Following ‘Cash for Clunkers’ with ‘Riches for Rail’
Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, began his hearing on transit today by displaying the above cartoon by Pulitzer prize-winner Tom Toles. The senator's message parallels Toles': In a world where the auto industry can get $2 billion more in one week, what's to be done about rail's $50 billion backlog?
August 4, 2009
“Build America Bonds” Having a Big Week — Is the Transport Bill Next?
With the nation's highway trust fund facing a $200-billion-plus shortfall over the next 10 years, finding new sources of revenue for transportation innovation is one of the toughest long-term challenges that Congress faces. One possible solution, however, lies no further than this week's business pages.
August 4, 2009
LaHood to Convene Texting-While-Driving Summit
Ray LaHood will announce today that his Department of Transportation plans to convene a summit next month for safety officials, lawmakers, academics, and law enforcement representatives to examine the risks of texting while driving.
August 4, 2009
Today’s Headlines
GOP Senate leaders starting to embrace a delay in new “cash for clunkers” money … (WSJ) … but that may not matter, now that Feinstein and Collins have stopped calling for stronger fuel-efficiency standards (Fox News) Headed into August recess, the climate-change demands pile up for Boxer & Kerry (ClimateWire) Lu Young, namesake of the … Continued
August 4, 2009
Letting Highway Trust Fund Earn Interest: How Much Would it Help?
The Senate released a proposed $26.8 billion patch to the nation's highway trust fund two weeks ago that included a long-sought priority of transportation policy-makers: restoring the fund's ability to keep the interest it accrues on unspent balances.
August 3, 2009
Separating Myth from Fact on “Cash for Clunkers”
As debate rages on in the capital over whether to keep assisting the auto industry by giving out more "cash for clunkers" rebates, two assertions are becoming commonplace: the program is helping diminish U.S. oil consumption, and the program is not paid for with new money.
August 3, 2009
How — and When — Can D.C. Help Local Transport Reform Happen?
In a new op-ed for Citiwire, former Indianapolis mayor and GOP member of Congress Bill Hudnut suggests six ways that Washington can train the nation's 350-plus metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) into tools for smart and environmentally sound transportation policymaking.
August 3, 2009
Bailout Recipient Citigroup Gets Contract to Run ‘Cash for Clunkers’
As the Senate gears up for debate this week on approving $2 billion more in "cash for clunkers" new-car rebates, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has vowed to work with the program's main private contractor -- Citigroup -- to iron out any kinks in the system that auto dealers use to apply for taxpayer-subsidized reimbursements.
August 3, 2009
Today’s Headlines
LaHood twists the Senate’s arm on re-upping “cash for clunkers” … (AP) … while some Republicans sense an opening and start criticizing the car-rebate program (NYT) Can Schumer and Lautenberg coax their colleagues into more high-speed rail money? (NYT) Congress, led by Oberstar, slams agencies for slow stimulus spending (Reuters)
August 3, 2009
Road Stimulus Money: Half Spent on Repaving, 17% on Widening
The $787 billion economic stimulus law provided $27 billion for roads and bridges. But is the money going to shore up aging infrastructure or to add new highway lanes?
July 31, 2009