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.

Why Angelenos should take the bus more (KCET SoCal Focus)

With the price of gas possibly headed toward $5 per gallon, Zach Behrens writes that Metro may be in good shape to handle a surge in ridership — which is exactly what happened when the price of gas soared in 2008. Studies have found that transit riders, not surprisingly, want predictable, on-time transit trips and transfers and Metro’s on-time performance has been improving. In addition, the new NexTrip system that allows users to get real-time bus arrival info via their computer or cell phones.

Expo Line picks up speed (Zev Yaroslavsky blog)

The County Supervisor and Metro Board member looks at progress on the light rail line and also applauds the decision by the city of L.A. to pick up the tab for building a rail bridge over Sepulveda Boulevard on phase 2 of the project.

Sprawling from grace: the consequences of the ‘burbs (CNBC)

This is actually a press release for a program to air on April 20. The gist of it:

This eye-opening documentary explores the ravages of American suburban sprawl, what America has lost as a result, and the perils we face if we don’t change the way in which we build our cities. Americans have been lulled into a false sense of security by cheap energy that has allowed us to spread endlessly into our landscape. We are trapped behind the wheels of our automobiles and with the demand for oil outpacing the Earth’s ability to supply it, this suburban living arrangement will fail. Our love affair with the automobile is unsustainable…the wake up call is coming.

Well, no hyperbole there, eh? Obviously there have been some consequences to urban sprawl. But will it really fail? I’m guessing not. Electric and heating bills will likely get more expensive over time and there will be electric and hybrid cars. And, I’m guessing, there will be more rooftop solar panels, too.

A broken railroad line in Japan (New York Times)

This isn’t a story — just a single photograph. But it’s a powerful one and, as the caption explains, conveys some of the damage to infrastructure suffered in northern Japan as the result of the earthquake and tsunami earlier this month.