New Analysis: 59% of Road Stimulus Went to Repair, 33% to New Capacity
In
the first year of the Obama administration's economic stimulus law, 59
percent of its $27 billion in transportation formula funds went to
projects that preserve existing roads, while 33 percent was used to
build new pavement, according to an analysis by the advocacy group Smart
Growth America (SGA).
May 4, 2010
Obama Administration to Award $775M for Bus Transit Upgrades
The Obama administration plans to award $775 million in bus transit
grants this summer, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Peter
Rogoff announced yesterday during a transit industry conference
in Ohio.
May 3, 2010
GAO: Economic Recovery Benefits of ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Are ‘Uncertain’
"Cash
for clunkers," the White House's much-touted program encouraging
trade-ins for more fuel-efficient autos, had an "uncertain" impact on
economic recovery, according to a new audit from the independent
Government Accountability Office (GAO) -- largely because it remains
unclear how many of the car sales it spurred would have occurred without
taxpayer subsidies.
April 30, 2010
Dem and GOP Senators Seek More Long-Term Rail Vision From Obama Aides
The senior Democratic and Republican senators in charge of setting
annual transportation spending levels today urged the leader of the
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a more comprehensive
plan for using the White House's high-speed
rail program to spur the development of viable U.S. train networks.
April 29, 2010
Is the ‘Road Gang’ Losing Power in Washington?
That is the thesis posited in a
new investigation from the Center for Public Integrity, which sent a
reporter to sprawl-saturated South Florida to examine how much of a
return the transportation construction industry is getting on its
multi-million-dollar contributions to congressional campaigns.
April 29, 2010
On Emissions, CA Lawmaker Questions Whether CA Should Lead the Way
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson today told
House members that she would soon begin work on new auto fuel-efficiency
rules for the year 2017 and beyond, responding
to calls from carmakers searching for certainty -- and warily
eyeing the new fuel standards being crafted in California.
April 28, 2010
Federal Transit Security Inspections: A Once-Every-Three Years Affair
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is linked most closely in the popular consciousness with aviation security, but its mandate also extends to protecting rail and transit systems — a job that needs to get more attention from the agency, according to senior senators from both parties. Security on New York City’s subway, above, was boosted … Continued
April 27, 2010
U.S. DOT Releases Rules for ‘TIGER II’ Grants, Bringing HUD on Board
The U.S. DOT today released its first round of guidance for the
so-called "TIGER II" program, a $600 million pot of competitive
transportation grants considered a quasi-sequel to the popular $1.5
billion merit-based
fund included in last year's stimulus law.
April 26, 2010