Ask Report’s Authors About Highway And Transit Funding

March 5, 2009 at 7:24 pm

(Source:  National Journal’s Transportation Blog)

On Feb 26, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commissionissued its report on how to fund the next highway and transit bill. It called for Congress to enact a 10-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax (and 15-cent-per-gallon increase in the diesel tax) in the next surface transportation bill while preparing to convert to a system that, by 2020, would charge people according to how many miles they drive.

This blog is fortunate to have commission Chairman Robert Atkinson and members Kathy Ruffalo and Geoffrey Yarema among its expert contributors. This week, instead of responding to a question, expert bloggers are invited to post their questions about the report on the blog, and Rob, Kathy and Geoff have agreed to spend the week answering them. So fire away, everyone.

Click here to read the responses/questions on this bloggers “interactive” Q & A.

Number of the Day: More Than Half of All Vehicles Trips to Work in US are 11 Miles or Less

March 5, 2009 at 5:35 pm

(Source: Treehugger)

driving to work photo

11 Miles — According to the 2001 Nationwide Household Travel Survey (NHTS), 58%of all vehicle trips to work are less than 11 miles (17.7 kilometers).

37% — Vehicle trips to work that are 5 miles (8 kilometers) and less represent 37%, according to the same survey.

21% — Trips between 6 and 10 miles (9.6 to 16 kilometers) represent 21%.

Click here to read the entire article.

Wall Street Journal’s Interview with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood

March 4, 2009 at 2:05 pm

(Source:  Wall Street Journal)

Rupert Murdoch is on my drivewayPresident Obama and Vice President Biden spoke with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Tuesday at Transportation Department headquarters, where they announced the first batch of stimulus funds getting distributed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Mr. LaHood talked about spending stimulus money wisely, his opposition to an increase in the gasoline tax, new fuel emission standards and more. Below are edited excerpts from the interview.

* * *

The Wall Street Journal: What’s being done to ensure that the $48 billion going to transportation projects in the stimulus bill is spent wisely?

Mr. LaHood: Our people are in touch daily with these DOT secretaries. We generally, having worked with them for years and years and years, know what is fundable. It really falls under two categories. Projects that were started and then stopped because they ran out of money, and something that’s been sitting on a shelf in a DOT office because they didn’t have the money to fund it. Some of these, like the one we announced today (a road repaving project in suburban Maryland), have been in process…These are projects that these folks have known about and have been talking about for some time. This isn’t something brand new that’s been sprung up on them…I don’t think you’re going to see something weird pop up…It’s pretty traditional stuff. It really is.

WSJ: Are you concerned when you hear squabbles between mayors and governors over how to spend the stimulus money?

Mr. LaHood: [Cities] are concerned that 70% of the money is going to the states and they’re only going to get 30%…These disputes, look it, they’re going to take place….In the end, I’m not going to be able to change the idea that 70% of this is going to the states and 30% are going to them. I tried to make a case for them. But the way it’s designed here…it is what it is.

Click here to read the entire article.

Washington Beltway – HOT Lane Project Update

March 4, 2009 at 12:55 am

(Source:  Washington Post)

Here’s a look at what drivers will encounter during the construction phase of Virginia DOT’s HOT lanes project at the Braddock Road interchange.  The project will create special lanes on the Beltway open to high-occupancy vehicles, or those willing to pay a toll.

Shovels Are In Motion, Says Obama

March 3, 2009 at 7:44 pm

(Source:  Whitehouse.gov via Planetizen)

The President and V.P. addressed the Department of Transportation today, stating that the new investment in infrastructure “will create or save 150,000 jobs by the end of next year, most of them in the private sector.”

Excerpts from the Vice-President Biden’s address:

Just two weeks after signing that legislation, we’re about to start the biggest investment on our nation’s road, bridges, highways and tunnels since we built the Interstate Highway System over 50 years ago.  It’s a big deal.  The work is beginning now, with hundreds more projects getting underway in the next few months.  Some project will start this month, some won’t get going until the summer.  We’re going to do everything we can to get them moving as quickly as possible.  But Americans didn’t get in this mess overnight.  And unfortunately, unfortunately, it’s going to take some time for us to get out of this.

     Mr. President, you also made it clear that we have an obligation to the taxpayers of this nation to make sure their money is being used wisely, to make it accountable and transparent.  Folks, we’re going to ask of you a sense of diligence and transparency and responsibility as has not been asked before, because we’ve never made this kind of investment before.  This is a big deal.  Never before in the history of this country have the people been more able to see with such complete transparency how we’re going to put their money to work, not just in this agency but particularly here. 

Excerpts from President Obama’s address:

20081207_VA_Presser-1079

     Of the 3.5 million jobs that will be created and saved over the next two years as a result of this recovery plan, 400,000 will be jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools, repairing our faulty levees and dams, connecting nearly every American to broadband, and upgrading the buses and trains that commuters take every day.  Many of these projects will be coordinated by Secretary LaHood and all of you at the Department of Transportation.  And I want you to know that the American public is grateful to public servants like you — men and women whose work isn’t always recognized, but whose jobs are critical to our nation’s safety, security, and prosperity.  You have never been more important than you are right now, and for that we are all grateful.  (Applause.) 

     Now, in the coming days and weeks, my administration will be announcing more details about the kinds of transportation projects that will be launched as part of the recovery plan.  But today, I want to speak about an investment we are making in one part of our infrastructure.  Through the Recovery Act, we will be investing $28 billion in our highways, money that every one of our 50 states can start using immediately to put people back to work.  It’s an investment being made at an unprecedented pace, thanks in large part to Joe Biden, who’s leading the effort to get the money out the door quickly.  Because of Joe, and because of all the governors and mayors, county and city officials who are helping implement this plan, I can say that 14 days after I signed our Recovery Act into law, we are seeing shovels hit the ground.

 

Click here to read the entire addresses of both the President and Vice President.

America’s Worst Intersections

March 2, 2009 at 4:58 pm

(Source: Forbes)

Although still bad in these spots, traffic congestion in the U.S. has lessened as the economy has slowed.

The Cross Bronx Expressway, that fume-choked expanse of concrete and steel that slices through New York City’s mainland borough, occupies a uniquely tragic place in the history of urban planning.

It displaced more than 60,000 middle-class residents during its construction between 1948 and 1963, and it cost $250 million–more than any highway project before it. The apartment buildings that line its growling trench have been home to generations of asthmatic children who struggle to breathe in the acrid clouds of exhaust that fill the air. Its presence has so thoroughly eviscerated its surroundings that many blocks adjacent to it are occupied entirely by families living below the poverty level.

Worst Intersections of the United States

Click here to read the entire article and to watch the video.  

A Silver Lining to the Downturn: Less Traffic

February 27, 2009 at 11:41 am

(Source: Wall Street Journal)

For people who still have jobs, there’s finally some relaxing news: new data showing commutes are getting easier.

trafficOn 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.

Editorial – A Smart Way to Help Commuters – NYTimes.com

February 27, 2009 at 11:31 am

(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.

Transportation would get $72.5 billion – UPI.com

February 27, 2009 at 10:45 am

 

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.

Durban promises to meet 2010 deadline for R1.2bn public-transport programmes

February 27, 2009 at 12:37 am

(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.