The Dirty Secret of Coal Ash: It’s in Our Roads
Last night's 60 Minutes featured an eye-opening report (viewable above) on the 130 million tons of coal ash waste generated every year by the nation's thirst for energy. The show outlined the lack of oversight over disposal of the toxic ash, which is routinely used in the most commonplace of areas: concrete.
October 5, 2009
Congress’ Transport Impasse Hits States — and Not Just Their Road Funds
When lawmakers failed on Wednesday to reach a deal on avoiding the cancellation of $8.7 billion in transportation spending authority, the consequences of Congress' inaction weren't immediately palpable to most voters -- but the loss is sinking in on the local level.
October 5, 2009
Today’s Headlines
California releases its detailed plans for statewide high-speed rail (SMC Times) Massachusetts governor fires back at Oberstar’s critique of how fast/well the state is spending its stimulus money (Globe) Mysterious fires on transit buses attract attention in Atlanta (AJC) Louisiana Republican joins Democrats in urging Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) to reconsider his change-of-heart on high-speed … Continued
October 5, 2009
Killing the Myth of the ‘More Shovel-Ready’ Road Stimulus, Part II
It has become one of the most enduring anecdotes surrounding the Obama administration's $787 billion economic stimulus law: Democrats' contention that White House adviser Larry Summers sliced transit aid by more than half, to $8.4 billion, out of concerns that projects were not "shovel-ready" enough.
October 2, 2009
Spending Transportation Stimulus Money Fast vs. Spending it Well
How fast is the economic stimulus law's $48 billion in transportation aid being spent -- and is it being spent on the right projects? The relative importance of those two questions made for lively debate in the House transportation committee yesterday.
October 2, 2009
CA Guv Hopeful: Let’s Not Extend Parking Meter Hours in a Recession
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has snagged some high-profile support for his nascent California gubernatorial bid, but he may have some trouble with the transit-riding, congestion-weary constituency. My colleagues Matthew Roth and Bryan Goebel have the story over at Streetsblog San Fran:
October 2, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Heads up to D.C. area readers: Today is the grand opening of the BikeStation, a new outpost for bike commuters and recreational riders (NPR) Shocker: When “cash for clunkers” evaporated, so did U.S. automakers’ sales gains (CNN) Transportation fatalities were down 10 percent in 2008, according to federal safety regulators (Prog. Railroading) A must-read for … Continued
October 2, 2009
The Good Problem With Housing Near Transit: It’s Almost Too Popular
Local officials are catching on to the power of transit-oriented development to transform quality of life while decreasing congestion, as my colleague Ryan Avent has explored. But now that the federal government is starting to explore how to expand transit-accessible housing, an intriguing problem is arising: it's almost too popular.
October 1, 2009
Obama Bans Texting While Driving for Guv Workers — And There’s More
The U.S. DOT's distracted driving summit came to a close today with the unveiling of an executive order from President Obama that prohibits federal employees from texting behind the wheel of a government car or using a government-provided messaging device while driving any vehicle.
October 1, 2009
GOP Blocks Plan to Use Bailout Fund to Preserve $8.7B in Transport Money
A bipartisan bid to extend existing federal transportation law for three months -- and tap the TARP bailout fund to avert the cancellation of $8.7 billion in contract authority -- was rejected on the Senate floor last night after GOP senators insisted on using stimulus money, rather than bailout cash, to fix the problem.
October 1, 2009