Tanya Snyder

Four years ago, another stunning night of GOP victories took out Representative Jim Oberstar, the Minnesota Democrat who chaired the House Transportation Committee. Had Oberstar kept his seat, the new GOP majority would have cost him the gavel, but he would have continued as ranking Democrat. Instead, Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia coal country took his place. Now, Rahall is out the door too.

The forecasting models were right: As the polls closed last night it quickly became apparent that Republicans will gain control of the Senate, occupying at least 52 seats. The implications for transportation are immense. To understand what they are, first let's look at what last night means for the prospects for a new transportation bill next year. Then we'll get inside the committees for a nitty-gritty look at the leadership shakeup.

Today is the first federal general election since the Supreme Court struck down key portions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Texas and other states have taken full advantage of their new ability to make changes to their voting rights laws without federal approval. And under the new law, people without a driver's license are finding themselves disenfranchised.

Today, voters go to the polls to exercise their constitutional right to self-government -- if their state hasn’t disenfranchised them with onerous voter ID laws, that is, and if they can get motivated to turn out for a mid-term election. In 27 states, voters are choosing a governor. These elections are perhaps the most important in the country when it comes to transportation policy, because governors set the agenda for major infrastructure decisions and control the state DOTs that spend the lion's share of U.S. transportation funding.

RIP Car Talk’s Surprisingly Car-Free Tom Magliozzi (Cyclelicio.us) Today, Maryland, Massachusetts and Other States Vote on Transpo Questions (WBAL, Roll Call) Why Are Gas Prices Dropping Below $3 a Gallon? Demand Is Low (NJ.com, CEPR) How New Jersey Transit Will Weather the Next Superstorm (Next City) DC Metro Already Thinks 2015-16 Is Going to Suck for Ridership, Revenues … Continued

Halloween’s Heartbreaking Death Toll (AP) Yet Another Dire Warning From the IPCC: Phase Out Fossil Fuels Now (Grist) Florida Gov. Rick Scott Hedges His Bets on Climate Change, Maps Potential Flooding (WRAL) Declining Ridership Clouds Future of Amtrak’s Hoosier Line (WSBT) Should North Carolina Developers Have to Pay for DOT Oversight of Their Projects? (Observer) … Continued

If you're a Netflix member, you're part of the downfall of the brick-and-mortar video store. There are all kinds of reasons to be sad about that, but we look at its implications for urbanism and transportation. Besides, now where will you find esoteric foreign films to impress your friends? There are reasons to believe a few hardy indie-shop survivors could keep hanging on for a while (and we encourage you to bike to them).

Next week, voters in Maryland and Wisconsin may tell state officials to keep their greedy paws off transportation funds. Louisianans will consider whether to create an infrastructure bank to help finance projects. Texans will weigh the wisdom of raiding the state’s Rainy Day Fund for -- what else? -- highways. And Massachusetts activists who have been fighting to repeal the state’s automatic gas tax hikes will finally get their day of reckoning.

John Tory Elected Mayor of Toronto, Promising Transit Will Be Top Priority (Star, BusinessWeek) Governing Examines Ballot Initiatives in Louisiana, Maryland and Wisconsin T4America Slams Texas Highway Money Grab Amtrak‘s Northeast Corridor Ridership Hits Record High, Overall Ridership Up NYC Mayor de Blasio Signs Speed Limit Bill, 25 Is Default Throughout City (Streetsblog NYC) The Twin Cities’ … Continued

Administration Will Investigate Whether NHTSA Is Too Close to Auto Industry (NYT, The Hill) Sen. Blumenthal’s Bill Would Shine Light on Overseer/Industry Ties (ABC) How the Rail Industry Funds Anti-CA HSR Rep. Jeff Denham’s Rise to Power (Modesto Bee) Charlotte Observer Takes a Look at How Former Mayor Foxx Is Doing at U.S. DOT WaPo‘s Dr. Gridlock on … Continued