According to Los Angeles Times the White House is concerned that gas prices could be a barrier to Obama's reelection and The City Fix wrote about the unconventional idea to intergrate transportation and energy policy. Read more in this Infrastructure in the News.
National News
New York Times: House Votes to Bar E.P.A. From Regulating Industrial Emissions
The House voted 255 to 172 on Thursday to halt the Obama administration’s program to regulate industrial air emissions linked to climate change, delivering a rebuke to a central tenet of the president’s energy and environmental policy.
Los Angeles Times: White House fears gas prices could tank Obama
For much of President Obama's term, White House aides were convinced the main barrier to his reelection was the worrisome unemployment rate. But even as the economy bounces back, a new political obstacle has emerged: rising gas prices.
Sacramento Business Journal: Cost of keeping vehicles running on the rise
According to figures from AAA, the cost of owning and driving a new sedan is 58.5 cents per mile, up 1.9 cents from 2010. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that would cost you $8,776, or more than $289 than the previous year.
The Hill: Amtrak says it's on track for record ridership
There were 137,000 more Amtrak riders this past month, the company said, which was the 17th straight month of increased ridership. That puts the company on track to break its annual ridership record, which was 28.7 million last year, Amtrak said.
USA Today: USA will benefit from high-speed rail
During the past two years, I have traveled across the country and listened to the American people's concerns. They are asking us to repair our roads, bridges and transit systems. They are asking us to build the safest, fastest, most efficient ways to move people and goods. And, this week, 24 states, Washington D.C.., and Amtrak requested more than $10 billion in federal rail funding, a powerful testament to the American people's support and enthusiasm for a national high-speed network ("Fast Train to Nowhere" Opposing view, Bullet trains debate, March 31).
Infrastructurist: The Business Case for High-Speed Rail
The American Public Transportation Association released a new high speed rail report chock-full of numbers and charts. Though advertised as a “business case” for fast trains, the report functions more as a compilation of the latest statistics and study conclusions that underscore the long-term potential of U.S. passenger rail. Some of the supporting figures.
Transportation Nation: How Much High Speed Rail will $2.4 Billion Buy?
It should be more fun to give away billions of dollars for rail. One of the happiest things a politician gets to do, after all, is fork over cash for transportation projects. All those gold shovels, ribbon cuttings, and bridge-naming ceremonies! And, one could argue, President Barack Obama and SecretaryRay LaHood should feel triply blessed. With today’s politics being what they are, they get to dole out money more than once!
Wired: How Smartphones Can Improve Public Transit
An interesting study of commuters in Boston and San Francisco found people are more willing to ride the bus or train when they have tools to manage their commutes effectively. The study asked 18 people to surrender their cars for one week. The participants found that any autonomy lost by handing over their keys could be regained through apps providing real-time information about transit schedules, delays and shops and services along the routes.
The Hill: Southwest Airlines says passenger traffic up
Southwest said it flew 7.3 million "revenue passenger miles" in March 2011, compared to a little more 6.6 million in March 2010. That translates to 9.6 million passengers boarding Southwest airplanes this year, the airline said, a 5.8 percent increase over the 9.1 million who boarded planes last March.
National Resources Defense Council: Industry study: Americans want smart growth
Americans decidedly favor walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, says a new industry study. In fact, 56 percent of us prefer smart growth neighborhoods over those that require more driving between home, work and recreation. These findings are from the just-released Community Preference Survey sponsored by the National Association of Realtors®.
National Resources Defense Council: Smart growth requires more than transportation thinking
We now know from tons of research that smart land use patterns – neighborhoods that are compact, well-located, walkable and transit-served – are critical to a sustainable future. They conserve land and reduce driving, reducing carbon and other emissions from transportation. But there are so many important elements of sustainability that land use patterns themselves do not reach or at least do not satisfy, from water consumption and runoff to building and infrastructure energy, to equity and more.
DOT Blog: America's marine highway system: delivering goods more efficiently, reducing dependence on foreign oil
To win the future, America must invest in the multi-modal transportation system that makes our livelihoods possible. Whether its roadways, railways, or runways, how effectively we move goods and people determines how effectively our economy thrives.
Transportation For America: Ryan budget would slash growth in transportation funding
Ryan’s budget would cap transportation spending at 2008 levels. Noting that the general fund has been tapped for $35 billion in recent years to cover shortfalls in the highway trust fund, his proposal aims to keep the fund “solvent without additional general fund transfers or increases in the gasoline tax.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the gas tax will raise $230 billion over the next six years. That’s more than $50 billion below SAFETEA-LU, the current transportation law.
Fleet Owner: Natural gas-boosting bill includes fuel, vehicle, and infrastructure tax credits
A bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday, if passed, will provide significant inventive for the purchase and use of natural gas and natural gas vehicles. “New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions” Act (HR 1380), dubbed “NAT GAS” for short, is intended to provide financial benefits for users of natural gas as a vehicle fuel. This includes tax credits for the purchase of such vehicles, for retrofitting diesel or gasoline vehicles; for the purchase of natural gas; and for the building of fueling stations, including home refueling units.
