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Atlanta Regional Commission no stranger to Livable Communities

It was a great pleasure to speak to the Atlanta Regional Commission this morning.

While I spent some time talking about the Recovery Act and stimulus success in Georgia transportation projects, I focused my remarks on the Obama Administration's Livable Communities Initiative and its relevance to the Atlanta region.

Since the Atlanta Regional Commission has been operating a Livable Centers Initiative since 1999, I may have been preaching to the choir.

In the Administration's Livable Communities program DOT, HUD, and EPA are working together, with the White House, to find ways to better coordinate and direct federal investments in transportation, housing, air quality, and water infrastructure.

We know that transportation plays a major role in our ability to create the kinds of neighborhoods people want to live in-–and where businesses want to locate. More transportation options near more housing choices and more mixed land-use mean greater access to jobs, education, medical treatment, retail, and other vital services.

And Atlanta already knows this. The 2009 Atlanta Regional Commission study of their Livable Centers Initiative shows a dramatic decline in the number of Vehicle Miles Traveled in communities that have coordinated land-use and transportation planning. Simply, the lower the Vehicle Miles Traveled, the more residents are able to get where they want to go without using their cars.

Now, I've talked about the importance of reducing miles traveled as a key part of reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reducing carbon emissions. Residents of the Atlanta area's Livable Centers are able to do both while enjoying the convenience of public transportation options; of jobs and services closer to home; of wider, friendlier sidewalks, and safer crosswalks.

Going forward, livability will be a watchword of federal transportation policy. Given its recent honors--a 2008 EPA National Smart Growth Award and a 2009 American Planning Association National Planning Excellence Award--we need look no further than ARC's Livable Centers for successful examples of the kind of well-researched, coordinated infrastructure planning this Administration has in mind.

Livability Tour sees the future in Chicago, Dubuque, Denver

Yesterday, the Obama Administration's Livable Communities partners visited sites in Chicago and Dubuque that exemplify the sustainable qualities we've been advocating since March. Today, we've been touring sites in Denver as well.

Below, I'll elaborate on what we've seen and heard. But we've also been carrying a message from the Administration--

Working together, we’re going to do 3 things:

1. Find ways to better coordinate and direct federal investments in transportation, housing, improved air quality, and water infrastructure;
2. Help local communities advance local priorities for revitalizing and strengthening communities and transportation services; and
3. Ensure that our federal grant and formula programs consider investments made by other federal agencies, state and local governments, and private and nonprofit organizations.

And we will do those things. We are determined to incorporate the principles of this partnership into every budget and every proposal.

What does livability look like?

It looks like West Garfield Park in Chicago; it looks like Dubuque, Iowa's, Historic Millwork District; and it looks like Denver's Lincoln Park.

Distracted Driving Summit agenda promises results

In August, I announced we would convene a summit of safety experts to help us figure out a way to reduce distracted driving. This summit will give safety leaders from across the nation a forum to identify, target, and tackle the fundamental elements of this problem.

We've all observed the rise of this dangerous practice, so let's be clear:

We must act now to stop distracted driving from becoming a deadly epidemic on our nation's roadways.

The summit will bring together respected leaders for interactive sessions on data, research, technology, policy, and outreach. I'm excited by the number of professionals who have agreed to share their expertise with us, and I look forward to the day we can end this dangerous habit.

In the meantime, DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration has put together a web page that has the agenda's details, and I encourage everyone to check it out.

And, so anyone who's interested can attend the summit virtually, we're webcasting the sessions and allowing people to submit questions online to each panel. I think this is a great development, one that allows experts and the general public to come together on a very serious matter.

Folks, we need drivers' eyes and minds on the road. I hope this summit is a practical first step toward that goal.

DOT protects consumers, fines Spirit Airlines for violating bumping, other rules

Protecting airline consumers against unfair and deceptive practices is an important part of the Department Of Transportation's mission. So, hats-off to our Aviation Enforcement Office for doing just that.

Today, based on the Enforcement Office's findings, DOT fined Spirit Airlines $375,000 for various rule violations. This civil penalty is a record for these kinds of violations. The message should be clear:

We will continue to take enforcement action when airlines violate our rules.

Spirit bumped passengers from oversold flights but did not provide compensation or a written notice of passengers' rights to compensation--as required by DOT rules protecting consumers.

Spirit also failed to resolve baggage claims within a reasonable time. In one case, they took 14 months to provide traveler compensation. The airline provided compensation only for baggage on the outbound leg of round-trip flights. And, the airline refused to accept responsibility for missing laptops and other items Spirit had accepted as baggage.

Spirit also violated DOT rules requiring airfare ads to state the full price to be paid. The fares advertised omitted fees Spirit tacked onto base fares.

Spirit violated several other DOT consumer-protection rules, all-in-all leading to Enforcement Office review of complaints filed by consumers, inspections at airports, and a review of Spirit's records. The Office will follow-up its investigation in the coming year.

This kind of treatment of America's airline customers is not just a violation of rules; it's unacceptable. This DOT says passengers deserve better, and they will receive better.

Congratulations, automobile dealers of America!

Today, I spoke to the National Automobile Dealers of America and thanked them for participating  in the single most successful short-term economic stimulus program in history.

By now, it's pretty clear that the Car Allowance Rebate System, or CARS program, succeeded beyond everyone's expectations, and we can all take pride in what we’ve accomplished. Working together, we have delivered the goods to provide a struggling economy with a significant boost.

• August retail sales up 2.7%
• August automobile dealer sales up 10.6%
• Sales boosted by about 440,000 vehicles between June and August
• One of the largest 2-month spikes in auto sales on record
• Increased production at Ford, GM, Toyota, and Honda
• 60% improvement in fuel economy
• $3.6 billion contributed to GDP for 2009
• Millions in local and state sales tax revenues to cash-strapped states

That's not a bad list. But, in the process, we’ve also shown that when the federal government and the private sector team up to take bold action, the American public reaps the rewards. That's the kind of partnership I'd like to see more of.

As of this morning, 565,690 CARS vouchers have been paid. That means more than 70 percent of dealers have been paid already. This represents almost $2.4 billion paid or in the pipeline.

I’m enormously proud of the men and women at DOT. Not only did they help get the CARS program up and running in 30 days, but many of them have also worked around the clock to process applications and resolve the issues generated by such a huge response.

The CARS program has worked--it has worked for hard-working families, the local dealerships that serve them, and the domestic auto industry we all depend on.

So, again, a hearty "Thanks" to all of the auto dealers who partnered with us to keep America moving.