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
- 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- Since the Trump administration rescinded funding for reconnecting communities divided by urban highways, Transportation for America is offering grants to small- and medium-sized cities for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)
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
Sometimes It Feels Somebody’s Watching Monday’s Headlines
Automated traffic enforcement is one thing, but why would Flock want to put cameras on civilian vehicles?
August 10, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Go North, Young Man
If you want to walk and bike safely, stay out of the South.
August 7, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: What Does It Cost to Build a Bus?
Lisa Jerram of APTA and Philip Plotch of the Eno Center for Transportation explain the state of bus manufacturing and why buses cost so much.
August 6, 2026
Report: Building More Homes Reduces Overall Driving
Building more homes will get cars off the road, but where they’re built matters.
August 6, 2026
Thursday’s Headlines Cut Away
A U.S. Senate bill would result in the loss of $950 million in transit infrastructure funding.
August 6, 2026
