Today’s Headlines

  • Obama administration officials put the kibosh on plans to use stimulus money on a pedestrian footbridge to the New England Patriots football stadium (AP)
  • Do lists of "shovel-ready" projects translate into quick transportation job creation? Not in the Michigan town of Jackson (Citizen-Patriot)
  • How can the Obama administration make sure local (especially urban) governments get a voice in the state-centric economic recovery effort? General revenue sharing, not seen since Nixon’s era, may be the answer (TNR’s The Avenue)
  • Florida’s high-speed and commuter rail investment bill clears the state House but faces steep challenges in the state Senate (AP)
  • Dallas and San Diego win $14 million in federal money for intelligent transportation systems that aim to manage congestion and provide real-time transit data (DOT Press)
  • Massachusetts to use $23 million in stimulus money and $11 million in bond revenue to build new parking garage near transit station (AP)
  • Spokane, Washington, joins the list of cities considering a new streetcar system (AP)

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Well That Was Quick: Obama Disavows Mileage Fee Proposal

By Tanya Snyder |
The Hill is reporting that the Obama administration has already sworn off a move toward a vehicle-miles-traveled fee. We just reported that an undated draft of the administration transportation proposal included the creation of an office to study the feasibility of implementing such a system to replace the traditional fuel tax. The Hill’s Keith Laing […]

Inside Obama’s Transpo Budget: “Historic Increase” in Transit Funding

By Angie Schmitt |
A few more details about the Obama administration’s proposal for a new transportation bill surfaced today when the president unveiled his 2015 budget proposal. The topline numbers came out last week and look good for transit, biking, and walkability. The White House’s four-year, $302 billion surface transportation plan proposes an “historic increase” in transit funding — […]

Obama Administration Sends Transportation Bill to Congress

By Tanya Snyder |
The Obama administration today sent Congress its proposal for a multi-year transportation bill, which it’s calling the GROW AMERICA Act. The bill, based on the budget proposal President Obama released two months ago, relies on corporate tax reform to raise $87 billion to fill the hole in the Highway Trust Fund. The four-year bill would cost $302 billion. […]

SOTU: Is Obama Retreating on Infrastructure?

By Angie Schmitt |
Being an election year, last night’s State of the Union Address carried an extra bit of gravity, at least according to the favored media storyline. Transportation observers watched this speech with interest, because in past years Obama has made infrastructure spending a centerpiece. This year however, those straining their ears for word of some dynamic […]