Elana Schor
Recent Posts
House & Senate Taking Unified Approach to Post-Toyota Auto Safety Bill
| | No Comments
The two congressional chairmen with primary jurisdiction over auto safety today vowed to work together on new legislation aimed at staving off a repeat of the debacle facing Toyota, which was recently fined $16 million for failing to promptly inform federal regulators of defects in its cars that sparked millions of recalls. Senate Commerce Committee […]
Jackson Joins Transit Unions to Rally for More Federal Operating Aid
| | No Comments
The scene at today’s transit workers’ rally on Capitol Hill. (Photo: Steve Davis) "CONGRE$$ PLEASE HELP." "THINK BEFORE YOU CUT." "HANDS OFF OUR BUS OPERATORS." The messages were stark on Capitol Hill today as hundreds of transit workers gathered to protest the wave of local budget shortfalls that are threatening many of their jobs and […]
Today’s Headlines
| | No Comments
LaHood says a nationwide network of bike trails could be possible (NPR) Kerry, Graham, Lieberman meeting tonight to try to salvage Senate climate legislation (Globe) Forbes names its top 10 "cities in free fall" — several of which are noted sprawl havens Pennsylvania report sees a future for conventional rail in the state, but not […]
Federal Transit Security Inspections: A Once-Every-Three Years Affair
| | No Comments
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is linked most closely in the popular consciousness with aviation security, but its mandate also extends to protecting rail and transit systems — a job that needs to get more attention from the agency, according to senior senators from both parties. Security on New York City’s subway, above, was boosted […]
U.S. DOT Releases Rules for ‘TIGER II’ Grants, Bringing HUD on Board
| | 3 Comments
The U.S. DOT today released its first round of guidance for the so-called "TIGER II" program, a $600 million pot of competitive transportation grants considered a quasi-sequel to the popular $1.5 billion merit-based fund included in last year’s stimulus law. A ribbon-cutting in Dubuque, Iowa, where a broad revamping of downtown development won TIGER grant […]
Today’s Headlines
| | No Comments
Remember that $932 million in earmarked transport funding that Oberstar demanded be reapportioned to avoid giving four states most of the benefit? His efforts have run into a big Senate obstacle: the Democratic whip (Crain’s) St. Louis-area columnist ask how LaHood can call for bikes to be on equal footing with other modes of transport […]
Today’s Headlines
| | No Comments
Are congressional leaders really planning to tackle immigration before climate change? The reactions from key players (Politico, CSM, The Hill) Speaking of that climate bill, here are five sticking points to watch in the Senate’s upcoming version (including the back-and-forth over gas taxes) (MoJones) Japan considering a funding boost to help its high-speed rail firms […]
U.S. DOT Admits Status Quo Untenable, Vows to Cut Transport Emissions
| | No Comments
In its second Earth Day release, the U.S. DOT today unveiled a 600-page analysis of transportation emissions mandated by Congress in the 2007 energy bill. In addition to weighing in on many potential tactics for limiting transport’s contribution to the changing climate, the document notably recommits the Obama administration to that goal at a time […]
New Report Tracks Urban Transit Emissions — Where Does Your City Rank?
| | 7 Comments
Comparing the average emissions per passenger mile of various transport modes. (Chart: FTA) While state DOTs marked Earth Day by depicting roads as unsung heroes of livability, the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the transit industry celebrated in their own ways by releasing reports on local rail and bus systems’ roles in reducing U.S. transport […]
State DOTs Mark Earth Day by Pressing a More Road-Centric ‘Livability’
| | 3 Comments
As the Obama administration’s inter-agency sustainable communities project commands a growing share of attention and funding in Washington, the response from conservatives and business lobbies has been decidedly less than enthusiastic. Washington D.C.’s bike sharing stations, above, got a prominent mention in the AASHTO report. (Photo: afagen via Flickr) When Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood issued […]
Today’s Headlines
| | No Comments
European ash cloud prompting push for better rail systems (Reuters) Villaraigosa uses airport tarmac encounter to lobby Obama on federal funding for "30/10" transit plan (LAist) $48B in transport funding now available to states, about a month after Congress officially extended the 2005 transportation law until next year (DOT Press) Conservatives blast Oberstar’s new proposal […]
Transit Industry Asks Congress to Quadruple Annual Security Funding
| | 2 Comments
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the D.C. lobbying arm for much of the transit industry, today asked the House committee in charge of homeland security spending for $1.1 billion next year to beef up rail and bus security, a four-fold increase over the level that Congress approved for 2010. APTA president William Millar told […]