Congress Approves Repayment for U.S. DOT Workers Furloughed by Bunning
After a six-week delay, Congress last night agreed to repay U.S. DOT employees for the two days of work they missed when Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) filibustered an extension of the 2005 transportation law, forcing a temporary shutdown of much of the federal agency’s business. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (Photo: CNN) The repayment language was … Continued
April 16, 2010
‘Gas Tax’ Sounding Like a Four-Letter Word to the White House and Senate
Transportation groups of all shapes and sizes have been
concerned that the Senate's forthcoming climate bill could set back
the prospects for a federal transportation measure by imposing extra
carbon fees on Big Oil -- which would then be passed on to
customers at the pump, effectively increasing the gas tax for purposes
other than funding new infrastructure projects.
April 16, 2010
Senate GOP Continues to Resist Sanctions-Based Distracted Driving Rules
The Senate environment committee's senior Republican yesterday joined
his counterpart on the commerce panel in criticizing legislation
that would withhold federal highway funding from states that fail to
crack down on distracted driving, casting doubt on Congress' ability to
approve any punitive approach to reining in texting and cell phone use
by drivers.
April 15, 2010
The Gas Tax: A Trip Back in Legislative Time …
As Tax Day prompts a rush of political
rallies and media
coverage, it's worth looking back at the history of the federal
levy that helps pay for transportation projects: the gas tax.
April 15, 2010
Feds’ Record on Transport Public-Private Partnerships Prompts Skepticism
When it comes to creative transportation financing in an age of rising
red ink, public-private partnerships (PPPs) are one of the most
popular ideas on the table in Washington. Rail planners in Denver
and Dallas are
exploring the strategy to speed progress on new lines, and the
White House's proposed $4 billion infrastructure
fund could provide seed money for PPPs all over the country.
April 15, 2010
Two Cities Exploring ‘Innovative Transport Financing’ For New Rail Lines
The House transportation committee is holding a hearing today on “innovative financing” for infrastructure projects — a topic near and dear to lawmakers who continue to hunt for a politically feasible, sustainable strategy for funding a new six-year federal transport bill. Riders in Dallas, where a public-private partnership could be the ticket to a new … Continued
April 14, 2010
Gillibrand Offers $1B Plan Backing Up White House on Local Food Outlets
Her approval rating on
the rise amid a difficult election battle, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-NY) joined the president's campaign against childhood obesity this
week by proposing $1 billion in loans and grants to build healthier
neighborhood grocery stores and farmers' markets.
April 14, 2010
New Report Maps Link Between Overseas Transit Attacks and Domestic Risk
Transit networks around the world beefed
up security measures in the wake of last month's fatal bombing of a
Moscow subway car, but the relevance of circumstances and tactics used
in overseas terrorist attacks to U.S. rail and bus security remains
unclear, according to a new report partly funded by the U.S. DOT.
April 13, 2010
Planner Calls For ‘Fight’ Against High-Speed Rail Sharing Track With Freight
As federal and local officials plot out the future of U.S. high-speed
rail, a prominent speaker at this week's American Planning Association
conference is urging fellow urban planners to "fight" the prospect of
high-speed rail sharing roadbed with freight lines -- a significant
dilemma for Amtrak, which must split an
estimated 70 percent of its track with freight.
April 13, 2010
Transport Contractors Urge White House to Revamp Enviro Review Rules
The trade group representing private-sector transportation contractors
is urging the Obama administration to change the way environmental
reviews are conducted for infrastructure projects, proposing to favor
"categorical exclusions" (CEs) from federal review rules over the
lengthier process of measuring the environmental impact of construction
work.
April 12, 2010