President pushes transportation construction speed-up in TV meetings

White HousePresident Obama is set to sit down today for interviews with half a dozen television stations from major cities to push a plan that will speed up transportation construction projects. This has been a clearly-stated and much publicized goal of FHWA and its Administrator Victor Mendez for some time, obviously with the backing of the President. The White House says the President will “announce a plan to cut federal review and permitting timelines for construction projects such as highways, bridges, railways, ports, waterways, pipelines and renewable energy. In talking with local anchors, he will also have the opportunity to discuss specific, important projects in their communities that stand to benefit from these initiatives.”