Letter Calls on Congress to Make ‘Turn-Key’ Transportation Deal
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSOn September 9, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials along with 87 other organizations co-signed a letter to Congressional leadership calling for a one-year “turn-key” extension of current surface transportation funding legislation with the addition of emergency funding for state departments of transportation and public transit agencies. “Public agencies continue to face […]
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National Competition Will Select America’s Two Best Transportation Projects
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSTwelve state department of transportation projects were named finalists in the 2020 America’s Transportation Awards competition by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; projects that make travel across America safer, better, and more accessible to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. [Above photo by the Georgia DOT.] The 12 state DOT projects in […]
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FHWA Issues Emergency Funds to Louisiana for Storm Recovery
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Highway Administration issued $5 million in “quick release” emergency relief funds on September 4 to help Louisiana begin repairing highways and bridges damaged by Hurricane Laura and Tropical Storm Marco. [Above photo by the Louisiana DOTD.] Louisiana experienced high winds and heavy rain from August 23-29 due to those storms, with high winds […]
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Letter Seeks White House Support for Transportation Spectrum Preservation
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSA letter sent September 8 to Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff, called for presidential support for preserving the 5.9-gigahertz (GHz) wireless spectrum communication band for transportation safety needs. [Official White House photo above by Andrea Hanks.] Co-signed by some 40 organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the letter […]
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APTA Unveils Health/Safety Program for Transit Agencies
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe American Public Transportation Association launched a national “Health and Safety Commitments Program” for transit agencies during a virtual event on September 9. The safety program is designed to assure passengers that public transit systems are “taking all the necessary measures to operate safely” as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. [Above photo by […]
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Ride hailing firm Uber committed on September 8 to become a “fully zero-emission platform” by 2040, with 100 percent of rides ordered via its online platform taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transit, or via micro-mobility options. [Above photo by Uber.] The company also said it plans to have 100 percent of rides take […]
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FHWA Provides $70M in Federal/Tribal Transportation Grants
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Highway Administration is offering $70 million in grants via a notice of funding opportunity for cities and states, tribal governments and federal lands agencies through its Nationally Significant Federal Lands and Tribal Projects (NSFLTP) program. [Above photo via Wikimedia Commons.] The agency said this second round of NSFLTP grants aims to fund road […]
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National passenger railroad Amtrak recently expanded its carry-on bike program for most Northeast Regional departures; allowing customers to store their bike inside of the passenger coach in a designated space. [Above photo by Amtrak.] In addition, Amtrak said it is now offering its carry-on bike program in conjunction with its various Northeastern partners on state-supported trains – partners that […]
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The Maryland Department of Transportation is reducing outlays within its Draft Fiscal Year 2021– 2026 Consolidated Transportation Program or CTP by $2.9 billion compared to its previous plan to account for the revenue impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. [Above photo by the Maryland DOT.] The agency noted in a statement that the reduction reflects a […]
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MassDOT Helps Form New Collective Purchasing Agreement
editor@aashto.org September 11, 2020 0 COMMENTSThe Massachusetts Department of Transportation joined with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), and 13 cities and towns to forge a collective procurement agreement so public transportation agencies can achieve a greater economy of scale in building projects – ultimately bringing costs down. [Above photo by the MBTA.] Combined, […]
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