Today's Headlines

Monday’s Headlines Are Overall Country, Overall Clean

Rural communities can hardly support transit as it is, and they'll be hurt worst by Republicans' transportation bill.

By Blake Aued

12:01 AM EDT on September 21, 2026

Monday’s Headlines Are Overall Country, Overall Clean

A rural transit van in Minnesota. Minnesota DOT, CC

Rural communities that only have bare-bones transit service as it is will feel the brunt of congressional Republicans’ cuts to federal transit funding. The proposed BUILD America 250 Act provides only $103 billion for transit over five years, compared to $120 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden in 2021. (Grist)
Meanwhile, the stopgap transportation funding law signed by President Trump three weeks ago cuts funding for three rail grant programs from $9 billion to just $200 million. (Railway Supply)
Several rail and transit funding referendums are scheduled for November, and with federal support flagging, losses at the ballot box could be catastrophic. (Governing)
Probably the largest of those is a Bay Area vote to help the region’s four struggling transit agencies (San Jose Mercury News). Oakland residents gathered at city hall recently to push for passing the $14 billion measure (Oaklandside).
A set of key votes on Austin light rail are scheduled for today (KXAN).
In addition, the Atlanta city council will vote on a resolution in support of light rail along the Beltline (CBS News).
The California High-Speed Rail Authority reimbursed $600,000 in unallowable expenses like Uber rides and bar tabs, according to an investigator general’s report. (CalMatters)
The Federal Transit Administration has closed a years-long review of safety on Boston transit. (WGBH)
The Miami-Dade government shifted $5 million to its already flush tourism bureau at a time when transit is struggling. (WLRN)
Both U.S. Senate candidates in Michigan favor suspending state and federal gas taxes (Michigan Public), even though that doesn’t save drivers much money and hampers transportation projects.
North Carolina started an initiative making it easier for Raleigh-to-Charlotte intercity rail passengers to connect to local transit. (ABC 11)
San Antonio is starting a pilot program to help late-shift service industry workers get home. (KSAT)
A bus rapid transit project in Bloomington is on hold as the city awaits federal grant approval. (Bloomingtonian)
Quartz ranked Cambridge, UK as the most bike-friendly city in the world, with Marrakech, Warsaw and some other surprises landing in the top 10 along with the usual Northern European suspects.