The Footnote to All Those Complaints About Tax Cuts as Stimulus
Transportation reformers and status quo-lovers alike smacked their foreheads in frustration when the White House's first stimulus plan lowballed infrastructure to make room for tax breaks that had little demonstrable effect on job creation -- particularly the $70 billion adjustment of the alternative minimum tax (AMT).
December 15, 2009
On the Pitfalls and Benefits of National Transit Safety Standards
The second hearing in three days on the Obama administration's proposal for national transit safety rules made headlines mostly for its affect on the Washington D.C. area, where Sen. Barbara Mikulski's (D-MD) blistering critique of the local Metro rail system prompted high-level management switches.
December 15, 2009
Today’s Headlines
As Copenhagen climate talks wind on, a timely reminder that clean transportation can take the U.S. halfway to its emissions reduction goals (HuffPost) LaHood gives Connecticut’s local high-speed rail effort a friendly nudge (News Times) Michigan, home of the U.S. car industry, ranked second-to-last in the nation when it came to fuel-efficiency improvements achieved under … Continued
December 15, 2009
Bus vs. Rail: Transit’s Quiet Culture Clash?
The question of running buses or building rail has preoccupied transit planners in many an American town, with Maryland's Montgomery County being the latest locality to choose between trains and bus rapid transit (BRT), which tends to be the less expensive option.
December 14, 2009
Wins For Washington (State): Transport Bill Resolves Two Local Debates
Tucked into the transportation spending bill that Congress approved over the weekend are two wins for Washington state's senior senator, Patty Murray (D), who chairs the upper chamber's transport budget-writing panel.
December 14, 2009
Transport Bill Earmark to Help Road Project in Palin’s Hometown
Sarah Palin is no longer the governor of Alaska, but a project long championed by the 2008 vice-presidential nominee -- and staunch earmark critic -- stands to benefit from an earmark inserted into the transportation spending bill that cleared Congress over the weekend.
December 14, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Obama administration pressing governors to ensure minority and female contractors have equal access to transportation stimulus aid (McClatchy) Battle heats up over federal approval for tolling on Pennsylvania’s I-80 (Times-Herald) North Carolina transit taking a $470m hit during the recession (News-Observer) Senate clears hurdle towards approval of massive transportation-centric spending bill… (Politico) … which includes … Continued
December 14, 2009
‘Cash for Clunkers’ Backer Sutton Steps it Up for Ohio Transit
Rep. Betty Sutton (D-OH) was one of the prime movers behind the economically and environmentally misguided "cash for clunkers" program, but she is switching gears to help save transit in Lorain County, Ohio, where bus service could be canceled in 2010 after voters rejected a sales tax increase to raise operating funds.
December 11, 2009
Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Bypassing States on New Jobs Bill
As the $787 billion stimulus law nears its one-year anniversary, Congress' choice to route the lion's share of recovery funds through state capitals -- including state DOTs where misplaced priorities are all too common -- remains a sore spot for mayors and urban advocates.
December 11, 2009
Today’s Headlines
LaHood says Obama administration should replicate the first stimulus law’s ethics limits for its next economic recovery legislation (AP) House passes massive spending bill that includes big transportation policy budget moves (AP) Members of Congress pushing to make more transit networks wired for cell service (The Hill) Washington D.C.’s transit authority heading for management shakeup … Continued
December 11, 2009