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Streetsblog LA
In New Orleans, LaHood $280 Million in Bus and Streetcar Grants
During a visit to New Orleans, where city planners are seeking
nearly $100 million in federal stimulus money for three new streetcar
lines, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced plans to
award $280 million in grants for streetcar and bus networks.
December 2, 2009
LaHood to Congress: It’s Time to Talk About a Gas Tax Increase
As Congress maneuvers to end the political impasse over the next
long-term national transportation bill, lawmakers going to have to
debate an increase in the federal gas tax, Transportation Secretary Ray
LaHood said today.
November 30, 2009
State Legislative Committees Hold Trio of Hearings Downtown
So, we are finally past that near relentless series of community meetings for corridors, bullet trains, etc. of the past few months. But don't think you can catch your breathe! We are about to have three legislative hearings on transportation topics, all being held at the Metro Board Room:
November 30, 2009
Consumer Group: White House Left Fuel-Efficiency Savings on the Table
The Obama administration’s proposal to raise auto fuel-efficiency (CAFE) standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 could have gone even further in order to reap the maximum environmental and economic benefits of cleaner cars, according to a new analysis [PDF] released today by the Consumer Federation of America. In his analysis, Consumer Federation research … Continued
November 25, 2009
New York’s Game Changer, Janette Sadik-Khan, Will Visit L.A. This March
Occidental College's UEPI Blog announced earlier this morning that this year's keynote speaker for the Bike Summit will be none other than New York City's Livable Streets Hero Janette Sadik-Khan. For those of you that have never read the original Streetsblog or any of my New York-related stories; Sadik-Khan rose to be Commissioner of NYCDOT and immediately changed the department's goals from car-culture defenders to Portland-esque urban planners.
November 16, 2009
‘The Concrete is Cracking’: Front-Loaded New Transport Bill Gains Steam
With the U.S. unemployment rate hitting 10.2 percent today, its highest level in 26 years, a palpable shift is occurring on Capitol Hill. House transportation chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: STLToday) For weeks, we’ve heard senior Democrats and the transit industry make the case for more transportation spending as a potent job creator, but the … Continued
November 6, 2009
Streetfilm: Earl Blumenauer Visits New York
"The tide is turning," Transportation Alternatives Paul White exclaims towards the end of this most recent Streetfilm, "In fact, it's already turned."
November 3, 2009
Villaraigosa Announces Coalition to Speed Up Measure R Transit Construction
At a meeting of business leaders earlier today, Mayor Villaraigosa officially announced his plan, previewed earlier today in the Times, to aggressively pursue private and federal funds to complete all rail projects included in Measure R within ten years. Villaraigosa has often talked about completing his favorite project, the Subway to the Sea.
October 30, 2009
Senior Dems Release New Distracted Driving Bill as LaHood Testifies
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today unveiled his plan to take an incentive-based approach to distracted driving as Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified on the Obama administration's campaign to end the use of electronic devices behind the wheel.
October 29, 2009
Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest
Halfway through this afternoon's rally
in support of a new federal transportation bill, there came an
accidental but telling moment. A group of tourists, attracted by the
hundreds of orange flags planted in the National Mall for the rally,
walked through the event and whispered questions to attendees about its
purpose. Once their curiosity was sated, the group lost interest and
ambled away.
October 28, 2009