Congress Takes First Steps on Obama’s Transpo Budget: The Details
The House panel in charge of annual transportation spending has begun work on a bill that increases transit funding while providing $150 million for D.C.'s cash-strapped Metro and $150 million for the Obama administration's inter-agency push for "sustainable communities."
July 14, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Former Arizona DOT chief Victor Mendez confirmed to head the Federal Highway Administration (JOC) Federal safety board tells D.C. its Metro system needs upgraded safety monitors, post-crash (WaPo) The U.S. Chamber of Commerce gets behind a gas-tax increase to fund transpo … (Roll Call) … but AASHTO, the state DOTs’ lobby group, can’t seem to … Continued
July 14, 2009
Obama Talks Urban Policy as LaHood Seeks More Urban Transpo Money
The White House Office of Urban Affairs, which has drawn criticism for its inactivity at a rocky economic time for the nation's cities, capped a day-long summit today with a speech by President Obama.
July 13, 2009
GOPer Offers Alternative Climate Plan: More Nuke, Less ‘Energy Sprawl’
Lamar Alexander (TN), the GOP's third-ranked leader in the Senate, today unveiled an energy plan that is intended to serve as a counterpoint to the climate change bill being assembled by senior Democrats. His proposal focused largely on one promise: 100 new nuclear plants in the next 20 years.
July 13, 2009
Transit Outsourcing Booms — But Are There Safety Trade-offs?
The Wall Street Journal reports today on the growing number of cities around the country that are in talks to outsource local transit systems to cope with the budgetary pressures of the recession.
July 13, 2009
Today’s Headlines
More on enviro committee chief Boxer’s plans for the Senate climate bill: ‘There will be investments in transportation…’ (McClatchy) The auto industry’s No. 1 lobbyist pledges to rally support for a gas tax hike — to help his clients meet new CAFE standards (CQ) Could the D.C. Metro crash end up helping the city’s once-beleaguered … Continued
July 13, 2009
Republicans Deem Transpo Stimulus — 6% of Total Spending — a ‘Failure’
Republicans on the House transportation panel held a press conference today to deem the economic stimulus law a failure, citing low infrastructure spending in the nation's highest-unemployment states.
July 10, 2009
Taking GOPer Bachmann a Bit Too Seriously
Back when the Senate kicked off its health care debate, Republicans tested out a new line of attack against health committee chairman Edward Kennedy's (D-MA) draft bill: Its investment in encouraging walking and biking amounts to inexcusable government waste.
July 10, 2009
Taking GOP Graphics a Bit Too Seriously
Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO), one of his chamber's leading opponents of action against climate change, has swiped the hilariously complicated "chart" that his House colleagues used last month in a futile attempt to portray emissions reductions as just too complex for the American people to stomach.
July 10, 2009
Today’s Headlines
LaHood asks governors to direct transportation stimulus money to economically struggling areas (WSJ) Congress’ efforts to promote transit-oriented development start getting some attention (Dow Jones) Still reeling from a fatal crash, D.C. Metro has another problem: Bus and train operators texting while driving (Bloomberg) Boxer takes a big-tent approach as she drafts climate bill (CQ) … Continued
July 10, 2009