Nomination Period is Closing Soon for 2021 America’s Transportation Awards
editor@aashto.org April 9, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe April 23 nomination deadline for the 2021 America’s Transportation Awards is fast approaching. [Above photo of 2020 Grand Prize Winner WSDOT. Photo by WSDOT.] This yearly competition helps showcase why transportation infrastructure – and why properly funding it – is vital to supporting the nation’s economy while improving the quality of life for communities […]
READ MOREBiden Harris Administration Reveals Infrastructure Priorities
editor@aashto.org March 26, 2021 0 COMMENTSU.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (seen above) and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure discussed the possible priorities for a potentially $2 trillion-plus infrastructure funding package during a hearing on March 25. Sec. Buttigieg, appearing via video, noted in his remarks that “this moment [offers] the best chance in any […]
READ MOREThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials voiced support for the Driving for Opportunity Act of 2021, introduced on March 25, which would end suspensions and restrictions of driver’s licenses for unpaid court fines and fees. “Suspending licenses limits people’s ability to access work, groceries, education and health care services but it does […]
READ MOREWhile a new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association showed pedestrian fatalities trended up in the first half of 2020, the report also noted how several state-directed efforts are successfully improving pedestrian safety. [Above photo by the NCDOT.] GHSA’s annual Spotlight on Highway Safety report found that the U.S. pedestrian fatality rate increased 20 percent in the first […]
READ MORENew analysis AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 2,008 deaths occurred wrong-way driving crashes on divided highways between 2015 and 2018 for an average of approximately 500 deaths a year; up 34 percent from the 375 deaths annually from 2010 to 2014. [Above photo via AAA.] AAA said in a statement that it is […]
READ MOREAn annual survey conducted by the Mineta Transportation Institute finds that 53 percent of Americans support the concept of a vehicle miles travelled or VMT “green mileage” fee that would charge drivers an average rate of three cents per mile driven, with lower rates for less polluting vehicles and higher rates for more polluting vehicles. […]
READ MOREVirginia’s Valentine Touts ‘Multimodal Value’ of Railroads
editor@aashto.org March 26, 2021 0 COMMENTSShannon Valentine (seen above), Virginia’s secretary of transportation, explained via video during a hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials on March 10 that railroads play a critical role within a “multimodal approach for creating an economy that works for all people.” She noted […]
READ MOREFAA Issues Final Rule Regarding Commercial Space Transportation
editor@aashto.org March 26, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe 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 […]
READ MOREUSDOT Kicks Off ‘Mask Up’ Campaign for Transportation Workers
editor@aashto.org March 26, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe 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, […]
READ MOREThe Ray Signs Charters to Pilot ‘Green’ Initiatives in Central Texas
editor@aashto.org March 26, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Ray – a Georgia-based transportation innovation non-profit – recently signed separate charters with the Texas Department of Transportation Austin District, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and the City of Austin to pilot new technologies and “green energy solutions” for the Central Texas region. [Above photo via The Ray.] “Central Texas is a dynamic growing […]
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