Today’s Headlines

  • European ash cloud prompting push for better rail systems (Reuters)
  • $48B in transport funding now available to states, about a month after Congress officially extended the 2005 transportation law until next year (DOT Press)
  • Conservatives blast Oberstar’s new proposal to strengthen oversight of public drinking water supply (ATR Press, Daily Caller)
  • General Motors repays $4.7B in outstanding bailout loans to the Treasury five years ahead of schedule (Reuters)
  • Recovery schmecovery: many urban areas still shedding jobs (MSNBC)
  • Illinois transit officials join project planning for future toll roads (Sun-Times)
  • San Francisco explores street paving technology that aids in water conservation (Streetsblog SF)
  • Salt Lake City unveils new "complete streets" redesign plan (SL Tribune)

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

Flashback: Does the Government Owe Transportation $21 Billion?

By Elana Schor |
Welcome to Flashback, a regular feature at Streetsblog Capitol Hill looking back at past transportation policy debates that have the potential to impact the next congressional re-authorization — no matter when it occurs. For today’s installment, let’s start with an interesting comment that Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-MN), chairman of the House transportation committee, made earlier […]

James Oberstar on the Future of U.S. Transportation Funding

By Ben Fried |
Minnesota Representative James Oberstar is perhaps the strongest advocate for transit on Capitol Hill. In a recent Q&A with the Kansas City Star, he shared his thoughts on how the financial crisis will affect federal investments in transportation: Transit currently receives about 20 percent of federal surface transportation funding.  Next year’s surface transportation authorization will […]

Lawmakers Pitch Transport Funding Ideas, From VMT to Freight Taxes

By Elana Schor |
Leaders of the House transportation committee, doggedly pursuing a six-year, $450 billion infrastructure bill this year, pressed their case this morning before Ways and Means Committee colleagues who must approve a new funding mechanism for their massive legislation. On transport funding, a question looms: Whither Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY)? (Photo: BusinessWeek) […]

LaHood Vows to Avert Federal Transpo Bankruptcy and Pay For It

By Elana Schor |
The Obama administration is working on a plan to fill the shortfall in the nation’s highway trust fund by August without adding to the federal deficit, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Congress today. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (Photo: HillBuzz) The circumstances behind the trust fund’s financial troubles are well-known: a nationwide decline in driving coupled […]

Senate Agrees on $26.8 Billion Highway Trust Fund Rescue

By Elana Schor |
The Senate took a major step forward last night in its battle with the House over transportation funding, releasing a plan to give $26.8 billion to the dwindling highway trust fund and — perhaps most importantly, for the long term — to restore the fund’s ability to keep the interest it earns. Senate Finance Committee […]