Infrastructure in the News: May 5, 2015
NATIONAL NEWS
Huffington Post: Harry Reid Plans To Block Trade Deal Until The Senate Deals With Surveillance Reform, Highway Funding
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/04/harry-reid-tpp_n_7208076.html
WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is putting the brakes on a Senate effort to push through a controversial trade deal, saying that Democrats will block the measure until the Senate deals first with a stalled infrastructure bill and a package of reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, known as FISA.
The Hill: Bill would offer tax credits for road projects
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/240948-bill-would-offer-tax-credits-for-road-projects
A bipartisan pair of senators has filed legislation to create a new tax credit for infrastructure projects.
The Hill: GOP to blame for road funding crunch, report says
http://thehill.com/policy/transportation/240922-gop-to-blame-for-road-funding-crunch-report-says
Republicans are responsible for the shortfall in transportation funding that is threatening construction projects across the country, according to a report released on Monday.
STATE NEWS
WNYC: A Little More Money for the MTA Doesn't Buy Happiness
http://www.wnyc.org/story/little-more-money-mta-doesnt-buy-happiness/
Mayor Bill de Blasio is offering the Metropolitan Transportation Authority more money for its capital plan, but transit advocates say it isn't enough.
New York Times: Mayor de Blasio Is Irked by a Subway Delay
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/06/nyregion/mayor-de-blasio-is-irked-by-a-subway-delay.html?_r=0
The email, blunt and to the point, popped into City Hall aides’ inboxes at 12:17 p.m., and the subject line said it all: “2 problems today.”
New York Times: M.T.A. Chairman Asks New York City for More Money
The chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority called on Monday for New York City to substantially increase its funding for the agency’s $32 billion capital plan.
Chicago Tribune: CTA veteran Dorval Carter to return from D.C. to run transit agency
Dorval Carter Jr., a former acting CTA president whose career in public transit in Chicago and Washington has spanned more than 30 years, will be named the transit agency's new leader Tuesday, officials said Monday.
Durham News: Officials to get ideas on housing along Durham-Orange Light Rail Project
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/durham-news/article20178720.html
Public property around the planned light-rail stations at Alston Avenue and Dillard Street offers good potential for building affordable housing, according to a UNC study.
Progressive Railroading: UP sells land slated for transit-oriented development
Union Pacific Corp. announced last week it sold 111 acres in Fremont, Calif., to Lennar Homes of California Inc., which plans to develop the parcel as a transit-oriented development.
Next City: Birmingham’s New Bike-Share Will Have Electric-Assist Bicycles
http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/birmingham-new-bike-share-electric-bikes-pedelec
When Birmingham rolls out its new bike-share program this fall, it will be the first in North America to incorporate electric-assist bikes into its fleet. The program will launch in the city’s downtown core with 40 docking stations and 400 bikes, 100 of which will have battery-powered pedal assistance.
Orlando Sentinel: SunRail gets $93 million to expand into Osceola
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/traffic/os-sunrail-federal-money-20150504-story.html
SunRail officially has won a $93 million grant from the federal government to expand the commuter train system 17 miles south into Osceola County.
Greater Greater Washington: A history of streetcar planning in the District
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26436/a-history-of-streetcar-planning-in-the-district/
DC's streetcar plans have evolved over 20 years, ebbing and flowing mayor-by-mayor. In advance of the H Street/Benning Road streetcar'seventual opening, we take a look back at how we've arrived at where we are now.
POLITICO MORNING TRANSPORTATION
By Jennifer Scholtes and Heather Caygle| 5/5/15 5:44 AM EDT
With help from Heather Caygle.
SENATORS PONDER ALIGNING TRANSPO AUTHORITY WITH FUNDING LOW: Less than four weeks from the expiration of transportation authority, senators are huddling to hash out a strategy for a policy extension and a Highway Trust Fund cash infusion. Senate EPW Chairman Jim Inhofe plans to rally his colleagues at today’s Republican caucus lunch and tomorrow’s weekly chairmen's meeting around the idea of passing a clean policy extension into the summer. "People who understand that it's free are all for it," Inhofe told our Heather Caygle. "I can’t find anyone here opposed to it ... who knows that it doesn't cost anything. We have enough money to get to that point." http://politico.pro/1JN2avk ?
‘Do it all at once’: More lawmakers seem to be coming around to a summer extension, lining up the authority with the Highway Trust Fund’s operational low. Sen. Tom Carper told MT on Monday that “the first thing we are considering is aligning the deadline for authorization with the point when we run out of money, which is probably the end of July.” The senator says he thinks “there’s a good argument” to be made for taking on a long-term policy reauthorization and a long-term funding fix at the same time in the summer, rather than passing more extensions through year’s end. “Why push it off for another four or five months beyond that?” he said. “Let’s get something done.” Carper noted that Senate Finance Democrats met Monday evening to discuss their funding conundrum, but that their talks fell short of consensus.
