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The latest streets and transportation news from Streetsblog USA.

The two biggest technical problems with DC Streetcar have been friction with cars and the fact that it’s too short to be useful for many trips.

That’s technical. Politically, the two biggest problems were named Bowser and Mendelson. Although the District Department of Transportation drew up multiple plans to relieve the operational problems, either Mayor Muriel Bowser or DC Council Chair Phil Mendelson stepped in to thwart every single attempt.

It didn’t have to be that way. The streetcar’s failures are not inherent, they’re supervisory. As the streetcar winds down for its March 31 closure, let’s recount those derailments of stewardship. Check that out — and more of today’s headlines — at the links below.

  • Tuesday’s Headlines Build It and They Will Come
    by Blake Aued
    August 11, 2026
    De we build infrastructure where people are already biking, or does the infrastructure encourage people to bike?
  • It’s Trump V. California, Again — Over Protecting The Coast
    by The Editorial Team
    August 10, 2026
    The Trump Administration keeps finding new ways to make Californians’ lives worse. Today it’s about polluting the coastline.
  • Study: Cities Must Integrate Vision Zero Principles into All Planning
    by The Editorial Team
    August 10, 2026
    It’s about reducing the severity of crashes and minimizing how often road users are placed in conflict in the first place
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