Elana Schor
Recent Posts
Obama Aide Defends Transit Safety Plan as Different from Rail Rules
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Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Peter Rogoff today mounted a defense of the White House’s transit safety plan, assuring some skeptical members of Congress that he does not want to "replicate" inter-city rail safety rules that have taken flak for impeding the development of viable U.S. train networks. As of last year, D.C.’s Metro had […]
Kerry on Senate Climate Bill: Federal Gas Tax is Staying at 18.4 Cents
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The several dozen transportation industry groups that raised questions about where the upcoming Senate climate change bill would send proceeds from its new "linked fee" on carbon fuels can stop worrying — because it looks like the legislation won’t contain any new tax on motor fuels. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) (Photo: Getty) As Sen. John […]
Today’s Headlines
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Congressional field hearing in Chicago brings out the midwest’s biggest high-speed rail backers (WBAY) Local D.C. urbanism blogger (and Streetsblog Network member) David Alpert to testify before congressional committee today on transit safety and funding issues (GGW) GOP Rep. Petri backs VMT fee to ultimately replace the gas tax (Examiner) One big winner in Europe’s […]
In Atlanta, X Marks the Spot for Local Protests Against Transit Cuts
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One of the transit buses marked for today’s Atlanta protests. (Photo: AJC) A week of protests against local transit cuts and fare hikes began today in Atlanta, where union members painted large red Xs on buses and rail cars that would go out of service under a plan to end service on about 30 percent […]
New GOP Bill Would Bar Enviro Reviews from Considering Climate
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Republicans on the Senate environment committee, who months ago began criticizing the Obama administration for evaluating federally funded infrastructure projects for their impact on climate change, today introduced legislation that would bar the White House from making climate a factor in environmental reviews. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), one of the new NEPA bill’s sponsors, holds […]
Could L.A.’s Transit Plan Become a Winning Campaign Issue for Boxer?
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President Obama did triple duty last night for the re-election campaign of Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), visiting three fundraisers to send a stark message about polls that show the environment committee chairman holding a single-digit lead against her GOP challengers despite a formidable cash advantage. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), at left, with the president last […]
Today’s Headlines
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Kerry reveals details of upcoming Senate climate bill (Politico) Conservatives anxiously eyeing LaHood’s next move at U.S. DOT (Amer. Spectator) Transit equity advocates painting giant red "X" on Atlanta rail cars today to protest service cuts (Creative Loafing) Portland gets $2.4m grant from feds to work on new, overhead wire-free streetcar technology (Prog. RR’ing) A […]
Obama Energy Aide: ‘We Probably Saw Peak Demand for Gas … in 2007’
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The decline in American driving that began at the start of the recession, fueled by record-high gas prices, came to an end late last year. But the Obama administration believes that its transport and energy policies have ushered in a long-term shift, "changing the fuel mix in ways that will drive down gasoline demand," according […]
Detroit Residents Press EPA for Stronger Air Pollution Monitoring
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In Washington, "grassroots lobbying" is more often associated with industry-funded issue campaigns than ground-up local advocacy. But residents of Detroit’s industrial southwest neighborhoods took the term back to its roots on Friday, getting a personal visit from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials after a groundswell of complaints about decaying air quality. Cyclists in southwest Detroit. […]
Former U.S. DOT Chief on the Worst-Case Scenario: 4 Years of Extensions
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To a certain extent, hope springs eternal in federal transportation circles. Even as state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations operate under the latest in a series of extensions of the 2005 law that governs road, transit, and bike-ped spending, few are willing to envision a future in which new legislation doesn’t pass by next year. […]
Today’s Headlines
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Erupting volcano continues to snarl flights, hobble infrastructure in Europe … (NYT) … as even the most famous travelers seek road and rail alternatives (WSJ) Trouble for Cleveland’s Innerbelt Bridge project? Ohio state inspector issues critical report (Dispatch) LaHood to attend Mississippi River bridge groundbreaking today (News-Dem) Toyota’s dilemma: Fight the U.S. DOT or pay […]
Congress Approves Repayment for U.S. DOT Workers Furloughed by Bunning
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After a six-week delay, Congress last night agreed to repay U.S. DOT employees for the two days of work they missed when Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) filibustered an extension of the 2005 transportation law, forcing a temporary shutdown of much of the federal agency’s business. Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) (Photo: CNN) The repayment language was […]