Reid’s blockade: Legislators from both parties are irked by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s threat to block any new trade deals until Republicans approve a transportation infrastructure plan, Burgess Everett and Manu Raju report: http://politico.pro/1GWjsm1. But Reid spokesman Adam Jentleson suggests the senator will not easily back down on this. "He wouldn't say it if he wasn't serious,” Jetleson told Heather.
HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO!: Good morning and thanks for reading POLITICO’s Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on trains, planes, automobiles and ports.
The TSA — with all its social-media and pop-culture savvy — has got us laughing with its #maythe4thbewithyou ode yesterday. Darth, you could have been a great father, but you’ve just got too much baggage: http://bit.ly/1DPS2tl.
Got some silly musings or important tips? Sent them my way: jscholtes@politico.com or @jascholtes.
“Some foreign-car-driving dude, with a road-rage attitude, pulled up beside me talking on his cell phone.” http://bit.ly/1Fgz6sR
SENATE TAX GROUPS DELIVER INFRASTRUCTURE RUNDOWN: Members of the Senate Finance Committee’s tax policy groups will start briefing panel colleagues on their work so far, talking today about infrastructure issues. More from Pro’s Brian Faler: http://politico.pro/1zv6pYO.
FOXX MAKES ROAD SAFETY PLEDGE TO D.C. KIDDOS: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joins this morning with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at Shepherd Elementary School at the northernmost tip of the district’s diamond. In celebration of United Nations' Global Road Safety week, the two leaders plan to sign a UN declaration to improve laws that protect kids on the road.
SENATE COMMERCE DISCUSSES POLICY RE-UP: At this morning’s Senate Commerce hearing, Subcommittee Chairwoman Deb Fischer plans to tell her counterparts and a panel of industry leaders that “a short-term extension is highly likely” for surface transportation authority. “According to the latest projections, by August, the Highway Trust Fund will run out of money,” she notes. “The time for action is now.” Watch that hearing live at 10 a.m.: http://1.usa.gov/1FLPr9T. ?
Checking regulators: Fischer is calling for Congress to “hold regulators to a higher standard” in whatever authorization plan lawmakers ultimately agree upon, “particularly when it comes to balancing the goals of safety with the costs of regulatory compliance.”?
“It is key that we incorporate innovative approaches and technology into our regulatory framework,” the Nebraska Republican says. “For example, Congress should continue on the path that MAP-21 created for performance-based standards for grants and safety regulations. Performance targets will allow agencies to better allocate already-scarce transportation resources and encourage private sector innovation.”
WRONG RUNWAY, CAPTAIN: The NTSB has asked the FAA to force air traffic controllers to withhold their go-ahead for planes to land until the aircraft have passed all other airports that might be confused with their intended destination. Our Kathryn A. Wolfe explains that “the recommendation was prompted in part by a January Southwest Airlines flight carrying 131 people that landed at the wrong airport in Branson, Missouri, on a runway that was almost half as short as intended. Another incident in November 2013 involved an enormous Boeing 747 ‘Dreamlifter’ carrying parts for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner that mistakenly landed at a commercial field instead of McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas, again landing on a runway about half as long as was intended.” From Pro: http://politico.pro/1GWdFji. The NTSB’s recommendations: http://1.usa.gov/1ce9YIK.
BIPARTISAN DUO AIMS TO FIX FUNDING CRISIS WITH BOND BILL: Looking to increase private investment in transportation projects, Sens. Ron Wyden and John Hoeven introduced a bill this week that would create a new bond program to pay for infrastructure projects. Heather explains that the legislation “would offer up to $180 billion in tax-exempt bond authority and up to $45 billion in infrastructure tax credits over the next decade…” Bill summary: http://1.usa.gov/1bZb6iO. Bill text: http://1.usa.gov/1KbncAs. ?
AIRPORTS POINT TO RECORD BAG FEES TO FUEL PFC FIGHT: Referencing data DOT released this week on airline baggage fees, the airport industry is reiterating its calls for carriers to stop opposing a revamp of the Passenger Facility Charge used to spiff up airports. “For the second year in a row, the airlines have collected more in bag fee revenue than the federal government has spent on airport infrastructure across the entire nation," AAAE President and CEO Todd Hauptli said in a written statement on Monday. "It's time for Congress to turn the page on this debate and act in the long-term best interest of local communities and the nation by modernizing the Passenger Facility Charge program." The group noted the Bureau of Transportation Statistics’ new data that show airlines collected more than $3.5 billion in baggage fees and almost $3 billion more in reservation change or cancellation fees in 2014, while airports collected $2.8 billion from the fee program last year.
