Today’s Headlines

  • The Senate environment committee was once known as a hotbed of bipartisan congeniality … though it can still look that way, judging from this year’s transportation debate (ClimateWire)
  • The construction industry promotes the role it can play in economic recovery effort (Portfolio)
  • Trucking industry accuses the New York Times of ill treatment after a critical editorial on Anne Ferro, the trucking lobbyist nominated to regulate truck safety, and a story on texting behind the wheel (Fleet Owner)
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, less than helpful on transportation reform despite its support for a gas tax hike, is shedding members over its opposition to congressional action on climate change (NYT)
  • GOP pundit John Feehery calls Transportation Secretary LaHood "the only real PR bright spot" for the White House (The Hill)
  • Chicago transit agency gets a new chief (Sun-Times)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Freight Panel Chair Says House Will “Balance Out” Transportation Modes

By Stephen Miller |
This article was adapted from an earlier report on Streetsblog NYC. A Congressional road show on freight arrived in New York last Friday afternoon, bringing together air, trucking, and rail industry representatives to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s freight panel. While the House is holding hearings like this one, U.S. DOT is working toward […]

Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor |
(Photo: AP/HuffPost) A photo gallery of 9 world-class subways, including Tokyo’s, pictured above (HuffPost) An inside look at transit tunnel security in the Big Apple (AP) Toyota could face a second fine from U.S. DOT for its response to defective gas pedals (The Hill Blog) The hidden crisis of America’s decaying "soft infrastructure," and what […]

Today’s Headlines

By Elana Schor |
Transportation Secretary LaHood and Vice President Biden promote the economic stimulus’ infrastructure spending — on bridge repairs and massive highway expansions (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Pitch) Congress slips $1 billion for a weak "cash for clunkers" plan into its $105 billion war spending bill (Detroit News) With the timeline for a federal transpo bill slipping, advocates […]

Trump Picks Road Industry Lobbyist to Lead Transportation Transition

By Angie Schmitt |
So much for “draining the swamp.” Under Donald Trump, it looks like the White House and Congress will be more infested with lobbyists than ever. In a story about the lobbying bonanza that will accompany unified GOP control of Washington, the New York Times reports that Trump has picked Martin Whitmer to head his “transportation and infrastructure” […]

Oberstar Stands Firm on Transportation Bill, Gets Industry Backup

By Elana Schor |
In case any doubts remained about his willingness to challenge the White House and the Senate on prompt passage of a long-term infrastructure bill, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar’s (D-MN) op-ed in the Politico this morning should clear them up: House transport committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: Capitol Chatter) Unfortunately, the administration and […]

Will the Nation’s First Strategic Freight Plan be Multi-Modal?

By Angie Schmitt |
Congress is joining U.S. DOT in committing more resources to a national freight plan, a more strategic way of moving goods than the current haphazard and fragmented current approach. As mandated by MAP-21, U.S. DOT is working on a strategic plan for a nationwide freight network, and last month, Congress kicked off its contribution, holding […]