Infrastructure in the News: April 28, 2015
NATIONAL NEWS
Transport Topics: Secretary Anthony Foxx: ‘Time To Be Unrealistic’ in Solving Highway Funding Woes
WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said any comprehensive measure that would address the country’s highway funding concerns will be called “unrealistic,” which was the term a top Senate Republican used to criticize the Obama administration’s latest transportation plan last week.
Progressive Railroading: Staff for the city of Alexandria have picked a preferred site for the proposed Potomac Yard Metro station. The City Council is slated to vote on the recommendation next month.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) will provide technical assistance to seven cities for planned transit projects as part of a new pilot program announced yesterday.
Wall Street Journal: Abe Aims to Get U.S. On Board Japanese Trains
http://www.wsj.com/articles/japanese-leader-abe-rails-for-high-speed-trains-in-u-s-1430081956
TOKYO—When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits the U.S. this week, he will act as salesman-in-chief by marketing Japan’s high-speed rail system.
Transport Topics: House Appropriators to Consider Transportation Funding Bill April 29
http://www.ttnews.com/articles/basetemplate.aspx?storyid=38066
House appropriators on April 29 will take up a fiscal 2016 funding bill that is expected to be less than the Obama administration’s budget request.
The Hill: Former GOP Senate nominee eyes Shuster challenge
Former Pennsylvania Senate candidate Tom Smith is "seriously thinking about" challenging Rep. Bill Shuster in the GOP primary next year, Smith's supporters told The Hill.
Next City: Why Is It So Hard to Get Across U.S. Cities Using Only Bike Lanes?
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/cities-bike-lanes-only-connections
If you’re a cyclist, they’re the spots you dread, where your lane suddenly ends and you’re forced to veer into traffic and hope that you don’t die. And in many cities they’re all too common according to a Washington Post article that went viral earlier this month, showing bike lane grids in Washington D.C., Boston, Seattle and Miami that look like images from a partially erased Etch A Sketch.
STATE NEWS
New York Times: M.T.A. Official Warns Board That Fare and Toll Increases May Be Needed
A top official at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority warned board members on Monday that they may need to raise fares and tolls by 15 percent if state lawmakers do not provide funding for the agency’s five-year capital plan.
Capital Gazette: New MTA head named, state highway chief resigns amid transportation shift
http://www.capitalgazette.com/bs-md-transportation-turnover-20150423,0,6457126.story
State Transportation Secretary Pete Rahn is expected to name Paul Comfort as the new head of the Maryland Transit Administration on Friday, a day after the resignation of the head of the State Highway Administration.
Buffalo Business First: First round of Better Buffalo Funds aids range of city projects, initiatives
The initial round of Better Buffalo Fund funding will aid 21 developments and initiatives that officials hope will lay the foundation for continued private-sector investments.
Greater Greater Washington: Walkability by Metro line, graphed
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26524/walkability-by-metro-line-graphed/
Transit succeeds when stations are within walking distance of living spaces and jobs. Using recently-released walk shed data from PlanItMetro, we developed an interactive visualization that shows which Metro lines and stations are most accessible by foot.
KSL: Poll shows most Utahns in favor of tax hike for transportation needs
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=34347641
SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly 55 percent of Utahns say they would lean toward voting for a local sales tax increase for transportation needs, according to a new UtahPolicy.com poll.
Indy Star: Indy's rapid transit plan moving fast
Central Indiana's bus rapid transit plan appears to be gliding toward reality, with a boost Thursday from the nation's transportation head and plans to apply for a $50 million construction grant.
Washington Post: And the Potomac Yard Metro station site will be…
Staff for the city of Alexandria have picked a preferred site for the proposed Potomac Yard Metro station. The City Council is slated to vote on the recommendation next month.
POLITICO MORNING TRANSPORTATION
By Jennifer Scholtes | 4/28/15 5:43 AM EST
SENATE COMMERCE PRESSES ON WITH FAA REVAMP: For the third time this month, the Senate Commerce subcommittee that handles aviation issues holds a hearing to talk over ideas for reauthorizing the FAA. The agency’s associate administrator for aviation safety and NTSB Chairman Christopher Hart will testify today alongside aviation industry officials. The National Air Transportation Association’s president and CEO, Thomas Hendricks, is expected to caution senators against moving too quickly on injecting more private-sector practices into the FAA’s operations. His organization, he says, “cannot support any de facto ‘leap of faith’ proposals that would put general aviation’s fate in the hands of undefined management structures or leave unresolved its contribution to the system.” http://bit.ly/1Ih6AZI. Watch the hearing live at 2:30 p.m.: http://1.usa.gov/1zbBmBp.
