- 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
Failure of Electric Bus System Means Pollution Will Continue in NYC
The Adams administration gives a major bus company a reprieve from idling laws — because battery-powered systems apparently don't exist yet.
Tuesday’s Headlines Let the Kids Cross
Waymos have adopted a dangerous habit of human drivers: swerving to get around stopped school buses.
This Holiday Travel Season, It’s Time to End the Stigma Around Intercity Buses
"The future of travel is not about choosing one mode over another. It is about building a balanced, interconnected system where buses, trains, planes, and cars complement each other."
December 23, 2025
New Bill Would Help ‘REPAIR’ America’s Worst Infrastructure — By Reimagining It For People
The concept of "reconnecting communities" torn apart by federal infrastructure has come under fire by GOP leaders in Washington. This Senator says it's time to renew the program anyway — and more than triple its funding.
December 22, 2025
Monday’s Headlines Belong to All of Us
The success of car-free streets depends on how well they foster community connections.
Friday Video: The Secret History of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service
...and what it means for new passenger rail service across America.
