Jul 23 U.S. proposes new rules to curb oil train fires By Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Thousands of older rail tank cars that carry crude oil would be phased out within two years under regulations proposed Wednesday in response to a series of fiery train crashes over the past year, including a runaway oil… Continue reading
Jul 17 Obama promotes public-private partnerships for highway funding By Darlene Superville, Associated Press With federal transportation funding about to run dry, President Barack Obama is taking steps to boost the flow of private dollars into public works projects. Using the recently closed I-495 bridge at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware as a… Continue reading
Jul 14 Obama to push Congress for transportation funds By Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will press Congress this week to keep highway and transit aid flowing to states. Continue reading
Jul 02 Federal highway fund at risk of running out of gas By Joan Lowy, Associated Press States will begin to feel the pain of cutbacks in federal aid as soon as the first week in August if lawmakers don't act, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a letter to states. That's because the balance in the… Continue reading
May 29 Motor vehicle crashes cost $871 billion over a single year By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The economic and societal harm from motor vehicle crashes amounted to a whopping $871 billion in a single year, according to a study released Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Continue reading
May 19 Watch Which comes first, hydrogen-powered cars or the fueling stations? By PBS News Hour After spending more than a decade and billions of dollars on developing zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, carmakers are planning to release their models in California. But despite the state’s large demand for cars and tough air quality standards, California… Continue watching
May 17 Watch Do traffic cameras save lives or violate due process? By PBS News Hour Ten years ago, only a few dozen communities had red-light or speed-enforcement cameras. Today, hundreds do. On Saturday, we take a look at a debate in Ohio. Camera advocates say the technology saves lives. Opponents say the devices are profit-centers… Continue watching
May 07 Emergency order requires crude oil shippers to disclose train routes By Joan Lowy, Associated Press The emergency order requires that each railroad operating trains containing more than 1 million gallons of crude oil — the equivalent of about 35 tank cars — from the booming Bakken region of North Dakota, Montana and parts of Canada… Continue reading
May 06 House GOP proposes cuts to highway grants By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republicans controlling the House unveiled legislation on Tuesday that proposes a huge cut to a transportation grant program championed by President Barack Obama that funds road and bridge projects, light rail networks, port construction and bike paths. Continue reading