Obama Administration

"Use it or lose it" is the message being delivered to states by an Obama Administration eager to put people to work improving the nation's transportation infrastructure. $473 million is up for grabs, reports Alex Goldmark.

August 20, 2012 - Transportation Nation

Last week the Obama administration announced that approvals for seven critical infrastructure projects at five ports along the eastern seaboard will be expedited as part of their We Can't Wait initiative.

July 26, 2012 - Examiner

Ben Goldman details the President's 2013 budget request, which is loaded with transportation spending. The question, of course, is whether the budget is merely a campaign platform or a realistic template for Congress to work from?

February 15, 2012 - Streetsblog D.C.

The Obama administration has finalized new rules for the 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands that will guide everything from logging to recreation and renewable energy development, writes Juliet Eilperin.

January 29, 2012 - The Washington Post

In new rules published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, the Department of Transportation is amending Bush era policies on awarding grants for Light Rail, Subway, and Bus Rapid Transit projects.

January 27, 2012 - Bloomberg

Writing in Grist, Greg Hanscom's position is that under Obama's guidance, the Federal Government has shifted away from subsidizing sprawl and towards reviving cities. Agree?

January 19, 2012 - Grist

After two brief, magical years in which public transit riders were treated as equals with drivers, the federal government is once again playing favorites.

January 18, 2012 - GOOD Magazine

The President went out of his way to support Solyndra's cutting-edge solar technology. When the company declares bankruptcy this week, Jon Stewart anticipates the gaffes by Obama's opposition in a very funny segment on The Daily Show.

September 16, 2011 - The Daily Show

The Obama administration has pumped $2.5 billion in stimulus funds into the advanced battery industry, with the goal of creating manufacturing jobs. But will supporting green cars mean supporting sprawl in the long-term?

September 4, 2011 - Think Progress

The loser list is short and no surprise: The governor-elects of OH and WI had campaigned against HSR projects in their states-they got their wish. The recipients of the redirected $1.2 billion were the surprise,with CA, FL, and WA being the happiest.

December 10, 2010 - U.S. D.O.T. Press Release

The Obama administration has expressed interest in playing a bigger role in transportation and infrastructure policy in the U.S. National Journal asks its panel of experts if it's the right time for the White House to be more involved.

October 27, 2010 - National Journal

In the wake of several calamitous rail accidents, the Obama administration announced it would create a new federal agency to enforce safety standards on U.S. transit agencies. A new committee is now deciding just how that power will be wielded.

September 13, 2010 - The Washington Post

The new plan includes controversial ideas like moving underwater homeowners to government-backed FHA loans and giving grace periods to unemployed owners.

March 27, 2010 - The Wall St. Journal

HUD, DOT and EPA have pulled together under the Obama administration's direction to create sustainable communities, and Sen. Chris Dodd is trying to make it official with a new office under HUD. But can smart growth policies survive the politics?

February 25, 2010 - Grist

The Obama Administration has made a variety of pledges to focus on urban areas and metropolitan regions as it lays out policy for the country. But how realistic is the Obama urban vision?

February 3, 2010 - Citiwire

A year ago, the Brookings Institution offered a series of suggestions to the Obama Administration for addressing infrastructure problems. Some advice was followed, other suggestions weren't. The Institution gives the Administration an A- for 2009.

January 20, 2010 - The Brookings Institution

This New York Times editorial argues that the present strategy to fix the housing mess isn't working; real relief in the form of principal reduction is needed.

January 5, 2010 - New York Times

The Obama Administration is set to announce a new jobs bill and state officials are clamoring to get their hands on some of the $69 billion the federal government is dedicating to the next batch of stimulus-related infrastructure projects.

December 8, 2009 - The Washington Times

Transportation Secretary LaHood announced that this spring, bus and streetcar projects will receive $280 million as part of the administration's inter-agency sustainable communities partnership.

December 2, 2009 - Streetsblog Capitol Hill

Some mayors say the Obama Administration's urban agenda concentrates too much power at the state level.

November 30, 2009 - The Atlantic