Wednesday’s Headlines Get Off the Cheese Wagon

Transporting K-12 students via public transit can save schools money, but there are challenges involved, like teaching children how to use the system.

By Blake Aued

12:09 AM EDT on August 27, 2025

Flickr, CC

Some school districts that are struggling to pay for their transportation are turning to public transit instead. It can cost $3,000 a year to transport one student by school bus, compared to $350 to ride a city bus — or nothing, if the city offers free fare to riders 18 and under. (Education Week)
As power gets more expensive, owners of big electric SUVs are going to experience "pain at the plug" charging the big batteries needed to move them. (Heatmap)
Since the Trump administration rescinded funding for reconnecting communities divided by urban highways, Transportation for America is offering grants to small- and medium-sized cities for demonstration projects.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is now open to Republicans' idea for using a fund for capital projects to fill holes in transit agencies' operating budgets, but only as part of a broader package that ensures long-term funding. (Spotlight PA)
Oregon legislators' special session on transportation funding starts Friday. (Capital Chronicle)
Chicago set a Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2026, but isn't anywhere close. Drivers killed 109 people last year. (Sun-Times)
Portland, Maine approved a Vision Zero plan. (News Center Maine)
Boise leaders and transit advocates are keeping the dream of commuter rail alive. (Idaho Statesman)
Albuquerque saw a massive decline is speeding where it previously installed cameras, so it's adding more. (KOAT)
What happened to Vancouver's promise last year to fast-track bus-only lanes? (Sun)
Uber's global head of mobility warned that Indiana should rapidly expand transit rather than widen roads to accommodate a rising number of privately owned vehicles. (Economic Times)
Vienna allows anyone to turn an on-street parking space into a parklet, as long as they promise to keep it maintained. (The Guardian)