Houston reverses plans to move away from cars under new mayor

Houston’s progress toward reducing car dependency has stalled since Mayor John Whitmire took office, impacting transit and bike infrastructure projects.

Sarah Raza reports for The Washington Post.

In short:

Houston halted bike infrastructure projects and delayed a $7.5 billion public transit expansion after Mayor John Whitmire’s inauguration.
Federal funds are available for cities to diversify transit, but Houston’s leadership now focuses on road repairs over alternatives to cars.
Advocates worry this shift threatens Houston's climate goals and limits transportation options for vulnerable communities.

Key quote:

“We have choices in all other parts of our lives, but when it comes to transportation, we only have one option.”

— Joe Cutrufo, cycling advocate

Why this matters:

Houston's transportation decisions reflect broader national challenges in reducing car dependency. Failure to diversify transit options could hinder efforts to address climate change and public health.

www.washingtonpost.com

Houston reverses plans to move away from cars under new mayor

Trump has spent billions on energy. An electricity boom has yet to materialize

How companies have abandoned their climate goals and let themselves off the hook

Feds increasingly leave local governments hanging when climate disasters hit, report finds

As climate extremes collide, attribution science evolves

New Jersey law will let data centers pay for home energy upgrades

New leader of major US climate program doesn’t believe the science

Interactive map predicts climate-driven farm decline by end of century

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.