Of hybrid buses and scary runways

In today's transportation news:

- The CTA is looking into the possibility of leasing 150 new hybrid buses. The deal may not go through if the General Assembly does not approve new funding for the CTA. Still, the announcement was a bit of a head-scratcher, considering the CTA is threatening to lay off thousands of employees and cut dozens of bus routes beginning next month in order to balance its budget.

- Also, Sen. Dick Durbin wants the Department of Transportation's Inspector General to look into staffing levels and controller fatigue at Chicago-area air-traffic control facilities. Durbin's request was prompted by a recent report on runway safety, which cited the high risk of near-collisions, known as runway incursions, at U.S. airports, including O'Hare.