Senate EPW Committee Unanimously Advances Five-Year Surface Transportation Bill
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSBy a vote of 21 to zero on July 30, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works passed S. 2302 – the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act of 2019 – which authorizes $287 billion in highway funding over five years. This represents the first and largest element of surface transportation re-authorization to follow the current […]
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Data Provides Critical Support for Transportation Funding, TransComm Panel Says
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSTo successfully gain support from both politicians and the general public for increases in transportation funding, state DOTS are relying more and more upon key data illustrating the end-benefits it provides, according to a panel discussion held at the 2019 TransComm meeting being held in Indianapolis. “If you are trying to make the case for […]
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AASHTO Comment Letters Highlight CAV Regulatory, Infrastructure Concerns
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSA pair of comment letters issued July 22 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials address key regulatory and infrastructure issues regarding connected and autonomous vehicles or CAVs – especially where the operation of commercial motor vehicles are concerned. [Above photo by Waymo.] “While state departments of transportation do not have jurisdiction […]
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GAO Report Finds Interoperability Issues Plague PTC Deployment
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSA new report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office on July 31 indicates that “vendor and software issues” are currently “major or moderate challenges” for Positive Train Control or PTC technology implementation, with more than half of railroads reporting that “interoperability” is also a “major or moderate challenge” that can be “complicated by software […]
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FAA Awards Another Round of Airport Infrastructure Grants
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Aviation Administration awarded $478 million in airport infrastructure grants on July 31 to 232 airports in 43 states, including American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico – monies that come from a total of $3.18 billion allotted to the Airport Improvement Program, which provides grant funding to “selected projects” including runway […]
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The Federal Transit Administration awarded $84.9 million in grants to 38 projects in 38 states on July 26 via its Low- or No-Emission or “Low-No” program that funds transit bus projects centered around “advanced propulsion” technologies. Eligible projects include the purchase or lease of buses powered by technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, battery-electric engines, […]
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Celebration Marks Re-Opening of Once-Flooded Nebraska Highway
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Nebraska Department of Transportation and Governor Pete Ricketts (R), along with other state and local officials, attended a ceremony on July 29 to mark the re-opening opening of Highway 281, which has been closed since March 13 due to heavy flooding that washed out a bridge spanning the Niobrara River. [Above photo by Jake […]
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Massachusetts Governor Seeks $18B Bond for Range of Transportation Investments
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSGovernor Charlie Baker (R) of Massachusetts filed a transportation bond bill on July 25 seeking $18 billion in additional capital authorization to invest in a variety of transportation endeavors, including: nearly $5.7 billion for Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority modernization efforts, $150 million to improve state road pavement conditions; $20 million to fund “Complete Street” infrastructure […]
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Caltrans Disburses $146M to 180 Local Mass Transit Projects
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe California Department of Transportation issued $146 million from state’s Low Carbon Transit Operations Program on July 25 to fund 180 local mass transit projects that aim to “increase the convenience, capacity, and ridership of buses and trains” across California. [Above photo by the L. A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.] Bob Franzoia, acting director of […]
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West Virginia Governor Delivers Road Construction Equipment
editor@aashto.org August 2, 2019 0 COMMENTSOn July 24, Gov. Jim Justice (R) personally delivered one of 10 new excavators as part of a press event designed to highlight his administration’s “commitment to provide more resources” to fix West Virginia’s secondary road system. “These roads didn’t get this way overnight,” Gov. Justice said in a statement. “I don’t say this to […]
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