Wednesday’s Headlines Cut to the Bone
Transit and rail only get a small share of the federal highway trust fund as is, and the Trump administration now wants to take away that.
By
Blake Aued
12:01 AM EDT on July 29, 2026
- Transit Secretary Sean Duffy wants to eliminate 85 percent of federal funding for mass transit and passenger rail, as well as cut funding for Complete Streets and electric vehicle chargers (Smart Cities Dive). More details of the Trump administration’s priorities for the next five-year surface transportation bill are at Mass Transit.
- Among them, Duffy is also advocating for “freedom cars,” which is a prohibition on state and local governments requiring people to purchase self-driving cars or vehicles that transmit information wirelessly (Newsweek). Maybe it has something to do with privacy concerns about automated camera enforcement of speeding laws? (Autoweek)
- In addition, the DOT announced that will no longer enforce federal civil rights laws when state and local transportation agencies are guilty of discrimination. (The Guardian)
- Kansas City is taking public input on a $400 million streetcar extension to the 18th and Vine Jazz District. (KCTV 5)
- Philadelphia transit advocates rode SEPTA for 24 hours straight to highlight the importance of permanent state funding for transit. (NBC 10)
- Milwaukee County is proposing cutting transit funding by 25 percent while also pushing for an $858 million new courthouse. (Urban Milwaukee)
- The Connecticut DOT is working on upgrading the notoriously pokey New Haven rail line. (Mirror)
- A challenger for mayor of Gainesville, Florida, wants to double or triple transit funding. (Sun)
- Columbus, Ohio dedicated a new protected bike lane on North 4th Street. (NBC 41)
- Hungary has committed almost 10 billion euros to improving its passenger rail system. (Daily News Hungary)
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
Friday Video: What ‘A Week Without Driving’ Costs
...and what you could get back in exchange, at least if you lived in a city with good mobility alternatives.
September 25, 2026
The Interstates Did Not Need Villains; They Had Criteria
"Ask what your region's decision rule rewards. Then ask what it has no way to count."
September 25, 2026
Friday’s Headlines Are Shockingly Expensive
The 10 most costly highway projects in the U.S. all cost over half a billion dollars per mile.
September 25, 2026
Advocates Skeptical About Waymo’s ‘Transit Rewards’ Program
It could do some good for regional rail, but advocates stress this isn't a substitute for good bus service
September 24, 2026
Talking Headways Podcast: People Based Accessibility
Maps aren't just about Point A and Point B, but how you get there.
September 24, 2026
