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The latest streets and transportation news from Streetsblog USA.

On April 20, the Federal Highway Administration launched its “Freedom to Drive” initiative, asking governors to nominate their worst traffic bottlenecks for federal capacity expansion. On May 17, House transportation leaders released the draft BUILD America 250 Act — a $580 billion, five-year surface transportation reauthorization, which the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up on May 21.

Taken together, the two announcements amount to the largest federal sprawl subsidy in a generation, proposed at exactly the moment American households can least afford it.

There is a real freedom in being able to drive. But the “freedom” the initiative actually delivers isn’t “freedom” at all, because it leaves households with no alternatives.

Read more from Jarah Jacquay at the link below — and check out more news in today’s headlines.

Friday Video: Inside the Global Far-Right Push To Rip Out Bike Lanes
Friday Video: Inside the Global Far-Right Push To Rip Out Bike Lanes
By Streetsblog
October 23, 2026
Toronto might be in the center of the fight to resist bike lane teardown today. But if some far-right politicians have their way, this fight won’t be the last.
Friday’s Headlines Shoot Themselves in the Foot
Friday’s Headlines Shoot Themselves in the Foot
By Blake Aued
October 23, 2026
Gas taxes pay for transit, too, so what happens when politicians pander to voters, and the highway trust fund runs dry?
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