- Safety aboard transit continues to be a national issue, with Charlotte light rail users reporting they're uneasy aboard trains (WBTV) after a man who'd entered the U.S. illegally, had been banned from CATS previously and was drinking stabbed another passenger (WCCB). While it's fodder for President Trump's anti-transit, anti-urban and anti-immigrant agenda, amplified by right-wing media, even the perception that transit is unsafe is a real problem. A recent study of five cities found that increasingly visible drug use is discouraging transit ridership (Smart Cities Dive).
- The Trump administration is leveraging this fear. In addition to threats against New York City, Pennsylvania, Charlotte and Chicago, the Jacksonville Transit Authority is now suing the transit union, alleging that its failure to accept a Federal Transit Administration safety plan is jeopardizing $100 million in federal funding. (Jax Today)
- Daylighting intersections to ensure driver and pedestrian visibility doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all solution. (Vital City)
- The FTA released a new "playbook" on how to handle major events. (Passenger Transport)
- Northeastern states had a cap-and-trade agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions, and now Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is under fire from progressives for withdrawing as part of a budget deal with Republican legislators. (Mother Jones)
- Voters in four cities will decide in May whether to withdraw from Dallas Area Rapid Transit. They probably won't like the disjointed microtransit systems that would replace DART. (D Magazine)
- Most members of the Twin Cities' Met Council rarely ride transit. (Star Tribune)
- The Virginia DOT should consider bike and bus lanes on six-lane Langston Boulevard in Arlington. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Battle lines are drawn in Portland on the issue of 82nd Street bus lanes. (BikePortland)
- Delivery robots are taking over Chicago sidewalks. (Block Club)
- Velo bikeshare numbers hit an all-time high in Rochester and Syracuse. (Spectrum News)
Today's Headlines
Thursday’s Headlines See Trouble Ahead, Trouble Behind
Yes, it's political, but transit agencies are still going to have to grapple with the perception that it's unsafe.
By Blake Aued
Charlotte’s is the latest transit system to draw President Trump’s ire.
|Brandon DolleyRead More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
The New Uber-Backed Car Insurance ‘Reform’ Push Is Actually A War On Crash Victims
New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul wants to limit payouts to crash victims under the guise of "affordability" and bogus claims about "staged crashes."
Friday Video: Why Micromobility Sucks in So Many American Cities (But Not In Others)
And what we can do about it.
February 13, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Full of Hot Air
They done done it, as we say in the South: The Trump administration's official policy now is that climate change poses no threat to human health.
February 13, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Concrete Doesn’t Spend Money, People Do
Dr. Lawrence Frank shows how the decisions we make about the built environment are a symbol of why the world is so f'd up. A very special edition of Talking Headways.
February 12, 2026
Why Does Trump Wants To Punish Cities For Free Buses?
Hint: it's probably not to make anyone's transportation network better!
February 12, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Come Together
A large coalition is urging Congress to protect funding for active transportation.
February 12, 2026
