Elana Schor
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Today’s Headlines
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(Image: Purdue University via Grist) Above is a map tracking where CO2 emissions from fossil fuels are originating — distressing news for cities? (Grist) LaHood gets lobbied to support direct aid to cities and more federal transit operating aid (Press-Enterprise, Current) A rallying cry for Congress to get behind federal aid for L.A.’s 30/10 transit […]
Automakers Oppose Congressional Bid to Bar EPA From Limiting Emissions
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The auto industry today aligned with the White House in the debate over a congressional bid to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating carbon emissions while lawmakers work to pass a climate bill, warning that such an attempt to yank EPA authority "would collapse" last year’s agreement to raise fuel-efficiency standards. (Photo: TreeHugger) […]
As Geithner Touts Infrastructure, Skepticism Persists on $4B ‘I-Fund’ Plan
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Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, considered a skeptic of transportation stimulus spending by some lawmakers, yesterday joined two other White House economic advisers in endorsing new infrastructure investment as a means to jump-start the economy. Geithner (l.) said that there is "a very good economic case" for infrastructure spending. (Photo: WaPo) But the president’s proposed $4 […]
Villaraigosa Steps Up Case for Federal Investment in “30/10” Transit Plan
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Days after pitching the Senate environment committee for federal help with expediting his ambitious "30/10" package of new transit projects, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was back on the Hill yesterday meeting with lawmakers as part of a broad campaign for more investment in California infrastructure. Villaraigosa, at left, flanked by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). […]
Today’s Headlines
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Senate to vote today on final approval of jobs bill that extends the 2005 transportation law until 2011 (MLive.com) Oberstar floats the idea of a taxpayer loan to the highway trust fund to pay for the next long-term federal transport bill (DC Velocity) A look at Pittsburgh’s efforts to join the urban sustainability vanguard (Post-Gazette) […]
Brown Offers Senate Plan For More Federal Operating Aid to Local Transit
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Local transit officials seeking more federal operating aid during lean budgetary times got a new ally today in Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), who introduced legislation in Congress’ upper chamber to give rail and bus agencies more flexibility to spend funding from Washington on averting service cuts and layoffs. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (Photo: Partnership for […]
Environmental Group Offers Congress a Map to Cleaner Freight
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The federal government can reap significant pollution-reduction benefits by focusing on a national freight plan that replaces older diesel equipment with newer, cleaner-burning train cars while building out regional networks more efficiently, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said yesterday in a new report [PDF]. Freight rail in Chicago, home of the stimulus-funded CREATE freight project. […]
House and Senate Split on Approach to Obama’s Transit Safety Plan
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After a year marked by discord between the House and Senate over the timing of the next federal transportation bill, another split emerged yesterday over the timetable for taking up the Obama administration’s plan for federal involvement in transit safety oversight. Rep. John Mica (R-FL) opposes the White House safety plan, but he also wants […]
Today’s Headlines
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LaHood publicly, if informally, urges states to "treat walking and bicycling as equals with other transportation modes" (DOT Blog) Noise pollution alert: Opponents of health reform bill launch a "Honk No" protest (Newsweek) Do higher gas prices, whether through external factors or tax hikes, actually depress Americans’ urge to drive? (TNR’s The Avenue) Gauging high-speed […]
LaHood Reaches Out to Transit Industry, Lamenting ‘Lousy Economy’
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Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood sought to commiserate with the cash-strapped transit industry today, declaring the Obama administration an ally of local rail and bus agencies even as the "lousy economy" clouds prospects for passage of a new long-term federal transportation bill. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (Photo: Getty Images) In an address to the American Public […]
Today’s Headlines
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LaHood puts his health-reformer hat on for the administration .. (Tribune) … days after making a surprise appearance at the National Bike Summit (Streetsblog SF) Oberstar supports House ban on for-profit earmarks — but he doesn’t consider the transportation bill’s "special projects" to be earmarks (The Hill) Could San Francisco become a model for transit […]
Bike-Ped Access to Cleveland’s New Bridge Picking Up Political Support
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The push to add a bike-ped lane to Cleveland’s planned new Cuyahoga River bridge, a replacement for the crumbling Innerbelt span, is picking up new political support this week after a local advocacy campaign. The existing Innerbelt Bridge is in line for a $450 million replacement. (Photo: Cleveland.com) The Plain Dealer newspaper reported earlier this […]