EPW Committee Unanimously Passes Surface Reauthorization Bill
editor@aashto.org May 28, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed a five-year, $303.5 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill on May 26 by a unanimous vote of 20-0. Entitled the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021, the bill boosts total highway funding from fiscal year 2022 to 2026 by 34 percent over the baseline established by the […]
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Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, (above at right) and Sen. Cory Booker, D-NJ, (above at left) reintroduced the Toll Credit Marketplace Act on May 25 to establish a program to help states increase resources for highway and transit projects. The bill would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a “marketplace” for the sale and purchase […]
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The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a Request for Information or RFI on May 25 to help it to gain insight on the data and assessment tools available to assess transportation equity. [Above photo by the USDOT] The RFI – which closes on June 24 – is also in response to an executive order issued by President […]
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The Federal Highway Administration issued $5.6 million in Accelerated Innovation Deployment or AID demonstration program grants to seven state departments of transportation on May 26 speed up their use of innovative traffic, safety and construction practices. [Above photo by the Michigan DOT] “With the help of these grants, states can more easily deliver cutting-edge roads, […]
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A group of six key Republican senators increased their infrastructure funding counteroffer on May 27 to the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan proposed by President Joe Biden on March 31. The Republicans increased their counteroffer to $928 billion over eight years – up from a five-year, $568 billion infrastructure investment framework originally proposed on April 22 – that would […]
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Motor vehicle traffic on America’s roads is returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to a new study, and that is leading many state highway safety offices or SHSOs and their partners to step up a variety of programs to make sure the nation’s roads are safe for everyone. [Above photo by the Virginia DOT] According to […]
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The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau recently issued new guidance to clarify the eligibility of transit-oriented development or TOD projects for both public and private firms seeking loans. [Above photo by the Federal Transit Administration] The agency said TOD seeks to foster economic development near transit, rail, and intercity bus facilities — to […]
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Senators Introduce Bill to Boost Public Transit Accessibility
editor@aashto.org May 28, 2021 0 COMMENTSThree Senate Democrats introduced legislation on May 18 that seeks to establish a federal grant program to support legacy transit and commuter rail authorities to upgrade existing stations to meet or exceed accessibility standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act or ADA. [Above photo by the Maryland Transit Administration] That legislation – called the All […]
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The Texas Transportation Commission has named Marc Williams (seen above) to serve as executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation effective June 1. He replaces James Bass, who is stepping down to become the executive director of the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority. [Above photo by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute] Williams, who has […]
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The Illinois Department of Transportation recently released a six-year $20.7 billion road and bridge investment plan that will receive its funding from the Rebuild Illinois capital program established in 2019. [Above photo by the Illinois DOT] “With all that’s been built over the last two years, even through a global pandemic, today we are announcing […]
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