BAF IN THE NEWS
Newsworks: Infrastructure Week prompts calls for federally funded repairs (Sec. LaHood is quoted)
This is Infrastructure Week, and an all-out effort is underway to find the funding to replace crumbling roads and bridges and other segments of America's backbone.
GlobalTradeMagazine: Bipartisan Voices Call for Robust Infrastructure Funding
The Philadelphia International Airport hosted Building America’s Future and Airports Council International – North America yesterday, along with numerous members of the Philadelphia congressional delegation, to kick off the fifth annual Infrastructure Week.
Fox Business: Fmr. Transportation Sec. LaHood to Trump on Infrastructure: Don’t Blow It
President Trump’s much anticipated $1 trillion infrastructure plan will be unveiled in ‘several weeks,’ U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during a speech on Monday.
WBUR Here & Now: Former Transportation Secretary LaHood: Trump's Infrastructure Plan A 'Good Start'
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/05/16/trump-infrastructure-ray-lahood
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao offered some details Monday on the commitment to infrastructure President Trump made in his speech to Congress in February.
Radio Tour – Additional Interviews
http://lyonspr.com/clients/project/buildingamericasfuture-infrastructureweek2017/ (Interview Breakdown tab)
Additional interviews from Sec. LaHood and Gov. Rendell’s radio tour are available at the above link. This includes NBC News Radio, Fox News Radio, Bloomberg Radio, WHYY-FM, Westwood One, and more.
NATIONAL NEWS
The Hill: Senate approves Trump pick to be No. 2 at Transportation Department
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Trump’s nominee to be No. 2 at the Department of Transportation (DOT). In a 56-42 vote, the upper chamber endorsed Jeffrey A. Rosen to be deputy secretary of the DOT. As second in command to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Rosen will supervise the agency’s day-to-day operations.
New York Times: How Uber and Waymo Ended Up Rivals in the Race for Driverless Cars
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/17/technology/silicon-valley-driverless-cars.html
At a technology conference in mid-2014, the Google co-founder Sergey Brin presented the company’s first prototype for a self-driving car. Watching in the audience was Travis Kalanick, chief executive of Uber, the ride-hailing start-up.
New York Times: A Canadian Town Wanted a Transit System. It Hired Uber.
Uber, the global car-hailing service, has fought its way into resistant cities around the world, despite being hit by raw eggs and rush-hour roadblocks in Montreal and Toronto, fires in Paris and smashed windshields in Mexico City.
Roll Call: Upton Sees a Place for Energy in Possible Infrastructure Bill
The Republican chairman of a House energy subcommittee says he wants a widely discussed infrastructure package this session to contain a section on energy issues.
CNBC: The White House got a one-page, bullet-point draft of the US infrastructure proposal
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/16/white-house-got-a-one-page-draft-of-the-infrastructure-proposal.html
President Donald Trump's advisory committee on infrastructure submitted a one-page proposal last week outlining a broad plan for generating $1 trillion in investment over the next decade, according to a source familiar with the document.
Fortune: Trump Administration: President’s $1 Trillion Infrastructure Plan Is Coming in a Few Weeks
http://fortune.com/2017/05/16/donald-trump-trillion-infrastructure-plan-elaine-chao/
President Donald Trump in the next few weeks plans to unveil his $1 trillion infrastructure plan, which calls for $200 billion in taxpayer money to spur the plan's remaining private investment, according to the Administration's transportation secretary.
Washington Examiner: Senate breaks ground on infrastructure spending bill
Congress is revving up is effort to pass an infrastructure spending bill by holding two key Senate hearings this week, in anticipation of receiving an infrastructure proposal from the Trump administration "in the next several weeks."
STATE NEWS
The Salt Lake Tribune: New task force digs into possible transportation reform
http://www.sltrib.com/news/5298527-155/new-task-force-digs-into-possible
A new state transportation task force was launched Tuesday, seeking how to finance billions of dollars needed for future projects — and how best to govern transportation agencies, including the controversial Utah Transit Authority.
The Spokesman-Review: Washington transportation budget has $127 million for Spokane projects
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/may/16/washington-transportation-budget-has-127-million-f/
Washington taxpayers will spend more than $8 billion in the next two years on roads, bridges and mass transit projects, with about $127 million of it coming to Spokane County.
New York Times: Frustrated by Subway Delays? How the M.T.A. Plans to Improve Commutes
On Monday, officials announced a new plan to address soaring subway delays in New York City. After several major disruptions in recent weeks, riders have grown increasingly frustrated with the reliability of the system.