Audit Finds U.S. DOT’s Transit Record-Keeping ‘Unreliable,’ ‘Inaccurate’
The disjointed state of "New Starts," the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) program to fund new rail and bus lines, is well-known
on the Hill -- in fact, House transportation committee chairman Jim
Oberstar (D-MN) recently quipped that it ought to be renamed "small
starts, low starts, and no starts."
August 6, 2009
Lobby Firm Behind Climate Forgeries Helped Kill Higher CAFE Standards
The Washington lobbying firm of Bonner & Associates is facing protests and a possible wire fraud probe after it was revealed
to have forged at least a dozen letters to Congress this summer that
claimed to represent local grassroots groups opposed to fighting
climate change.
August 5, 2009
Portland’s Transport Research Guru Headed to Obama Administration
The U.S. DOT is expected to announce today that it has tapped Robert Bertini,
a Portland State University professor who headed Oregon's state-wide
transport research effort, as the No. 2 at the Research and Innovative
Technology Administration -- the government's home for stats on all
things transportation.
August 5, 2009
AP: Obama Administration Won’t Release Full Data on ‘Cash for Clunkers’
A $2 billion renewal of "cash for clunkers" is now almost assured, with GOP senators easing up on their threat of a filibuster and one key Democrat remarking that "the statistics [for the program] are much better than everyone thought."
August 4, 2009
Following ‘Cash for Clunkers’ with ‘Riches for Rail’
(Photo: Washington Post) Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a senior member of the Senate Banking Committee, began his hearing on transit today by displaying the above cartoon by Pulitzer prize-winner Tom Toles. The senator’s message parallels Toles’: In a world where the auto industry can get $2 billion more in one week, what’s to be done about … Continued
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
Separating Fact from Fiction 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
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
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
McCain & Coburn: Let’s Make Roads Safer — by Slashing Safety Money
A report released today [PDF] by Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), timed to coincide with debate on a $7 billion highway trust fund fix, accuses their fellow lawmakers of “raiding” the fund for transportation “pet projects.” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) (Photo: City-Data.com) What wasteful projects have drawn such scorn from the duo? … Continued
July 30, 2009