How Bus Transit Can Help the Auto Industry
When Vice President Joe Biden visited Minnesota's New Flyer bus company to tout the economic stimulus law's $8.4 billion investment in transit, hopes were high for a boom in cleaner-burning vehicle production -- which made for some bad press when the nationwide transit funding crunch forced New Flyer to lay off 13 percent of its workers.
October 26, 2009
GOP Senators Protest Evaluating the Climate Impacts of Transport Projects
The 40-year-old National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), which requires the federal government to evaluate the environmental consequences of future projects, is a valuable tool for local residents and green groups that work to defeat highway expansions -- but as Streetsblog L.A. noted earlier this year, NEPA can be an equally valuable tool for opponents of clean transportation projects.
October 26, 2009
Senate Climate Bill Triples the House’s Investments in Clean Transport
The Senate environment committee released new details of its climate change legislation over the weekend, including the share of "emissions allowances" -- the revenue generated by regulating carbon in a cap-and-trade system -- that the bill would reserve for various sectors of the American economy.
October 26, 2009
Today’s Headlines
The 2010 U.S. DOT budget remains hamstrung by an ongoing fight over allowing guns on board Amtrak (The Hill) Miami city government adopts pro-urbanism, non-car-centric principles for future development (CNU Press) Portland’s streetcar secures a long-anticipated promise of federal funds (OregonLive.com) Nebraska, a state not known for its progressive transport policies, begins weighing a vehicle … Continued
October 26, 2009
Senate Signals 6-Month Delay for Transport Bill — But Will the House Agree?
The Senate is leaning towards abandoning the Obama administration's push for an 18-month delay of the next long-term transportation bill and now plans to pursue a six-month extension of existing federal infrastructure law, according to a report from CQ this afternoon:
October 23, 2009
Obama: Climate Pessimism More Dangerous Than Climate Deniers
In a speech much anticipated by those tracking the D.C. environmental debate, President Obama today took on opponents of congressional action on climate change, decrying "naysayers" who "make cynical claims" that ignore scientific evidence of the harm caused by emissions.
October 23, 2009
Deeds Wants More Money for Transportation — But Not From a Climate Bill?
Earlier this week, Ryan noted Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Creigh Deeds' (D) willingness to endorse tax increases to pay for more efficient transportation -- without fully explaining what the benefits of that extra transport spending would be. Ryan wrote:
October 23, 2009
Today’s Headlines
The chairman of the House Administration Committee, which supervises the Capitol complex itself, is planning to crack down on congressional aides who text behind the wheel (Roll Call) Chris Leinberger on why the housing market crash is producing a “bailout of sprawl” (TNR’s The Avenue) Florida’s new GOP senator is doing his part to help … Continued
October 23, 2009
Transit Creates As Many Jobs As Roads — But it Could Do Even Better
Members of Congress remain intensely focused on health care this fall, but as the unemployment rate hits double digits in more states, their No. 2 priority is best summed up in three words: Jobs, jobs, jobs.
October 22, 2009
The ‘Infrastructure Condo’ That Could Help Make High-Speed Rail Happen
As the Obama administration prepares to roll out its ambitious new investment in high-speed rail (HSR), right-of-way -- primary control over a stretch of train track, whether existing or envisioned -- has become a major consideration for states that want to jumpstart local networks.
October 22, 2009