Tuesday’s Headlines Pay Through the Nose

Why does a bus cost Cincinnati $937,000, while Singapore spends $333,000? David Zipper has the answer.

By Blake Aued

12:18 AM EDT on September 30, 2025

Creative Commons

U.S. transit agencies are paying up to three times what cities in other countries pay for buses, thanks to "buy American" rules, a lack of competition among domestic manufacturers and a penchant for ordering custom features. This makes it harder to replace outdated or polluting models. (CityLab)
Transit officials talked about the challenges of handling multi-billion-dollar projects like the Hudson River tunnel at an American Public Transportation Association conference. (Smart Cities Dive)
Things can be close together, or you can move at high speeds, but not both. (Transportist)
Social media is encouraging kids to engage in the deadly practice of "subway surfing," where people dance or do tricks on top of moving trains. (New York Times)
Some Charlotte officials are worried that the recent light rail stabbing could hurt a transportation tax referendum's odds of passing. (Queen City News)
Pittsburgh Regional Transit approved a plan to avoid service cuts and layoffs. (Union Progress)
The Atlanta Beltline launched a fund to support locally owned businesses along the rapidly gentrifying trail. (Saporta Report)
Chatham County, Georgia is fighting a legal battle to undo the state legislature's overhaul of the board governing the Savannah area's transit agency. (The Current)
Traces of Eugene, Oregon's streetcar system remain, if you look closely enough. (Register-Guard)
The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency quickly disabled an app allowing drivers to avoid parking enforcement. (7 News)
New Yorkers are tired of selfie-takers blocking the sidewalk. (NY Post)