Here’s a look at some of the transportation headlines gathered by the Metro Library. The full list of headlines is posted on the library’s blog.

The public’s role in subway planning (LAist)

This smart post by Zach Behrens looks at the many suggestions and ideas that came from the community during the dozens of meetings held by Metro to discuss the Westside Subway Extension. Not all those suggestions will become reality, but the extensive outreach efforts often resulted in Metro studying ideas that otherwise may not have been reviewed.

Assembly rejects bill that would ban tolls for carpoolers (L.A. Times)

No surprise here. Officials decided a ban would limit options for future transportation projects and would also impact existing facilities that do charge carpoolers — such as the 91 express lanes. This also would have impacted Metro’s ExpressLanes project for parts of the 110 and 10 freeways. On the 110, all carpoolers can use the future toll lanes for free while on the 10 freeway vehicles with two occupants will pay tolls during peak hours. Three or more can use the lanes for free.

Bike lanes between White House and Capitol Building open (Washington Post)

The lanes are in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue, the design intended to minimize conflicts with buses and right-turning vehicles. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was on hand (here’s his blog entry, with video) — and the Post says that he’s a regular cyclist. The lanes are part of an 80-mile network planned by the city. I hope that members of Congress and the Obama administration frequently use them while discussing passage of the next federal transportation spending bill, which is already almost two years behind schedule.