Today’s Headlines

  • LaHood: Gas tax hike and VMT tax are still on the table … but only once the economy improves (Dow Jones)
  • D.C. Metro contends with a tragic bus accident (WaPo)
  • U.S. DOT has approved just 20 percent of "clunkers" payments — thanks, Citigroup! (Det News)
  • Federal highway chief celebrates sprawl-inducing MN road project (Fast Lane)
  • California high-speed rail commission to give $9m contract to PR firm run by governor’s longtime adviser (LAT)
  • Honolulu launches campaign against bus-rider body odor (Advertiser)
  • Feds send stimulus money to NYC construction company with a shady past (NYT)
  • Backers of the congressional climate bill start to win the ad wars (USAT)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Transit Benefit (Wrapped in Tax Cuts) Clears the Senate

By Tanya Snyder |
The Senate voted 81-19 to support President Obama’s plan to extend the Bush tax cuts this afternoon. Some of those Senators probably didn’t even realize that they were also voting to extend equal tax benefits for transit commuters, on par with parking credits. One Senator was certainly aware. Democrat Bob Menendez of New Jersey told […]

Congress Expected to Level Tax Benefit for Transit and Car Commuters

By Angie Schmitt |
A federal policy that has encouraged Americans to drive to work instead of taking the bus or the train won’t tilt the playing field toward car commuters so much. A bill that extends provisions of the tax code will permanently set the maximum transit commuter tax benefit at the same level car commuters get for parking expenses. Both classes of commuters can now […]

Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor |
More on enviro committee chief Boxer’s plans for the Senate climate bill: ‘There will be investments in transportation…’ (McClatchy) The auto industry’s No. 1 lobbyist pledges to rally support for a gas tax hike — to help his clients meet new CAFE standards (CQ) Could the D.C. Metro crash end up helping the city’s once-beleaguered […]

Today’s Headlines

By Angie Schmitt |
The Psychology of Why Driving Turns Us Into Jerks (Slate) How New Jersey Can Lure People Out of Cars (NextCity) Scientist Says Climate Change Contributed to Texas Flooding Disaster (Texas Tribune) “Floating Bus Stops” Can Help Solve Bike-Bus Conflicts (CityLab) Proposal to Hike Tennessee Gas Tax “Not Going Anywhere” (Times Free Press) Maryland County Testing […]

Baltimore Rolls Out Free, Fully Funded Downtown Bus Service

By Elana Schor |
Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon is on her way out of office, thanks to a deal with prosecutors pursuing a corruption case against her, but she’s leaving something positive in place for local transit riders. Sheila Dixon, outgoing Baltimore mayor, with a new city bus. (Photo: Baltimore Skyline) The city’s new free bus line, dubbed the […]

Today’s Headlines

By Tanya Snyder |
Omnibus Appropriations Bill Reportedly Has $2.1B for New Starts and $600M for TIGER (The Hill) Will Shuster’s Tea Party Challenger Push Him to the Right on Transportation? (HuffPo) Fox News Challenges Ray LaHood on Gas Tax Hike Proposal (Newsmax) What the Transit Tax Benefit Reduction Actually Costs DC Commuters (WaPo) Virginia’s New Tax on Hybrids […]