Tuesday’s Headlines Are Driving Inflation
Driving — specifically, the cost of car ownership — is one of the main factors behind inflation, according to the Eno Center for Transportation.
By
Blake Aued
12:31 AM EDT on April 16, 2024
- The cost of owning a car is one of the biggest drivers of inflation — particularly insurance, which as of March was up 32 percent on an annual basis. (Eno Center for Transportation)
- The Federal Highway Administration awarded $830 million in grants to help cities and states protect transportation infrastructure against climate change. (Transportation Today)
- A new company retrofits streetlights into Level 2 EV chargers. (Electrek)
- Rochester’s destruction of the Inner Loop freeway is an economic success story many cities want to emulate. But critics say it simply replaced a moat with a wall in the form of new development. (City Lab)
- The Los Angeles Metro opened six miles of new bus-priority lanes, bringing the total miles to 51, with 46 more on the way. (Government Technology)
- The San Francisco Standard poses the age-old question: If you live in a single-family neighborhood, why risk a ticket by blocking a sidewalk when you can just park your car in your garage instead?
- Philadelphia’s King of Prussia rail extension is a prime example of how red tape can tie up or kill transit projects. (Broad and Liberty)
- A Colorado bill would protect coal-hauling mountain rail lines for passenger service. (Trains)
- Columbus, Ohio held a pop-up event to test quick-build protections for cyclists. (Dispatch)
- It goes against the data and even common sense, but Toledo residents are convinced that narrowing streets makes drivers go even faster. (WTOL)
- Charlottesville is building several new sidewalks in an effort to prevent pedestrian deaths. (Daily Cavalier)
- As Vision Zero Vancouver has shown us, if you want drivers to stop for you while you’re crossing the street, just wave a fake brick around. (Momentum Mag)
Blake Aued has been doing Streetsblog's daily national news digest for years. He's also an Atlanta Braves fan, which enrages his editor in New York.
Read More:
Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.
More from Streetsblog USA
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully
Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much.
April 15, 2026
Ask An Insurance Industry Insider: Safe Streets Are The Best Way To Bring Down Insurance Costs
Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers exist because streets aren't safe. So shouldn't we start there instead of tweaking a broken system?
April 15, 2026
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026
