Climate Change
Basics
Obama Administration Sends $100M in Stimulus Aid to 43 Transit Agencies
The U.S. DOT announced today that 43 local transit agencies from more than two dozen states would share the $100 million in competitive clean-transport grants included in this winter's $787 billion economic stimulus law.
September 21, 2009
Consensus on National Transport Goals Still Eludes Industry Pros
Policymakers and private-sector players seem to be struggling to agree on how -- and whether -- to set national performance targets for America's transportation system, as evidenced by today's debate at a high-profile infrastructure conference.
September 10, 2009
Dodd Stays at Helm of Transit Panel — But at a Cost to Climate Bill?
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) announced this afternoon that he would stay on at the helm of the Banking Committee, which also has jurisdiction over federal transit issues, rather than move over to lead the health panel previously led by his friend, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA).
September 9, 2009
Understanding the Importance of Land Use
Experience with case studies has made it clear to many urban planners and environmentalists that to maximize the benefits of transit investments, and to slow growth in traffic congestion, vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and carbon emissions, you have to focus on land use issues.
September 3, 2009
Florida Guv, a Fair-Weather Friend of Rail, Backs Out of Climate Fight
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), facing a challenge from the right as he stumps for a U.S. Senate seat, is shedding his already shaky environmental credibility as fast as he can.
September 2, 2009
A Last Word on ‘Cash for Clunkers’
One thing the government's CARS program -- a.k.a. "cash for clunkers" -- has clearly stimulated is commentary. For a policy involving a shade under $3 billion in federal spending, it has enjoyed no shortage of media coverage.
September 2, 2009
EPA to Declare CO2 a Pollutant, Release Final Fuel-Efficiency Rules
Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson made news on two fronts in a meeting with reporters yesterday: she is preparing to officially declare carbon dioxide a pollutant under the Clean Air Act and release the final version of the Obama administration's new fuel economy standard for autos.
September 1, 2009
Senate Climate Bill Delayed for Second Time
Underscoring the growing intensity of the message war over climate change, Senate environment committee chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) said in a joint statement this afternoon that they would delay the unveiling of their carbon-emissions legislation until late September:
August 31, 2009
EPA Chief Urges a More Urban Environmentalism to Fight Climate Change
With Congress returning to work next week after a month away from Washington, a national dialogue long dominated by health care is about to open to the long-awaited Senate debate on climate change.
August 31, 2009
Climate Change and Health Care: A Tale of Two Polls
As health care reform remains the No. 1 item on Washington's agenda, the brewing Senate battle over climate change legislation -- which has the potential to dramatically reshape transportation policy -- is remaining in the background.
August 19, 2009