The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation explored several critical issues surrounding reauthorization of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation of FAST Act of 2015 – set to expire next July – in a June 19 hearing with four key federal transportation agency leaders: Ronald Batory, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration; Raymond Martinez, administrator […]

A boom in U.S. freight activity is highlighting the need for transportation infrastructure investments, according to the 30th annual “State of Logistics” report compiled by consulting firm A.T. Kearney with the support of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and Penske Logistics. Michael Zimmerman, a partner with A.T. Kearney and principal author of the […]

Rapid advances in unmanned aerial systems or UAS technology – commonly known as drones – promise to “revolutionize air transportation” yet simultaneously pose “significant risks” via “negligent, reckless, or malicious use,” according to testimony provided during a June 18 Senate subcommittee hearing. [Above photo by the North Carolina DOT.] Witnesses before the Committee on Commerce, […]

A preliminary estimate of 2018 traffic fatalities released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that while motor vehicle crash deaths declined roughly 1 percent year-over-year, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities are projected to increase 4 percent and 10 percent, respectively. [Above photo by Oklahoma National Guard 1st Lt. Chris Hales.] The agency emphasized, however, […]

The leadership of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works – Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., chairman, and Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., ranking member – are the latest members of Congress to call for the repeal of Section 1438 of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation or FAST Act that would rescind $7.6 billion in federal […]

A June 12 Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation oversight hearing of the Federal Communications Commission brought up the ongoing and contentious issue of opening up the 5.9 GHz spectrum to non-transportation usage. In his written testimony, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai noted that “our work on 5G will open the door to new services […]

As state departments of transportation across the central United States continue to struggle with roadways waterlogged by heavy flooding, President Trump’s administration continued to approve declarations of disaster to authorize federal funding to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts. [Above photo by the Arkansas Department of Transportation.] The president recently approved disaster declarations for […]

Concern over the drastic depletion of the Highway Trust Fund became a key topic of discussion during a June 12 hearing held by the House of Representatives’ Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit. “The Highway Trust Fund – the primary source of federal revenue for highway projects, safety programs, and transit investments – […]

By a vote of 29 to 21, the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations formally approved a fiscal year 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies or THUD funding bill that would provide the U.S. Department of Transportation with a total budget of $86.6 billion; roughly $167 million above the amount enacted for […]

Record-setting storms and flooding continue to force the closure of roads and bridges on the National Highway System by the dozens in states throughout the Midwest, according to the Federal Highway Administration – especially in Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. [Above photo by U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle.] The […]