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.

Gas prices could soon break July 2008 record (USA Today)

The national average is now $3.81 after three weeks of steady increase. The record is $4.11. The average in the Los Angeles area is now $4.20. Some experts predict a peak around Memorial Day — after which, they say, prices will fall as fed up motorists keep their vehicles parked in the driveway.

The first bus headed from Los Angeles to Long Beach at 5 a.m., April 9, 1961.

50 years ago this week: last days of Red Car service to Long Beach (Primary Resources)

After some transit agencies were combined in 1958, bus service was put on the frontburner and rail service quickly extinguished. The last Red Car to Long Beach rolled out on April 9, 1958, replaced by the bus in the photograph. Attentive readers know that rail service between L.A. and Long Beach didn’t resume until 1990 when the Blue Line debuted. More photos and links at the Metro library’s blog.

Atlanta metro area to consider major sales tax hike for transit (The Transport Politic)

The metro area around Atlanta has sprawled and sprawled in recent decades and the region has some of the worst traffic in the nation. But only two counties in the metro area actually have sales tax revenues in place to fund MARTA, the metro area’s main transit agency. Other counties in the past wanted nothing to do with it. How things change. Ten counties — with a combined 4.1 million population — will now be allowed next year to vote on a one cent hike to greatly expand transit in the Atlanta area, including a suburb-to-suburb rail line. Whether it passes is another question.