More than 122,000 voted to pick eight names in the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Name a Snowplow contest.
Tag Archives: Roads and Traffic
The City Where Cars Are Not Welcome
As automakers promise to get rid of internal combustion engines, Heidelberg is trying to get rid of autos.
Texas Crisis Exposes a Nation’s Vulnerability to Climate Change
Continent-spanning storms triggered blackouts in Oklahoma and Mississippi, halted one third of U.S. oil production and disrupted vaccinations in 20 states.
South Dakota Attorney General Charged With Careless Driving in Man’s Death
Jason Ravnsborg avoided felony charges, including manslaughter, after he struck and killed a pedestrian with his car last September.
Winter Storms Pummel U.S. With Snow, Ice and Extreme Cold
The harsh weather was a prelude to another winter storm that is expected to bring more snow, sleet and freezing rain to over 100 million Americans over the next several days.
Driving in Winter? Tips From Experts on How to Arrive Safely
Recent pileups in Iowa and Texas amid severe winter weather have analysts and traffic experts issuing vital reminders about how to stay safe. One common refrain: Slow down.
Toll Worker Job Losses Highlight Long-Term Fallout of Pandemic
The Pennsylvania Turnpike laid off workers to switch to labor-saving technology, in what might be a broader trend.
Section of Highway 1 in California Collapses After Heavy Rains
A section of the scenic road near Big Sur collapsed after heavy rains.
Buttigieg’s Climate Promises: What Could He Actually Do?
The Transportation Department, which holds sway over planes, trains and automobiles, faces limits on how it spends money. Still, here are five possible steps.
Australia’s States Are Feuding Like Siblings. What Else to Do but Laugh?
Australians are facing a messy patchwork of border restrictions that lock out both the coronavirus and fellow citizens. A new ad offers a biting, if humorous, commentary on the state of affairs.
Water Main Break Floods Cross Bronx Expressway, Trapping Drivers
The rupture highlighted the frail state of the city’s aging infrastructure.
A Push for Cyclists Safety After 5 Die Near Las Vegas
The growing metropolitan area often pits cars and construction against cyclists, with tragic consequences and calls for better regulation.
Why Emptier Streets Meant an Especially Deadly Year for Traffic Deaths
In New York City, at least 243 people died in crashes in 2020 — the most since Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced his signature street safety plan in 2014.
Two Siblings Are Killed in Crash as Suspect Speeds Wrong Way on I-95 in Florida
A carjacking suspect fleeing the police drove north in southbound lanes and struck an S.U.V. on Interstate 95 near Daytona Beach.
Trucks Stuck in U.K. After France Border Closure Begin Moving
France closed the border to help limit the spread of a coronavirus variant. With the border now reopened, testing thousands of drivers and clearing the backlog of freight will take some time.
Concerns About Covid Strain Cut Off U.K. From Europe
Dozens of countries banned air and rail links to Britain, foreshadowing what a “no deal” Brexit could look like in 10 days.
Driver Who Killed 5 Cyclists Had Methamphetamine in His System, Prosecutors Say
Jordan Barson faces several felony charges after the authorities said he drove a box truck into a group of cyclists who were riding on a highway outside Las Vegas last week.
Bicycling Surges in Manila Amid Covid-19 Lockdowns
City dwellers around the world turned to bicycles as the pandemic forced urban areas to restrict public transit. In the crowded Philippine capital, that meant weaving through notoriously bad traffic.
E.U. Reveals Openness to a No-Deal Brexit
The measures, which require British agreement, would cover air and road travel, freight and fishing for six months, to prevent immediate chaos should the transition period end without a trade pact.
Angry Farmers Choke India’s Capital in Giant Demonstrations
Tens of thousands have arrived in tractors and trailers, many traveling hundreds of miles, to block roads into New Delhi and protest recently passed pro-market agricultural policies.
In Kenya, a Cherished Fig Tree Gets a Reprieve
The 100-year-old tree, slated for removal to make room for a new expressway, will be preserved following a backlash from environmentalists concerned about shrinking green spaces in Nairobi.
A Famed Fig Tree’s Days Are Numbered as a New Highway Plows Through
A tree that has graced a neighborhood in Nairobi, Kenya, for nearly a century is slated to be taken down to make way for a highway through the city intended to reduce traffic jams.
On Afghan Highways, Even the Police Fear the Taliban’s Toll Collectors
As the U.S. retreats and peace talks stall, the Taliban have increasingly taken over Afghanistan’s highways, raising millions in unofficial taxes and strengthening their hand at the negotiating table.
Romans Want to Get Rid of Wild Boars, but Killing Them? That’s Another Matter
The euthanizing of a boar and her six piglets on a playground near the Vatican has aroused fury in Rome, a city that has long complained about the often aggressive animals.
