Rail Expert Reutter: CA and FL Deserve More HSR Funding
Mark Reutter, author of the industrial tome Making Steel and a veteran editor of Railroad History, can safely be called an expert on the train industry. And in a new memo for the Progressive Policy Institute, he is issuing a warning to the Obama administration on its high-profile push for high-speed rail.
February 18, 2010
Road and Transit Groups Join Boxer to Push for Senate Jobs Bill
Representatives from Washington's road and transit lobbies joined
Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today to
call for swift passage of job-creation legislation that is slated for a
vote in the upper chamber of Congress on Monday.
February 17, 2010
Freight Rail, Streetcars Are Tops in Stimulus’ TIGER Chase
The Obama administration today announced the winners of $1.5 billion
stimulus in highly competitive stimulus grants under the program known
as Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER.
Southeastern and midwestern freight rail projects were the day's
biggest winners, with urban streetcar projects also making a big splash.
February 17, 2010
What’s Wrong With America’s Ambivalence About Crumbling Infrastructure?
In today's New York Times, Bob Herbert celebrates the cause of
infrastructure maintenance -- a less exciting proposition for
politicians than cutting the ribbon at new transportation projects, but
in many ways more vital to economic growth.
February 16, 2010
White House Economic Report Touts TIGER, High-Speed Rail, Transit
The White House Council of Economic Advisers' first annual report under President Obama made headlines
today for its gloomy job-creation outlook, but tucked inside its 462
pages is a tangible reflection of a changed outlook on transportation
policy under the new administration.
February 12, 2010
Bipartisan Senate Jobs Bill Has Highway Trust Fund Rescue But No TIGER
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and his panel’s senior Republican, Chuck Grassley (IA), today offered a job-creation proposal designed to garner enough GOP votes to overcome an anticipated filibuster. Senate Finance Committee chief Max Baucus (D-MT), at left, with GOP ally Chuck Grassley (IA) at right. (Photo: Baucus Press) The measure’s transportation provisions … Continued
February 11, 2010
AASHTO Stimulus Report Omits Jobs Data Comparing Transit With Roads
The
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO), the trade group representing state DOTs in Washington,
yesterday unveiled a website
and report billed as a one-year "progress report" on the White House's
$34.3 billion in formula-based transportation stimulus spending.
February 11, 2010
The Gas Tax Versus a VMT Tax: Is ‘All of the Above’ an Option?
(Chart: Oregon DOT) The prospect of an eventual move away from the gas tax and towards a fee on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) has sparked consternation from some well-known bloggers this week, with Matt Yglesias asserting that “a VMT [tax] has no advantages whatsoever over higher gasoline taxes” and Andrew Samwick suggesting that declining fuel … Continued
February 10, 2010
First Lady Launches Childhood Obesity Push With Nod to Biking & Walking
First Lady Michelle Obama took to the mikes this afternoon to kick
off a national campaign to combat childhood obesity, emphasizing new
initiatives to promote biking and walking alongside a strong focus on
healthier food options in schools.
February 10, 2010
US PIRG: How About High Speed Rail for Every Major City
Now that the Obama administration has
awarded $8 billion in high-speed rail grants to more than two dozen
states, with $2.5 billion more coming soon, why not keep thinking big
when it comes to bullet-train expansion?
February 9, 2010