The City Fix: Unconventional Wisdom: Integrating Transportation and Energy Policy
The New America Foundation hosted a discussion on transportation, energy, and climate policy today in Washington, D.C., in an effort to investigate the role of policy on influencing behavior change and possible policy solutions to the U.S.’s increasing demand on oil. Titled, “Unconventional Wisdom: Rethinking Oil and Transportation Policy,” the discussion covered the integration of transportation, energy and climate under one comprehensive policy, the feasibility of its implementation and its effectiveness on improving quality of life.
Garden News: One Billion City Dwellers Could Be in Perpetual Water Shortage by 2050
More than 1 billion urbanites could be living on less than 100 liters of water a day by 2050, says a new study coauthored by Nature Conservancy scientists.
State News
Transportation Nation: DOT Gives NY State $3.3 Million for High-Speed Rail
The DOT is giving New York $3.3 million to add capacity and track along a two mile stretch in what NY and the DOT hope will become part of a statewide high-speed rail network. This is a barely more than one percent of the amount that was allocated to Florida’s planned high-speed rail project before it was killed by Governor Rick Scott.
Times Union: Conn. gets $40M in hand for rail line project
Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy says the federal government has delivered $40 million it promised the state to boost a regional high-speed rail service project.
Associated Press: Water woes in southern Nebraska loom again
The dispute centers on the Republican River, from which Kansas contends Nebraska took more than its share of water in 2005 and 2006. In addition to some $72 million in damages, Kansas is seeking to force Nebraska to stop irrigating about 500,000 acres in the Republican River basin — about half of the basin's 1.2 million irrigated acres and nearly 9 percent of the basin's total 5.8 million acres.
New Jersey: Half of N.J roads are deficient, Transportation Department report says
A Transportation Department report finds half of the state's highways are deficient. That means they're chock full of potholes and cracks that slow traffic and lead to vehicle repairs.
The Times Record: Arkansas Urges Congress To Fund I-49 Completion
Northwest Arkansas Council President Mike Malone urged Congress on Wednesday to approve a "robust" highway bill that includes funding for completion of I-49.
The White Mountain Independent: ADOT prepares 25-year transportation plan
That's the hallmark for the Arizona Department of Transportation's long-range transportation planning process, called What Moves You Arizona, which looks 25 years into the future to decide how limited funds should be used. Rather than lines on maps and listings of specific projects, this long-range plan will spotlight strategies for future investments.
Transportation Nation: Caltrain Isn't Slashing Service - Yet
Caltrain’s Joint Powers Board voted Thursday to keep its current level of service – at least for the next two weeks. Facing a $30 million deficit, the board had debated a series of cuts that would have closed three stations indefinitely and cut 10 weekly trains, including the popular Baby Bullet service. And that was the less drastic proposal: the agency at one point threatened to cut nearly half its trains, whittling service down to peak commute hours only.
The San Mateo Daily Journal: Peninsula gets voice on high-speed rail board
Former Redwood City mayor Jim Hartnett was named to the California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors by California Senate President Darrell Steinberg yesterday.
Merced Sun-Star: Seven cities, including Merced get boost for high-speed rail station planning
The California High-Speed Rail Authority is inviting grant applications from Merced, Fresno, Hanford, Bakersfield, San Jose, Gilroy and Palmdale. Each city could receive $400,000 to $700,000 for planning how development can occur in neighborhoods surrounding their proposed high-speed train stations.
San Jose Business Journal: Funding offered for high-speed rail station planning
The cities of San Jose and Gilroy are being encouraged to apply for funding that would help them devise plans for high-speed rail stations.
Orlando Sentinel: Union members, ask public to "pink slip Rick"
Hundreds of union members delivered “pink slips” to Gov. Rick Scott’s office at lunch time Thursday, yelling “Pink Slip Rick” and “Where are the jobs.”
Quincy Herald Whig: Illinois unveils details in $11.5 billion, six-year highway plan
An $11.5 billion, six-year Illinois highway plan was unveiled by Gov. Pat Quinn today. Illinois Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said the multi-year plan makes use of the Illinois Jobs Now! capital program that faces a court challenge.
Michigan Live: Coalition makes push for Gov. Rick Snyder's transportation budget
A coalition of environmental, business, government and local economic development groups will push for passage of Gov. Rick Snyder’s transportation budget that maintains existing funding for local transit and passenger rail.
Crain's Detroit Business: Statewide groups combine to push transportation agenda
A new coalition of business, community, environmental and other interests plans to press a transportation funding and policy agenda in Lansing, Washington and locally.
Minneapolis Post: Videos explore life in Twin Cities' skyways
Skyways are a conundrum. Minneapolis and, to a lesser degree, St. Paul can't seem to live without them. Yet these downtowns can't fully thrive as 21st century cities as long as skyways continue to pull energy and vitality off of the sidewalks.
Transportation Nation: As Planners Decide to Put Station Underground, Intense Political Machinations Over Dulles Airport Train Station
The construction of a subway line out to Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia is one of the largest public works projects in the country, with a price tag of around $6 billion.