Senate Committee FAST Act Hearing Highlights 5.9 GHz, NEPA Issues
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation explored several critical issues surrounding reauthorization of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation of FAST Act of 2015 – set to expire next July – in a June 19 hearing with four key federal transportation agency leaders: Ronald Batory, administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration; Raymond Martinez, administrator […]
READ MOREAnnual ‘State of Logistics’ Report Highlights Freight Infrastructure Needs
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSA boom in U.S. freight activity is highlighting the need for transportation infrastructure investments, according to the 30th annual “State of Logistics” report compiled by consulting firm A.T. Kearney with the support of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and Penske Logistics. Michael Zimmerman, a partner with A.T. Kearney and principal author of the […]
READ MORESubcommittee Hearing Focuses on Challenges, Threats Posed by Drones
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSRapid advances in unmanned aerial systems or UAS technology – commonly known as drones – promise to “revolutionize air transportation” yet simultaneously pose “significant risks” via “negligent, reckless, or malicious use,” according to testimony provided during a June 18 Senate subcommittee hearing. [Above photo by the North Carolina DOT.] Witnesses before the Committee on Commerce, […]
READ MOREPreliminary 2018 Data Shows Rise in Pedestrian, Bicyclist Fatalities
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSA preliminary estimate of 2018 traffic fatalities released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that while motor vehicle crash deaths declined roughly 1 percent year-over-year, pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities are projected to increase 4 percent and 10 percent, respectively. [Above photo by Oklahoma National Guard 1st Lt. Chris Hales.] The agency emphasized, however, […]
READ MOREUSDOT Offers $293M in Port Infrastructure Development Grants
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe U.S. Department of Transportation announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity on June 13 for $292.7 million in discretionary grant funding through its new Port Infrastructure Development Program, which aims to support public coastal ports by improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of goods movement into, out of, or within a port. [Above photo by […]
READ MOREFTA Provides Grants to Transit Projects in Minneapolis, San Francisco
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Transit Administration approved two Capital Investment Grants in late June for transit projects in Minnesota and California; grants helping fund construction of a Bus Rapid Transit or BRT line in Minneapolis and boosting capacity of the Bay Area Rapid Transit or BART heavy rail system between the city of Oakland and downtown San […]
READ MOREVermont Legislation OKs $615M Worth of Transportation Spending
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSGov. Phil Scott (R) signed into law two bills on June 14 that will pump more than $615 million into Vermont’s transportation system. Those bills – H.529, an act relating to the transportation program and miscellaneous changes to laws related to transportation, and S.149, an act relating to miscellaneous changes to laws related to vehicles and the Department […]
READ MORENew Law to Spur Autonomous Vehicle Testing on Florida Roads
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSA bill signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on June 13 aims to remove “unnecessary obstacles” hindering the development of autonomous vehicle technology – including allowing fully autonomous vehicles to operate on Florida’s roads “regardless of presence of human operator.” The new law – CS/HB 311: Autonomous Vehicles – takes effect on […]
READ MOREColorado DOT Pressing Forward with Median Cable Barrier Work
editor@aashto.org June 21, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Colorado Department of Transportation kicked off a seven-month project in June that aims to install new median cable barriers along I-25 between Pueblo and Colorado Springs as a safety measure to prevent median crossover crashes. The agency noted in a June 14 statement that it is using a “multi-phased approach” based on vehicle crash […]
READ MORETo make transportation infrastructure “self-sufficient” in the event of a natural disaster or electrical “brownouts” and “blackouts,” the NJ Transit agency is building dedicated “microgrid” back-up system that includes everything from a natural gas-fired power plant to a solar canopy. Dubbed the NJ Transitgrid project, it is part of the agency’s “Resilience Program” developed in […]
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