Transportation Policy
Basics
A Step Towards Pricing of Pollution? 11 States Back Low-Carbon Fuel Rules
While many in Washington spent their holiday breaks wondering if Senate Democratic opposition would deal a major blow to progress on a climate change bill, 11 northeastern governors were agreeing on a deal that suggests otherwise.
January 4, 2010
The 2009 Capitol Hill Streetsies: Meet the Winners!
It's been a momentous, dramatic year for transportation policy in Washington -- which made choosing the winners of this year's Streetsies all the more difficult. But after tallying up readers' votes and breaking a couple of ties, we're ready to single out the brightest (and dimmest) of 2009. Congratulations to all the winners, and Happy New Year to all! We'll see you back here bright and early on Monday.
December 31, 2009
The 2009 Capitol Hill Streetsies: And the Nominees Are …
The year-end Streetsie Awards are a time-honored tradition at Streetsblog -- check out New York's first round of honorees, hot off the presses today -- and Capitol Hill certainly has provided plenty of material. Without further ado, here are the nominees for Washington's brightest and bleakest moments of 2009. Winners will be announced on New Year's Eve, so don't forget to root for your favorites (by emailing elana [at] streetsblog [dot] org).
December 29, 2009
Adding a Dose of Honesty to the Congressional Job-Creation Debate
The House's $75 billion jobs bill was intended as a holiday gift to out-of-work voters, but transportation reformers were less than thrilled with lawmakers' decision to mimic the first stimulus law's use of outmoded funding formulas to send three times as much money to roads as to transit.
December 28, 2009
Four Finalists For White House High-Speed Rail Funding?
That was the eyebrow-raising suggestion reported by the Orlando Sentinel today after Rep. John Mica (R-FL) helped mark the beginning of central Florida's commuter-rail era, made possible by landmark legislation signed into state law this week.
December 18, 2009
Battle Heats Up Over Pennsylvania Tolling, With National Implications
For more than two years, Pennsylvania transportation planners have sought federal permission to make I-80 one of only three interstates in America approved for tolling.
December 18, 2009
Two Dems Propose to End Bush-Era Rule on Transit ‘Cost-Effectiveness’
New Starts, the main federal method for funding big-ticket transit projects, is considered sorely in need of a makeover by many in the capital.
December 17, 2009
House Jobs Bill Answers Some Key Transportation Questions
The House jobs bill, expected to pass later today before the chamber adjourns for the holidays, includes a $75 billion infrastructure section that gives $27.5 billion to roads and $8.4 billion to transit, largely mirroring this year's first economic stimulus law.
December 16, 2009
House Jobs Bill Could Make General Electric’s Amtrak Wish Come True
The House is poised to take up a jobs bill later today that provides $37.3 billion in new transportation spending, including $27.5 billion for roads, $8.4 billion for transit ... and a holiday gift for General Electric?
December 16, 2009
Geithner Adviser Backs ‘More Merit-Based’ Infrastructure Spending
Treasury Department counselor Gene Sperling told senators today that "we definitely support looking at ... more merit-based" approaches to transportation spending, particularly an expansion of the stimulus law's competitive TIGER grants and a national infrastructure bank.
December 16, 2009