Hero pilot testifies: Families of those who died in the 2009 crash of Colgan Air Flight 3407 will again be filling the audience at today’s hearing and have cheered the inclusion of Capt. Chesley Sullenberger as a witness. Sullenberger is most known for executing an emergency landing in the Hudson River after his plane was hit by a flock of geese, saving all 155 passengers and crew on the U.S. Airways flight, a month before the Colgan Air crash.
The group is trying to persuade lawmakers to resist pressure to scale back qualification requirements for regional airline co-pilots. “To totally reverse course in this FAA reauthorization and bend to lobbying pressure with concessions to the airlines would be completely irresponsible and send the wrong message to the industry that the old status quo of code share contracts and the 'race to the bottom' are once again acceptable,” Karen Eckert, whose sister Beverly died in the Colgan Air crash, said in a written statement Monday. “And there can be no more well-qualified person to make this case than Capt. Sullenberger.”
BUSINESS TRAVEL CONFERENCE DELIVERS STAR LAWMAKER LINEUP: Members of the Global Business Travel Association come together this morning for the second day of their three-day legislative conference, bringing in Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee’s transportation panel, for a lunch speech, followed by remarks from the head of the Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office. Later this afternoon, the group’s members will hear from Rep. Jeff Denham, chairman of the House T&I rail subcommittee, as well as Rep. John Katko, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s transportation panel. http://bit.ly/1DvtBS1
TAKING ON TUESDAY: Good morning and thanks for reading POLITICO’s Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on trains, planes, automobiles and ports.
The winner of this week’s award for most innovative transportation advocacy goes to the guy drawing weenies around potholes “to make people smile and draw attention to the problem.” Thank you, “Wanksy” and HuffPost. You surely made us smile. http://huff.to/1PQ272s
Reach out: @jascholtes or jscholtes@politico.com.
“Gonna sail right out of Colorado. Catch a ride on a warm trade wind to Puerta, no one knows.” http://bit.ly/1byxIq1
** A message from the Auto Care Association: The auto care industry is a coast-to-coast network of more than 500,000 independent manufacturers, distributors, parts stores and repair shops that keep every motorist moving. Our four million employees generate 2.3 percent of America’s gross domestic product. Our network delivers products at the speed that keeps America’s cars on the road. autocare.org **
CONNOLLY GOES EASY ON SILVER LINE COST INCREASE, CONSTRUCTION DELAY: Rep. Gerry Connolly, who represents D.C.’s Virginia suburbs, isn’t coming down too hard on the airports authority for delivering news this week that the latest phase of the Silver Line (to Dulles Airport and beyond) is going to cost more and take longer than expected. Connolly said in a written statement that the delays “are primarily the result of a brutal winter and necessary safety-related design changes. While we all want to see the Silver Line completed as soon as possible, it's more important to get it right and make safety our top priority.” And the congressman said he is pleased that the cost increases aren’t expected to jack up toll rates on the Dulles Toll Road, “particularly after the congressional delegation helped secure federal financing to freeze tolls for 5 years."
Cost catchup: The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority says the first phase of construction on the Metro line, which opened last summer, will be done by the end of this year, including another 64 rail cars. Downplaying the $76 million cost increase and 13-month pushback on completion, the airports authority says the changes won’t necessarily drive up the overall cost because the second phase might come in under budget. (But when has a public transportation project ever turned out to be cheaper and quicker than expected?)
NELSON URGES BREAKTHROUGH IN TAKATA AIRBAGS INVESTIGATION: Sen. Bill Nelson is pushing for investigators to quickly figure out why Takata airbags are sending metal shrapnel flying at passengers at high speeds, citing new data the company provided to Congress showing that the airbags have killed at least six people and injured more than 100 others. "We need to get to the root cause of the problem," the Senate Commerce Committee’s ranking member said on the Senate floor Monday. "And we need to make sure we know why these defective airbag inflators are failing."
CABINET OFFICIALS GRIMACE AT GAS TAX PLANS: Top Obama administration officials are still not embracing the idea of a gas tax increase, even as the Highway Trust Fund drains toward an operational low. Our Heather Caygle reports that Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew were both lukewarm to the idea of a gas tax hike on Monday, “instead continuing to push the administration's long-shot plan of refilling the Highway Trust Fund via a comprehensive tax overhaul.” More from Pro: http://politico.pro/1GpUXuX.
