Searching for the ‘Smoking Gun’ in US Pedestrian Deaths Why did American streets get so deadly for those on foot or bikes? A leading transportation safety researcher sees some surprising factors behind the crisis.

US streets remain deadly for pedestrians. 3,024 died in early 2025, still above pre-pandemic levels. The US remains an outlier, with experts citing road design, distraction, and larger vehicles.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

Bay Area bike program pays commuters to ditch their cars A program called "Bike Love" pays Palo Alto commuters $5 a day — up to $600 a year — to ride a bike, e-scooter or e-bike to work. The initiative runs through an app called Motion, which tracks trips automatically on your phone.

In Palo Alto, the “Bike Love” program pays residents $5 a day up to $600 a year to bike to work, tracked via an app and redeemable at local businesses. For some, it means savings, better energy, and a healthier daily commute.

www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco...

Client Challenge BART recorded its highest monthly ridership levels since 2019 in March, advancing a slow, years-long comeback from reduced commuter traffic that evaporated during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

BART is seeing recovery, with March ridership at its highest since 2019 and best reliability in a decade. But it still faces major funding gaps. A “Connect Bay Area” ballot measure could raise nearly $1B for transit, but gaps would remain.

www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea...

AC Transit, Muni, Caltrain Predict Service Collapse Without More Funding - Transform Caltrain, AC Transit, and Muni recently provided more reasons to pass a regional transportation measure to prevent dire service cuts.

Bay Area transit is at a turning point.

BART warns of major cuts without new funding, and Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain may follow.

Cuts to one system affect all. A November funding measure could prevent a transit crisis.

transformca.org/ac-transit-m...

How cities are turning urban complexity into coherent climate plans With cities on the frontline of the battle against climate change, they must secure investment in green projects with a clear vision that harness the power of collaboration

Cities are key to the climate transition, where buildings, transport, energy, and urban design drive decarbonization. Success depends on vision, systems thinking, and collaboration to deliver investable solutions like Green City Action Plans.

www.weforum.org/stories/2026...

Trump Wants to Slash Federal Funding for Public Transit, Rail (Again) — Streetsblog USA President Trump wants to slash federal funding for public transit and rail. The proposed cuts pose a catastrophic threat to the future of American transportation.

The Trump FY2027 budget proposes deep cuts to transit, passenger rail, and sustainable transport while boosting highways. Critics warn it would cut funding for accessibility, clean buses, and intercity rail, and urge Congress to reject it.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/04/09/t...

Despite 47% growth in ridership, Caltrain could close a third of its stations Riders can currently travel up to 79 miles between San Francisco and Gilroy, California.

Caltrain faces a $75M annual shortfall starting in 2027 without a new regional sales tax, putting major service cuts on the table despite rising ridership from new electric trains.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/04...

Bay Area transit systems struggle with lost revenue, consider service cuts SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The AC Transit Board of Directors is considering potential service cuts and job reductions as the agency faces a $50 million budget shortfall. Two scenarios are under r…

The AC Transit Board of Directors is weighing service cuts and job losses amid a $50M shortfall, with up to 16% of service at risk. Similar pressure is hitting BART, Caltrain, and SFMTA as funding gaps grow across the Bay Area.

www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...

MTC, SFEP, & BARC share their Climate Action Playbook for this year's SF Climate Week Every April, San Francisco Climate Week brings together hundreds of organizations to host over 100 climate action and environment-focused events and learning sessions that draw thousands of attendees from across the region.

San Francisco Climate Week brings together leaders driving climate solutions. The Bay Area Climate Action Playbook highlights electrification, resilience funding, and shoreline adaptation through regional collaboration.

blog.bayareametro.gov/posts/mtc-sf...

Bay Area transit systems struggle with lost revenue, consider service cuts SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The AC Transit Board of Directors is considering potential service cuts and job reductions as the agency faces a $50 million budget shortfall. Two scenarios are under r…

AC Transit faces a $50M gap, with proposed cuts of up to 11% (200 jobs) or over 16% (300 jobs). Similar pressure hits BART, SFMTA, and Caltrain. Leaders push for a November ballot measure to fund.

The AC Transit Board votes on budget options in June.

www.kron4.com/news/bay-are...

