U.S. DOT
Basics
Rich People Love Sidewalks, And Other Livability Lessons From USDOT
When asking people what transportation options are important in their communities, why do poll-takers never ask them to choose between different options? Here comes another survey in which people say they want everything and are never asked to make the tradeoffs that come in the real world.
July 18, 2011
Federal Government Offers a Helping Hand to Six Struggling Cities
In a move to help buoy crisis-stricken cities, the Obama Administration this week introduced a program designed to provide administrative support to help local government officials "cut through the red tape" and access urgent federal assistance.
July 14, 2011
Northeast Corridor, the Midwest, and California Say “Thanks, Florida!”
Thanks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s head-smacker of a decision to refuse billions in federal high-speed rail funds, other parts of the country are getting a windfall. Even with $400 million of Florida’s money vanishing in the name of deficit reduction, the remaining $2 billion will go a long way in improving rail service in key areas around the country.
May 9, 2011
Why (Much of) Obama’s Transpo Plan Can Survive the GOP Knife
Yesterday, anti-rail curmudgeon Ken Orski of Innovation Briefs quoted me in his latest diatribe against the administration’s transportation proposal, in which he explains why the Obama plan is unrealistic. Indeed, I think it’s safe to say the dollar amount of the administration’s bill is a non-starter in today’s political and economic climate, given that it’s about double what’s expected to come from the Highway Trust Fund over the next six years.
May 6, 2011
Two Years After the Stimulus Bill: Still a Political Grudge Match
President Obama's stimulus bill is one of a small handful of pieces of legislation that have come to define his presidency. Whether you think it was a smashing success or a dismal failure seems to depend on whether there's an R or a D next to your name.
May 6, 2011
State Transpo Officials Push to Toll for Maintenance, Not Just Capacity
Last week, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told state DOT officials gathered at an AASHTO conference in Washington that he was all in favor of tolling – but only to add new capacity.
March 8, 2011
GAO: Transportation Spending an Investment With Uncertain Returns
Cross-posted from Mobilizing the Region, the official blog of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.
January 25, 2011
U.S. DOT Unveils Full List of TIGER II Winners
The complete list of TIGER II grants has been released by U.S. DOT today, after members of Congress revealed many winners last week. In keeping with the department's livability goals, the list is filled with transit projects (especially streetcar lines), efforts to bolster the country's non-trucking freight network, and fix-it-first projects aimed at deteriorating roads and bridges.
October 20, 2010
TIGER’s Biggest Bite: Atlanta Streetcar Proposal Gets $47 Million
More news keeps rolling in about TIGER II grantees...
October 15, 2010
Obama Admin Will Make Its Transportation Push… During the Next Congress
President Obama is “going to throw his support behind a six-year reauthorization of the transportation program” in Congress. That was the word today from Roy Kienitz, who represented the Transportation Department today as he testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
September 28, 2010