Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor
Jun 22, 2009

Oberstar bashes the Obama administration anew: "They have not given transportation any thought. I have." (NPR)

DeFazio also keeps the heat on, calling LaHood a "good guy [who] knows nothing about transportation" (Oregonian)

Freight and trucking lobbies decline to endorse Oberstar in his battle with the White House; truckers are concerned about his support for congestion pricing (JOC)

House transportation bill projects that one major company loses $2 million for every one mile-per-hour shipping slowdown due to congestion (Dallas Morning News)

Shocker: Randal O’Toole sees House transportation proposal as reason to privatize highways and transit (Cato @ Liberty)

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Oberstar’s New Transportation Bill: Get The Highlights

By Elana Schor | Jun 18, 2009

Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), the House transportation committee chairman is set to brief reporters this afternoon on his $450 billion, six-year federal transportation bill — which he plans to pursue regardless of the Obama administration’s push for an 18-month extension of existing law. House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) has a brewing battle with […]

Senate Signals 6-Month Delay for Transport Bill — But Will the House Agree?

By Elana Schor | Oct 23, 2009

The Senate is leaning towards abandoning the Obama administration’s push for an 18-month delay of the next long-term transportation bill and now plans to pursue a six-month extension of existing federal infrastructure law, according to a report from CQ this afternoon: Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: Capitol Chatter) An industry official said the senators realized […]

Transportation Policy Becomes the Proverbial Tree Falling in the Forest

By Elana Schor | Oct 28, 2009

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 […]

Oberstar Stays Optimistic About New Transport Bill in 2010

By Elana Schor | Mar 26, 2010

House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) today renewed his call for action on a new federal infrastructure bill before year’s end, using a hearing on the Obama administration’s stimulus law to urge passage of long-term legislation as well as a second round of short-term investment in roads, bridges, and rail. House transport committee chairman […]

Remembering Jim Oberstar, Architect of Federal Bike Funding Programs

By Tanya Snyder | May 5, 2014

Rep. Jim Oberstar died peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning at the age of 79. He represented Minnesota’s 8th Congressional district for 18 terms, from 1975 to 2011. Oberstar served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee the entire time, and as its chair for the last four years. He was known for his passion for […]

Postcards From Our National Transportation Funding Meltdown

By Adam Voiland | Jul 15, 2010

At an event billed as a “town hall” held at USDOT headquarters yesterday, top department officials answered questions about the future of the nation’s road, rail, bus, and bike networks — even as the prospects of passing a comprehensive transportation reauthorization bill anytime this year appear as dim as ever. Already, reauthorization of the transportation […]