An exciting new service launched this morning from our friends at Walk Score will help people all across the country find out how transit-accessible a home or a neighborhood is while gaining a better understanding of the true cost of buying a home — the cost of housing plus transportation. Starting today, when you visit Walk Score you’ll also get information about nearby transit options, commuting details, and the expected cost of housing plus transportation. Welcome to Transit Score.

When the Center for Neighborhood Technology released its revised Housing and Transportation Index last week, much of the focus naturally tilts toward cities due to the measurement of metropolitan areas. But CNT’s rural companion report on transportation costs in less-populated areas deserves ample attention as well. More than 1.6 million rural households do not have access to a car, making routine trips a strain on a family’s time and budget. For those who do drive, high gas prices take a big chunk out of monthly incomes.

With some experts predicting oil to gradually climb towards $200 a barrel, many multinational shipping companies may have to rethink the way they do business. (USA Today — David Lynch)

For many middle-income Americans, stagnant wages combined with rising fuel costs makes heating up the house and filling up the gas tank increasingly untenable. (MarketWatch — Stephen Cohen)

With school districts spending as much as $438 every time they fill up a bus with diesel fuel, many are looking to cut costs by consolidating routes, increasing fees, and shrinking their areas of service. (San Jose Mercury News — Dana Hull)

While recent drops in the price of oil — largely attributable to reduced demand — have temporarily placated many consumers, commentator Andy Singh says that Americans shouldn’t grow complacent and return to their old habits. (Seeking Alpha)

“Plowing new ground” with ridership numbers while facing rising costs for fuel, Virginia’s Prince William County may look to increase fares for public buses. (Washington Post — Jennifer Buske)