- Nobody wants to criticize the fire department, Darrell Owens writes, but it's important to point out that they're wrong when they claim that pedestrianizing streets impedes emergency vehicles. Firefighters spend far more time responding to fatal wrecks than structure fires, and if they do find that streets are too narrow to pass, they can buy smaller trucks. (The Discourse Lounge)
- Robotaxis are coming to more than a dozen U.S. cities next year. (Axios)
- Pittsburgh Regional Transit is looking for more state funding after Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro bailed out SEPTA (Post-Gazette). The state's Democratic House leader also slammed the Republican Senate for failing to put together a transit funding package (WTAJ)
- Salt Lake City commuters have a hard time traveling between the east and west sides, in part because of a freeway that splits the city in half. (KSL)
- Sound Transit is stepping up efforts to keep Seattle stations clear of bird droppings. (Seattle Times)
- The Federal Transit Administration looks likely to approve a grant for Austin's Project Connect light rail line. (American-Statesman)
- The Detroit suburb of Shelby Township will build a pedestrian bridge over a river to close the last sidewalk gap leading to two local schools. (Detroit News)
- Data center construction in rural Louisiana is causing a huge spike in crashes. (Governing)
- Port Huron's main downtown corridor is getting a road diet. (The Keel)
- 'Tis the season for the Houston Metro to be jolly. (Chron)
- Looking for a gift for the urbanist in your life? Planetizen has a list of book ideas.
Today's Headlines
Tuesday’s Headlines Fight Fire With Fire
Berkeley, Calif., is far from the only city where the fire department dictates transportation policy.
By Blake Aued
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: Guess Which Argument Can Get a NIMBY To Change Their Mind About New Housing
Put your instincts to the test with this fascinating experiment about the power of messaging to win support for urbanism.
March 20, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Took the Road Less Traveled By
And that has made all the difference, when it comes to preventing traffic deaths.
March 20, 2026
Commentary: How a T-Rex Costume and a Police Sting Underscores Bay Area’s Deadly Driver Problem
Stanley Roberts story is funny. And disturbing.
Study: How Ambiguous Definition of ‘Major Transit Stop’ Creates Wiggle Room for Municipalities
This is a story of how well-intentioned efforts by the state to tie new development to transit hinge on how local governments (with their own incentives) interpret broad state law.
Talking Headways Podcast: Growing St. Louis’s Arts and Culture District
This week on Talking Headways, step inside St. Louis's Grand Center Arts District with the people who make it happen.
March 19, 2026
Advocates Get D.C. Mayor To Release Buried Report On The Potential Benefits Of Congestion Pricing
How many other conversations about congestion pricing across the country are being suppressed — and how many have never even gotten started?
March 19, 2026
