Infrastructure in the News: June 5, 2012

BAF IN THE NEWS

Dayton Business Journal: Bus ridership up in Dayton, across Ohio
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2012/06/04/bus-ridership-up-in-da...
A recent analysis from the American Public Transportation Association and Building America’s Future shows public transportation systems across the U.S. will add nearly 200 million new trips this year, even as per gallon gas prices fluctuate. The groups used historical trends and independent research data to make the prediction.

The Morning Call: Former Gov. Ed Rendell: Why we're wusses.
http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2012/06/newsmaker-qa-ed-rendell.html
Q: You criticize politicians for being unwilling to tackle the nation's infrastructure problems. But isn't some of that situational? Isn't it tougher to make an argument for that kind of spending in a down economy? A: It doesn't make sense to not spend today when you know in 10 years that it will cost a whole lot more to do it. [Infrastructure spending] produces well-paying jobs. That should be the rationale now for spending the money.

NATIONAL NEWS

GlobeSt: Loews Chairman: Time For Infrastructure Investment is Now
http://www.globest.com/news/12_364/newyork/hotel/Loews-Chairman-Time-For...
In a call-to-arms style address, Jonathan M. Tisch gave the hospitality industry one piece of advice: build big. During his keynote address at the 34th Annual NYU Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, the chairman of Manhattan-based Loews Hotels urged the commercial real estate community to take on the challenge of improving the nation’s aging infrastructure and seize the opportunities presented by a boom in global travel.

The Hill: Transit lobby to Congress: Ridership up, funding needed
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/public-transit/230701-pub...
Public transportation use increased by 125.7 million trips in the first quarter of 2012, the Washington, D.C.-based lobbying group for transit systems said Monday.  The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said the number of trips taken in the first quarter of 2012 represented a 5 percent increase over the amount of public transit use in the same period of 2011.

The Hill: DOT official: Obama support of high-speed rail 'remains as strong as ever'
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/railroads/230777-dot-offi...
Federal Railroad Administration chief Joseph Szabo said Monday that President Obama is unwavering in his support for high-speed rail projects. Speaking a conference held by the American Public Transportation Conference in Dallas, Szabo said Obama's support for rail "remains as strong as ever. "His Fiscal Year 2013 budget requests $2.5 billion combined with $6 billion in immediate transportation investments – a total of $8.5 billion for the continued development of high-speed and intercity passenger rail projects," Szabo said. "America’s rail renaissance is well underway."

DC Streetsblog: FRA Chief: America Is Driving Less and Congress Needs to Catch Up
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/06/04/fra-chief-america-is-driving-less-a...
Speaking to reporters earlier today, Federal Railroad Administration chief Joe Szabo said that people are driving less and using transit more — and that those changes are permanent. “America’s travel habits are undergoing rapid change,” he said. It’s a fact, he said (“not opinion — statistically proven”), calling on Congress to show that it understands these changes by moving in a new direction.

STATE NEWS

USA Today: States explore new ways to tax motorists for road repair
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-03/states-motorist-tax...
States are looking for new ways of taxing motorists as they seek to pay for highway and bridge repair and improvements without relying on the per-gallon gasoline tax widely viewed as all but obsolete. Among the leading ideas: Taxing drivers for how many miles they travel rather than how much gasoline they buy. Minnesota and Oregon already are testing technology to keep track of mileage. Other states, including Washington and Nevada, are preparing similar projects.

Mobilizing the Region: Series Links Transportation Infrastructure Decisions and Public Health
http://blog.tstc.org/2012/06/04/series-links-transportation-infrastructu...
States and municipalities across the tri-state region have rediscovered the many benefits of sustainable development in recent years, which include reduced auto dependency, cleaner air, economic growth, and more. Now, a 4-hour television series is taking an in-depth look at another reason to create sustainable communities in the United States: public health.

Los Angeles Times: San Diego's potholes are a major mayoral campaign issue
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/02/local/la-me-sd-mayor-potholes-20...
As befits a place that calls itself America's Finest City, over-the-rainbow rhetoric is a common feature of San Diego mayoral elections. Candidates routinely promise to make this a world-class city at the cutting edge of technology, wireless communication, green energy — you name it. But this election cycle, a more down-to-earth issue is playing a major role: potholes.