Welcome to the FastLane: The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation

This New Year's Eve, put safety first behind the wheel

As 2010 draws to a close, Americans across the country are planning their New Year's celebrations.  But during this exciting time of parties and resolutions, it's important to keep safety in mind.

The fact is, New Year's Eve can be one of the most dangerous nights of the year on our nation's roadways because of drunk and impaired driving.  And I can't overemphasize how serious this problem is: in 2009 alone, 10,839 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, representing 32 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year.

That's why DOT's annual "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" winter holiday crackdown is currently under way, helping to raise awareness and get drunk drivers off the streets.  Law enforcement officers across the country are stepping up visibility and increasing vigilance as part of the campaign.  And the new "No Refusal" initiative we're promoting nationwide will help ensure that drivers suspected of being under the influence will face the strictest penalties possible for their actions.

But ultimately, putting a stop to drunk driving begins with personal responsibility.  Organizations like MADD have told us the stories for years--of a fun evening out with friends that took a tragic turn because someone made the poor decision to drink and drive.  

So, as you head out this New Year's Eve, make a plan.  Choose a designated driver.  Take public transportation.  Call a cab.  But don't get behind the wheel if you've had too much to drink.  It's not worth the consequences.

Make 2011 a happy--and safe--new year.

FRA's Karen Rae honored as "Woman of the Year"

Karen Rae, the Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, is one of DOT's brightest stars.  But, you don't have to take my word for it.

Earlier this month, Karen was named "Woman of the Year" by the DC chapter of the Women's Transportation Seminar.  Each year, WTS honors female role models in the transportation industry.

Karen Rae, FRA's Deputy Administrator.

And even though Karen told me she was surprised to be singled out for the award, it's not hard to see why she was selected.  In her leadership role at the FRA, Karen helps manage our rail safety and regulatory programs.  

She is also playing a crucial role in the development of President Obama's visionary high-speed rail initiative, which will help revolutionize America's transportation networks, create jobs, and spur economic development.

But, her work doesn't stop there.  Karen is a mentor for other women here at DOT and works with WTS to encourage other young women to choose a career in transportation.

You see, even though women are an essential part of our national work force, they are still extremely underrepresented in the transportation industry.  WTS is addressing this through mentoring and scholarship programs that help young women pursue technical degrees and connect with successful women working in transportation. 

We're also doing our part here at DOT.  In May, I signed a cooperative agreement with WTS to encourage young women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).  

And in July, I announced the expansion of our successful women's internship program--started at Spelman College in 2009--that encourages young women to pursue careers in transportation by matching them with relevant job opportunities in their areas.

All of these programs help ensure that we'll continue to have successful and talented women like Karen Rae working at DOT now and in the future.  So, in addition to congratulating Karen on her award, I’d like to thank her and the other impressive women at the DOT for leading by example.  We couldn't be successful without their hard work, diversity of experience, and willingness to mentor the next generation of transportation specialists.

Seaway navigation season may end for the winter, but there's no slowing down for infrastructure renewal

At midnight tomorrow, the St. Lawrence Seaway will officially close for the winter season, ending a very successful and productive 2010 navigation year.

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit the dedicated men and women who work at the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) headquarters in Massena, New York.  They informed me that the closing period is a very important and busy time at the Seaway, as it is their winter maintenance period.

This year’s maintenance period will be particularly busy with a number of asset renewal projects under way, including dewatering and covering locks.  The SLSDC’s 10-year Asset Renewal Program represents the first comprehensive effort to reinvest in and modernize the U.S. Seaway infrastructure.  Without such significant reinvestment in the Seaway, it would become increasingly difficult to maintain and keep open for business. 

Our Seaway professionals met their goal of keeping the Seaway open to vessels 99 percent of the time over the last year, which is vital for commerce.  In fact, a recent report found that 'the economic impact of a shutdown of either of the two U.S. locks would result in a loss to those dependent on this mode of transportation of $1.3-$2.3 million per day.'

2010: A year of safety, supporting economic recovery at DOT

With the holiday season in full swing, another year will soon be behind us.  And when I think back on 2010, I couldn't be prouder of everything the Department of Transportation has accomplished.

Our roadways are the safest they've ever been.  In September, NHTSA announced that 2009 saw the lowest highway fatality and injury rates ever recorded.  And much of that success can be attributed to DOT's comprehensive safety programs.  It also means Americans are getting the message that driving safely means putting away your cell phone, buckling up, and not getting behind the wheel when you've had too much to drink.

Fielding questions at a press conference with NHTSA Administrator David Strickland

But that doesn't mean we're resting on our laurels.  Through our annual "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" campaign, we are promoting a new "No Refusal" initiative that will help keep drunk drivers off our roads and save even more lives.

And our Department-wide initiative to end distracted driving has gained even more momentum in 2010.  This year, we held a second national Distracted Driving Summit and proposed rules that would prohibit hand-held cell phone use by commercial drivers and ban texting behind the wheel for drivers of hazardous materials.

