Recent Streetsblog USA posts about U.S. DOT

Final Obama Fuel-Efficiency Rule Gives Breaks to Electric, Luxury Cars

By Elana Schor | Apr 1, 2010 | 6 Comments

The Obama administration today released its final rule raising U.S. auto fuel-efficiency standards to an average of 35.5 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2016, winning plaudits from environmental groups while offering extra benefits to makers of electric and luxury cars. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, at left, with EPA chief Lisa Jackson at right. (Photo: Getty […]

As Minneapolis Joins NACTO, Oberstar Backs Shift on Transit Operating Aid

By Elana Schor | Mar 30, 2010 | 6 Comments

At an event in Minneapolis today, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) announced his support for giving urban transit agencies more flexibility to spend federal transportation formula money on operating — a change in the current law that has already won the backing of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood but has split the transit industry. […]

Inhofe: California is Dictating to Feds on Auto Fuel Efficiency

By Elana Schor | Mar 22, 2010 | 2 Comments

The senior Republican on the Senate environment panel has criticized the House transportation bill for strengthening federal involvement at the expense of states — but when it comes to last year’s agreement to raise national fuel-efficiency standards, Sen. Jim Inhofe (OK) is making the opposite argument, accusing the White House of letting one state dictate […]

McCaskill Asks LaHood to ‘Put an End to’ Transportation Earmarks

By Elana Schor | Mar 18, 2010 | 5 Comments

When House leaders agreed last week to ban earmarks to for-profit entities, tax and transportation projects got a notable exemption. But that doesn’t mean Congress has no appetite to curb transport earmarks, as Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) showed in a letter sent this week to U.S. DOT chief Ray LaHood. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) (Photo: […]

As Geithner Touts Infrastructure, Skepticism Persists on $4B ‘I-Fund’ Plan

By Elana Schor | Mar 17, 2010 | 1 Comment

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 […]

LaHood Reaches Out to Transit Industry, Lamenting ‘Lousy Economy’

By Elana Schor | Mar 15, 2010 | 1 Comment

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 […]

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