Today’s Headlines
In NYC appearance, LaHood suggests that tolls could fund new long-term federal transport bill (Transport Nation) U.S. DOT’s auto safety chief says new legislation beefing up his authorities, post-Toyota scandal, could be stronger (Bloomberg) Senate climate bill’s estimated effect on gas prices: less than a 25-cent increase, says new study (The Hill) Three new National … Continued
May 20, 2010
Transit Industry and State DOTs Agree: Senate Climate Bill Needs ‘Rewrite’
The transit industry's leading D.C. lobbying outlet today joined the umbrella group for state DOTs and two major construction groups to protest the Senate climate bill's failure to set aside all of the revenue from its proposed new fuel fees for infrastructure projects -- specifically, to the cash-strapped highway trust fund that is generally split, 80-20, between roads and transit.
May 19, 2010
Today’s Headlines
LaHood brings his anti-distracted driving campaign to the United Nations today (WaPo Blogs) Lingering threat of ash clouds in Europe is giving a long-term boost to rail (Bloomberg) AASHTO president chastises Obama administration for focusing on maintenance of existing roads rather than new lane capacity (Hatt. American) Murray, the Senate’s chief appropriator for the U.S. … Continued
May 19, 2010
Transit Industry to Join State DOTs in Blasting Senate Climate Bill
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is set to join the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) and two construction interests tomorrow in protesting the Senate climate bill's proposed diversion of new fuel fees away from infrastructure -- an argument that puts the transit industry's leading D.C. lobbying group squarely in the transportation mainstream.
May 18, 2010
Transportation Moving Votes in Harman’s L.A. Congressional Race
Contested congressional primaries in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and Arkansas are drawing the lion's share of media attention today, but many Los Angelenos are eyeing June 8 as their Super Tuesday. That day will bring voters to the polls in a race between Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) and Marcy Winograd, who is challenging the eight-term lawmaker from the left.
May 18, 2010
Ford Foundation to Send $200M to Metropolitan Development
The Ford Foundation, created seven decades ago by a U.S. car industry scion, notably diverged from its past today by announcing a new, $200 million grant program aimed at promoting the local integration of transportation and land use planning and a movement beyond auto-based development.
May 18, 2010
Today’s Headlines
Parsing the status-quo message of state DOTs’ federal arm (Streetsblog NYC) House Republicans insist they are abiding by a promised earmark moratorium after Oberstar raises questions (CPI Blog) LaHood announces new rule aimed at preventing distracted driving by railroad operators (FRA Press) Transport construction union launches new campaign to build support for long-term federal legislation … Continued
May 18, 2010
U.S. DOT Holding Five Public Meetings on Its National Rail Plan
As it works to finalize a National Rail Plan that could prove pivotal in securing dedicated long-term funding for high-speed rail, the U.S. DOT is soliciting public feedback at five meetings in the coming weeks.
May 17, 2010
Behind the Transport Industry’s Lament About the Senate Climate Bill
While transport reform advocates hailed last week's long-awaited Senate climate bill for directing an estimated $6 billion-plus towards local land use planning and green infrastructure, state DOTs and construction interests criticized the legislation -- suggesting that the measure's sponsors could face stiff resistance from the transportation industry's mainstream despite making concessions to win over all sides.
May 17, 2010
Today’s Headlines
Democrats in Congress may tone down their new auto safety bill in response to industry complaints (WSJ) D.C. considers using “value capture” methods, harnessing business gains from transit to pay for new streetcars (WashPost) Joel Epstein on L.A.’s push to break from its past and embrace transit New York in need of a statewide high-speed … Continued
May 17, 2010