- House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chair Sam Graves (R - Mo.) successfully pushed a proposal for a $250 fee on electric vehicles and $100 on hybrids to boost the Highway Trust Fund (The Hill). But the fund isn't being drained by declining gas tax revenue — it's being drained because Congress loves to build roads (The Equation, SBUSA).
- Cutting service to make up budget deficits could hobble transit agencies for years, even if the cuts are restored, because some riders will buy cars, even if they can't really afford one (CityLab). This would lead to more congestion for— example, in Philadelphia, SEPTA cuts would put 275,000 more cars on the road (WHYY)
- Robotaxis might replace human-driven taxis, but they're unlike to replace personal vehicles. (CleanTechnica)
- Once merely a place to park, EV chargers, delivery and ride-hailing drivers and more are now competing for valuable curb space. (Traffic Technology Today)
- Jarrett Walker eulogizes the late Pope Francis, who understood that cars "are often a source of much suffering." (Human Transit)
- Washington, D.C. is filing lawsuits against Maryland and Virginia drivers who've racked up hundreds of unpaid tickets. (Axios)
- Houston and Galveston are studying the possibility of light rail or bus rapid transit along the Highway 90 corridor. (Houston Public Media)
- Without light rail, the Atlanta Beltline is more of a recreation trail than actual transportation. (Georgia Public Broadcasting)
- After twice failing to find a contractor willing to build a bus rapid transit line under budget, Raleigh is bidding the project out in stages. (News & Observer)
- Birmingham, Alabama is trying to build a world-class bike trail network. (Birmingham Times)
- McSweeney's has a disillusioned urban planner's glossary to entertain you while you sit through a three-hour public hearing.
Today's Headlines
Thursday’s Headlines Take It To the Grave
A Republican leader is proposing new fees on cars to replace lost gas taxes. But the real reason the feds are running out of highway money isn't EVs, it's an addiction to road-building.
By Blake Aued
Missouri congressman Sam Graves.
|Defense Visual Information Distribution ServiceRead More:
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Hasta La Vista, Friday’s Headlines
Will the Gateway Project be back? Or will anyone taking a train have to get to da choppa instead?
October 17, 2025
‘Embarrassment’: Pedestrian Automatic Emergency Braking Still Flawed at Night
Relying solely on vehicle automation for pedestrian detection and collision avoidance is not advised, a new study said.
October 17, 2025
Friday Video: Enter the Bike Labyrinth
No, not the David Bowie movie — it's America's most-needed roadway safety fix.
October 17, 2025
It’s Time for the Fire Service to Join Communities in Preventing Street Trauma
First responders across the country are struggling with the trauma of witnessing constant car crashes — and joining the fight for better infrastructure that prevents these tragedies before they happen.
October 17, 2025
Thursday’s Headlines Can’t Afford a Car
High car prices (and loan default rates) are a sign of a K-shaped economy where the wealthy thrive and the lower classes struggle, CNBC reports.
October 16, 2025
In the Era of Mass Deportations, Traffic Reform is More Important Than Ever
"We have tried criminalizing our way out of systemic problems before; it has not worked, and it has harmed the very communities we claim to support."
October 16, 2025
