Today’s Headlines
Inside the frustration of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congress’ livable-communities stalwart (NYT) Transportation expert and former Bush-Cheney adviser Jack Schenendorf calls out today’s GOP: If Reagan and Eisenhower could preside over gas tax increases to pay for infrastructure, why can’t you guys get on board? (Williston Herald) Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) takes some heat back … Continued
By
Elana Schor
7:49 AM EDT on October 19, 2009
- Inside the frustration of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Congress’ livable-communities stalwart (NYT)
- Transportation expert and former Bush-Cheney adviser Jack Schenendorf calls out today’s GOP: If Reagan and Eisenhower could preside over gas tax increases to pay for infrastructure, why can’t you guys get on board? (Williston Herald)
- Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE) takes some heat back home for being his party’s designated objector to using bailout money to close an $8.7 billion transportation contracting gap (Journal-Star)
- The White House’s stimulus job-creation estimates are still just as fuzzy as ever … (ProPublica)
- … and the jury’s still out on whether the stimulus’ investment in high-tech research will help the economy in the short term (NYT)
- Sarah Palin’s back with a familiar energy policy mantra — “drill, baby, drill” (Nat’l Review)
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video(s): Two Urban Cycling Trips Worth Taking
Choose your own urban cycling adventure: domestic or international edition.
October 9, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Pay a Lot for Parking
The average apartment-dweller pays $200 a month for a parking space, included in their rent, whether they use it or not.
October 9, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: The Long Road to Real Transit Progress
Jeff Wood and Reece Martin discuss China’s lessons for American infrastructure.
October 8, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Are Another Front in the Culture War
David Zipper explains how transportation, once an issue with broad consensus, became politically polarized.
October 8, 2026
Does the ‘Week Without Driving’ Give Car-Free Living A Bad Rap?
Nope; automobility does that! But there's more we can do to highlight the benefits of active and shared transportation, and demand even better for people outside vehicles.
October 8, 2026