Thursday’s Headlines Are Faster Than a Speeding Bullet Train
Amtrak lost a champion in Joe Biden just as new, more advanced trains are set to start running up and down the East Coast.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on August 21, 2025
- The next generation of Acela trains promises faster speeds and higher ridership, but they’re entering service at a time when the future of Amtrak is in doubt. (The Conversation)
- E-bikes could one day replace cars, but they should be separated from traditional bikes and pedestrians due to their speeds. (The Guardian)
- States are putting more emphasis on road usage and EV registration fees to raise revenue for road maintenance. (Transport Topics)
- The U.S. DOT is once again threatening to withhold transit funding from New York City, this time over subway track maintenance. (Reuters)
- Chicago recently eliminated minimum parking requirements for developments near transit stops. (Sun-Times)
- Salt Lake City officials are not sure they can keep up with all the requests for neighborhood traffic calming. (KSL)
- Indianapolis transit agency IndyGo budget is rising $90 million, much of which will go toward Blue Line bus rapid transit construction. (Mirror Indy)
- Maryland’s Purple Line is set to open in 2027. (Bethesda Today)
- A new poll found that almost three-quarters of Buffalo residents support light rail expansion (Buffalo-Toronto Public Media), but opinions were split at a passionate town hall meeting (WKBW)
- Houston’s “Rail Watch” website provides real-time information about trains stopped at rail crossings. (Houston Public Media)
- The temporary closure of I-5 in Seattle led to a reprieve from freeway noise, but also a flood of traffic on side streets. (Seattle Times)
- Toronto’s new plan to build dense housing near transit stations shows it’s serious about being a global city, writes Brandon Donnelly.
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
Florida Town Gives New Residents Free Golf Carts to Replace Their Cars
...and recording their highest sales numbers ever.
April 16, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Shouldn’t Have to Buy a Car
Average Americans are getting priced out of the auto market, which is just another reason to invest in alternatives.
April 16, 2026
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully
Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much.
April 15, 2026
Ask An Insurance Industry Insider: Safe Streets Are The Best Way To Bring Down Insurance Costs
Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers exist because streets aren't safe. So shouldn't we start there instead of tweaking a broken system?
April 15, 2026