Safety

Friday’s Broken-Down Headlines

Sidewalks are too often neglected, but there are ways for cities to step up and fix these essential public spaces.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on May 15, 2026

Photo: Marek Ślusarczyk

The author of the book “Sidewalk Nation” reports that many cities do a terrible job of maintaining sidewalks, but some are improving. Siloed departments’ areas of oversight overlap, property owners are put in charge of repairs, and municipal budgets are tight. Michael Pollack advocates for cities to create departments of sidewalk and institute funding mechanisms like sidewalk improvement fees. (Governing)
Rep. Rick Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said a bipartisan consensus is emerging around a multi-year funding bill involving safety improvements and freight connectivity. (Transport Topics)
Amtrak unveiled the new Freedom250 next-gen Acela train (Railway Age) and, separately, a new train wrap celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence (Axios).
Short-hop flights of less than 250 miles are on the decline. (NPR)
A federal bill encouraging transit-oriented development would bolster transit agencies’ bottom line by adding more riders. (Transportation for America)
On the Seams goes inside Amazon’s vast distribution and delivery network.
“Just one more lane, bro,” transportation engineering textbooks still say. “Just one more lane, and I promise, no more traffic.” (State Smart Transportation Initiative)
San Antonio found a way around Texas’ ban on rainbow crosswalks by painting sidewalks instead. (New York Times)
A Minnesota bill would consolidate Twin Cities transit agencies. (streets.mn)
Empty Waymos are circling aimlessly around Atlanta cul-de-sacs. (WSB-TV)
Saratoga is taking public input on a Complete Streets makeover for Main Street. (Saratoga Magazine)
The fast-growing Arkansas village Cave Springs is also redesigning its Main Street to make it more pedestrian-friendly. (CNU Public Square)
A think tank is urging the British government to lower speed limits to avoid an “energy shock” due to the Iran war. (The Guardian)
Fox News reporters are probably so used to being able to park illegally with impunity that they were shocked when an automated camera ticketed them within two minutes in Beijing — ironically, while they were there to do a negative story about Chinese surveillance. (X)