What the SFMTA’s next five-year funding plan means for safe streets - Walk San Francisco How the SFMTA spends its various sources of funding is determined in its five-year Capital Improvement Program: the CIP. Updated every two years, the CIP details all of the transportation agency’s infrastructure project commitments, including street safety projects.

San Francisco’s proposed 5-year SFMTA Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes real progress toward safer streets: daylighting, traffic-calming, and Quick Build funding. But gaps remain in school safety, turn calming, and scaling proven fixes citywide.

walksf.org/2026/04/09/s...

Come celebrate community visionaries at the intersection of housing and transportation.

transformca.org/all-aboard/

In Year with a Glut of E-Bike Legislation, Blakespear’s Efforts to Define E-Bikes and Limit E-Motos Advances - Streetsblog California By updating the laws on what is and isn't an e-bicycle, advocates believe they can make streets safer and improve the industry.

California SB 1167 advanced unanimously, aiming to clearly define e-bikes and regulate high-powered e-motorcycles often misrepresented as e-bikes. The bill targets misleading marketing and improves safety and consumer protection in micromobility.

cal.streetsblog.org/2026/04/08/i...

Walkable Neighborhoods Can Boost Physical Activity, Population Health New research from Washington State University shows that small increases in neighborhood walkability could lead to substantial gains for a sedentary population, boosting individuals' physical activity and ultimately improving their health.

WSU research shows walkable neighborhoods boost physical activity, especially for sedentary people. People also walk more after moving to walkable areas. Health can improve not by changing people, but by changing where they live.

medicine.wsu.edu/news/2026/03...

In 1978, they stopped buses — and helped launch a disability rights movement People in wheelchairs surrounded and barricaded two city buses over the course of two days, demanding wheelchair lifts and chanting, "We will ride."

History isn’t always loud. 19 people in wheelchairs blocked two Denver buses, refusing to move until seen. The Gang of 19 sparked disability rights history, demanding access and dignity. “We will ride.”

www.npr.org/2026/03/19/n...

New study shows Highway 101 express lanes have improved but some transit experts wary A recent study shows that Highway 101 congestion has improved since the express lanes were implemented, though some leaders and experts cast doubt that the data paints an accurate portrayal

Highway widening doesn’t reduce congestion. San Mateo residents could have benefited from the same amount of congestion reduction at a fraction of the cost had SMCTA simply converted an existing general-purpose lane to an express lane.

www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/n...

Bay Area Regional Climate Action Planning Initiative Learn about and participate in the Bay Area Regional Climate Action Planning Initiative for the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA.

As the Bay Area’s first regional climate action plan, the BARCAP lays out a set of actionable and impactful strategies to accelerate the transition to a cleaner economy and carbon-neutral future, while keeping environmental justice at its core.

www.baaqmd.gov/en/plans-and...

Speed cameras in Oakland are real now...on the podcast Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.

Oakland’s 60-day speed camera warning period has ended. Jose Fermoso breaks down 140,000 warnings on where speeding is worst and what comes next.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/03/s...

Clearing the Roadblocks to Transportation Innovation The U.S. does not lack ideas for improving its transportation system. What it needs is a research ecosystem capable of turning those ideas into deployed solutions.

Transportation innovation is moving fast, but systems are not. AI traffic tools and automated vehicles exist, but deployment is slowed by outdated funding, fragmented data, and siloed governance. The U.S. needs coordination to turn ideas into impact.

fas.org/publication/...

The US is now paying more than any other country for climate change damage, study suggests | BBC Science Focus Magazine Despite being the biggest carbon emitter, the US is already paying a disproportionate price for the climate crisis.

Climate change is not just environmental. It is economic.

A Stanford study shows the U.S. is the largest emitter and also the hardest hit financially, with $16.2T in losses since 1990, exceeding the damage it caused.

www.sciencefocus.com/news/us-coun...

Oakland Earth Day celebrations will focus on cleanups and community fun Kayaking, planting seeds, and picking up trash are all enjoyable activities that help the environment.

Celebrate Earth Day in Oakland! 🌱

Join estuary cleanups, plant native gardens, or explore wildlife education events on April 11, 18, and 22. All ages can help make Oakland greener and cleaner.

oaklandside.org/2026/04/06/o...

