Massachusetts Republican Cuts a Bike Version of Scott Brown ‘Truck’ Ad
After Sen. Scott Brown's (R-MA) January upset in the race for the congressional seat long held by the late Ted Kennedy, his win was chalked up to several factors: voter reluctance to embrace health care reform, campaign-trail gaffes by the Democratic candidate -- and a hyper-folksy ad campaign that featured Brown cruising around the state meeting voters in his "old truck."
May 3, 2010
Today’s Headlines
(Graphic: Fast Company) The U.S. electric grid is going to need a makeover if electric cars ever take off (above graphic and full story at Fast Company) LaHood to visit MIT today to talk high-tech distracted driving solutions (AP) Americans who learn to love Amtrak, warts and all (WashPost) A look at the private-sector companies … Continued
May 3, 2010
Long-Shot NY Congressional Candidate Runs Against High-Speed Rail
Over the years, veteran Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) has pushed so doggedly for construction of a new train line in her upstate New York district that one state legislator christened her "Mrs. High-Speed Rail."
April 30, 2010
GAO: Economic Recovery Benefits of ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Are ‘Uncertain’
"Cash for clunkers," the White House's much-touted program encouraging trade-ins for more fuel-efficient autos, had an "uncertain" impact on economic recovery, according to a new audit from the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) -- largely because it remains unclear how many of the car sales it spurred would have occurred without taxpayer subsidies.
April 30, 2010
Today’s Headlines
The details on that post-Toyota auto safety reform bill that Congress is drafting (Free Press) LaHood speaks out on distracted driving in a HuffPost op-ed Sen. Graham (R-SC) tells Ezra Klein that White House’s vehement rejection of carbon fees as a “gas tax” helped push him away from the negotiating table on climate change Green … Continued
April 30, 2010
RITA Speaks: What Technology Can Do for Transportation Safety
Among the myriad of smaller agencies that comprise the U.S. DOT, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) tends to stay in the background, not unlike the wonky, computer-hacking sidekicks often found in action movies.
April 29, 2010
Dem and GOP Senators Seek More Long-Term Rail Vision From Obama Aides
The senior Democratic and Republican senators in charge of setting annual transportation spending levels today urged the leader of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a more comprehensive plan for using the White House's high-speed rail program to spur the development of viable U.S. train networks.
April 29, 2010
Is the ‘Road Gang’ Losing Power in Washington?
That is the thesis posited in a new investigation from the Center for Public Integrity, which sent a reporter to sprawl-saturated South Florida to examine how much of a return the transportation construction industry is getting on its multi-million-dollar contributions to congressional campaigns.
April 29, 2010
Today’s Headlines
A Massachusetts NIMBY fight finally gets resolved as Salazar okays a new wind farm off Cape Cod (WaPo Blogs) Houston light rail could lose federal funding thanks to concerns over compliance with “Buy American” rules (Chronicle) Trains that run on beef fat? Amtrak is starting the experiment (Det. News) Auto dealers continue twisting arms to … Continued
April 29, 2010
On Emissions, CA Lawmaker Questions Whether CA Should Lead the Way
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson today told House members that she would soon begin work on new auto fuel-efficiency rules for the year 2017 and beyond, responding to calls from carmakers searching for certainty -- and warily eyeing the new fuel standards being crafted in California.
April 28, 2010