INNOCENT, MAYBE. BUT THE PEOPLE THINK CHRISTIE’S GUILTY: It turns out about half of New Jerseyans think Gov. Chris Christie was personally involved in the “Bridgegate” scandal, according to a new poll by Monmouth University: http://bit.ly/1GVnwFT. Those data were released Monday as two of the governor’s lieutenants pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to jam traffic by closing lanes on the George Washington Bridge in 2013, NJ.com reports: http://bit.ly/1I9xtyp. And one of their lawyers says he is not afraid to drag Christie onto the witness stand to clear his client, according to the New York Daily News: http://nydn.us/1FLcJwH.
SCHUMER INTROS BILL TO SPEED TANK CAR PHASE-OUT: Saying DOT’s new tank car rules take too long to set in, Sen. Chuck Schumer is pushing legislation that would force out old tank cars more quickly. Kathy explains that “under DOT’s phase-out schedule, the riskiest cars would be retired beginning in 2017, with others removed through 2025. Schumer's bill would phase out DOT-111s in two years, and would also phase out unjacketed CPC-1232 by 2019, compared to the new rule's date of 2023. The bill also would expand the scope of the rule's 40-mph speed restrictions, which apply only to ‘high threat urban areas,' to include any DOT-111 cars that travel in a county with a population denser than 20 people per square mile. That same threshold would be applied to unjacketed CPC-1232 cars within two years, as an incentive for the cars to be phased out faster.” More from Pro: http://politico.pro/1QgZSFB.
THE AUTOBAHN (SPEED READ):
— No, NASA did not accidentally invent warp drive. Forbes: http://onforb.es/1GVrFKe
— Germany braces for rail strike as train drivers walk out. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1dJv1Dt
— De Blasio administration to begin horse-carriage outreach. Capital New York: http://bit.ly/1FLUUO6
— Will traffic NIMBYs ruin Waze? LA Times: http://lat.ms/1F36EwO
— Fees and low fuel prices keep airline profits rising. AP: http://nyti.ms/1IaShp7
— Growing shipping alliances are straining major U.S. gateway ports. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1Pk9c9b
THE COUNTDOWN: Highway and transit policy expires in 26 days. DOT appropriations run out and the FAA reauthorization expires in 148 days. The 2016 presidential election is in 554 days.
THE DAY AHEAD:
All day — Drone enthusiasts meet again in Atlanta for the Unmanned Systems conference, with talks by Google’s head of Project Wing, CNN’s senior vice president of legal and the CEO of CyPhy Works, a company that creates aerial robots.
9 a.m. — The EPA subcommittee that gives advice on vehicle air pollution and motor fuel meets to talk about the projects being carried out by the agency’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality. 1767 King Street, Alexandria, Va.
9 a.m. — The State Department’s Shipping Coordinating Committee meets in D.C. to prep for the upcoming session of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in London. 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE.
9 a.m. — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speak at an event hosted by Safe Kids Worldwide, in celebration of the U.N.’s Global Road Safety week. Shepherd Elementary School, 7800 14th St. NW. Details: http://bit.ly/1ES3km1
10 a.m. — A Senate Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on reauthorizing surface transportation programs. 253 Russell Senate Office Building. Webcast: http://1.usa.gov/1IwFjmj.
10 a.m. — Frontier Group hosts a webinar on the release of a new report that finds driving taxes cover less than half the cost of roads. Webinar signup: http://bit.ly/1KIwjtw.
11 a.m. — Rep. John Delaney hosts a discussion about local infrastructure needs. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 East Patrick St., Frederick Md.
Did we miss any events? Let MT know at transpocalendar@politicopro.com.
Stories from POLITICO Pro
Bipartisan irritation with Reid’s plan to block trade deals
Bipartisan irritation with Reid’s plan to block trade deals back
By Burgess Everett and Manu Raju | 5/4/15 7:21 PM EDT
Pro-trade lawmakers in both parties expressed irritation with Sen. Harry Reid on Monday after the Nevada Democrat said he would block any new trade deals until Republicans approve new infrastructure legislation and reform the PATRIOT Act.
The Senate minority leader said in an interview with The Huffington Post that he isn’t “willing to lay over and play dead on trade” until he has assurances that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will deal with deadlines on transportation and surveillance legislation, both of which expire at the end of the month.
