Wednesday’s Headlines Put On the Red Light
News stories usually present them as a cash grab, but automated traffic enforcement cameras are widely supported by the public.
By
Blake Aued
12:07 AM EDT on September 3, 2025
- News outlets and elected officials assume that traffic enforcement cameras are widely unpopular, even if they concede that the devices save lives. That’s not a belief rooted in data, though. Polls show that most Americans support cameras, even more so when told that they’re less racially biased than human police officers. (CityLab)
- China is better at building infrastructure projects quickly than the U.S. because it’s a nation of engineers, as opposed to a nation of lawyers. (Vox; paywall)
- Switching to electric school buses could save $1.6 billion in climate and health care costs in the U.S. (The City Fix)
- Amtrak’s new Acela trains are nice, but with a top speed of 160 miles per hour, they’re still pretty slow compared to their Asian and European counterparts. (New York Times)
- Fort Lauderdale joined Delray and Key West in fighting the Florida DOT over a deadline imposed by the Trump administration to remove their rainbow crosswalks. (CNN)
- The U.S. DOT took control of Union Station as the Trump administration’s takeover of Washington, D.C. continues. (Washington Post)
- Repealing Denver’s minimum parking requirements could make housing more affordable, or developers might still continue to build more parking than they need. (Rocky Mountain PBS)
- The Milwaukee County Transit System has a 33 percent fare evasion rate. (Fox 6)
- Delaware’s SEPTA rail line is safe for now. (News Journal; paywall)
- A Pennsylvania state representative is walking 105 miles from Philadelphia to the capital in Harrisburg to support transit funding. (WGAL)
- Apparently bike riders in Boston don’t eat donuts? (CBS News)
- During a visit to Santa Fe in the 1960s, urbanist Lewis Mumford made some observations that are still relevant. (Planetizen)
- This quick YouTube video by HeyHondo explains why bad street design encourages jaywalking.
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
State Lawmakers Aim At Illegal E-Motos, But Hit E-Bikes Instead
A deceptive and widespread marketing tactic has tricked families into purchasing dangerous e-motos and fooled lawmakers into pushing laws that would make streets even less safe.
August 5, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Flock Together
Some traffic enforcement cameras are installed in a way that makes them dangerous to road users.
August 5, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Face Their Fears
A third of Americans say car crashes are the biggest threat to their safety.
August 4, 2026
Oklahoma City Is Taking Transit Seriously (Which Is What Booming Regions Should Do)
The Big Friendly considers a small sales tax to boost transit, which is so necessary in a booming region.
August 3, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Are High on Highways
Roads already receive a disproportionate amount of federal transportation funding, and it will get worse if Republicans have their way.
August 3, 2026