Recent Streetsblog USA posts about U.S. Senate

Senators Want to Sneak Safety Exemptions for Self-Driving Cars Into Law

By Angie Schmitt | Jul 17, 2018 | 41 Comments

A group of senators led by South Dakota Republican John Thune wants to let companies rush self-driving cars to market before any federal safety standards related to autonomous systems have been drafted.

Congress Can’t Let Self-Driving Car Makers Treat People as Guinea Pigs, Say Public Safety Watchdogs

By Angie Schmitt | May 7, 2018 | 25 Comments

A bill in Congress to allow large numbers of self-driving cars on American streets needs substantial revisions to protect people inside and outside of autonomous vehicles.

The GOP's tax overhaul overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest Americans, and it could trigger major spending cuts. Chart: Economic Policy Institute

GOP Tax Cuts Threaten Funding for Transit, Biking, and Walking

By Angie Schmitt | Dec 4, 2017 | 21 Comments

Congress is on track to trigger spending austerity that will cut programs like New Starts and TIGER.

Congress Poised to Let Autonomous Car Companies Run Wild in Cities

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 5, 2017 | 51 Comments

Both houses of Congress are crafting regulations that will set the stage for autonomous vehicles, and they're not off to good start.

Indianapolis voted in the fall to raise taxes for transit improvements, including the "Red Line" bus rapid transit projects. But cuts to federal transit funding programs could complicate those plans. Image: Indygo

The Transit Budget in Congress Only Looks Good in Comparison to Trump’s Threats

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 1, 2017 | 1 Comment

Back in March, the Trump administration released a budget proposal that included draconian cuts to transit. Now budget bills are moving through the GOP-controlled House and Senate, and while the threat to transit isn't as severe as what the administration was calling for, it's still alarming.

Virginia's HOT lanes were held up in the U.S. Senate this week as an example of public-private partnerships done right. But is this what you really want out of the transportation system? Image: VDOT Office of Public-Private Partnerships

Public-Private Partnerships Will Not Save U.S. Infrastructure

By Stephen Miller | May 17, 2017 | 6 Comments

A panel of experts told Congress that, even with perfectly executed public-private partnerships, the federal government still needs to provide its own support -- especially for projects, like transit lines, that aren't guaranteed to generate toll revenue for profit-seeking investors.

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