Today’s Headlines
Washington D.C. Metro getting close to the safety backup regulators say it needs (MyFoxDC) U.S. DOT gets 278 applications for an $8 billion high-speed rail pot (AFP) A prominent editorial board tells Obama: Stop blocking Oberstar’s transpo bill (CSM) The lowdown on a bad scene at yesterday’s Senate enviro committee hearing (Grist)
July 17, 2009
Economic Hardship Standard in Stimulus Sparks Washington Ferry Flap
The House transportation committee convened this morning to hash out the ongoing battle over federal policy-making, but Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) had a more local concern.
July 16, 2009
Team Obama’s Transportation Chain of Command: ‘A Bit Complicated’
It's no secret that key leaders of the House transportation panel and the White House economic team don't get along -- from quips about shovel skills to a stimulus "shouting match," committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) and his top lieutenant, Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR), have become two of their party's leading Obama administration skeptics.
July 16, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Look who’s lobbying for a gas tax hike: the nation’s biggest business lobby (WaPo) State DOTs don’t like the suggestion that their stimulus spending is less than fabulous (AP) A lengthy profile of Randal O’Toole, anti-transit crusader (Greenwire) LaHood says private investment in roads could lag behind high-speed rail (Reuters) Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) is becoming … Continued
July 16, 2009
Blumenauer and Co. Face Off With Utility Industry Over Clean Water
As anyone who's tried to get around during a water main break knows, good old H2O has its own infrastructure and its own role in local transportation.
July 15, 2009
White House Staying Quiet For Now on Transit’s Role in Climate Bill
Delivering his climate-change message to Congress yesterday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned that fuel-efficiency advances secured by the Obama administration would not be enough to reduce emissions from transportation -- not without encouraging Americans to drive less.
July 15, 2009
Lawmakers Cross Party Lines on Transpo Funding as Debate Rages
An 18-month extension of existing transportation law cleared the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today, but not before spirited debate on a proposal billed as a compromise with House members who remain strongly opposed to the Senate's stopgap.
July 15, 2009
Today’s Headlines
The war of words between House and Senate transportation leaders continues … (Roll Call) … as Boxer and the Senate show signs of giving more to transit in their climate bill (Wash Indy) U.S. DOT’s latest round of transpo stimulus cash helps move Detroit towards ferry service (Free Press) Voinovich may be transpo stalwart, but … Continued
July 15, 2009
Voinovich Joins House Dems in Saying No to Transpo Funding Stopgap
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will move tomorrow on a White House-backed extension of the four-year-old federal transportation law, but at least one of its members is already opposed.
July 14, 2009
U.S. Transit Agency Issues Safety Warning After D.C. Metro Crash
Following quickly on the heels of a National Transportation Safety Board warning about the D.C. Metro's crash-prevention system, U.S. DOT regulators are asking transit agencies nationwide to ensure they have safety backups in place.
July 14, 2009