Committee Leadership Comes into Focus for 116th Congress
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSCongressional transportation committee leadership is poised to change come January following the results of the midterm elections on Nov. 6, which gave control of the U.S. House of Representatives back to the Democrats while keeping the Senate in Republican hands. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., will become chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, while […]
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Interstate System Report Calls for More Funding, Tolling, VMT Fees, and Cybersecurity
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSA consensus study report issued by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on Dec. 6 recommends an annual investment of $57 billion in the U.S. interstate system, a near-term increase in federal fuel taxes indexed to inflation and accounting improvements in vehicle fuel mileage, plus a long-term changeover to tolling and vehicle miles […]
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In Memoriam: President George H. W. Bush, ISTEA, and Transportation
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSThe funeral service for President H. W. George Bush, held Dec. 5 in the nation’s capital, evoked many memories of the 41st president’s one term in office – especially his impact on transportation, via the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. [Above photo by Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle, Air Force District of Washington Public Affairs.] On the […]
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Growth Projected for Transportation Projects, but Costs a Challenge
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSThe U.S. transportation infrastructure market is expected to grow 4.2 percent in 2019, according to the annual economic forecast released Dec. 5 by the American Road &Transportation Builders Association. Yet a report issued by Fitch Ratings, also on Dec. 5, cautioned that “external factors” such as “protectionist trade policies, rising interest rates and volatility in fuel […]
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FAA Reshuffles Executives, Plans Drone Identification Rulemaking in Spring 2019
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSAs the Federal Aviation Administration prepares to issue a long-awaited rulemaking regarding the identification and tracking of unmanned aerial system or UAS devices, typically called drones, the agency is changing up its leadership ranks. [Above photo by Andrew Turner.] On Nov. 29, the FAA promoted Earl Lawrence to executive director for aircraft certification, succeeding Dorenda […]
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Predictive Technology Helps Reduce Crashes on I-15 Corridor in Las Vegas
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSA pilot program that combines in-vehicle and city data with predictive analytics has reduced primary crashes by 17 percent along a key corridor of Interstate 15 in Las Vegas — without requiring any additional resources from state or local agencies,according to a statement by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. [Above photo by Nevada […]
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Video Report: MoDOT Produces Multi-Lingual Safety Message
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSThe Missouri Department of Transportation recently tried something new to draw attention to its two-year-old Buckle Up Phone Down safety campaign that encourages drivers to buckle their seat belts every time they get in the car and to put their cellphones down or turn them off if necessary when driving: producing a two-and-a-half-minute video emphasizing […]
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PennDOT Nears Completion of Rapid Bridge Replacement Project
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation noted in a Nov. 30 update that 511 of 558 “poor-condition” bridges statewide have now been replaced and opened to traffic via the state’s public-private partnership or P3 Rapid Bridge Replacement project. [Above photo by PennDOT.] “This unique project has been a large undertaking for PennDOT and the private sector […]
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Infrastructure Grants Awarded to “Smaller” South Dakota Communities
editor@aashto.org December 7, 2018 0 COMMENTSOn Nov. 30, the South Dakota Transportation Commission awarded $4.7 million in economic development grants for infrastructure improvements in “smaller” communities – grants aimed at improving roads leading to schools, main business areas, hospitals, grain elevators, and other economic areas in the communities. [Above photo by Collen Farley, South Dakota DOT.] The agency said the grants […]
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State DOTs Urge Retention of Formula Funding, Grant Programs at Subcommittee Hearing
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSState department of transportation executives stressed at a March 13 House of Representatives Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill that the current mix of formula funding and grants should be retained by Congress as legislators begin tackling surface transportation reauthorization efforts. “We urge that you retain the current highway and transit program framework […]
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President Trump’s FY 2020 Budget Envisions Changes to Transportation Funding
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe $4.75 trillion fiscal year 2020 budget for the federal government proposed by President Trump on March 11 seeks to rollback non-defense discretionary funding to 2011 levels and eliminating the $10 billion boost for infrastructure provided by Congress in both FY 2018 and FY 2019. At the same time, the proposal continues to seek an […]
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State DOTs Seek to Boost Active Transportation Safety Efforts
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe recent growth in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities is placing renewed focus on “active transportation” safety efforts, according to three state department of transportation executives who spoke during a panel discussion at the National Bike Summit 2019, held March 9-12 in Crystal City, VA. [Left to right in above photo: Toks Omishakin, Barb Chamberlin, Charles […]
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USDOT Secretary Chao: Transportation Future Must Focus on Safety, Innovation
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSIn speeches before the 2019 National Bike Summit in Crystal City, VA, March 11, and at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, TX, March 12, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stressed that safety and innovation will remain the key focal points of her agency going forward as new technologies and mobility options […]
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State Governments Issuing Legislation Aimed at Increasing Transportation Investments
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSA new 43-page report issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center indicates 37 states have introduced 185 bills aimed at boosting transportation investment in the first two months of 2019, with 21 of those states proposing to increase one or more types of fuel taxes. [Above photo by Arkansas […]
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Report Analyzes Process for Establishing RUC Pilot Projects
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe National League of Cities released a report on March 11 to help local governments understand and establish road user charge or RUC pilot programs. [Above photo by Oregon DOT.] NLC explained in a statement that a RUC system, also referred to as a vehicle miles traveled or VMT tax or a mileage based user […]
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The U.S. Government Accounting Office recommended in a March 11 report that the U.S. Department of Transportation take steps to “reform” its Build America Bureau organizational structure, as it “lacks a plan” to guide its ongoing and future efforts. [Above photo of GAO headquarters.] The Bureau – established in 2016 – evaluates applications for three […]
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AAA Survey: Majority of Americans Still Fear Self-Driving Vehicles
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSA recent telephone survey conducted by AAA found that 71 percent of those polled are “afraid” to ride in fully self-driving vehicles – a result of what the organization called several “high-profile” autonomous vehicle crashes. [Above photo by Uber.] “Automated vehicle technology is evolving on a very public stage and, as a result, it is […]
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West Virginia Governor Reveals Roadway Plan, Names Interim Transportation Secretary
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSGov. Jim Justice (R) unveiled a plan March 13 to make road maintenance the “main focus” for the West Virginia Division of Highways moving forward and named Byrd White – a commissioner for Raleigh County West Virginia and a longtime business associate of the governor – as acting secretary of transportation. [Above photo by the […]
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California’s Governor Proposes Linking Housing Goals to Transportation Funding
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSAs part of a $1.75 billion proposal issued by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on March 11, transportation funding would be “linked” to city and county housing goals – meaning that local street and road monies would be withheld “from any jurisdiction that does not have a compliant housing element and has not zoned and […]
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