Streetsblog Capitol Hill
Congress Reluctant to Shine Light on Transportation Earmarks
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is about to unveil a massive bill that will re-authorize federal transportation programs for the next six years. The bill will also include funding for a large number of "earmarks," the congressional pet projects that can include everything from bike trails to Bridges to Nowhere.
May 18, 2009
Obama’s Energy Secretary Reclaims His Bike, for a Day
Energy Secretary Steven Chu was dismayed about having to give up his bike-commuting habit in order to join the Obama Cabinet, but security concerns didn't stop him from participating in Friday's Bike to Work Day in the nation's capital. As the Wall Street Journal reports:
May 18, 2009
Will: Government Shouldn’t Interfere — Except to Benefit Big Highways
Conservative columnist George Will's angry screed against the Obama administration's transportation policy is worth digging into this morning -- not just to bring one's blood to a healthy boil, but also to provide a window on the lack of coherent opposition to expanding transit options and diminishing auto dependence.
May 18, 2009
Congressional Climate Bill Includes ‘Complete Streets’ But Not CLEAN TEA
Henry Waxman (D-CA), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has just struck a deal on his long-awaited climate change bill -- and though the agreement makes a number of concessions to polluters, it also takes a step forward towards popularizing the cause of "complete streets".
May 15, 2009
National Geographic Reveals the World’s Transit Superstars
National Geographic released the results of their annual Greendex consumer survey yesterday, ranking the environmental friendliness of housing, transportation and eating habits in nations around the world.
May 15, 2009
Congress Takes a First Step Towards Reshaping Transportation Policy
Could Washington's long, unhealthy love affair with the automobile be coming to an end? An encouraging sign of change came today from two powerful Democratic senators who released a proposal that sets out progressive goals for the upcoming federal transportation bill.
May 14, 2009
Who Cares About the Highway Trust Fund?
Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) is proposing today to make a small but crucial change in federal transit policy by requiring the nation's Highway Trust Fund to keep the interest money it accrues, rather than give it up for the government's general use.
May 14, 2009
Senators Hear From Obama’s Transit Chief-in-Waiting
One of the Capitol's sad, secret truths is that members of Congress often skip committee hearings on issues of vital importance to their states -- and today's confirmation session with Peter Rogoff, the president's nominee to lead the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), was no exception.
May 13, 2009