Incoming Congress is Called to Update the Nation’s Transportation Program

Mayors support smart transportation investments as an important part of economic recovery and public health and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood signed $58.8 million in TIGER grants for the National Capital Region.

National News

School Transportation News: Mayors Support Smart Transportation Investments as Key to Economic Recovery and Public Health
The leaders of California’s population centers issued a call to the incoming Congress to update the nation’s transportation program to address their citizens’ 21st-century needs, from upkeep of roads and bridges to a cleaner, more efficient transit network.

For Construction Pros: U.S. Transportation Secretary, Area Leaders Sign TIGER Grants for National Capital Region
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) today to sign $58.8 million in TIGER grants for the National Capital Region. The TIGER (Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery) grant program, created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funds innovative transportation projects that have significant benefits for the economy, the environment, or increase the safety and efficiency of existing infrastructure.

Streetsblog Capitol Hill: Inside the Bush Tax Cut Compromise is a Gift for Transit Riders 
No matter how you feel about extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, there’s one reason to hope it passes: it includes an extension of the transit benefit.

State News

FavStocks: Analysis concludes that current transportation policy in most US states will likely worsen GHG emission trends in US
US states are in a unique position to bring down transportation-related GHG emissions given their primary role in setting statewide transportation policy and directing large amounts of transportation funding. However, most states use few of the available transportation policy tools to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector, and in most cases make decisions that will likely increase.

Streetsblog Capitol Hill: Calif. Leads Nation in Green Transpo Policies. How Does Your Rank?
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Smart Growth America just teamed up to release a new study of states' efforts between 2005 and 2008. The verdict? “Most states do not make any effort at all to connect transportation policy with climate change and energy goals, and some put in place systems that effectively sabotage these goals.”

NJ: NJ Transit requests $75M from killed ARC tunnel funds for new train cars 
Transit has asked the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to let it spend $75 million for 100 multilevel coaches.