Conrad Sees ‘Tough Choices’ Ahead on Transport, Naming VMT Tax & Tolls
Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) today shed rare light on the extent of the nation's transportation funding crisis, warning his fellow policymakers that "we are going to have to make tough choices" to raise enough money for continued federal investments in the built environment.
February 24, 2010
Little-Known Provision in Senate Jobs Bill Could Spark House Resistance
The Senate passed its jobs bill today by a 70-28 vote, bringing Congress one step closer to a $20 billion transfer that would keep the nation's highway trust fund solvent until 2011 and extend the 2005 federal transportation law.
February 24, 2010
Today’s Headlines
House majority leader says his chamber isn’t ready to sign off on the Senate jobs bill as is (Politico) Meanwhile, manufacturers’ lobby is “disappointed with” the Senate plan, saying a 10-month rescue of the highway trust fund is only viable “if this leads to a permanent six-year bill” (NAM Press) Stimulus analysts at Onvia, the … Continued
February 24, 2010
Obama Adviser: If EPA is Blocked on Emissions, Forget About CAFE Deal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson extended an olive branch this week to lawmakers who are pushing to block her from regulating carbon emissions in the absence of a congressional climate bill, but Jackson's promise to delay action until next year appears to have made no headway with Republicans and coal-state Democrats.
February 23, 2010
House Lawmakers Hail Transportation Stimulus — But Add Three Caveats
At a House transportation committee hearing today that marked the one-year anniversary of the Obama administration's economic recovery efforts, lawmakers offered praise for the stimulus law's impact on local infrastructure investments even as they hit upon three key areas of concern with its implementation.
February 23, 2010
Voinovich Secures Dem Promise to Hold a Senate Vote on Transpo in 2010
Compelling infrastructure news out of the Senate last night: The long-delayed successor to the 2005 federal transportation law could come to a vote sooner than the spring 2011 timetable sought by the Obama administration, thanks to a promise secured by Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) in exchange for his vote in favor of the Democratic jobs bill.
February 23, 2010
Today’s Headlines
Ahead of tomorrow’s Toyota hearing in the House, lawmakers take aim at the company’s — and the government’s — safety record (Free Press) LaHood says the Ohio River Bridges Project, which features tolling as a possible revenue raiser, could be in line for second round of TIGER aid or other federal funding (WAVE-TV, Courier-Journal) Do … Continued
February 23, 2010
Senators Warn of Possible ‘Federal Intervention’ in D.C. Transit System
Four senior members of the Senate Banking Committee today warned Washington D.C.'s transit agency that "direct federal intervention" in the local Metrorail system could be the next step if officials did not move to remedy an "unacceptable" safety record that includes a series of recent crashes and near-misses, capped by a derailment 10 days ago.
February 22, 2010
Barbour Breaks With AASHTO Chief on Stimulus’ Transportation Benefits
Viewers of yesterday's Fox News Sunday were treated to an interesting sight: Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R), whose name is increasingly in the mix for his party's 2012 presidential nomination, distancing himself from the president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), Washington's voice for state DOTs.
February 22, 2010
U.S. DOT Offers Sample Distracted Driving Bill — With a Potential Loophole
The Obama administration today offered a one-page sample proposal to crack down on texting behind the wheel, aimed at helping guide states through the process of crafting their own distracted driving legislation.
February 22, 2010