The impact of autonomous vehicles on public policy is “not getting the attention it needs,” argued Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, during an April 2 roundtable co-hosted with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators ahead of the annual Washington Auto Show in Washington, D.C. “How […]
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States Continue to Boost Fuel Taxes; Similar Effort Called for at Federal Level
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSOhio is the latest state to successfully raise its fuel tax, though the amount of the increase is lower than the 18-cent boost initially requested by Gov. Mike DeWine (R) in February. [Above photo by the Ohio Governor’s Office.] Following committee hearings and negotiations, Ohio legislators agreed to increase the state tax on gasoline by […]
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ARTBA Report Says Over 47,000 Bridges are ‘Structurally Deficient’ and in ‘Poor Condition’
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSAccording to the latest annual bridge report issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, 47,052 bridges in the United States are classified as “structurally deficient,” down slightly from the 2018 edition. [Above photo by D. Allen Covey, VDOT.] ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Premo Black, wrote the report and conducted the bridge analysis based […]
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FHWA Issues ATCMTD Grants, Releases $25M to Nebraska for Flood Repairs
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSEight state departments of transportation were among the recipients of $53.2 million in Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment or ATCMTD grants issued April 1 by the Federal Highway Administration. [Above photo via Pexel.] The agency also released $25 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief funds to Nebraska on April 4 to help the […]
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According to Federal Highway Administration statistics, 799 motor vehicle drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians were killed in work zone crashes in 2017, which includes 132 highway workers. Reducing those fatalities is the purpose behind National Work Zone Awareness Week, which is being held April 8-12 this year. The FHWA, the American Association of State Highway […]
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Senate Committee Re-Approves NHTSA, USDOT, Amtrak Nominations
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation re-approved five transportation nominees on April 3 that the Trump administration originally forwarded in January, all by a vote of 14 to 12. They include: Diana Furchtgott-Roth to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation (at left in photo above). Heidi King to be Administrator of the […]
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FTA Unveils Grant Programs for Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Transit Administration has launched a new Human Trafficking Awareness and Public Safety Initiative that includes two notices of funding opportunity totaling $4 million in grant monies – all aimed at preventing human trafficking and other crimes that may occur on buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation. [Above photo by USDOT.] Human trafficking […]
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SAE International, along with automakers Ford, General Motors, and Toyota is forming the Automated Vehicle Safety Consortium as a forum to collaboratively test, develop, and deploy Level 4 and 5 automated vehicles. Edward Straub, AVSC’s executive director, said in a statement on April 3 that the new consortium will “fill a critical need” by “providing a safety framework” […]
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New York FY 2020 Budget Includes Congestion Pricing Plan for New York City
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSA $175.5 billion fiscal year 2020 budget finalized by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) (seen above) and New York state lawmakers April 1 created a congestion pricing plan for New York City’s central business district, with the money generated from those congestion fees providing funds for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. [Above photo by Mike Groll/Office of […]
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Massachusetts Pilot Program Aims to Boost Wheelchair-Accessible Vehicle Availability
editor@aashto.org April 5, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority launched a one-year joint pilot program on April 1 that provides ride-hailing companies with a subsidy on a per-hour basis for every hour they make wheelchair-accessible vehicles or WAVs available for paratransit riders. [Above photo by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.] This program expands on a […]
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