The Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a final rule streamlining the licensing process for private sector launch and reentry operations – setting the stage for what the agency called “a new era of commercial space transportation.” [Above photo by SpaceX.] “Innovation in commercial space transportation is increasing dramatically, and policy needs to keep up,” noted Pete […]

The U.S. Department of Transportation is launching what it calls a “Mask Up” campaign to help ensure the safety of transportation workers. The centerpiece of the campaign is a digital toolkit including posters, social media, Frequently Asked Questions or FAQ documents, and other resources, the agency said. [Above photo by the USDOT.] “Throughout the pandemic, […]

The Federal Highway Administration recently awarded $18.7 million in Surface Transportation System Funding Alternatives or STSFA grants to eight projects to test new user-based funding methods for highways and bridges. [Above photo by WSDOT.] Those projects – led by six state departments of transportation and two transportation coalitions – will explore a variety of ways […]

National passenger rail operator Amtrak recently put the first of six different commemorative locomotives into service – trains painted to celebrate Amtrak’s 50th anniversary. [Above photo by Matt Donnelly for Amtrak.] “We chose locomotives already budgeted for new paint as part of our life cycle preventative maintenance program and used the opportunity to celebrate this […]

The Federal Aviation Administration said final rules requiring remote identification of drones and regulations allowing some drone flights over people, moving vehicles, and at night under certain conditions would go into effect on April 21. [Above image via the FAA.] The FAA said in a statement that its remote identification or “Remote ID” rule – […]

In an effort to reduce loud take-off and landing noise around airports, NASA is testing an experimental leading-edge wing design for commercial aircraft – recently completing an initial round of wind tunnel testing January 21 at its Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. [Above photo by NASA.] “Mitigating this noise emission not only has direct […]

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, (above left) and Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, (above right) introduced the “Ports-to-Plains Highway Act of 2021” on March 9 – mirroring legislation proposed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, in October 2020. The new “Port-to-Plains” highway bill would expand and upgrade a series of U.S routes and interstates running from Laredo, Texas, to Canada through a number of Midwestern […]

The Federal Aviation Administration is now collaborating with the Choctaw Nation to study how Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or drones can best transport cargo – including parcels – at lower altitudes. [Above photo via the Choctaw Nation.] The FAA said its Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center signed a three-year memorandum of understanding or MOU with the […]

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Transport Canada issued a joint statement on February 25 committing both agencies to “reinvigorate our bilateral cooperation” to fight climate change and limit the environmental impacts from their respective national transportation networks on land, air, and sea. [Above photo: Transport Canada’s Omar Alghabra at left, USDOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg […]

Six energy utility companies are joining forces to build a seamless network of electric vehicle or EV charging stations connecting major highway systems from the Atlantic Coast, through the Midwest and South, and into the Gulf and Central Plains regions. [Above photo of EV recharging station by Walmart.] The Electric Highway Coalition – made up […]