Today’s Headlines

  • Federal highway safety regulators knew that cell phone use while driving — even on a hands-free device — was a massive safety risk, but they hid it from Congress (NYT)
  • LaHood’s stimulus tour stops in Sarasota, Florida (Herald-Trib)
  • Don’t fret, New Yorkers: The $8 billion Hudson transit tunnel is on track for federal money whether or not Congress approves a transport bill this year (NJ.com)
  • Washington is approving a lot of road stimulus projects, but that doesn’t mean shovels are in the ground (LAT)
  • House GOPers want to force the White House to release more details on its dealings with the domestic auto industry (CQ)

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Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor |
As Congress works on its new, likely infrastructure-tinged jobs bill, it’s avoiding the "S" word (The Hill) Speaking of stimulus, federal dollars aren’t making much of an economic splash in California — yet (C.C. Times) California’s senators join Schwarzenegger for a White House letter on high-speed rail (SFGate Blog) Florida edges closer to filling its […]

White House Backs $50B For ‘Merit-Based Infrastructure Investment’

By Elana Schor |
President Obama today threw his weight behind significant new transportation spending as part of a broad jobs bill taking shape in Congress, with $50 billion slated for transit, roads, bridges, and ports and the administration endorsing "merit-based infrastructure investment that leverages federal dollars." President Obama gave a high-profile jobs speech today. (Photo: NYT) During his […]

The Big Question: What is the Purpose of Federal Transportation Spending?

By Elana Schor |
With the White House’s agenda crowded by high-profile debates that remain unresolved after lengthy talks with Congress — think health care, financial regulation, even unemployment benefits — only a handful of lawmakers are publicly engaging with the dominant issues surrounding the next long-term federal transportation bill. (Photo: UVA) Within that group of lawmakers, however, there […]

Oberstar Stays Optimistic About New Transport Bill in 2010

By Elana Schor |
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 […]

House and Senate Agree on $2.5B for High-Speed Rail — And More

By Elana Schor |
After lengthy negotiations, the House and Senate agreed last night on a massive "omnibus" spending bill [PDF] that includes $2.5 billion for high-speed rail — a compromise between the two chambers — as well as $150 million for the Obama administration’s sustainable communities effort and $150 million for the Washington D.C. Metro system. Rep. John […]