DOT

August 31, 2009 -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Federal Transit Administration last week achieved a crucial milestone: it beat the September 1st deadline to provide all states and local communities 50 percent of their Recovery Act transit formula dollars.

In fact, FTA provided nearly 90 percent of its $7.5 billion transit stimulus money to states and local communities. FTA is managing an additional $900 million in discretionary funds for New Starts projects, the Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction and Tribal Transit programs and oversight for a total of $8.4 billion.    » read more »

DOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to Create New Bond Fee Reimbursement Program

August 31, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $20 million in recovery funds to create the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Bonding Assistance Program, an initiative that will help small and disadvantaged businesses better compete for work on transportation projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).    » read more »

August 28, 2009 -- WICHITA, Kan. – U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari today kicked off construction of the I-135 Interchange, the first highway project in Wichita with construction costs fully funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“The reconstruction of the I-135 interchange here in Wichita is a great example of a stimulus project that’s going to leave a lasting impression,” Deputy Secretary Porcari said. “This project is going to relieve a chronic bottleneck and open the door to new commercial and retail development.”    » read more »

Cash for Clunkers Wraps up with Nearly 700,000 car sales and increased fuel efficiency

August 26, 2009 -- The CARS program came to a close Tuesday night with nearly 700,000 clunkers taken off the roads, replaced by far more fuel efficient vehicles. Rebate applications worth $2.877 billion were submitted by the 8 p.m. deadline, under the $3 billion provided by Congress to run the program.

Cars made in America topped the most-purchased list, from the Ford Focus to the Toyota Corolla to the Honda Civic.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed a new, consumer-friendly replacement tire label which would include, for the first time, information about the tire’s impact on fuel economy and CO2 emission reductions. Tires with lower rolling resistance – and proper inflation pressure - can contribute to improved fuel economy.

In addition to the new fuel efficiency ratings, the proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also would provide consumers with two other key pieces of tire performance information - wet weather traction and tread wear. All three ratings would be prominently displayed on a removable label attached to the replacement tire at the point of sale.    » read more »

Airlines continue to send repair work abroad despite security and safety concerns

June 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill this week followed up on a series of Department of Transportation Inspector General reports that have exposed gaping loopholes in the security and oversight of foreign repair work on domestic, commercial aircraft.

McCaskill questioned the heads of the national and regional airline associations about the industry’s increasing outsourcing of airline maintenance, including to non-FAA certified repair facilities.    » read more »

June 17, 2009 -- The Department of Transportation moved another step closer to realizing President Obama’s vision for high-speed rail in America today, publishing guidelines for states and regions to apply for federal funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“The time has finally come for the United States to get serious about building a national network of high-speed rail corridors we can all be proud of,” Secretary Ray LaHood said. “High-speed rail can reduce traffic congestion and link up with light rail, subways and buses to make travel more convenient and our communities more livable.”    » read more »

Tri-City Corridor Project Could Qualify for Federal Funds Under New Guidelines

June 17, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, welcomed news that the Tri-City Corridor project could qualify for federal grant funding under new guidelines announced today by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Under these guidelines, states and regions may now apply for the $8 billion in grants for high speed rail projects provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON— AARP Executive Vice President for Social Impact Nancy LeaMond commended the partnership announced today by HUD, DOT and EPA to apply a series of “livability principles” to federal transportation, environmental protection and housing spending.

AARP has long advocated for livable communities that have affordable and appropriate housing options, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options which together facilitate personal health independence and engagement in community life.

LeaMond said:    » read more »

White House Announces Significant Funding for Transit Capital Improvements

June 10, 2009 --
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today lauded U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s announcement that more than $400 million from the economic recovery package is headed to make capital investments in transit throughout California.

Funding will be used for preventive maintenance, bus replacement, bus stop improvements and construction, and increasing accessibility.

Senator Boxer said, “Transit is a win-win. This funding will create jobs, support long-term economic growth, ease traffic congestion and reduce air pollution.”

Specifically, funding will be used as follows:    » read more »

Gillibrand Giving Voice to Buffalo Crash Families - Raising Their Questions to Top Aviation Officials; Senator To Get Answers From DOT, FAA, NTSB

June 10, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - At today's Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Aviation Safety & FAA Oversight, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand will submit questions from the family members of victims in the Flight 3407 crash in Buffalo about fundamental failures in our aviation system.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- The nation’s largest airlines had a rate of on-time flights this past April that was higher than both the same month last year and the mark posted in March 2009, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 79.1 percent in April, better than both the 77.7 percent on-time rate of April 2008 and March 2009’s 78.4 percent.    » read more »

June 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the Roswell International Airport will receive $540,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Funding will be used to rehabilitate taxiways C and H.

“Roswell’s new service to Dallas continues to be a success," Bingaman said. “This funding will help the airport make the needed improvement to help ensure continued service.”

Last month, American Eagle announced that it will add four nonstop flights per week from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Roswell International Air Center. The new service is scheduled to begin in August 2009.

Source: Senator Jeff Bingaman

June 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts: Anne S. Ferro, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; Ernie DuBester, Member, Federal Labor Relations Authority; and Julia A. Clark, General Counsel, Federal Labor Relations Authority.

President Obama said, "As we work to confront the many challenges our nation faces, I am grateful that these fine public servants have chosen to join my administration in fighting for working families and putting America on a path to prosperity. I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years."

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:    » read more »

Roundtable Discussion Last in a Series to Help Shape Key Administration Transportation Initiative

June 3, 2009 -- Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood challenged governors to think boldly when designing high-speed rail plans during a roundtable discussion at the White House today. The session was a unique opportunity for state leaders to share their ideas with the Obama Administration about the future of high-speed trains in America.    » read more »