U.S. Department of Transportation

Water

Trump Budget's Devastating Effect on the EPA and Two of America's Greatest Water Resources

President Trump's budget for 2018 has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency take the steepest hit—31 percent. Funding for two vital programs, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Chesapeake Bay Program, will have their funds eliminated.

March 20, 2017 - E&E News [Subscription]

President Trump's Other Infrastructure Plan—Defunding Grant Programs

The showman captured America's attention with a promise to "make America great again" with a $1 trillion infrastructure plan. Receiving scant attention are the infrastructure grant programs he'll cut in order to fund massive defense spending.

March 16, 2017 - The Hill

Pumping Gas

Legal Loophole Will Allow Rollback of Fuel Efficiency Standards

On Tuesday, the Trump administration anticipates unraveling two signature Obama environmental regulations: fuel efficiency standards for model year 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles and beginning the undoing of the Clean Power Plan.

March 7, 2017 - The New York Times

Self-Driving Car

Trump Administration Reviewing U.S. DOT's Automated Vehicle Guidelines

Among the many guidelines and rules going back to the drawing board (or ceremonial execution by executive order) at the federal level are guidelines for self-driving cars released only months ago by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

February 28, 2017 - Reuters

Governor Larry Hogan

Maryland Transportation Planning Decisions Under Civil Rights Scrutiny

The infamous cancellation of the Red Line, a decision made by Gov. Larry Hogan shortly after he took office, is a high-profile example of how the state's transportation decisions are short-changing people of color.

February 5, 2017 - Streetsblog USA

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

Elaine Chao Confirmed as U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary

Elaine Chao, who served eight years as labor secretary under President George W. Bush, was confirmed on Jan. 31 as the Secretary of Transportation, on a 93-6 vote.

February 1, 2017 - USA Today

Meet the New Federal Committee on Automation

The U.S. Department of Transportation a new Federal Committee on Automation, gathering 25 experts in the field of vehicle technology to help keep the government in front of a rapidly approaching era.

January 12, 2017 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Anthony Foxx Announcement

An Exit Interview with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

A CityLab interview with Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, who served in the position since 2013 during some of the most frantic technological innovation in transportation since the dam of the age of the automobile.

January 2, 2017 - CityLab

Battle of Technologies Shaping-Up for Connected Vehicles

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a new rule on Dec. 13 for automakers to require vehicle-to-vehicle technology to save lives, but critics charge the radio-based technology will be obsolete when the rule takes effect in about seven years

December 31, 2016 - AutoWeek

Trump Selects Elaine J. Chao, former Labor Secretary, as Transportation Secretary

Elaine Chao served all eight years as President George W. Bush's former Secretary of Labor and also under his father's administration as Deputy Secretary of Transportation. She is married to Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

December 1, 2016 - The New York Times

Freeway Interchange

U.S. DOT Adopts Vision Zero

"With this campaign, we’re making clear that zero is the only acceptable number of deaths on our roads."

October 6, 2016 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Parking Gate

Just Arrived: The First Federal Safety Guidelines for Automated Vehicles

It's a big day for the future of automated vehicles. Federal safety regulators gave first indication, not yet regulations, of how they expect automated vehicles to behave when they hit the road en masse.

September 20, 2016 - The New York Times

A 'Call to Action' to Find Reasons for Increase in Traffic Fatalities

The U.S. Department of Transportation wants to hear from the public to help explain the 35,092 traffic deaths last year, an increase of 2,348 people from 2014. It has issued a 'call to action' to help interpret the data.

September 8, 2016 - Fast Lane (DOT blog)

Over $14 Million Awarded to Eight Projects to Find Alternatives to Gas Taxes

The U.S. Department of Transportation is funding ways to transition from the gas tax to other user-based revenue mechanisms to fund transportation infrastructure. The federal gas tax hasn't keep pace with transportation expenditures since 2008.

September 6, 2016 - U.S. D.O.T. Press Release

National Transit Map

Hot Off the Press: The National Transit Map

The U.S. Department of Transit has released its first ever National Transit Map.

September 1, 2016 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Amtrak Receives $2.45 Billion Federally Secured Loan for New Acela Trains

Amtrak will replace, rather than overhaul, aging Acela trains with new, 186-mph trains from French manufacturer, Alstom, though they won't exceed 160 mph. The agreement was announced Friday by VP Joe Biden at Biden Station, Wilmington, Del.

August 28, 2016 - The New York Times

Mercedes Benz Suburbs

Americans Continue to Drive More, Reports Federal Highway Administration

New driving totals are out for June and and the first six months of 2016, and the news is not good for those who want to see a reduction in what is now the greatest source of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions.

August 24, 2016 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Double Trucks

New Rules to Make Heavy Trucks Cleaner and More Fuel Efficient

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation jointly issued final standards on Aug. 16 to reduce emissions and improve fuel economy for heavy duty trucks which currently average about six miles per gallon.

August 20, 2016 - New York Times

Interstates

Last Chance to Comment on U.S. DOT's New Performance Measurement Rule

So far the reviews have not been kind to the proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Transportation performance measurement rule. The public comment for the proposed rule closes August 20.

August 17, 2016 - The Hill

Rail Deck Park

Planetizen Week in Review: August 8, 2016

It only takes two minutes to catch up on the biggest news stories of the week.

August 8, 2016 - Planetizen

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

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HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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