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

How Much Money Does Public Transportation Save? (The City Fix)

The City Fix provides a nice summary of this month’s “Transit Savings Report,” published by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).  Los Angeles was second nationally, behind New York City, in savings accrued by two-person households that gave up one of their two cars in exchange for a transit pass. Those L.A. households saved $10,000 per year on average.

Metro America’s Commuting Methods: The Interactive Edition (Infrastructurist)

With the release of the Brookings Institute Report, “The State of Metropolitan America,” Infrastructurist digs into some of the interactive maps on national commute patterns. Three California metro areas – Bakersfield, San Bernardino-Riverside and Stockton – all crack the top five in carpooling rates. By going directly to Brookings’ interactive map, you can examine a number of different demographic trends and play around with the variables.

Connection fare penalties: why they happen (Human Transit)

Over at Human Transit, Jarrett Walker examines four phenomena that often prompt transit agencies to charge connection fair penalties, i.e. an extra fee to transfer to another transit line during one trip.  In particular, Walker highlights a funding arrangement in Los Angeles County that gives transit agencies an incentive to keep single base fares low, even if it means having to charge for transfers or not offering them at all. His solution? Smart cards that will more precisely track actual ridership, including trips that have multiple legs.