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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Rescission Repeal Left Out of House’s Continuing Resolution
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSA continuing resolution or CR from the House of Representatives that would extend federal government funding through November 21 and avoid a government shutdown at the end of September passed on September 19 by a vote of 301-123. “While the House did its work, the Senate appropriations process is far behind. Because of this delay, […]
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FHWA Research Showcase Highlights Transportation Innovations
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSDrones, a virtual reality bicycle simulator, 3-D printers, and new roadway materials, plus a bevy of autonomous vehicle or AV projects formed just some of the highlights of the 2019 Federal Highway Administration Research showcase; a first of its kind event at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., on September 18. [Left […]
READ MORESenate Appropriations Committee Passes Transportation Funding Package
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on September 19 approved $86.6 billion in fiscal year 2020 funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is $167 million above the FY 2019 enacted level, by a vote of 31-0. That closely matches the “minibus” package passed by the House of Representatives in June. “This legislation prioritizes funding for […]
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New Federal Vehicle Emission Rules Would Eliminate California Waiver
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency took another step toward finalizing the proposed Safer, Affordable, Fuel-Efficient or SAFE Vehicles Rule by issuing a “final action” on September 19 entitled the “One National Program Rule” that enables the federal government to provide nationwide uniform fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission or […]
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AASHTO Endorses NEPA Paperwork Reduction Goals Outlined by USDOT
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSIn a September 17 letter, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials formally endorsed efforts underway at the U.S. Department of Transportation to streamline the documentation requirements for National Environmental Policy Act or NEPA compliance efforts, as well as supporting the application of the One Federal Decision process to state DOT projects. [Above […]
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State DOTs Gearing Up for Annual Rail Safety Week Campaign
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSNational rail safety education nonprofit Operation Lifesaver, Inc. and Operation Lifesaver Canada are holding the annual Rail Safety Week public outreach event September 22-28 this year with the support of the U.S. Department of Transportation, state departments of transportation, and other organizations. [Above photo by the National Transportation Safety Board.] The organization noted in a statement […]
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FTA Providing $19.2M in Comprehensive Planning Grants
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Transit Administration is making $19.2 million in grant funding available to support “comprehensive planning” for public transit projects by encouraging ridership, improving transit access, or supporting economic and mixed-use development near public transportation projects. The agency issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity on September 18 for that grant money, noting that applicants must […]
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The Federal Railroad Administration issued a status update on the implementation of positive train control or PTC technology for the second quarter this year on September 9, with PTC systems in operation on roughly 87 percent of the nearly 58,000 route miles required by Congress – a 4 percent increase over the first quarter. [Photo […]
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Video: Montana DOT Director’s Goal is Zero Highway Fatalities
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSMike Tooley, director of the Montana Department of Transportation, calls the number of people killed annually on U.S. highways “shocking.” Right now, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 36,700 people died on America’s roads in 2018 – and while that is down 1 percent from the 37,133 who died in motor vehicle crashes […]
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Florida DOT Provides $35M for Second Phase of Jacksonville Harbor Deepening project
editor@aashto.org September 20, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Florida Department of Transportation awarded additional $35.3 million to the Port of Jacksonville – known as JAXPORT – on September 17 to fund the second phase of the Jacksonville harbor deepening project. [Above photo by the Florida DOT.] The state of Florida has contributed nearly $71.5 million so far toward deepening the 13-mile length […]
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