Recent Streetsblog USA posts about U.S. DOT

LaHood on Transport: ‘We Don’t Want to Pit One Mode … Against Another’

By Elana Schor | Sep 4, 2009 | 2 Comments

While Vice President Biden was giving a candid take on cities’ difficulties taking advantage of the economic stimulus, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was giving a recovery speech of his own in Chicago — where he sent a message of transport reform to an audience that might not have expected it. Transportation Secretary LaHood, with his […]

As “Cash for Clunkers” Sputters, a Privately Funded Spinoff Picks Up

By Elana Schor | Aug 20, 2009 | No Comments

The U.S. DOT began signaling yesterday that it would bring the "cash for clunkers" program to an end amid growing unease from auto dealers about the government’s slow pace of reimbursement and General Motors’ decision to begin fronting "clunkers" repayments to its own salesmen. (Photo: AmericaJR.com) But with auto-industry forecasters predicting a cool 1 million […]

“Cash for Clunkers” Coming to a Close?

By Elana Schor | Aug 19, 2009 | No Comments

The Obama administration plans to close the door on the politically popular and environmentally slipshod auto trade-in program known as "cash for clunkers," according to a report this afternoon in the Wall Street Journal: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday he would disclose within two days updated figures on the program, including how much of […]

Crunching June Stimulus Numbers: Roads Create Pricier Jobs Than Transit

By Elana Schor | Aug 19, 2009 | No Comments

Transportation spending under the economic stimulus law created close to 15,000 jobs in June, or three times as many as were created in May, according to estimates released today by the U.S. DOT. (Photo: Cleveland Plain Dealer) Those numbers are bound to hearten Obama administration officials who have defended the stimulus’ 6-percent investment in infrastructure […]

Distracted Driving Laws Lack Teeth in Some States

By Elana Schor | Aug 13, 2009 | 1 Comment

For a story today on the political challenge of outlawing texting behind the wheel, the Washington Post sent its reporter to a downtown intersection to track whether drivers were obeying the city’s ban on hand-held cell phones. (Photo: brainlink.org) The results were disheartening: 35 law-breakers passed by in 30 minutes. But even more dismaying, as […]

Citigroup’s “Cash for Clunkers” Contract Worth $7.7 Million

By Elana Schor | Aug 10, 2009 | No Comments

The U.S. DOT never responded to Streetsblog Capitol Hill’s request for a copy of the contract that Citigroup — which remains one-third-owned by the government after taking a $45 billion bailout — received to process car dealer claims under the "cash for clunkers" program. But Dow Jones did pry loose one key detail on Friday, […]

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