Elana Schor
Recent Posts
New Analysis: 59% of Road Stimulus Went to Repair, 33% to New Capacity
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(Photo: DMI Blog) In the first year of the Obama administration’s economic stimulus law, 59 percent of its $27 billion in transportation formula funds went to projects that preserve existing roads, while 33 percent was used to build new pavement, according to an analysis by the advocacy group Smart Growth America (SGA). The new data, […]
Senate Dems Unveil Auto Safety Legislation
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Democrats are moving quickly on their plan to take a unified approach to auto safety reforms in the aftermath of the Toyota recalls, with Senate Commerce Committee members releasing a new bill today that would quintuple the maximum existing penalties for carmakers who — like Toyota — fail to promptly notify the public of defective […]
Obama Administration to Award $775M for Bus Transit Upgrades
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The Obama administration plans to award $775 million in bus transit grants this summer, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) chief Peter Rogoff announced yesterday during a transit industry conference in Ohio. Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff (in hard hat) (Photo: WaPo) The bus grants are aimed at shoring up aging equipment and helping cash-strapped localities modernize […]
Massachusetts Republican Cuts a Bike Version of Scott Brown ‘Truck’ Ad
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After Sen. Scott Brown’s (R-MA) January upset in the race for the congressional seat long held by the late Ted Kennedy, his win was chalked up to several factors: voter reluctance to embrace health care reform, campaign-trail gaffes by the Democratic candidate — and a hyper-folksy ad campaign that featured Brown cruising around the state […]
GAO: Economic Recovery Benefits of ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Are ‘Uncertain’
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"Cash for clunkers," the White House’s much-touted program encouraging trade-ins for more fuel-efficient autos, had an "uncertain" impact on economic recovery, according to a new audit from the independent Government Accountability Office (GAO) — largely because it remains unclear how many of the car sales it spurred would have occurred without taxpayer subsidies. Were "clunker" […]
Dem and GOP Senators Seek More Long-Term Rail Vision From Obama Aides
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The senior Democratic and Republican senators in charge of setting annual transportation spending levels today urged the leader of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to develop a more comprehensive plan for using the White House’s high-speed rail program to spur the development of viable U.S. train networks. FRA chief Joseph Szabo (l.) and Amtrak CEO […]
On Emissions, CA Lawmaker Questions Whether CA Should Lead the Way
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief Lisa Jackson yesterday told House members that she would soon begin work on new auto fuel-efficiency rules for the year 2017 and beyond, responding to calls from carmakers searching for certainty — and warily eyeing the new fuel standards being crafted in California. (Photo: The Weekly Driver) The political and […]
New Report Takes on ‘Perverse Incentives’ to De-Emphasize Bridge Repair
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When Minneapolis’ I-35 bridge collapsed in 2007, lawmakers from both parties vowed to focus on shoring up the nation’s aging infrastructure. But when the public spotlight faded from the issue of infrastructure repair, Congress showed little appetite for setting aside maintenance aid that did not hold the promise of ribbon-cutting ceremonies or campaign donations. The […]
Jackson Joins Transit Unions to Rally for More Federal Operating Aid
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Rev. Jesse Jackson, center, joined Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) for a similar transit-workers rally in New York City earlier this month. (Photo: Noah Kazis) "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 […]
Federal Transit Security Inspections: A Once-Every-Three Years Affair
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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
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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 […]
U.S. DOT Admits Status Quo Untenable, Vows to Cut Transport Emissions
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In its second Earth Day release, the U.S. DOT yesterday 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 […]