U.S. Department of Transportation

President of the United States

Trump Administration Clashes on Vehicle Emissions Standards Rollback

It's the U.S. EPA, under the new acting administrator, against two top officers in the Department of Transportation. Both agencies (along with California) determine fuel efficiency standards. Guess which wants to proceed cautiously in the rollback?

July 31, 2018 - The New York Times

LA Metro, Wilshire and Western

Federal Transit Grants Delayed by the Trump Administration

Congress has continued to fund transit projects despite the Trump Administration's stated desire to end federal funding for federal transit. Now it appears the Trump Administration is killing transit with bureaucracy.

July 22, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Self-Driving Car

Wanted in the Autonomous Vehicles Debate: A Place at the Table for Local Authorities

How much should the federal government involve local authorities in crafting autonomous vehicle regulations? Officials in New York say they aren't being included enough.

June 15, 2018 - Route Fifty

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

TIGER Grants Are Back, But They're Called BUILD Grants Now

Promises (or fears) of the end of TIGER grant funding have proven unfounded thus far into the Trump Administration. Here's what's new with the U.S. Department of Transportation grant program formerly known as TIGER.

June 12, 2018 - CitiesSpeak

$90 Million in Federal Grants Will Widen Highways in Colorado

The U.S. Department of Transportation is investing in Colorado's highways.

June 8, 2018 - The Denver Post

Congestion

Trump Administration Eliminates U.S. DOT's Emission Reductions Goals

The Federal Highway Administration recently announced the end of policy requiring state and regional departments of transportation to make goals to reduce emissions and track progress.

June 5, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Rescue Bus

Feds Announce $264 Million in Funding for Bus Systems

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) this week announced grant funding for the Buses and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program.

April 6, 2018 - Smart Cities Dive

U.S. Capital

Breaking: Congressional Compromise Reached to Fund Amtrak Gateway Program

Congressional leaders agreed to include $540 million, not the original $900+million that could be used for the Hudson River tunnel project, in the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill. President Trump is opposed to any Gateway funding.

March 21, 2018 - Politico New Jersey

Detroit Streetcar

How Detroit's QLine Streetcar Got Off Track

The QLine could ride its own dedicated lane and serve a real need for commuters. Instead, it's a slow circulator for a small part of downtown.

March 19, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Route 132

Critiquing the Latest Round of TIGER Grant Funding

TIGER grants aren't what they used to be, just like pretty much everything else in the federal government under the Trump Administration.

March 15, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Federal Transit Administration

$500 Million in TIGER Grants Awarded

They say the pendulum swings, and the TIGER grant funding pendulum has swung away from public transit.

March 10, 2018 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao

Corrected: The Bell Tolls for the TIGER Grant Program

The Trump Administration signaled a desire to scrap a funding program that helped fund transit, pedestrian, and bike infrastructure. A new program likely focused on rural and toll roads could take its place.

March 7, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Rhode Island Interstate 95

Major Bridge Rebuilding Project Cost Soars in Providence

When the Trump Administration scrapped the U.S. Department of Transportation's FASTLANE grant program, the state of Rhode Island decided to seek a public-private partnership for its I-95 bridge replacement project.

December 29, 2017 - Providence Journal

PATH Train

Financing of Hudson River Rail Tunnels in Peril

A funding agreement between New York, New Jersey, and the U.S. DOT for one of the most important rail projects in the nation is in danger of collapsing because of the way the two states are financing their share of the $12.9 billion cost.

December 26, 2017 - Crain's New York Business

CoGo Bikeshare

Columbus Just Changed its 'Smart City' Plan

The original plan earned the city a highly competitive $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

November 22, 2017 - Smart Cities Dive

Freeway Construction

GOP Tax Plan Eliminates Critical Infrastructure-Funding Bond Program

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act would have a deleterious effect on major infrastructure proposed by the private sector. The loss of Private Activity Bonds would hike borrowing rates for road, transit, stadium, and even affordable housing projects.

November 9, 2017 - Greater Greater Washington

Miami Brightline Construction

Trump Administration Kills Obama Era Local Hiring Program

The U.S. Department of Transportation quietly killed an Obama Administration program that would have been the only federal level local hiring initiative.

August 28, 2017 - The New York Times

Purple Line Extension

U.S. DOT Brings Maryland Purple Line Back From the Dead

The U.S. Department of Transportation and the state of Maryland are expected to sign a funding agreement next week for the Purple Line between Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

August 23, 2017 - The Washington Post

Seattle Light Rail

Feds Removing Regulatory Roadblocks for Private Investments in Public Transit

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) announced by the Federal Transit Administration is designed to further the Trump Administration's goals to empower the private sector to rebuild the nation's infrastructure.

August 7, 2017 - Federal Transit Administration

Capitol Hill

Senate Appropriations Committee Restores TIGER Grant Program

Unlike the House Appropriations Committee's DOT budget that reduces spending by almost 4 percent from current levels and eliminates the TIGER grant program, its Senate counterpart increased transportation spending, including the TIGER grant budget.

July 28, 2017 - The Hill

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

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