- A new car is now a luxury item by definition: The average price has risen more than $10,000 to $49,500 in just the past three years, with just five percent of sales clocking in at less than $25,000, an affordable price point for middle-class consumers (The Hill). With interest rates rising, the average monthly payment is now $730, up $74 over last year, and nearly 17 percent topped $1,000 (Edmunds).
- Trucks, including SUVs and crossovers, now dominate American roads, thanks to abnormally low gas prices, lax regulations and lots of money automakers spent on lobbying and advertising. (Washington Post)
- Buses are faster than streetcars, but the debate over which mode is better is more complicated than that. (Greater Greater Washington)
- Lyft is expanding its "green mode" option to 14 new cities, offering customers the option of hybrid or electric cars (Smart Cities Dive). Of course, the real "green mode" would be to walk, bike or take transit, instead of riding in a car by yourself.
- Crime in Chicago is up 62 percent since before the pandemic, and farebox revenue is down 51 percent. The head of the Chicago Transit Authority says "there's no question" those trends are related (City Lab). Newly elected Mayor Brandon Johnson faces the challenge of reducing crime without increasing police presence on transit by devoting more resources to services (Bolts).
- Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser's proposed budget includes hundreds of new traffic enforcement cameras, but the millions of dollars in revenue generated would go into the general fund rather than specifically to street safety. (DCist)
- Houston's proposed University Corridor bus rapid transit line could go underground. (Chronicle)
- A Fresno lawsuit contends that a $105 million Highway 99 construction project will lead to more pollution. (ABC 30)
- Political gridlock in Seattle could cost the city a federal grant to connect two existing streetcar lines. (Axios)
- Missoula is joining the ranks of cities that are eliminating parking mandates near transit stops. (KPAX)
- Cincinnati transportation officials may want to duck when they see the response to their new ad campaign. (Fox 19)
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Survey: Most Americans Are Quite 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
