Elana Schor
Recent Posts
Massachusetts Republican Cuts a Bike Version of Scott Brown ‘Truck’ Ad
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After Sen. Scott Brown’s (R-MA) January upset in the race for the congressional seat long held by the late Ted Kennedy, his win was chalked up to several factors: voter reluctance to embrace health care reform, campaign-trail gaffes by the Democratic candidate — and a hyper-folksy ad campaign that featured Brown cruising around the state […]
Today’s Headlines
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(Graphic: Fast Company) The U.S. electric grid is going to need a makeover if electric cars ever take off (above graphic and full story at Fast Company) LaHood to visit MIT today to talk high-tech distracted driving solutions (AP) Americans who learn to love Amtrak, warts and all (WashPost) A look at the private-sector companies […]
Long-Shot NY Congressional Candidate Runs Against High-Speed Rail
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Over the years, veteran Rep. Louise Slaughter (D) has pushed so doggedly for construction of a new train line in her upstate New York district that one state legislator christened her "Mrs. High-Speed Rail." GOP congressional candidate Michael Giuliano is staking his long-shot bid in part on a critique of high-speed rail. (Photo: Giuliano for […]
GAO: Economic Recovery Benefits of ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Are ‘Uncertain’
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"Cash for clunkers," the White House’s much-touted program encouraging trade-ins for more fuel-efficient autos, had an "uncertain" impact on economic recovery, according to a new audit from the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) — largely because it remains unclear how many of the car sales it spurred would have occurred without taxpayer subsidies. Were "clunker" […]
Today’s Headlines
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The details on that post-Toyota auto safety reform bill that Congress is drafting (Free Press) LaHood speaks out on distracted driving in a HuffPost op-ed Sen. Graham (R-SC) tells Ezra Klein that White House’s vehement rejection of carbon fees as a "gas tax" helped push him away from the negotiating table on climate change Green […]
RITA Speaks: What Technology Can Do for Transportation Safety
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Among the myriad of smaller agencies that comprise the U.S. DOT, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) tends to stay in the background, not unlike the wonky, computer-hacking sidekicks often found in action movies. RITA’s work could be used to help cyclists steer clear of "dooring" opportunities like this. (Photo: Sidi Ergo) But the […]
Dem and GOP Senators Seek More Long-Term Rail Vision From Obama Aides
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The senior Democratic and Republican senators in charge of setting annual transportation spending levels today urged the leader of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a more comprehensive plan for using the White House’s high-speed rail program to spur the development of viable U.S. train networks. FRA chief Joseph Szabo (l.) and Amtrak CEO […]
Is the ‘Road Gang’ Losing Power in Washington?
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That is the thesis posited in a new investigation from the Center for Public Integrity, which sent a reporter to sprawl-saturated South Florida to examine how much of a return the transportation construction industry is getting on its multi-million-dollar contributions to congressional campaigns. In a time of sluggish economic recovery, when federal dollars can make […]
Today’s Headlines
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A Massachusetts NIMBY fight finally gets resolved as Salazar okays a new wind farm off Cape Cod (WaPo Blogs) Houston light rail could lose federal funding thanks to concerns over compliance with "Buy American" rules (Chronicle) Trains that run on beef fat? Amtrak is starting the experiment (Det. News) Auto dealers continue twisting arms to […]
On Emissions, CA Lawmaker Questions Whether CA Should Lead the Way
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson today told House members that she would soon begin work on new auto fuel-efficiency rules for the year 2017 and beyond, responding to calls from carmakers searching for certainty — and warily eyeing the new fuel standards being crafted in California. (Photo: The Weekly Driver) The political and […]
New Report Takes on ‘Perverse Incentives’ to De-Emphasize Bridge Repair
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When Minneapolis’ I-35 bridge collapsed in 2007, lawmakers from both parties vowed to focus on shoring up the nation’s aging infrastructure. But when the public spotlight faded from the issue of infrastructure repair, Congress showed little appetite for setting aside maintenance aid that did not hold the promise of ribbon-cutting ceremonies or campaign donations. The […]
Today’s Headlines
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LaHood joins auto insurer to kick off new campaign educating teenagers about distracted driving (DOT Blog, Allstate Press) Who’s to blame for the now-undetermined delay in the Senate climate change bill: Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) or Lindsey Graham (R-SC)? (MoJones, TNR, NPR) Digging deeper into the recent reports of a significant uptick in New […]