National Transportation Funding Is Ailing — Is Michigan ‘Patient Zero’?
In a sight that could become more commonplace by year's end, the state of Michigan is being forced to cancel $740 million in road and bridge repairs after its gas tax revenues fell short of the level required to secure matching funds from the federal government.
June 10, 2009
When Will Oberstar’s Transportation Bill Drop? Place Your Bets Now
At first it was slated to emerge by June 1. Then its release was said to slip to this week. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) now plans to release his version of the six-year federal transportation bill by the end of the month, with a full House vote unlikely to come before Congress leaves for its annual August recess.
June 10, 2009
Today’s Headlines
House passes weak “cash for clunkers” bill by a comfortable margin (CQ) Obama nominates Deborah Hersman, presently a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, to be the next chairman (Boston Globe) American Public Transportation Association (APTA) starts “Dump the Pump” campaign (CSP Daily News) Mag-lev train boosters in Las Vegas press on despite Senate … Continued
June 10, 2009
House Boosts Transpo and Housing Spending Levels By 25%
The House Appropriations Committee has just released its "302(b)s," the allocations that determine how much money can be spent by each of the dozen appropriations panels that supervise federal agency budgets.
June 9, 2009
Lawmakers Push For Federal Help With Transit Operating: Read the Letter
The House and Senate are racing to reach agreement on a $90 billion bill to keep the Iraq and Afghanistan wars funded, but the legislation also could mark a pivotal victory for transit.
June 9, 2009
GOP-ers and Dems Agree: Feds Need to Get Their Transpo Act Together
Reports on federal transportation policy -- like campaign fundraisers and lobbying groups -- seem to proliferate in Washington, most of them drawing a few days' worth of news coverage before fading from memory. (Remember the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission and the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission?)
June 9, 2009
Welcome to Streetsblog Capitol Hill
When was the last time you read a good article on transportation policy-making in Washington?
June 9, 2009
House to Vote This Week on Weak ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Plan
The House is poised this week to take up the so-called "cash for clunkers" bill, which aims to boost the slumping U.S. auto market by giving out tax credits of $3,500 and up to anyone who trades in a gas-guzzling car for a more efficient model.
June 8, 2009
House GOP Urges Elimination of (GOP-Backed) Kid Safety Program
House Republicans aren't known for their well-reasoned spending proposals lately, but they took it to a new level today by sending President Obama a $375 billion budget-cutting plan that slices $1 billion from bicycle and pedestrian programs.
June 4, 2009
LaHood Vows to Avert Federal Transpo Bankruptcy and Pay For It
The Obama administration is working on a plan to fill the shortfall in the nation's highway trust fund by August without adding to the federal deficit, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Congress today.
June 4, 2009