Boehner Calls Obama’s Bluff on Infrastructure (But Who Will Call Boehner’s?)
Did you notice the big white beard and jolly red cheeks on President Obama at the State of the Union the other night? He's the new Santa Claus, giving out gifts the government can't afford to greedy little kids everywhere.
February 15, 2013
Sen. Frank Lautenberg, Rail Promoter, Announces Retirement
Yesterday afternoon, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, announced that Frank Lautenberg would return as chair of the committee's Surface Transportation, & Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, & Security Subcommittee.
February 14, 2013
Ray LaHood: “Sitting on the Sidelines Doesn’t Accomplish Anything”
What follows is the second installment of an exit interview I conducted with departing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Tuesday. In the first installment, he talked about what he's proudest of, why he decided to leave, and why it's important to fund bike/ped improvements with federal dollars. I also gave him one last chance to duck a question about how to increase revenues. We'll run the third part tomorrow.
February 14, 2013
The Ray LaHood Exit Interview
I had the chance to sit down with Ray LaHood yesterday morning before he spoke to the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association. Our conversation covered a wide range of topics, looking back on his four years at the helm of the U.S. Department of Transportation. We'll publish the interview in three installments over the next few days. Here's the first part.
February 13, 2013
Mica Won’t Let His Grudge Against Amtrak Die, Revives Privatization Scheme
Rep. John Mica (R-FL) no longer chairs the House Transportation Committee, but that doesn’t mean he’s eased up on his crusade against Amtrak. Calling the company a “Soviet style monopoly,” Mica used his afternoon address to the U.S. High Speed Rail Association to announce his plan to revive his despised and defeated measure to privatize parts of Amtrak.
February 13, 2013
President Obama Proposes a “Fix-It-First” Program For Roads
In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama launched a “Fix-It-First” program to repair aging infrastructure and put people to work.
February 13, 2013
McClatchy Muckrakers Expose Seedy Underbelly of the Highway Bonanza
The work of a sustainable transportation reporter can be a lonely lot. But it’s a lot less lonely now that two McClatchy reporters, Curtis Tate and Greg Gordon, have taken up the mantle of exposing wasteful road expansion.
February 12, 2013
Today’s Headlines
Transportation Issues Daily Not Expecting Much Transpo Talk at Tonight’s State of the Union Unions Hope Obama Will Push For Infrastructure Investment (The Hill) … And WaPo Is Pretty Sure He Will — But How Will Republicans Respond? Robert Reich Makes the Case For an Investment Budget and Wise Infrastructure Spending Utah Wants to Recalibrate Gas Tax … Continued
February 12, 2013
Cycling Advocates to President: We’d Like Another Ray LaHood, Please
Next month, outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will speak at the National Bike Summit -- he never misses one -- and I'll bet the standing ovation lasts 10 minutes. His support for biking and walking has been unprecedented at U.S. DOT. Now cyclists are worrying about who could replace him, and whether that person will bring the same zeal for livability and sustainable transportation.
February 11, 2013
Today’s Headlines
Obama to Push For Infrastructure Money in State of the Union (WaPo) Jennifer Granholm Dismisses Talk of DOT Nomination (The Hill) Breitbart Goes After DOT Secretary Frontrunner Deborah Hersman For Conflict of Interest PA Gov. Corbett Finally Announces Transpo Funding Plan, Gas Tax Hike (WETM) Sports Teams Stranded by Nemo Turn to Train Travel to Get … Continued
February 11, 2013