CBO LAYS OUT HIGHWAY TRUST FUND OPTIONS: A Congressional Budget Office analyst laid out the facts about the Highway Trust Fund’s waning balance and lack of congressional cash infusion this week, speaking to members of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association. In her presentation, Sarah Puro presented three options for Congress: reduce budgetary resources beyond 2016, impose a 10- to 15-cent gas tax increase to fund current spending or kick in $16 billion from the general fund for fiscal 2016, with another $11 billion to $18 billion annually in years to come. Puro’s presentation: http://1.usa.gov/1Ihhkr5.
U.S.-JAPAN DEAL ON AUTO TRADE EXPECTED IN COMING WEEKS: The United States and Japan are likely to wrap up talks on auto trade in the next few weeks, a Japanese source close to the discussions has told POLITICO. Pro’s Adam Behsudi explains: “The deal between the two largest TPP economies on reducing Japanese agricultural and U.S. automobile tariffs is considered critical to clinching the massive Asia-Pacific trade agreement, which would cover an estimated 40 percent of world GDP. Trade ministers are expected to meet in late May in Singapore where they could conclude the talks. Negotiators from both countries are meeting this week in Washington to try to hammer out the remaining issues.”http://politico.pro/1b84Ap2
PRIVATE JET COMPANY’S PILOTS SUE OVER UNIONIZATION ISSUES: Flexjet pilots are suing the private jet company, accusing their employer of retaliating against workers for wanting to unionize. Pro’s Marianne LeVine reports that “the lawsuit alleges some pilots were fired for being ‘unhappy,’ while one pilot was fired for insubordination, after declining to speak about union issues with Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci on the phone.” http://politico.pro/1zhDFD9
NTSB DIVULGES INFORMATION ABOUT 2013 N.D. TRAIN EXPLOSION: The National Transportation Safety Board has opened the accident docket this week in the ongoing investigation into the December 2013 oil train explosion in Casselton, N.D., releasing 1,800 documents, including interview summaries: http://1.usa.gov/1DRpmAK.
MOVING ON UP: The Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s board of directors has just appointed Regina Hopper as president and CEO. Before taking this post at the high-tech transportation association, Hopper served as president and CEO of America’s Natural Gas Alliance and as executive vice president of USTelecom, as well as the American Trucking Associations. She was also previously a correspondent for CBS News, where she earned an Emmy for investigative reporting on “48 Hours.”
— The American Association of Port Authorities has chosen Jim Quinn as its board chairman for 2015 and 2016. Quinn is president and CEO of New Brunswick’s Port Saint John, and he previously served as chief financial officer in the Canadian International Development Agency.
THE AUTOBAHN (SPEED READ):
— How the microtransit movement is changing urban mobility. CityLab: http://bit.ly/1DF7qda
— NTSB declines request to reopen Buddy Holly crash investigation. AP: http://abcn.ws/1Ft0GE3
— Truckers strike against four shipping companies at Southern California ports. Reuters: http://reut.rs/1HM7HzX
— NYC’s MTA moves to ban political and other controversial ads. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1DREIVK
— Captain of doomed South Korean ferry sentenced to life in prison. AP: http://abcn.ws/1QCRJMP
— Alexandria city staff pick a preferred site for the proposed Potomac Yard Metro station. The Washington Post:http://wapo.st/1b8gIqk
— GrabTaxi hailing a lot of growth. The Wall Street Journal:http://on.wsj.com/1Ihs34A
— Boeing CEO sees 747 jumbo sales reviving as air freight rebounds. Bloomberg Business: http://bloom.bg/1GA4jqp
— Another way to help humanitarian efforts in Nepal: Start mapping. CityLab: http://bit.ly/1GA22eK
— NYC MTA official warns board that fare and toll increases may be needed. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1KoTEjz
THE COUNTDOWN: Highway and transit policy expires in 33 days. DOT appropriations run out and the FAA reauthorization expires in 155 days. The 2016 presidential election is in 561 days.
THE DAY AHEAD:
All day — Nearly 90 members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors will meet with about 130 congressional officials from the EPA, DOT and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, making the case for revamping the Toxic Substances Control Act and the STB.
All day — The American Traffic Safety Services Association begins its two-day legislative briefing and Capitol Hill fly-in. 415 New Jersey Ave. NW.
All day — The Global Business Travel Association hosts the second day of its three-day legislative conference, with speeches by Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Jeff Denham and John Katko, as well as the director of the Commerce Department’s National Travel and Tourism Office.
8:30 a.m. — The FAA calls a three-day meeting of the forum tasked with designing aeronautical charts, as well as influencing flight information products and air traffic control initiatives. Reston, Va.