Oakland opens first affordable housing for teachers The school district says 70% of its teachers can't afford to live in Oakland.

Oakland launches a 33-unit apartment building for teachers and school staff, offering below-market rents in a city where 70% of educators struggle to afford housing. This nonprofit-led, city-supported project sets a new model for workforce housing.

www.planetizen.com/news/2026/04...

Getting In on the Ground Floor Downtown San José is a walkable, transit-rich, culturally dynamic urban center. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s still grappling with low daytime foot traffic and high vacancies in office and commercial buildings. Filling empty ground-floor spaces is a critical first step in a long-term economic revitalization strategy. SPUR offers 13 recommendations to capitalize on the opportunity these spaces offer for local artists, nonprofit organizations, and small businesses.

Downtown San José faces low foot traffic and vacancies post-pandemic. Activating empty ground-floor spaces for artists and small businesses can boost safety, draw visitors, and support economic recovery.

www.spur.org/publications...

Regional: A Rearview Mirror Look At Bay Area Public Transit In 2025 Bay City News

Bay Area transit is recovering, but not evenly. Ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels as hybrid work reshapes commuting. With funding gaps ahead, agencies face tough choices on service and sustainability.

www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea...

PST: The end of BART? Inside the Bay Area’s transit crisis BART and Muni face historic deficits. Stations could close; lines could vanish. Two November ballot measures may be their only lifeline.

San Francisco faces a transit crisis. SFMTA and BART warn of major service cuts or even shutdowns if budget gaps aren’t filled. This November, voters will decide via sales and parcel tax measures whether to save public transportation.

sfstandard.com/pacific-stan...

The Financial Costs of the Pedestrian Death Crisis Are Still Stratospheric — Streetsblog USA The financial burden of pedestrian deaths still adds up to tens of billions of dollars even as fatalities fall — and the organization behind the new finding hopes the staggering price of road violence will motivate people to finally take action.

Pedestrian deaths may be falling, but the cost is huge. Over 3,000 walkers died in the first half of 2025, costing the U.S. economy $40 billion. Safer, walkable streets save lives and benefit communities.

usa.streetsblog.org/2026/04/06/t...

Families for Safe Streets is a place for emotional support - Walk San Francisco Our San Francisco Bay Area chapter of Families for Safe Streets is a place for those who have been directly affected by a traffic crash to connect with others who understand – and to work together toward change.

Grief after a traffic crash can feel isolating. The San Francisco Bay Area Families for Safe Streets connects survivors and families, offering support, resources, and a community focused on healing and safer streets.

walksf.org/2026/04/03/f...

We Know What Works: Lessons from the Frontlines of Vision Zero Across the country, more communities are shifting to a Safe System approach, using road safety strategies focused on upstream changes. And many are seeing encouraging results. In 2025, traffic deaths declined by 12% compared to 2024, following smaller decreases of 3% in 2023 and 2% in 2022.When we zoom in at the local level, we see an even more encouraging picture emerging. Specific strategies and investments are making streets safer in Vision Zero communities across the country.

Safer streets are designed, and the data proves it. Traffic deaths fell 12% in 2025, with local Vision Zero efforts driving even bigger gains. From fewer crashes to smarter scaling, small, data-driven changes are saving lives.

visionzeronetwork.org/lessons-from...

Clipper contractor gives itself May 30 deadline to fix app issues for frustrated riders What was supposed to make paying for transit easier is instead causing headaches for some Bay Area riders. Now, the company behind the issues has given itself a May 30 deadline to fix them.

Since December, Clipper 2.0 has caused missed rides, billing errors, and app glitches for Bay Area riders. Cubic and transit officials aim to fix critical issues by May 30.

abc7news.com/post/clipper...

Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service (MASCOTS) Plan launches April 12 On Sunday, April 12, North Bay transit operators will implement coordinated service changes as part of the Marin-Sonoma Coordinated Transit Service (MASCOTS) Plan—a collaborative effort among nine transit and funding agencies to improve how public transportation works in the Highway 101 corridor.

Starting April 12, North Bay transit upgrades launch! SMART trains run more often, Golden Gate Route 101 doubles service, and transfers are smoother, making travel across Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco easier.

blog.bayareametro.gov/posts/marin-...