As part of bicameral legislative deal to prevent a second partial federal government shutdown while providing monies to build a wall along parts of the southern U.S. border, a total of $26.5 billion in discretionary funds and $60 billion from Highway and Airport and Airway Trust Funds will be provided to the U.S. Department of […]

In an effort to “examine how technology, including advances in automation, artificial intelligence, and connectivity” can “revolutionize transportation and mobility,” the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held an informational hearing on Feb. 13. In his opening remarks, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the committee’s chairman (seen above), noted that “our infrastructure system has fallen […]

The U.S. Department of Transportation filed a Federal Register notice on Feb. 5 that it will review its existing regulatory guidance documents to evaluate the guidance for its “continued necessity,” as well as to determine whether the guidance needs to be updated or revised. [Above photo by USDOT.] As part of this review, USDOT is […]

Artificial Intelligence and its impact, in part, on transportation systems became the subject of an executive order issued by President Trump on Feb. 11; an order that seeks to maintain “continued American leadership in AI” to maintain the economic and national security of the United States. [Above photo via Pixabay.] Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to […]

Infrastructure investments form a key part of the “agenda” President Trump (seen above) laid out in his State of the Union speech on Feb. 5. “Many of us campaigned on the same core promises: to defend American jobs and demand fair trade for American workers; to rebuild and revitalize our nation’s infrastructure; to reduce the […]

A variety of surface transportation funding mechanisms were debated during an all-day informational hearing held by the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 7, with a focus on the need to increase the federal fuel tax. “For years we have held hearings documenting the deterioration of our infrastructure – now we’ve run […]

In January, those attending the 2019 Transportation Research Board annual meeting in Washington, D.C., got a chance to experience their first-ever ride in an autonomous vehicle – in this case, a self-driving passenger shuttle bus. French company Navya, which sponsored the demonstration, said its autonomous vehicle is not equipped with either a steering wheel or […]

The Senate’s Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation convened an informational hearing on Feb. 6 to explore the benefits, needs, and challenges of 5G technology – especially how its deployment may impact the 5.9 GHz transmission band, currently reserved for transportation communication needs. “The fifth generation of high-speed wireless networks, commonly known as 5G, is […]

A proposal to raise the federal statutory cap on private activity bonds or PABs and making changes to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or TIFIA funding program are the focus of two new pieces of legislation co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., (seen above) and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., […]

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., re-introduced a bill on Feb. 6 that Sen. Barrasso initially proffered last October in the waning days of the 115th Congress; legislation that seeks to end electric vehicle federal tax credits while imposing a fee on operators of all alternatively fueled vehicles – be they powered […]