Elana Schor
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Today’s Headlines
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An elegant demolishing of the conservative analyst who testified before Oberstar’s committee last week on her study claiming a Democratic bias in federal stimulus spending (Five Thirty Eight) More coverage of yesterday’s transit industry survey on recession-era cutbacks (USAT, Prog. RR’ing) The financial and safety struggles of D.C.’s Metro system could jeopardize its future federal […]
New Survey: 84% of Transit Agencies Facing Fare Hikes, Service Cuts
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Budget shortfalls exacerbated by the lingering recession have forced 84 percent of local transit agencies to hike fares, cut service, or begin considering one or both of those options since the beginning of 2009, according to a report released today by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). (Chart: APTA) APTA’s bleak survey reflects data from […]
Final Obama Fuel-Efficiency Rule Gives Breaks to Electric, Luxury Cars
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The Obama administration today released its final rule raising U.S. auto fuel-efficiency standards to an average of 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2016, winning plaudits from environmental groups while offering extra benefits to makers of electric and luxury cars. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, at left, with EPA chief Lisa Jackson at right. (Photo: Getty […]
New Report: Congress Should Boost Truck Efficiency by Raising Gas Tax
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As the federal government moves forward on a mandate to set stronger fuel-efficiency rules for trucks and buses, a new report from an independent scientific body is urging lawmakers to take another approach: raise fuel taxes. The 2007 federal energy law aimed to set new fuel-efficiency rules for trucks as well as buses. (Photo: TTI) […]
Today’s Headlines
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In the wake of the Russia subway bombings, a look at the potential security issues facing U.S. transit (Ctr. for Pub. Integrity) Lahood formalizes new rule banning texting behind the wheel by truckers and bus drivers (DOT Press) Obama details his new pitch for expanded offshore oil drilling … (NYT) … with the political upside […]
Could Gas-Tax Bonds Pay For the Next Federal Transportation Bill?
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House infrastructure committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN), facing steep political odds in his push to pass a new six-year federal transportation bill this year, has begun to pitch an outside-the-box solution to the financing shortfall that is still stalling congressional action: Treasury bonds. (Photo: Pop and Politics) Oberstar’s proposal would plug the hole in anticipated […]
Wall Street Swaps Haunting Cities: How Many Transit Agencies Hold Them?
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The vast majority of Americans could not recognize the term "credit-default swaps" until 2008, when the obscure type of Wall Street deal was pinpointed as a leading cause of the U.S. financial meltdown. Now another type of swap, centered on interest rates, is making headlines as a growing number of urban governments start to regret […]
Today’s Headlines
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Despite LaHood’s much-touted non-binding policy paper, complete streets policies may take time to catch on in CA (Streetsblog SF) Nissan to offer its all-electric Leaf model for about $25k (WaPo) Would the gas tax being talked about for the Senate’s new climate change bill actually work? (MoJo Blog) New Jersey transit riders plan to protest […]
As Minneapolis Joins NACTO, Oberstar Backs Shift on Transit Operating Aid
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At an event in Minneapolis today, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) announced his support for giving urban transit agencies more flexibility to spend federal transportation formula money on operating — a change in the current law that has already won the backing of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood but has split the transit industry. […]
New Poll: Support For Transit Expansion Transcends Rural-Urban Divide
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How respondents replied to the following statement: "My community would benefit from an expanded and improved public transportation system, such as rail or buses." (Chart: T4A) Despite the frequent reluctance of rural lawmakers to support more federal investment in transit, a majority of rural and urban voters alike believe their home towns would gain from […]
Today’s Headlines
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Joint Economic Committee releases monthly economic report, mapping which states are feeling the sting of unemployment most sharply (JEC Press) Suicide bomb blast on Moscow transit prompts heightened security in U.S. systems (AP) Rendell expects news from U.S. DOT on tolling I-80 to come within two weeks (Post-Gazette) Does transportation really transcend Washington partisanship? (Philly.com) […]
‘A Dozen or So’ Senators Delay Passage of Oberstar’s Highway Funding Fix
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A contentious congressional dispute over $932 million in transportation funding remains unresolved this week after the Senate approved a one-month extension of federal aviation law rather than a three-month version of the bill that included a fix to the provision at issue. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (Photo: LV City Life) House transportation committee […]