funding bill that's a nonstarter for House Democrats (CBS News). Today is Philadelphia transit agency SEPTA's deadline for a deal or drastic cuts will kick in later this month.
A driver who plowed through a group of cyclists in Arizona, killing two and injuring 11, received a maximum of one year in prison — further proof that if you want to kill someone in the U.S. and get away with it, do it with a car. (Jalopnik)
The Atlanta Beltline released the most detailed plans yet for transit along the 22-mile loop around the city. (AJC)
The chair of UCLA's urban planning department says Los Angeles has failed to deliver on Vision Zero.
A lawsuit filed against a Cincinnati Uber driver who killed a motorcyclists alleges that Uber drivers are prone to violating traffic laws because they're distracted by the app. (Enquirer)
Trying to solve the "last mile" problem, Denver's Regional Transportation District is experimenting with free e-bike and scooter rides to and from transit stops. (Denverite)
Virginia's Amtrak ridership rose 5 percent in 2025. (Mercury)
Overgrown sidewalks in St. Louis (St. Louis Magazine) and cracked sidewalks in Indianapolis (WRTV) are frustrating residents.
Guangzhou, China, has more than doubled its bike lane network to almost 3,000 kilometers since 2020. (Transport Matters)
European Union officials want to expand the continent's high-speed rail system to compete with planes on cost and convenience. (The Guardian)