Tag: U.S. DOT: Page 3

Roadbuilding

FTA makes available $29 million for safety, disaster solutions

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $29 million in competitive research funds to help transit agencies  improve safety, natural disasters and emergency resiliency and emergency response capabilities. For first time, funds available through the FTA’s Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment Program are dedicated to creating and implementing […]

October 22, 2013

Roadbuilding

DOT employees begin returning to work

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s 18,481 furloughed employees began returning to work Thursday after a 16-day shutdown of the federal government. Congress and the White House passed a temporary spending measure last night that will allow federal government agencies, including the DOT, to remain open through January 15, the New York Times reports. Thursday morning, […]

October 17, 2013

Roadbuilding

NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman to speak at Senate Commerce Committee shutdown hearing

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Deborah Hersman will speak Friday at a Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee hearing on the impacts of the government shutdown. The shutdown resulted in 18,481 furloughs in the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as the suspension of most programs not safety-related, the cessation of most DOT web […]

October 10, 2013

Roadbuilding

Lawmakers discuss Leo Frigo Bridge, truck weight limits

Last month’s Leo Frigo Bridge closure, caused by reports of the bridge sagging, has sparked further debate about truck weight regulations. Heavy truck opponents are pushing for stricter weight restrictions on bridges, while supporters look to increase weight limits, Politico reported in its Morning Transportation on Tuesday. Representative Reid Ribble (R-Wis.), who originally co-sponsored a […]

October 8, 2013

Roadbuilding

DOT, Foxx suspend social media interactions during government shutdown

The U.S. Department of Transportation, DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and sectors of the DOT announced Tuesday they will not update social media accounts or blogs during the federal government shutdown that has furloughed 18,481 DOT positions. The DOT announced in a post titled “Shutdown Information” on its Fast Lane blog yesterday that no new content […]

October 2, 2013

Roadbuilding

The BIG WIG of Transportation Funding

The million-dollar question in transportation – make that the half trillion-dollar question – is how to find the money to fix our roads. The industry and U.S. Department of Transportation have several ideas and proposed solutions, which have served as Band-Aid solutions. According to the “Four Disciplines of Excellence (4DX)” business concept developed by Sean […]

October 1, 2013

Roadbuilding

Government shutdown suspends certain DOT activities

The federal government shut down at 12:01 a.m., and today 18,481 U.S. Department of Transportation employees aren’t at work because of the shutdown. Obviously, the furloughs are affecting federally-funded programs, with many operations shutting down until the government is back to business as usual. Here’s a breakdown of how the shutdown is impacting DOT activities: […]

October 1, 2013

Roadbuilding

18,481 DOT positions would be furloughed with government shutdown

Better Roads reported Friday that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) would remain operational if the federal government shuts down Tuesday. However, if a government shutdown occurs, about one in three USDOT employees would face furloughs. According to a plan released Friday by USDOT, the agency employs 55,468 people, 18,481 of which could be furloughed […]

September 30, 2013

Roadbuilding

USDOT awards 37 states with $474 million in TIGER grants

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded 37 states with a total of $474 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. In his announcement on USDOT’s Fast Lane blog, Foxx said USDOT received 585 applications for TIGER grants this year alone. “What does this tell […]

September 5, 2013

Roadbuilding

Transportation Secretary Foxx names new chief of staff

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has named former aide to ex-White House Chief of Staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel as his new chief of staff, according to a report from The Hill. Foxx also appointed former aide to Emanuel, Sarah Feinberg, to help run the department. Feinberg has also previously served as a […]

August 30, 2013

Roadbuilding

House to begin work on DOT, HUD spending bill today

The House will work today on its proposed $44.1 billion spending bill for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, according to a report from The Hill. The House will begin with “morning” speeches at noon before delving into H.R. 2610, also known as the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies […]

July 30, 2013

Roadbuilding

Senate passes bridge-prioritizing amendment to DOT, HUD spending bill

The Senate on Wednesday passed an amendment to its proposed $54 billion transportation and housing spending bill, prioritizing bridge projects, according to a report from The Hill. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) authored the amendment, which he said would prioritize bridges deemed “structurally obsolete” or “deficient,” allowing those bridges to be fixed before others. “We all […]

July 25, 2013