- Owning a car is becoming increasingly expensive, and commuting more and more miserable. Most Americans don't have a choice, however, because transit service is so poor. (The Guardian)
- Liberal environmental reforms meant to encourage citizen participation are now being used to stymie transit projects and affordable housing, writes Ezra Klein. (New York Times)
- An e-bike can travel 2,000 miles on the cost of one gallon of gas. (Electrek)
- Omaha is seeing record numbers of bike-share users and bus riders because gas prices are high. (KETV)
- Uber is tacking a fuel surcharge onto rides. (The Verge)
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is likely to veto a bill suspending the state's gas tax (Detroit News). But Treasury Secretary Janet Yellin said a gas-tax cut is on the table at the federal level (Reuters), even though consumers wouldn't notice much difference.
- California's embattled high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco is emblematic of the U.S.'s inability to do big infrastructure projects anymore. (NYT)
- Ordinarily a $2 billion economic development project creating 7,500 jobs would be a huge win for Gov. Brian Kemp, but Rivian's electric vehicle plant in rural Georgia has turned into a partisan political football. (NYT)
- Durham, N.C. officials want to know what happened to the $167 million they spent on a failed Research Triangle light rail line. (Raleigh News & Observer)
- Washington state Democrats have agreed to a $17 billion transportation bill. (The Olympian)
- Even though Teamsters support it, a gig-worker bill in the Washington legislature is a bad deal for Uber and Lyft drivers. (Jacobin)
- Florida legislators gave Miami-Dade $3 million to upgrade a trail along a the South Dade Transitway. (Florida Politics)
- Boulder has a new type of traffic-calming device called a "speed kidney" that functions as both a bump-out and a speed hump. (Boulder Beat)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Progressives Are Backing These Four Priorities for the Next Big Transportation Bill
Progressives are refusing (at least at this point) to water down their ambitions in the face of a deeply divided Washington.
August 13, 2025
Wednesday’s Headlines on a Hot Tin Roof
We're talking about streetcars, but are really tired of "desire" puns.
August 13, 2025
Vital ‘Lifeline’ or Blatant Ripoff? Instacart Makes NYC Groceries 75% More Expensive
Instacart is arguing that its services are a lifeline to low income New Yorkers, but the app makes groceries 75 percent more expensive.
Is U.S. Passenger Rail Having a Big Moment?
We brought in an expert to unpack some of the biggest rail headlines of the day — and a few you might have missed.
August 12, 2025
Tuesday’s Orwellian Headlines
We've always been at war with Oceania, if you believe the Department of Energy.
August 12, 2025
Katie Wilson’s Success in Seattle Shows Again that Urbanism Is A Winning Campaign Issue
The transit advocate's strong early performance in Seattle's mayoral primary is rekindling a national conversation about the power of bold transportation reform to win at the ballot box.
August 11, 2025
