The High-Speed Rail Numbers Game: Is $13 Billion and 110MPH Enough?
High-speed rail is one of the Obama administration's most prized policy goals, with $13 billion getting earmarked in the coming year alone to help break ground on up to 11 proposed regional corridors. But what will the U.S. get for its money? A lively Senate hearing today attempted to answer that question.
June 23, 2009
House Dems Agree: Climate Bill Can Help Pay For Greener Transportation
Members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee just struck a deal ahead of Friday's make-or-break vote on climate change legislation to give greener transportation a place at the table.
June 23, 2009
Senators Seek Rail Safety Funding in Aftermath of Metro Crash
Mere hours after the Washington Metro system suffered a shocking accident, two senior senators released a letter to their colleagues asking for $50 million in grants to improve rail safety technology.
June 23, 2009
Flashback: Does the Government Owe Transportation $21 Billion?
Welcome to Flashback, a regular feature at Streetsblog Capitol Hill looking back at past transportation policy debates that have the potential to impact the next congressional re-authorization -- no matter when it occurs.
June 23, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Ford, Nissan, Tesla will get $25 billion in loans today from the Obama administration for retooling factories to produce electric cars (Detroit Free Press) Nine killed in Washington Metro crash, the system’s worst accident in history (NYT) Lawmakers trek to Pittsburgh to talk up high-speed rail possibilities (Business Times) Construction and highway lobbies backing Oberstar’s … Continued
June 23, 2009
Oberstar’s Transportation Bill: The Early Word
Policy wonks across the capital are still poring over the 775-page bill released earlier today by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House transportation committee. But searching the legislation for the key topics being debated by transportation reformers reveals new details and raises new questions.
June 22, 2009
Oberstar’s Transportation Bill: Download it in Full
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar's (D-MN) new federal bill, which he previewed Wednesday despite pushback from the Obama administration, is officially out.
June 22, 2009
New Report Quantifies Benefits of Adding Smart Growth to Climate Bill
As a new non-partisan analysis of the House climate change bill -- proving that capping CO2 can save money for the poorest fifth of the nation -- continues to make waves on the Hill, it's worth noting that the legislation could yield even greater savings by focusing on reducing transportation-based emissions.
June 22, 2009
Today’s Headlines
Oberstar bashes the Obama administration anew: “They have not given transportation any thought. I have.” (NPR) DeFazio also keeps the heat on, calling LaHood a “good guy [who] knows nothing about transportation” (Oregonian) Freight and trucking lobbies decline to endorse Oberstar in his battle with the White House; truckers are concerned about his support for … Continued
June 22, 2009
A National Infrastructure Bank By Any Other Name …
The House transportation committee's new $450 billion bill provides for a national infrastructure bank intended to "maximize the limited resources available for our surface transportation needs," as the panel's early outline puts it.
June 19, 2009