Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet

The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on July 14, 2025

Photo: Still from Senate EPW Hearing

The Trump administration is announcing grants for street safety, then dragging its feet on actually releasing the money. (Transportation for America)
Waymo is setting up special accounts allowing teenagers to use its robotaxis (Wired). But ride-hailing apps aren't the only reason just 60 percent of Gen Z has a driver's license — cars and their associated costs like insurance have gotten too expensive for young people to afford, they're more attuned to environmental issues, and American car culture doesn't have the cachet it used to (Backfire).
Amtrak is cutting jobs and giving up on high-speed rail in response to the Trump administration's priorities. (Smart Cities Dive)
A new study found a direct correlation between density and the amount of trips residents make by walking or biking instead of driving. (Government Technology)
Policymakers need reminding that transit is a public service and not meant to turn a profit, according to the heads of transit agencies in Chicago and South Florida. (Mass Transit)
Rural Oregon transit agencies are cutting service due to uncertainty about federal funding. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Governing explains how Oregon's transportation funding bill went awry.
Long-term, service cuts won't fill the $11 million hole in the Milwaukee County Transit System's budget — they'll only make the problem worse. (Urban Milwaukee)
Seattle's Federal Way light rail extension is now scheduled to open a few months early, by the end of 2025. (The Urbanist)
Minneapolis signed a $12 million contract to set up automated cameras to catch speeding drivers. (Star Tribune)
Development around the Kansas City streetcar points to a transit-oriented future. (Star)
San Francisco transit agency Muni is finally replacing a computer system that still relies on old-fashioned floppy disks. (Chronicle)