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(Source: Wall Street Journal)
For people who still have jobs, there’s finally some relaxing news: new data showing commutes are getting easier.
On average, Americans spent 13 fewer hours stuck in traffic in 2008 than in 2007, according to an annual road traffic reportreleased Wednesday by Inrix. Inrix collects data on road congestion, in part, from a million vehicles equipped with GPS-enabled devices like cellphones and car navigation systems. Inrix cited volatile fuel prices as one reason for the decline in road travel, along with the economy. Some of the findings from the report:
– Riverside, Calif., with the third-highest level of home foreclosure activity last year, saw the highest drop in traffic congestion.
– Detroit, where unemployment rose about 21%, saw the second largest decrease in congestion, tied with San Diego.
Click here to read the entire article and watch the video of Inrix CEO Bryan Mistele talking about the annual traffic report.
(via Editorial – A Smart Way to Help Commuters – NYTimes.com)
It’s been clear for months that only Albany could really rescue New York City commuters from the drastic service cuts and major increases in tolls and fares threatened by the deficit-ridden Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
That seemed a hopeless prospect — until this week, when Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, Albany’s most powerful Democrat, announced a compromise plan that could help both the authority and its riders. What is even more encouraging, Mr. Silver is probably the only one in Albany with enough clout to sell such a compromise.
The Silver plan is adapted in part from an excellent proposal outlined last year by Richard Ravitch, the authority’s former chairman. Mr. Ravitch and a commission established to find new ways to finance mass transit proposed two changes: a modest payroll tax for employers in a 12-county area and new tolls on bridges to Manhattan along the Harlem and East Rivers.
Click here to read the entire article.
Obama backs high-speed rail service | CourierPostOnline.com | Courier-Post.
President Barack Obama on Thursday proposed setting aside $5 billion over the next five years so states could boost high-speed rail service.
States would have to compete for the grants, which would total $1 billion each year beginning in 2010.
The money was part of Obama’s $3.55 trillion budget plan for next year. The White House only released the budget highlights; the detailed spending blueprint is scheduled to be unveiled in April.
The rail money comes on top of $8 billion for high-speed rail in the $787 billion economic stimulus plan Obama signed into law this month
(Source: Wall Street Journal’s Environmental Capital Blog)
President Obama this week urged the country to boldly confront challenges and take responsibility for the future. Today he was starkly reminded by a Congressionally-appointed commission to do the same when it comes to filling the massive hole in the nation’s transportation budget.
The recommendation was two years in the making—the commission’s mix of transport industry veterans, elected officials and think-tankers has been trying to divine how to raise the extra money needed to maintain and improve roads, buses, and trains.
Click here to read the entire article.
The Transportation Department also received $48.1 billion in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act for shovel-ready infrastructure construction projects.
The proposed 2010 budget includes a five-year, $5 billion state grant program for high-speed rail projects, which is above $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail projects in the stimulus package.
(Source: Atlanta Journal Constitution)
Some board members said they wanted her gone because new road projects had been choked. Others spoke of concern over the criticism that the department was ineffective. There were also budget issues and discontent over conflicting priorities within the department.
Pictured: Gena Evans, Picture by: Kimberly Smith / ksmith@ajc.com
But in reality, trouble had been fomenting almost since the day Evans was elected. Controversy tipped into rebellion last week after Gov. Sonny Perdue proposed a plan to gut the DOT board of most of its powers over the state’s $2 billion transportation budget. Evans, 40, who was Perdue’s candidate for commissioner, was perceived at times to be more attentive to the governor’s positions than the board’s.
“Obviously there’s been some criticism that apparently our leadership has been inadequate,” said board member Steve Farrow, who was previously a supporter of Evans but voted for the termination. “And when there’s criticism that your leadership’s been inadequate, I think you need to make a change in the leadership.”
Click here to read the entire article on this controversy in Georgia.
(Source: Creamer Media’s Engineering News)
All of Durban’s public transport projects, which are being funded by the national government to the tune of R1,2-billion, will be completed by the first quarter of 2010,Carlos Esteves, deputy head of the Road System Management for eThekwini, said ast week.
The city aims to promote public transport over private transport to make the city more accessible and to ease movement around the city centre for commuters and pedestrians.
Projects on target for 2010 include additional dedicated public transport lanes, an inner city distribution system, park and ride facilities using existing car parks and buses, upgrades to major intersections, a freeway management system, a closed-circuit television road monitoring system and a traffic call centre.
Durban’s King Shaka International Airport is expected to start operating in May 2010, just in time for the FIFA World Cup, and a shuttle service will be provided for passengers between the airport and a central transport hub in the city.
(Source: etrucker.com)
The American Trucking Associations this week opposed a federal recommendation for a vehicle miles traveled tax, saying it presents privacy concerns.
ATA’s comments come in response to the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission’s report on highway funding challenges. The commission anticipates increasing problems with relying on fuel taxes to support infrastructure improvements because of increasing strides in fuel efficiency.
The commission’s solution – to migrate to a vehicle miles traveled tax – presents privacy concerns that not only are intrusive, but also could lead to new forms of fraud and identity theft, ATA argues. Also, the costs to implement and maintain the program would reduce the amount of funds available for infrastructure, ATA says.
Click here to read the entire article.
The theme for this year’s e-Transport Conference is “Moving People Smartly: Transport Solutions for FIFA Soccer World Cup 2010 and Beyond.” The biennial e-Transport Confex is the premier ITS event to network with key decision-makers and ITS professionals and exploit business opportunities in South Africa’s booming ITS market. With a current infrastructure spend of R600 bilion, there are numerous ITS projects in the pipeline.
To view the programme, click