Streetsblog Capitol Hill
White House Unveils Transit Safety Bill to Cautious Praise on the Hill
Lawmakers on the House transportation committee today greeted details of the Obama administration's transit safety plan with approval, but some sounded skeptical notes about the costs of state compliance with new federal rules even as transit agencies cope with billions of dollars in maintenance and repair backlogs.
December 8, 2009
Wall Street Bailout Money For Infrastructure? Maybe Not
President Obama will deliver a speech on job creation this morning in Washington, but one tactic that has won over quite a few Democrats of late -- redirecting unspent money from last year's financial bailout to transportation -- may not be as possible as lawmakers had thought.
December 8, 2009
NY and CA: How Did They Spend Transportation Stimulus Money?
In an economic recovery report released today by New York Gov. David Paterson (D), the state broke down its plans for the estimated $31 billion it received as part of the Obama administration's first stimulus law.
December 7, 2009
EPA Makes it Official: Emissions Threaten Public Health
Acting under a Supreme Court mandate, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ruled today that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and contribute to the harmful environmental effects of climate change, paving the way for pollution regulations under the Clean Air Act.
December 7, 2009
Rendell: National Infrastructure Bank Could Move as Part of New Jobs Bill
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who is in Washington today continuing his push for a "front-loaded" federal transportation bill, told Streetsblog Capitol Hill that he sees momentum building for a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) to be created as part of the jobs bill now moving forward in Congress.
December 7, 2009
Senate Version of Wall Street Transportation Tax Coming Next Week
Rep. Pete DeFazio (D-OR) and Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) have officially unveiled their new bill taxing Wall Street transactions to pay for the next long-term transportation bill and other infrastructure needs, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) is poised to introduce the legislation next week in the upper chamber of Congress.
December 4, 2009
32 Rail Companies Commit to Expanding in U.S. Under High-Speed Rail Plan
As the Obama administration and Congress keep a close eye on jobless numbers and the shrinking American manufacturing base, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today that 32 rail companies that have promised to expand U.S. operations if they are chosen to help states build high-speed train networks.
December 4, 2009
Conservative Tea Party Movement Targets Florida Rail Plan
The conservative "tea party" movement, last seen complaining about the government-funded local transit system that they took during an anti-government march in Washington D.C, is veering back to form in Florida with an organized protest against the state's proposal for broad new investments in rail transit.
December 4, 2009
Obama’s Frank Talk About the ‘Tension’ of the ‘Shovel-Ready’ Concept
During today's White House jobs summit, President Obama stopped into an infrastructure session where 21 representatives from business, labor, state and local governments, social equity groups, and think tanks were sharing ideas on how to maximize the benefit of transportation spending.
December 3, 2009
Rendell & Lawmakers Aligning on 2-Year, Treasury-Funded Transport Bill
Senior Democrats in Congress are warming to a new two-year federal transportation bill as a vehicle for upwards of $100 billion in infrastructure spending aimed at job creation -- and a key player in building that momentum makes his home far from the Capitol.
December 3, 2009