“McConnell said he wanted to move to trade in the next two or three weeks … but I don’t think he’s going to have an easy time doing it, because I will not let him do that,” he said in the interview. “He’s going to have to work around me and the caucus.”
Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), who worked with ranking member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on trade promotion authority legislation that’s drawn some Democratic support, said if Reid follows through on his threat to whip against the measure, he will only be hurting President Barack Obama.
“It’s his president who wants this. I’m working my butt off to work with the president. And frankly the president happens to be right on it,” Hatch told reporters. Asked if he would be willing to pause on his trade bill until dealing with Reid’s concerns, Hatch shot back: “I don’t think we should wait.”
Reid has said he is a “hell no” on the new trade pacts and has also supported ending the intelligence community’s bulk data collection program. So his opposition to trade legislation and McConnell’s push for a five-and-a-half year extension of expiring PATRIOT Act provisions isn’t surprising. But his plans to cause problems on the floor will put more pressure on GOP leaders to finish a busy schedule by Memorial day, including an Iran review bill, the trade bills, a budget and surveillance legislation.
“He wants to see a path forward on the critical measures that actually expire at the end of this month before moving to trade which could take up the remaining floor time between now and then,” added Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Reid.
At the end of last year, Reid told POLITICO he’s “not going to stand in the way” of President Obama’s push to get the trade deals done.
Hatch added that he was closing in on finding enough money for a long-term highway bill but said he would need a short-term extension through the end of the year to finish the job. The federal highways program will run out of money in July, and policy governing the national infrastructure programs runs out at the end of May.
Reid will need to keep a tight grip on his caucus to fend off approval of the fast-track trade bill, and not all Democrats are ready to filibuster the measures. Republicans need to pick off at least six Democrats to break a filibuster, possibly against the wishes of Reid’s whipping operation later this month.
“That’s not my preference,” said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) of Reid’s strategy. He added that he will vote to break a filibuster on the fast-track bill.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the member of Democratic leadership seen as most likely to back the president and Republicans’ trade proposals, said she hadn’t made a final decision.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she said.
Doug Palmer contributed to this report.back
POLITICO Pro Transportation Whiteboard: Wyden, Hoeven unveil new infrastructure bond bill
5/4/15 12:17 PM EDT
Bipartisan duo Sens. Ron Wyden and John Hoeven have introduced legislation to create a new bond program that would funnel more money to infrastructure projects and beef up private sector involvement.
The Wyden-Hoeven bill would offer up to $180 billion in tax-exempt bond authority and up to $45 billion in infrastructure tax credits over the next decade aimed at increasing private investment in transportation projects.
“Move America bonds and tax credits are an effective way to leverage private-sector dollars to build the infrastructure we need across the country to grow America’s economy and create jobs,” Hoeven said in a statement.
Wyden, who serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, has long been a proponent of using private activity bonds for infrastructure, although this latest bill is different than previous proposals he’s pushed.
The bill is not meant as a solution to the ongoing Highway Trust Fund crisis but would help alleviate some of the pressure states face when they’re looking to increase private sector participation in highway, bridge and transit projects.
Read a summary of the bill here.
— Heather Caygle
To view online:
https://www.politicopro.com/go/?wbid=52918
POLITICO Pro Whiteboard: Schumer wants older crude-by-rail tank cars phased out faster
5/4/15 1:26 PM EDT
Sen. Chuck Schumer is floating a bill that would speed up the retirements of DOT-111 and newer CPC-1232 tank cars, saying DOT's tank car rule announced Friday moves too slowly.
Under DOT’s phase-out schedule, the riskiest cars would be retired beginning in 2017, with others removed through 2025. Schumer's bill would phase out DOT-111s in two years, and would also phase out unjacketed CPC-1232 by 2019, compared to the new rule's date of 2023.
The bill also would expand the scope of the rule's 40-mile-per-hour speed restrictions, which apply only to "high threat urban areas," to include any DOT-111 cars that travel in a county with a population denser than 20 people per square mile. That same threshold would be applied to unjacketed CPC-1232 cars within two years, as an incentive for the cars to be phased out faster.
Schumer's bill also would require DOT to create a federal volatility standard for crude transported by rail or barge within one year. DOT and DOE are currently working jointly on a volatility study.
It also would require that Positive Train Control be installed along all routes that carry crude oil or ethanol by Dec. 2018. And it would mandate more track inspections, comprehensive oil response spill plans, a new confidential close-call reporting system, and that more information about derailments be disclosed to the FRA and first responders.
— Kathryn A. Wolfe
To view online:
https://www.politicopro.com/go/?wbid=52927