In a speech and presentation at the annual Transportation Research Board (TRB) meeting in Washington D.C., U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Deputy Assistant Secretary Diana Furchtgott-Roth both emphasized the need to continue reserving the 5.9 gigahertz (GHz) wireless communication spectrum for transportation safety purposes. [Above photo by TRB.] “The potential appeal of […]
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USDOT’s Chao Highlights New Vehicle Safety Initiatives at TRB
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSDuring her keynote speech at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting in Washington D.C., U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao (seen above) highlighted three new vehicle safety initiatives being launched by her agency. [Above photo by TRB.] The first is an expansion of USDOT’s Partnership for Analytics Research in Traffic Safety or PARTS […]
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State DOTs Renew Focus on Ways to Reduce Traffic Fatalities
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSState department of transportation executives highlighted a number of different strategies and tactics aimed at reducing traffic fatalities for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists during a roundtable discussion held January 14 at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting in Washington D.C. “Imagine, if you would, that every day for the remainder of this year a 737 […]
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State DOT Roundtable Highlights Asset Management Needs
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSStrategies for keeping the nation’s transportation infrastructure in a state of optimal performance formed the focus of a January 15 state department of transportation roundtable at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting in Washington D.C. “We are truly focused on maintaining the infrastructure we have and that’s mainly roads and bridges; they represent 90 percent […]
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The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a notice of funding opportunity on January 13 for a pool of $906 million worth of Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or INFRA discretionary grants. Applications are due by February 25, the agency said. [Above photo by the Arizona DOT.] “These INFRA grants will fund projects that support economic development, […]
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Analysis Finds Motor Fuel Taxes Low on List of Household Costs
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSA recent analysis of household expense data by HNTB Corporation shows that, on average, American families pay far less in federal and state motor fuel taxes in comparison to electricity and water service, among others. [Above photo by the Missouri DOT.] On average, HNTB’s analysis found that American drivers pay $274.69 annually in combined federal […]
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Report Calls for More Uniform Autonomous Truck Testing Rules
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSA 54-page report issued by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) on January 13 said that “myriad” of federal, state, and local rules that govern testing of self-driving vehicles may “ultimately impede” the creation of a seamless and standardized autonomous truck network in the United States. [Above photo by the Oregon DOT.] “While much has […]
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Michelle Avary, head of automotive and autonomous mobility at the World Economic Forum, argued in a January 13 column that demand for more “inclusive mobility” is one of three major future trends that will impact how government entities at all levels formulate transportation strategies. [Above photo via the North Dakota DOT.] “People today are insisting […]
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FTA Launches Innovation Initiative, Issues New Round of Tribal Grants
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Transit Administration launched a new initiative to “support and advance” innovation in the transit industry at the Transportation Research Board annual meeting in Washington D.C. on January 14. [Above photo by the FTA.] FTA’s new Accelerating Innovative Mobility or AIM initiative includes $11 million in challenge grants to help transit agencies experiment with “new ways” of […]
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FHWA Provides $5M in Emergency Relief Funds to Puerto Rico
editor@aashto.org January 17, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Highway Administration issued $5 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief or ER funds on January 16 to help repair roads and bridges damaged by recent earthquakes in Puerto Rico. The widespread destruction caused by a weeks-long earthquake “swarm” that began in late December on the island caused rockslides and landslides on major transportation […]
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