Thursday’s Headlines Are the Taxman
Suspending gas taxes might be politically popular, but it doesn't save drivers money and takes away funding for infrastructure.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on April 9, 2026
- When states like Georgia suspend the gas tax in response to high prices, it doesn’t work because gas stations don’t lower the price and just pocket the money instead. That’s illegal, but challenging to prosecute (Jalopnik). Nor does suspending gas taxes change the fact that taxpayers are eventually going to have to pay for infrastructure and road maintenance somehow (Morningstar).
- Autonomous vehicle companies are being stingy with information about how often remote drivers intervene. (The Verge)
- The U.S. DOT is accepting applications for $686 million in grants to improve accessibility at transit stations. (Railway Supply)
- An Arizona state representative is trying to jump-start a controversial interstate through Phoenix by splitting the project in half, over the objections of Democrats who call it a waste of money. (KJZZ)
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore unveiled a plan to build housing on state-owned land near transit stations. (CBS News)
- A long-discussed South Jersey rail line is a priority for Gov. Mikie Sherrill. (MSN)
- Why does City Center, one of Philadelphia’s most desirable neighborhoods, have so many surface parking lots that could be developed? (Inquirer)
- Denver police are responding to rising traffic deaths by handing out twice as many speeding tickets as they did in the first part of 2025. (Gazette)
- As traffic deaths rise in Charlotte, officials are considering reviving the city’s long-dormant red-light cameras. (Observer)
- Raleigh will not completely eliminate subsidized “free” parking downtown, but will raise rates. (News & Observer)
- Public opinion in Jacksonville is leaning toward either bigger train cars on the Skyway or replacing the monorail with a High Line-style walking and biking trail. (Florida Times-Union)
- Vision Zero has caught on in Richmond, but the city needs to keep up a concerted effort to see results. (WRIC)
- Consultant Jarrett Walker praised Vancouver’s grid-like new bus route map. (Human Transit)
- China recently built the world’s longest outdoor escalator. At one kilometer long, it climbs to the height of an 80-story building. (Parametric Architecture)
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
In New Jersey, Mayors Show How Quickly We Can Slow Down Drivers
In Jersey City, Mayor James Solomon will install 100 quick-build safety measures, giving a new meaning to the term, "Safety first."
June 12, 2026
Friday Video: What Happens When World Cup Fans Come to America
It is difficult to go to a sportball game in the United States compared to Europe, so let City Nerd Ray Delahanty explain it all to you.
June 12, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Still Dangerous
We're seeing a "regression to the mean" after a brief dip in pedestrian deaths.
June 12, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: Are Arterials Unsafe? Or Are We Making Them Unsafe?
A true roads scholar speaks about the real danger on our streets.
June 11, 2026
Latest Report Shows That Sprawl Continues To Hamstring Youth, Limit Opportunities
Residents of compact and connected neighborhoods have lower energy costs, better health outcomes, lower exposure to vector-borne diseases, well-connected social lives and greater opportunities for children to thrive. But you knew that.
June 11, 2026