9:30 a.m. — The National Transportation Safety Board meets to determine the probable cause of the March 24, 2014, accident involving a Chicago Transit Authority passenger train. 429 L'Enfant Plaza SW. Webcast: http://bit.ly/18lRjr5.
9:30 a.m. — House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster talks about infrastructure development in a discussion hosted by National Journal LIVE. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.
9 a.m. — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s chief, Mark Rosekind, talks about strategies for raising the low completion rate for recalls, kicking off a workshop on the issue. 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE.
10 a.m. — The FAA’s special rules coordinator for drones, Robert Pappas, speaks at a forum on civil drone policy at CSIS, sitting alongside leaders from the ACLU and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW.
10 a.m. — Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, the head of the Coast Guard, testifies about his service’s resources before the Senate Commerce subcommittee that oversees his agency. 253 Russell Senate Office Building.
2:30 p.m. — The Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation holds a hearing on reauthorizing the FAA. Russell Senate Office Building 253.
** A message from the Auto Care Association: Got your keys? We’ll take care of the rest. The auto care industry is a coast-to-coast network of more than 500,000 independent manufacturers, distributors, parts stores and repair shops that keep every motorist moving. Our four million employees generate 2.3 percent of America’s gross domestic product. Our network delivers products at the speed that keeps America’s cars on the road. Our innovation constantly improves our record on safety, reliability, and value. And our independence gives customers the freedom to find the quality parts and service that work for them. We are the auto care industry — the professionals responsible for the safety, efficiency and mobility of all 254 million cars and trucks on the road today. We aren’t dedicated to one kind of vehicle — we are dedicated to every vehicle, including yours. Independence drives us, and we help drive America forward. autocare.org **
POLITICO Pro Transportation Whiteboard: Former West Virginia Rep. Nick Rahall joins World Affairs Council
4/22/15 12:40 PM EDT
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former Democratic Congressman Nick Rahall has joined the board of directors for the World Affairs Council in Washington, D.C.
The council announced Rahall's addition on Wednesday in a news release. The group also has added former Republican U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.
The nonprofit, nonpartisan group offers a variety of programs and services to teach people about global issues.
Rahall represented southern West Virginia for 19 terms in the U.S. House. He lost to Republican Congressman Evan Jenkins in the 2014 general election.
Rahall will serve on the International Affairs Committee, providing guidance on public programming, including students and teachers.
— The Associated Press
To view online: https://www.politicopro.com/go/?wbid=52201
POLITICO Pro Transportation Whiteboard: Takata airbags linked to six deaths, more than 100 injuries
4/27/15 4:57 PM EDT
Defective Takata airbags have killed at least six people and injured more than 100 more, Senate Commerce ranking member Bill Nelson said this afternoon.
Nelson went to the Senate floor to provide an update on the Takata death and injury toll based on recent data the Japanese manufacturer provided to the committee. The Florida senator said the update provided by Takata goes through the end of January but noted that the numbers could be even higher, pointing to a recent news report linking a March car crash to the Takata defect.
When deployed, Takata's faulty airbags can send metal shrapnel flying at passengers at high speeds, particularly in humid parts of the country such as Florida. Investigators have yet to identify a cause for the deadly defect.
"We need to get to the root cause of the problem," Nelson said. "And we need to make sure we know why these defective airbag inflators are failing."
— Heather Caygle
To view online: https://www.politicopro.com/go/?wbid=52462
POLITICO Pro Transportation Whiteboard: Port truck drivers go on strike
4/27/15 11:49 AM EDT
Hundreds of drivers serving the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports went on strike this morning, over their classification as independent contractors instead of employees. The drivers work for Pacific 9 Transportation, Cartage, Intermodal Bridge Transport and Harbor Rail Transport.
Barb Maynard, a Teamsters spokesperson, estimated about 500 truck drivers are on strike. The strike’s duration remains unknown.
The truck drivers also demand that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia take action against wage theft and misclassification, since the ports are part of the cities’ property. The mayors appoint the harbor commissioners and lease marine terminals to operators. The leasing agreements require anyone working on the ports to obey federal and local law, Maynard said.
Meanwhile, Green Fleet Systems entered into a comprehensive labor peace agreement with the Teamsters to guarantee respect for the drivers’ collective bargaining rights if they choose union representation. Green Fleet Systems drivers went on strike in August and November 2013 over unfair labor practices.
— Marianne LeVine
To view online: https://www.politicopro.com/go/?wbid=52429