Lawmakers Push to Fund Transit Service During Economic Emergencies
In October, Reps. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Steve LaTourette (R-OH) introduced a bill to allow transit agencies to use federal money to hire bus drivers and pay other operating expenses.
December 19, 2011
NTSB: States Should Ban Hands-Free Calls While Driving
In Missouri last year, a 19-year-old driving a pickup at 55 mph sent or received 11 texts in the 11 minutes immediately before he caused a deadly crash.
December 15, 2011
TIGER III News Begins to Leak — Chicago Bike-Share Among the Winners
U.S. DOT is officially announcing the winners of the third round of TIGER grants tomorrow, but they give the news to members of Congress first so those members can brag about all the bacon they bring home. See below for a list of the grants we know about so far.
December 14, 2011
Transit’s Not Bleeding the Taxpayer Dry — Roads Are
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Roads don’t pay for themselves.
December 12, 2011
Another GOP Transportation Proposal That’s Really All About Oil Drilling
Democrats in the Senate Finance Committee have been working to find $12 billion to fund the transportation bill for the next two years. All their proposals have met with rejection from the committee’s Republicans. Here’s why: The Republicans have been holding out for a funding mix that would include their favorite Christmas presents — oil drilling and attacks on conservation.
December 9, 2011
Combating the Myth That Complete Streets Are Too Expensive
Live in a town where bicyclists and pedestrians are personas non grata and buses get stuck in automobile congestion? Do you put on your walking boots only to find that your city’s street design conveys the message, “These roads were made for driving?” It’s time for a complete streets upgrade, then – but often, when concerned citizens propose accommodating other road users on the streets, local officials tell them it’s just too expensive.
December 8, 2011
Was Ridesharing Ignored in the Senate Transportation Bill?
Last week, the Ridesharing Institute sent out its first press release. Based in New Zealand (at least, that’s where the Executive Director is, though the group did recently incorporate in Delaware), the organization doesn’t yet have a website, though it does have a Facebook page and a wiki. As its first foray into U.S. politics, the Institute took on the Senate transportation bill, MAP-21. “Where is ridesharing in the bill?” the institute wondered.
December 7, 2011
LaHood Defends High-Speed Rail Program At House Hearing
It’s Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s birthday, and he’s spending it testifying before the House Transportation Committee. The hearing is on “Mistakes & Lessons Learned” from the high-speed rail program, but — no surprise here — LaHood and House Republicans have differing ideas about what “mistakes” have been made.
December 6, 2011
Is Transpo Funding Fundamentally a PR Problem? Five Ex-DOT Chiefs Discuss
How can you convince Americans that transportation is important enough to invest in?
December 2, 2011
Mapped: How Federal Funding Fails to Match Demand for Transit in the U.S.
How much is New York’s Second Avenue Subway estimated to cost? What transit lines really make up LA’s ambitious 30/10 initiative? Besides the silver line to Dulles Airport, which may or may not ever be completed, what other changes are projected for DC’s metro system? And what’s all this construction in Fort Worth?
November 29, 2011