A 30-Mile Canoe Trip Through Alaska’s Tongass National Forest
The Honker Divide Canoe Route draws intrepid travelers through the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest. But the lifting of logging restrictions may indelibly alter its character.
Two Park Police Officers Face Manslaughter Charges in Virginia Shooting
After Bijan Ghaisar’s Jeep was hit by another vehicle in 2017, he left and failed to pull over for the police. “None of that should have led to his death,” a prosecutor said.
Are Amazon Jobs Worth 1,400 Loads of Traffic? French Region Is Split
The picturesque Gard desperately needs more employment. But environmentalists are pushing back at what they see as a looming blight.
New Jersey Gas Tax Spikes Because of Coronavirus Impact
Taxes on gasoline and diesel increased by 9.3 cents a gallon on Thursday in a state once known for bargain fuel. The increase came a month after tolls on major roadways also went up.
A Nostalgic (if Isolating) Road Trip Along Route 66
Driven by an early fascination with the American West, a photographer set off to travel part of America’s most celebrated highway.
9 Major N.Y.C. Roads Get Lower Speed Limits as Traffic Deaths Surge
More drivers, passengers and motorcyclists have been killed so far this year than all of last year. Reckless driving is a major factor, officials say.
All About Roundabouts
Rotaries, traffic circles or however you know them, they’re often frustrating for American motorists. They are designed to lessen accidents, but that’s not always the effect.
Are More Car-Free Streets in N.Y.C.’s Future?
The tension between “those who see cars as evil and those who see cars as essential” intensifies as social distancing puts a premium on space.
Will Cars Rule the Roads in Post-Pandemic New York?
Newly emboldened, many New Yorkers want to repurpose streets for walking, biking, dining and schools, even as traffic returns.
Coronavirus ‘Checkpoints’ in NYC to Enforce Travel Rules? Well, Not Exactly
The mayor is sending the sheriff to city bridges and tunnels to try to ward off a second wave of the coronavirus.
Italy Leaders Hail Genoa’s New Bridge as Sign of Resilience
Less than two years after the collapse of the Morandi Bridge killed 43 people and embarrassed the nation, Italy inaugurated its replacement, and vowed to do better.
New Genoa Bridge Inauguration Is Bittersweet
Built in less than two years to replace the collapsed Morandi bridge, the new span is already a point of pride for Italy. But residents fear it will not be enough to revive their aging port city.
Italy Draws a Line Under Genoa Tragedy, Shunting Aside the Benettons
The government has leveraged anger over the collapse of Genoa’s Morandi Bridge to take back control of the nation’s highways. But critics say the deal sends a troubling message to investors.
Road Trips are Great. Except for the Driving.
I wasn’t looking for an exotic vacation, just a temporary reprieve from compulsive news-watching and a dose of in-person fun with family and friends.
I’ve Seen a Future Without Cars, and It’s Amazing
Why do American cities waste so much space on cars?
Stop Building More Roads
There’s a right way to do infrastructure. Why does America get it wrong?
Lockdowns Tamed Road Traffic. Here’s How Cities Aim to Keep It Down.
Officials are trying to prevent a return to urban gridlock and pollution as residents begin to travel again.
The Pandemic and Protests Have Exposed the Truth About California
The Golden State is less exceptional and more like the rest of America than many would prefer to believe.
With Fewer People in the Way, Transportation Projects Speed Ahead
The pandemic has provided an unexpected window for agencies in New York and around the country to make long-planned repairs and upgrades.
Can 8 Million Daily Riders Be Lured Back to N.Y. Mass Transit?
Officials fear disastrous gridlock if people turn to cars because they remain concerned about getting the coronavirus on the subway and other public transit.
Is the Age of the Road Trip Over Forever?
Hitchhiking, “bumming” and cross-country drives used to be safe and make us feel cool.
Are Cars Protecting Los Angeles From the Coronavirus?
The city is reviled for its sprawl-and-crawl culture, but a pandemic can change things.
‘Surreal’: What It’s Like to Ride a Motorcycle Through New York Right Now
Cruising down Broadway without crowds sounds like a total joy ride. Until you remember why it’s like this.
N.Y.C. Wants Some Normalcy? Fine. Alternate Side Parking Is Back.
In the pandemic, drivers got a two-month reprieve from moving their cars for street sweepers. Now the city has decided to clean things up.
The Unnervingly Easy Experience of Driving in New York City Right Now
Fifth Avenue moves like a country road. The F.D.R. Drive is smooth sailing. The coronavirus pandemic has made steering a car through the city an eerily normal activity.
What’s the Sweetest, Crispiest Way to Stay Safe in a Car Crash?
It’s made with marshmallows, too.