Recent Streetsblog LA posts about Secretary LaHood

LaHood Goes to Detroit to Talk to Automakers About Distracted Driving

By Tanya Snyder | Jan 21, 2011 | No Comments

A year ago, the Department of Transportation helped launch FocusDriven, an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using cell phones. “In one year, we’ve made progress – but at least 5,500 people still die every year in crashes,” said FocusDriven president Jennifer Smith, who lost her mother in a collision involving […]

LaHood Answers GOP Critic, Soothes Dem Skeptic of Sustainability Budget

By Elana Schor | May 6, 2010 | No Comments

As Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood tangled with a senior GOP senator today over the White House’s $500 million-plus request for its inter-agency office of sustainable communities — a new project aimed at channeling federal energy towards local transit-oriented and smart growth plans — an influential Democrat joined her fellow senator in raising questions about diverting […]

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

By Elana Schor | Apr 1, 2010 | No 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 […]

Dem. Senator Asks LaHood to ‘Put an End to’ Transportation Earmarks

By Elana Schor | Mar 18, 2010 | No 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: […]

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

By Elana Schor | Mar 15, 2010 | No Comments

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 […]

LaHood Faces Off With GOP Senator Over High-Speed Rail, Livability

By Elana Schor | Mar 5, 2010 | 2 Comments

When Cabinet secretaries appear in front of Congress’ appropriations committees, which control the annual budgets for each federal agency, the proceedings tend to be dry affairs dominated by local concerns and arcane fiscal debates. Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) (Photo: Politico) But Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s visit with Senate appropriators today was anything but humdrum, as […]

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