Streetsblog Capitol Hill
How to Judge “Cash for Clunkers”
At this point, it's difficult to know exactly what the government's "cash for clunkers" program is supposed to accomplish.
August 4, 2009
LaHood to Convene Texting-While-Driving Summit
Ray LaHood will announce today that his Department of Transportation plans to convene a summit next month for safety officials, lawmakers, academics, and law enforcement representatives to examine the risks of texting while driving.
August 4, 2009
Letting Highway Trust Fund Earn Interest: How Much Would it Help?
The Senate released a proposed $26.8 billion patch to the nation's highway trust fund two weeks ago that included a long-sought priority of transportation policy-makers: restoring the fund's ability to keep the interest it accrues on unspent balances.
August 3, 2009
Separating Myth from Fact on “Cash for Clunkers”
As debate rages on in the capital over whether to keep assisting the auto industry by giving out more "cash for clunkers" rebates, two assertions are becoming commonplace: the program is helping diminish U.S. oil consumption, and the program is not paid for with new money.
August 3, 2009
How — and When — Can D.C. Help Local Transport Reform Happen?
In a new op-ed for Citiwire, former Indianapolis mayor and GOP member of Congress Bill Hudnut suggests six ways that Washington can train the nation's 350-plus metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) into tools for smart and environmentally sound transportation policymaking.
August 3, 2009
Bailout Recipient Citigroup Gets Contract to Run ‘Cash for Clunkers’
As the Senate gears up for debate this week on approving $2 billion more in "cash for clunkers" new-car rebates, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has vowed to work with the program's main private contractor -- Citigroup -- to iron out any kinks in the system that auto dealers use to apply for taxpayer-subsidized reimbursements.
August 3, 2009
Road Stimulus Money: Half Spent on Repaving, 17% on Widening
The $787 billion economic stimulus law provided $27 billion for roads and bridges. But is the money going to shore up aging infrastructure or to add new highway lanes?
July 31, 2009
What Wasn’t in This Week’s Highway Trust Fund Patch
Transportation's make-or-break week in Washington has ended with a funding face-off postponed until fall, thanks to Senate passage of a short-term, $7 billion rescue for the nation's highway trust fund.
July 31, 2009
House Quickly Sends $2 Billion More to ‘Cash for Clunkers’
The "cash for clunkers" rebate program, which promises new auto buyers up to $4,500 for fuel-efficiency upgrades as small as 2 miles per gallon, is back to life after burning through $1 billion in taxpayer cash.
July 31, 2009
‘Cash for Clunkers’ Out of Cash — But Not Quite Finished
The U.S. DOT may have notified car dealers last night that its watered-down "cash for clunkers" plan was already out of cash, but that doesn't mean the rebates are on their last legs. With the White House vowing to protect the program, Congress soon could have to decide whether to keep the good times rolling for auto companies.
July 31, 2009