Elana Schor
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Today’s Headlines
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Is the recession really easing? Not for many transport and construction companies (Reuters) LaHood cruises on mag-lev train during visit to Japan (AP, Bloomberg) A look at the local ramifications of the auto-bike culture clash (CNN) Debate erupts in D.C. after transit union calls for 40mph maximum speeds on local rail, citing safety concerns (WashPost […]
Senate Climate Bill to Feature Transport Carbon Cap — But No Trading
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Sens. John Kerry (D-MA) and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) are set to roll out their long-awaited, somewhat delayed climate change bill tomorrow without onetime co-sponsor Lindsey Graham (R-SC). The legislation no longer includes its originally conceived "linked fee" on motor fuels — which was quickly branded as a gas tax increase, alarming Graham and the White […]
High-Speed Rail Lobbying Campaign Revives the “$4B” Rallying Cry
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The lobbying coalition that helped prod Congress into approving $2.5 billion for high-speed rail last year — twice as much as the Senate had originally set aside — today kicked off a new campaign urging lawmakers to approve $4 billion for bullet trains next year and $2.6 billion for Amtrak. (Photo: TreeHugger) At an event […]
First Lady’s Childhood Obesity Task Force Calls For Transportation Reform
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(Chart: LetsMove.gov) The White House’s inter-agency task force on childhood obesity, developed under the stewardship of First Lady Michelle Obama, today released a 124-page report recommending dozens of policy shifts in health care, community development, and transportation that it estimates can bring down obesity rates among kids by 5 percent over the next 20 years. […]
Today’s Headlines
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DeFazio takes aim at Obama administration’s lack of progress on new long-term federal transport bill (Roll Call) As White House publishes final version of its auto fuel-efficiency standards, the clock starts ticking for industry lawsuits (Greenwire) Drum Major Institute’s Moroz calls for a stronger federal urban policy (Times-Union) Bay Area columnists take aim at proposed […]
Shock or Yawn? Virginia’s GOP Governor Backs Highway User Fees
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Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R), who has won over many conservatives by reviving the state’s recognition of Confederate History Month and attempting to declare the White House health care bill invalid within its borders, today proposed to add tolls to Interstate 95 along the North Carolina border. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) (Photo: LAT) McDonnell announced […]
White House Proposes Lowering Barriers to Rail, Airline Unionizing
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Rail and airline employees would face lowered barriers to unionizing under a new rule announced today by the Obama administration that would put union elections for workers in both modes of transportation on an equal footing with other industries. Rail workers would have an easier path to unionizing under the new rule. (Photo: TreeHugger) The […]
Obama Administration Helps Jump-Start Two New D.C. Housing Upgrades
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The federal government has long taken heat for giving short shrift to cities, and the Obama administration — which recently lost its urban affairs chief after months of lackluster progress — is no exception. But two projects getting underway in the U.S. capital provide evidence that, slowly but surely, federal funding is making its way […]
Today’s Headlines
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LaHood heading to Japan for face-to-face talks with Toyota execs over defective autos … (LAT) … but not before getting lobbied by mag-lev train backers on a Pittsburgh visit (Trib-Review) New York state officials and CSX hold a powwow with the feds to clear up controversy over high-speed rail’s top speed (Dem-Chronicle, Buff. News) Embattled […]
U.S. DOT Proposes Giving Minority-Owned Firms Greater Shot at Contracts
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Women- and minority-owned companies would have an easier time winning federal transportation contracts under a new rule released by the Obama administration today, which comes in the wake of complaints from social-equity advocates that such firms had received just 2 percent of infrastructure contracts awarded under last year’s economic stimulus law. (Photo: CA DOT) The […]
Arizona Nixes Speed-Limit Enforcement Cameras
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In the latest in a series of high-profile conservative moves, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s (R) administration has announced it will stop using cameras to enforce speed limits on the state’s highways — ending a program once billed as a boon to road safety that would also help raise revenue. A speed-camera image of the car […]
Today’s Headlines
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Senate climate bill, with its contentious transportation section, could be coming next week even without its chief GOP author (NatJo Blogs) Tele-work bill, which would let federal employees trim transport costs by working from home, fails unexpectedly in the House (WashPost Blogs) David Roberts asks: Is the answer to the nation’s transportation problem better cars, […]