Today’s Headlines
Oberstar agrees to back Senate jobs bill after getting a written promise from Senate majority leader that $932 million in pre-earmarked transportation funding will be redistributed (Politico) Cost inflation and fears of higher ticket prices are already dogging California high-speed rail (LAT) Ohio River Bridges project, dubbed one of the nation’s “highways to nowhere,” might … Continued
March 1, 2010
LaHood Backs Feingold’s Plan to Cancel Unspent Transport Earmarks
When a member of Congress earmarks transportation money for a local project, the funding isn't always spent in a timely manner. The Bush administration's final budget proposed to cancel road earmarks that had sat largely unspent for 10 years, a move that would have freed up $626 million, according to Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI).
February 26, 2010
The Big Question: What is the Purpose of Federal Transportation Spending?
With the White House's agenda crowded by high-profile debates that remain unresolved after lengthy talks with Congress -- think health care, financial regulation, even unemployment benefits -- only a handful of lawmakers are publicly engaging with the dominant issues surrounding the next long-term federal transportation bill.
February 26, 2010
Deja Vu Again: One-Man Senate Filibuster Imperils Federal Transport Law
A familiar script for Washington infrastructure watchers began to unfold last night on the Senate floor, as House-side resistance to a 10-month extension of existing federal transportation law prompted Democratic leaders to seek a quick deal on a one-month stopgap -- the fourth such short-term move in six months.
February 26, 2010
Today’s Headlines
Talking in-depth with Gabe Klein, D.C.’s pro-bike and pro-transit director of transportation (WaPo) The overall benefits of freight traffic improvements, such as those funded by the TIGER program (Greenwire) A look at the four GOP House candidates for 2010 who also own large auto dealerships (Roll Call) The U.S. DOT echoes White House adviser Browner … Continued
February 26, 2010
Build America Bonds: Good for Transportation … Good for Goldman Sachs?
The taxpayer-subsidized infrastructure financing program known as Build America Bonds (BABs), which would get a big boost in the Senate's new jobs bill, has proven helpful for local transit agencies and other transportation officials seeking a way to fund big new projects during a crushing economic recession.
February 25, 2010
Report: Obama’s 2011 Budget Leaves Cities in a Fiscal Hole of $16B-Plus
The White House's proposed budget for 2011 would direct $2.8 billion to its biggest-ticket urban aid programs, even as American city governments face estimated budget shortfalls of at least $19 billion next year, according to a report released today by the nonpartisan Drum Major Institute (DMI).
February 25, 2010
What Voinovich Wants From the White House: A New Politics for Transport
Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), a longtime supporter of quick action on a new federal transportation bill, helped give Democrats a major victory this week when he voted for the Senate's jobs measure after securing a promise for transportation votes in the upper chamber this year.
February 25, 2010
Today’s Headlines
A nifty new video on Portland’s diverse transportation — see above for more (Fast Company via Grist) A full-length look at the Obama administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities (Grist) New study ranks the most congested cities, and intersections, in the nation (USAT) LaHood’s office promises to help Connecticut apply for future rounds of high-speed rail … Continued
February 25, 2010
Fact-Checking the Toyota Hearing: Lower Speeds Increase Safety
Megan McArdle at the Atlantic, writing on today's Toyota hearing in the House oversight committee, hears Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood claim that "lowering the speed limit to 30 mph would not save any lives, which is why we have minimum speeds on highways."
February 24, 2010