- Democrats are calling on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to resign over his multibillion-dollar purchase of gas-guzzling new mail trucks (New York Times). The new trucks get less than 9 miles per gallon (Ars Technica) and pressure is mounting to buy electric vehicles instead (Green Car Reports).
- Transit ridership is down by half since before the pandemic, while traffic deaths are up 27 percent. (The Guardian)
- Traffic fines should be tied to income, since a ticket doesn't really affect a wealthy person, but for someone with a lower income the cost could be catastrophic. In Europe, fines range from less than $10 to six figures. (The Atlantic)
- Congress' failure to agree on a one-year spending bill could tie up $40 billion in infrastructure funds. (Route Fifty)
- Fraudsters could siphon off up to 10 percent of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure act. (Pew Trusts)
- The U.S. DOT is releasing nearly $5 billion in formula funding for transit. (Railway Age)
- Jalopnik takes down an NYT column about a road trip in a self-driving car that, in reality, doesn't even remotely drive itself.
- Seven out 10 pedestrians Portland drivers killed last year were homeless, and deaths are continuing to trend upward in 2022. (Oregonian)
- Massachusetts will get about $9.5 billion for transportation from the federal infrastructure law. (NBC Boston)
- Washington, D.C. announced plans to double its 24 miles of protected bike lanes, starting with 10 this year. (WaPost)
- A Utah lawmaker is proposing a carbon tax that would fund fare-free transit, among other things. (Fox 13)
- Charlotte needs regional transportation planning but can't quite figure out how to get there. (UNC Charlotte Urban Institute)
- Omaha businesses are excited that a new streetcar could bring more people downtown, but worried about rising rents. (WOWT)
- A Minneapolis cyclist is trying to get his local NPR station to air bike commuting reports along with traffic. (MinnPost)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Survey: Most Americans Are Open To Ditching Their Cars
Automakers have spent a century and countless trillions of dollars making car-dependent living the American norm. But U.S. resident still aren't sold, a new survey suggests.
January 21, 2026
You Can’t Afford Wednesday’s Headlines
Americans want to live in walkable areas near transit, but not enough housing is being built there, driving prices out of reach for many and forcing them into a car-dependent lifestyle.
January 21, 2026
NYC Warns Delivery Apps to Follow New Worker Protection Laws
The Mamdani Administration sent letters to over 60 delivery app companies, warning they must comply with new regulations.
What the ‘Abundance’ Agenda Could Mean For Equitable Transportation
Could Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's buzzword usher in an era of bountiful transportation options, or just more highways?
January 20, 2026
Tuesday’s Headlines Weigh Perception and Reality
It may be driven largely by the media — car crashes are too common to make the news — but a feeling that transit isn't safe is hurting ridership.
January 20, 2026
Monday’s Headlines Wonder About E-Bikes’ Future
E-bike sales surged in 2020 and 2021 but have been flat ever since.
January 19, 2026
