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DOT 9-09
Friday, January 16, 2009
News Digest
BTS Releases Pocket Guide to Transportation 2009. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), has published the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2009 – a 50-page quick reference guide to informative transportation data. The 12th annual Pocket Guide covers data on the transportation system, transportation safety and security, mobility, transportation and the economy, and transportation and the environment. To order a copy of the Pocket Guide to Transportation 2009, contact BTS by phone at 800-853-1351, by e-mail at ritainfo@dot.gov or by mail sent to Product Orders, RITA/Bureau of Transportation Statistics, USDOT, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Room E36-109, Washington, DC 20590. This free guide can also be obtained by going to the BTS website at www.bts.gov and ordering copies using the "Bookstore” link. Contact for non-orders: Dave Smallen: 202-366-5568.
DOT Cautions Consumers on Super Bowl Air Travel Ticket Scams. Air travelers going to Super Bowl XLIII this year should be aware that not all tour packages include a ticket to the Feb. 1 game in Tampa, FL. U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) consumer protection rules require any operator marketing a Super Bowl air package that is promoted as including game tickets to have the tickets in hand or have a written contract for the tickets before the operator does any advertising. The Department cautions travelers that if a game ticket is not specifically mentioned in advertisements or other solicitation material or listed as a tour feature, the ticket is probably not included. DOT’s rules state that if a tour was described as including a game ticket and you do not receive one, you are entitled to a full refund of the entire package price upon your return. People may file complaints about Super Bowl tours that advertise tickets but do not provide them by contacting the Aviation Consumer Protection Division online at http://airconsumer.dot.gov, by voice-mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511. Media Contact: Bill Mosley, (202) 366-4570.
FRA Releases New Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety Video for Truck Drivers. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Operation Lifesaver of California have produced an educational video for truck drivers designed to promote safety at highway-rail grade crossings. The five minute video reviews the legal responsibilities of the drivers as they approach and travel over highway-rail grade crossings, and helps provide situational awareness by highlighting important aspects of railroad operations at crossings. The video is available in both English and Spanish, along with closed captioned versions of each, and is brief enough so it can be quickly shown to drivers before their shifts or in safety meetings. The video is downloadable from the FRA website, and can be shared within trucking companies and trade groups. Contact: Rob Kulat (202) 493-6024
FRA Adds Improved Railroad Bridge Safety Management to Statement of Agency Policy. The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has added The Essential Elements of a Railroad Bridge Management Program to its Statement of Agency Policy on the Safety of Railroad Bridges. The non-regulatory policy outlines suggested criteria for railroads to use to ensure the structural integrity of bridges that carry railroad tracks. The purpose of the Essential Elements is to provide railroad bridge owners with a uniform, comprehensive set of components for recommended inclusion in their bridge management programs. With this information, a bridge owner may develop a single, comprehensive set of instructions, information and data as guidance for employees who are responsible for the management, inspection, maintenance and safety of railroad bridges. The bridge safety provisions in the Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2008 closely mirror the Essential Elements and require FRA to issue a final railroad bridge regulation by October 16, 2009. Contact: Rob Kulat (202) 493-6024.
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