Friday’s Headlines Tread Carefully

The Washington Post too a deep dive into the epidemic of pedestrian deaths, which rose from 4,300 in 2010 to more than 7,000 in 2023.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EST on November 21, 2025

Memphis has the highest pedestrian fatality rate in the country thanks to its wide roads, fast-moving traffic and shoddy network of sidewalks and crosswalks.

The number of pedestrians killed by drivers in the U.S. rose by 70 percent between 2010 and 2023, according to a Washington Post analysis, mostly on multilane roads with fast-moving traffic, and such hotspots are clustered in the Sun Belt. The story includes an interactive feature for readers to identify the most dangerous roads in their city.
Amtrak reported an all-time high of 34.5 million trips during the fiscal year that ended in September, along with record ticket revenue of $2.7 billion. (Progressive Railroading)
The Republican chair of the House Transportation Committee isn't interested in eliminating funding for transit. (Politico Pro; paywall)
Waymos spend almost half their time "deadheading," or driving around without a passenger. (Driverless Digest)
Gary Nelson details the rise and fall of electric trolleys.
Seattle area leaders are pushing Sound Transit to quit lollygagging on light rail construction. (Everett Post)
Austin business owners are anxious about upcoming light rail construction on South Congress Avenue (Austin Monthly). On the other hand, H Street businesses are lamenting the loss of the D.C. streetcar. (The Wash)
Iowa City residents are riding the bus more and driving less since the city eliminated fares. (New York Times)
Plans are set to be unveiled Saturday for a new riverfront streetcar station. (KSHB)
Facing a $300 million shortfall, Portland's TriMet laid off 26 employees and eliminated 68 positions. (Tribune)
Seattle added bus lanes and safety upgrades to Ranier Avenue. (KING 5)
Atlanta's Jackson Street Bridge, made famous by "The Walking Dead," received a makeover with bike lanes and other improvements. (Urbanize Atlanta)
An American company says it's launching a flying taxi service in Dubai. (NBC News)
In France, even conservative cities like Nice are banning cars and investing in bike infrastructure. (City Lab)