Monday’s Headlines Get Schooled
A shortage of bus drivers has left some school districts and parents struggling to get their kids to class.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on October 6, 2025
- With a shortage of bus drivers nationwide, some school districts are turning to vans or rideshare services to transport kids. Those methods are less reliable and less safe than old-fashioned school buses, though. (Stateline)
- The U.S. transit agencies that have escaped a post-pandemic death spiral are those that successfully brought back riders with more efficient service, reined in rising labor costs and found new sources of revenue. (Planetizen)
- About a third of Americans do not have access to a reliable personal vehicle, and the Natural Resources Defense Council mapped out where they live.
- Money from a 1 percent sales tax referendum may not go as far as the Charlotte Area Transit System is promising. (Ledger)
- The Trump administration continues to target Democratic cities, “pausing” a $2.1 billion grant for Chicago’s Red Line extension. (NBC News)
- A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can’t withhold $34 million in subway terrorism security funding from New York. (Center Square)
- After watering down a $4 billion transportation funding package, Oregon Republicans now want to put it up for a popular vote. (KATU)
- Oregon cyclists filed a complaint after police pulled over about 20 riders participating in a Critical Mass event. (BikePortland)
- Pittsburgh installed speed tables on Southern Avenue. (Post-Gazette)
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an agreement with Uber and Lyft granting their drivers the right to form a union. (Politico)
- Boston is testing new “Zebra barriers” to replace plastic flexpoles on bike lanes. (Axios)
- Bologna is under attack from Italy’s conservative government for lowering speed limits to 30 kilometers per hour. (CityLab)
- The UK government is adding transit to a midcentury housing development, recognizing that it’s too reliant on cars. (BBC)
- Retail sales in central Madrid rose nearly 10% when the city closed the area to cars. (Fortune)
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
Where the Hottest Blocks in Your City Are — And How To Cool Them Down
A cutting-edge tool is helping city leaders identify where they most badly need street trees, bus shelters, and more.
April 15, 2026
Wednesday’s Headlines Hop on Board Carefully
Riding the bus is safe. Walking to and from the bus stop, not so much.
April 15, 2026
Ask An Insurance Industry Insider: Safe Streets Are The Best Way To Bring Down Insurance Costs
Insurance companies and personal injury lawyers exist because streets aren't safe. So shouldn't we start there instead of tweaking a broken system?
April 15, 2026
What If All Cars Were Autonomous, Electric, and Free?
Can we really solve the problems of car dominance just by making cars less destructive?
April 14, 2026
“Why Do We Do This Bill?”: Preparing Congressional Staff for Surface Transportation Reauthorization
A top advocacy organization is preparing Congress to take a critical look at the upcoming transportation reauthorization — and it's not easy.
April 14, 2026