- SUVs are getting so big that, even with improving efficiency, the average new internal combustion vehicle pollutes more than one purchased 10 years ago, according to a climate group's study that supports taxing vehicles by weight. And since only the wealthy can afford to buy — and fuel — these ultra-heavy SUVs, the rich are mostly responsible. (The Guardian)
- Republican states are slapping new fees on electric vehicles to supplement declining gas tax revenue, but critics say the new fees are more about the culture war than funding transportation. (Washington Post)
- When using AI for transportation planning decisions, officials should proceed carefully and make sure a person is ultimately in charge. (Route Fifty)
- Waymo's driverless vehicles are using LED displays and recorded messages to communicate their intentions to pedestrians (The Verge). But a longtime critic of Tesla's self-driving technology has now concluded that Waymo and Cruise vehicles are also more like to get into crashes than those with human drivers (Autoblog).
- A law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom allows Los Angeles, San Francisco, and four other nearby cities to use cameras to catch speeding drivers. (New York Times)
- Utah officials unveiled hundreds of transportation projects planned for now to 2050, including 4,700 miles of walking and biking trails, and a controversial gondola. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- The mayors of Austin and San Antonio are exploring passenger rail between the two cities. (KXAN)
- A task force appointed by the Minnesota legislature is considering taking Metro Transit away from the Twin Cities' Met Council and making it independent. (MinnPost)
- Contrary to popular belief, most vendors at Seattle's popular Pike Place Market aren't opposed to pedestrianizing the area. (The Urbanist)
- Richmond's transit agency has approved a north-south bus rapid transit to complement east-west BRT. (Times-Dispatch)
- A Bay Area real estate company is tearing down a grocery store and turning it into parking for a nearby mall. (SFGate)
- Mobility and environmental activists are worried about bikelash from newly elected conservative governments in Europe, but on the other hand center-right politicians aren't offering much of a vision beyond ongoing traffic jams. (Politico EU)
Today's Headlines
Wednesday’s Headlines Tax the Rich
Only the wealthy can really afford today's mega-SUVs — and they're not paying for their impacts.
By Blake Aued
Read More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Friday Video: The Secret History of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service
...and what it means for new passenger rail service across America.
December 19, 2025
Friday’s Headlines Walk the Line
If you're a capitalist, the market says there's a premium for living in a walkable neighborhood. So why not supply more to meet demand?
December 19, 2025
Talking Headways Podcast: Fighting to Win
Carter Lavin talks with Jeff Wood about the necessity of messy politics in obtaining street safety.
December 18, 2025
Streetsblog’s ‘Car-Free Carolers’ Bring the Joy, Mirth and Ho-Ho-Hope to this Holiday Season
Streetsblog's singers are back, belting out their parody classics to make a serious point: New York's roadways don't have to be dangerous places for kids and lungs, but can be joyous spaces for people to walk around, shop, eat or just ... hang out.
Study: More Protected Bike Lanes = More Micromobility Users
This ought to silence doubters who claim that no one's using that shiny new cycle track.
December 18, 2025
Thursday’s Headlines Are Hot-Blooded, Check It and See
Hopefully the Earth won't have a fever of 103 when judges get done with the Trump administration's proposal to dismantle greenhouse gas regulations.
December 18, 2025
