State DOTs Urge Retention of Formula Funding, Grant Programs at Subcommittee Hearing
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSState department of transportation executives stressed at a March 13 House of Representatives Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill that the current mix of formula funding and grants should be retained by Congress as legislators begin tackling surface transportation reauthorization efforts. “We urge that you retain the current highway and transit program framework […]
READ MORE
President Trump’s FY 2020 Budget Envisions Changes to Transportation Funding
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe $4.75 trillion fiscal year 2020 budget for the federal government proposed by President Trump on March 11 seeks to rollback non-defense discretionary funding to 2011 levels and eliminating the $10 billion boost for infrastructure provided by Congress in both FY 2018 and FY 2019. At the same time, the proposal continues to seek an […]
READ MORE
State DOTs Seek to Boost Active Transportation Safety Efforts
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe recent growth in bicycle and pedestrian fatalities is placing renewed focus on “active transportation” safety efforts, according to three state department of transportation executives who spoke during a panel discussion at the National Bike Summit 2019, held March 9-12 in Crystal City, VA. [Left to right in above photo: Toks Omishakin, Barb Chamberlin, Charles […]
READ MORE
USDOT Secretary Chao: Transportation Future Must Focus on Safety, Innovation
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSIn speeches before the 2019 National Bike Summit in Crystal City, VA, March 11, and at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, TX, March 12, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao stressed that safety and innovation will remain the key focal points of her agency going forward as new technologies and mobility options […]
READ MORE
State Governments Issuing Legislation Aimed at Increasing Transportation Investments
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSA new 43-page report issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center indicates 37 states have introduced 185 bills aimed at boosting transportation investment in the first two months of 2019, with 21 of those states proposing to increase one or more types of fuel taxes. [Above photo by Arkansas […]
READ MORE
Report Analyzes Process for Establishing RUC Pilot Projects
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe National League of Cities released a report on March 11 to help local governments understand and establish road user charge or RUC pilot programs. [Above photo by Oregon DOT.] NLC explained in a statement that a RUC system, also referred to as a vehicle miles traveled or VMT tax or a mileage based user […]
READ MORE
The U.S. Government Accounting Office recommended in a March 11 report that the U.S. Department of Transportation take steps to “reform” its Build America Bureau organizational structure, as it “lacks a plan” to guide its ongoing and future efforts. [Above photo of GAO headquarters.] The Bureau – established in 2016 – evaluates applications for three […]
READ MORE
AAA Survey: Majority of Americans Still Fear Self-Driving Vehicles
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSA recent telephone survey conducted by AAA found that 71 percent of those polled are “afraid” to ride in fully self-driving vehicles – a result of what the organization called several “high-profile” autonomous vehicle crashes. [Above photo by Uber.] “Automated vehicle technology is evolving on a very public stage and, as a result, it is […]
READ MORE
West Virginia Governor Reveals Roadway Plan, Names Interim Transportation Secretary
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSGov. Jim Justice (R) unveiled a plan March 13 to make road maintenance the “main focus” for the West Virginia Division of Highways moving forward and named Byrd White – a commissioner for Raleigh County West Virginia and a longtime business associate of the governor – as acting secretary of transportation. [Above photo by the […]
READ MORE
California’s Governor Proposes Linking Housing Goals to Transportation Funding
editor@aashto.org March 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSAs part of a $1.75 billion proposal issued by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on March 11, transportation funding would be “linked” to city and county housing goals – meaning that local street and road monies would be withheld “from any jurisdiction that does not have a compliant housing element and has not zoned and […]
READ MORE