Streetsblog Capitol Hill
Basics
Obama Chooses Trucking Industry Lobbyist to Regulate Truckers
The White House's choice of trucking lobbyist Anne Ferro to head the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) -- the agency charged with preventing truck crashes -- prompted consternation yesterday from a senior Democrat on the Senate committee that must approve the nomination.
September 24, 2009
LaHood Praises NYC But Shrugs at Transport Reform to Empower Cities
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the New York City area's clean-transportation strategy today in a speech to the region's metropolitan planning organization (MPO), promising a stronger focus on urban priorities even as he all but ruled out two reforms long sought by the nation's cities.
September 24, 2009
Deja Vu: Congress Could Put Off Deal on Transport Bill Until Next Month
After a day of twists and turns, the House yesterday approved a three-month extension of the current law that governs spending on the nation's transit, bridges, and roads. Yet the 335-85 vote obscures an ongoing clash between the House and Senate that could extend into a fourth straight month.
September 24, 2009
Streetsblog Capitol Hill Q&A With Leon Krier
Architect Leon Krier has been dubbed the godfather of new urbanism. His work on the U.K.'s Poundbury development project, spearheaded by Prince Charles, has made the Luxembourg-born Krier one of the world's most talked-about urban planners.
September 23, 2009
House Voting Today on Transport Law Extension — Or Not?
(ed. note: This post has been updated to reflect late-breaking news as of Wednesday afternoon.)
September 23, 2009
Would Real Men Tax Gas? A Test for Tom Friedman
On Monday, Elana Schor highlighted a recent column from occasionally right New York Times columnist Tom Friedman, who once again rolled out one of his favorite policy prescriptions -- an increased gas tax. Friedman wrote:
September 23, 2009
Business Lobby to Senate: No, Stimulus Won’t Do Enough for Transport
As the Senate backs up the White House's push for an 18-month delay in approving a new federal infrastructure bill, one of its major arguments is that the economic stimulus law's $48 billion in transportation money would help tide the nation over until long-term legislation could be passed.
September 22, 2009
New Report: 10% Transit Growth Would Help Meet House Climate Target
A 10 percent annual increase in U.S. transit ridership would reduce CO2 emissions by 180 million tons each year, taking the nation halfway to the target set by the House climate change bill within three years, according to a report [PDF] released today by Environment America and the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
September 22, 2009
Oberstar’s 3-Month Transport Bill Extension Heading to House Floor
A three-month extension of existing federal infrastructure law -- which is set to expire in eight days -- is headed for a vote in the full House this week, likely as soon as tomorrow, according to a spokesman for transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN).
September 22, 2009
Fly on the Wall Alert: Obama, LaHood, and Tom Friedman Tee Off
In yesterday's New York Times, columnist Tom Friedman published an impassioned plea for American policy-makers to reconsider their knee-jerk opposition to raising the federal gas tax or debating a carbon tax to set a more appropriate price for energy use. Friedman writes:
September 21, 2009