Government Organizations
Basics
Celebrate Earth Day the FTA Way, With a Map of Sustainable Transpo Projects
The Federal Transit Administration has launched a new website for Earth Day (this Sunday), showcasing the agency's efforts for livability and clean energy. It's all good Earth Day reading, but what stands out is this useful map of sustainable transportation projects.
April 20, 2012
House Defies Veto Threat, Passes Drill-And-Drive Extension
In a brazen but expected display of defiance -- both of the President and of bipartisan efforts in the Senate -- the House voted today to extend transportation policy through the end of September with several contentious policy changes attached.
April 18, 2012
House GOP Tries to Horse-Trade Senate Bill For Keystone Pipeline
In another desperate attempt to push forward their fossil fuel agenda, House Republicans have indicated that even though they've been incapable of passing a transportation bill, they're willing to go to conference committee and pass the Senate bill. All the Senate Democrats have to do in return is approve the Keystone XL pipeline.
April 13, 2012
Federal Transpo Policy Entering New Era, Say NYC Officials. Now What?
It's a new era for federal transportation policy, say the top New York City Department of Transportation officials tracking action on Capitol Hill. We just don't know what kind of era it's going to be.
April 5, 2012
Talking Transit Funding With Construction Honcho Denise Richardson
Transportation infrastructure is big business. With tens of billions of dollars at stake, nobody tracks the financial health of the nation's transit and road systems more closely than the construction industry. And right now, the future of transportation funding nationwide is hazy indeed.
April 5, 2012
HUD: Now’s the Time to Tell Congress Why Smart Planning Matters
I don’t know how many RSVPs a HUD conference call usually gets, but everyone seemed pretty floored that a stakeholder teleconference yesterday got upwards of 400. Officials said it was a testament to the popularity of HUD’s Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities and the grant programs it runs together with EPA and U.S. DOT.
April 3, 2012
Proposed Federal Transit Safety Regs Under Scrutiny From House Panel
In June 2009, a fatal crash on the D.C. Metro prompted federal lawmakers to consider adding a new layer of transit safety oversight. Senator Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat, introduced the National Metro Safety Act of 2009 to establish national safety standards for transit systems. It was never enacted, but it certainly raised the issue's profile, and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has not let it fall by the wayside.
April 2, 2012
Advocates Defend New Haven’s “Downtown Crossing” Highway Removal Plan
Earlier this week we ran a story about why local livable streets advocates with the New Haven Urban Design League are disappointed with the city's decision to replace a section of grade-separated highway with a plan that remains, on balance, car-centric.
March 29, 2012
Live-Blogging the Senate Transportation Extension Debate & Vote
The House of Representatives passed a 90-day extension of transportation programs by a vote of 266-158 shortly before noon today. The Senate passed it soon after by an unrecorded voice vote, but only after several Democrats tried (unsuccessfully) to replace the extension's text with that of their own two-year reauthorization bill. The extension is now on its way to the President's desk to be signed into law, averting a shutdown. Live updates from the full Senate debate are below.
March 29, 2012
Live-Blogging the House Transportation Extension Debate & Vote
After a long night's wrangling over the budget, the House convened early (for them) at 9 this morning to tackle a 90-day 60-day 90-day extension of the transportation bill. Despite some fierce opposition from House Democrats who wanted to vote on the bipartisan Senate bill instead of another extension, the measure passed. We're brought you the fireworks as they happened. See below for the gory details.
March 29, 2012