Sec. LaHood: Gas tax likely to see debate in Congress soon (The Hill)
A federal gas tax hike is likely to appear on lawmakers’ radars again this year as they search for new ways to fund the country’s transportation programs, the department’s secretary suggested on Monday.
During a summit in Fort Worth, Texas, Transportation chief Ray LaHood […]
LaHood announces money for transit projects (AP)
NEW ORLEANS — The federal government is making available $280 million for street cars and other public transportation projects aimed at creating jobs and more walkable, environmentally-friendly communities.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made the announcement Tuesday at a streetcar barn in New Orleans. The city, which has been trying […]
How Deadly Are Rural Roads? It Depends On Your Definition Of Rural (NPR)
The final story in NPR’s week-long series “On the Road to Safety” focused on the nation’s most dangerous roads — rural highways extending beyond cities and suburbs. I reported in that story the clear and convincing statistics from the National Highway Transportation Administration: […]
Shape of jobs creation bill unclear ahead of White House summit (The Hill)
Democrats have a slew of legislative proposals to pick from when they begin crafting a job creation bill in earnest this week.
Lawmakers, prompted into action by the double-digit unemployment rate, are considering business tax credits for new hires, state fiscal aid, extended unemployment […]
Project Safe Neighborhoods targets ‘gun-toting criminals’ (WRAL.com)
Project Safe Neighborhoods is cracking down on gun crime, gangs and repeat offenders in communities across eastern North Carolina, federal prosecutors and local law police officers touted at a press conference Monday.
The operation is a joint effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that started in the […]
Contractors Pessimistic on 2010 Prospects Unless Long-Term Bill Enacted (AASHTO Journal)
A report issued late last week emphasized that many transportation contractors have laid off employees this year and a lot more job cuts are likely to take place in 2010 unless Congress enacts a robust authorization bill for highways, bridges, transit, and safety projects. […]
Transportation Projects Strong Contender for Inclusion in Jobs Package (AASHTO Journal)
House and Senate Democrats have started crafting a package of legislation aimed at creating jobs. Both chambers are strongly considering including investment in transportation infrastructure as part of the package, which congressional leaders said could be enacted by early next year.
In the House […]
Boxer Asks for White House Help on Highway Extension Compromise (The New York Times)
With the ongoing congressional stalemate over the next highway bill beginning to take its toll on state road and transit projects, a key senator yesterday urged the Obama administration to step in and help broker a compromise.
Boxer’s comments came one day […]
NC jobless rate bumps up to 11 percent in October (AP)
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 11 percent in October, a fraction off its historic peak earlier this year and the ninth straight month in double digits, the state’s Employment Security Commission reported Friday.
The jobless rate continued to hover around 11 […]
Transit Use is Growing, But Not Where You Think (Planetizen)
United States Census Charlotte Commuting Detroit Features Metropolitan Areas Oil Prices Ridership Riverside Social /
Transit saw some big ridership increases over the past few years, but maybe not where you’d expect. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the top ten metropolitan areas where transit […]