Turning to aviation, flying is safer and more efficient because of the work of DOT and FAA. 

Kings Point cadets earn well-deserved break

While many are scurrying this week to prepare for holiday travel or find holiday gifts for friends and family, I hope the young men and women of the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, are enjoying some well-deserved rest and recreation.

Like many college students, our cadets are on winter break. But, unlike many college students, they are not on vacation. They are on leave--absence not from classes or typical college life, but from the duties and responsibilities of service.

Cadets enjoy the Holiday Party at the USMMA's Cookie Cafe

You see, these midshipmen have signed on to serve America by helping the US Merchant Marine meet the nation's economic and security needs.

Recovery Act support brings jobs to Greenville, SC; Electric bus rolls off assembly line into transit service

Thanks in part to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grants, 112 Greenville, SC, workers are grateful this season for the best of gifts in these economic times: jobs in a growth industry.

Over the last few years, DOT has invested in cutting-edge research to help put a new generation of clean, fuel-efficient, zero-emission buses on our streets. And I’m very excited to see those investments are paying off--and generating many new green jobs in the process.

Earlier this month, the world’s first battery-powered electric bus--fully chargable in only 10 minutes!--rolled off the new assembly line at Proterra, Inc.’s expanded manufacturing facility in Greenville.

The Proterra crew celebrates the first EcoRide BE-35

As a result of Proterra's success, many Greenville area residents are now fully employed at the plant. And with more than 80 buses still in the works, and inquiries pouring in from many domestic and international transit agencies, Proterra is ready to ramp up production. A second assembly line will begin operation in 2011 at a larger facility currently under construction at Clemson University's International Center for Automotive Research.

This “made in America” success story is rippling literally across the country. Foothill Transit, serving the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, is using a $6.6 million Recovery Act grant to put Proterra’s new Ecoliner into service, the first transit agency in the country to do so.

On-time gift delivery is no holiday miracle; it's the work of America's truck drivers

Americans celebrate all sorts of holidays and holiday miracles. But, as Santa One gets prepped this week for its annual Christmas Eve run, it's important to celebrate one of the most amazing wonders of all--how those holiday gifts and groceries really get into our stores and homes--America's truck drivers.

In the late summer and fall, many of the items Americans will be purchasing during the holiday shopping season begin making their way across the country. And our nation's drivers--like Paul Jones of South Plainfield, NJ--step up their miles and tonnage. Then, as shoppers strip shelves and stock rooms, other carriers help stores restock with runs from regional warehouses.

In the meantime, grocery stores that have already loaded up for Thanksgiving--thanks to truckers like Shawn Ragan of Howard, CO--must immediately reload for the December holidays. Across the country, many prepare to host friends and relatives, and once again grocery shelves must be stocked and restocked. From purveyor to warehouse to store, those goods are moved by truck.

Then there are the package delivery trucks and vans that seem to be everywhere at this time of year. How is it possible you can order a gift online or from a catalog and it can be delivered to your home in a matter of days? You guessed it: commercial drivers. I've even seen some of these drivers delivering gifts on Christmas Day.

FAA certifies Santa One for global delivery mission

It may be of some comfort for readers of this blog to learn that Federal Aviation Administration safety inspectors at the North Pole have certified Santa One, the reindeer-powered sleigh piloted by Santa Claus, for its Christmas Eve round-the-world delivery mission.

As it was last year, Santa One is equipped with NextGen technology, including advanced avionics in lead reindeer Rudolph's shiny red nose.

As FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said, “Santa’s upgraded cockpit display will help improve his situational awareness by showing him and his reindeer flight crew their precise location in relation to other aircraft, bad weather and terrain.”

So children around the world will get their gifts on time, regardless of the weather. We’re proud to say NextGen is bringing Santa Claus to town.

High-speed-rail will be our generation's legacy

Originally published December 19 in Orlando Sentinel

It is difficult to imagine what America would be like without its interstate highway system. For decades, our state-of-the-art roadways have been the world's envy – and rightfully so. They deliver products of agriculture and industry to market. They link people with schools, jobs, family, and health care.

America's highways will remain a crucial component of our national transportation network well into the future. But we can no longer rely exclusively on roads as a strategy for economic growth over the long term. That is why the Obama administration has begun the heavy lifting of building a national high-speed-rail system that will spur economic development and job creation along its corridors.

For years, we have watched other countries pass us by as they build faster trains. Indeed, the benefits of high-speed rail are tough to ignore.

It will seamlessly integrate large metropolitan communities and economies through a safe, convenient and reliable transportation alternative. It will ease congestion on our roads and at our airports. It will reduce our reliance on oil as well as our carbon emissions. And it will provide a much-needed boost to America's hard-hit manufacturing sector during a time of economic struggle.

Since the president proposed his vision for high-speed rail last year, enthusiasm around the country has been overwhelming. To date, states have submitted applications for $64 billion — more than six times the amount of money available.

Interest in the program has come from the public and private sectors — from state governments, rail advocates, workers, environmentalists and a broad spectrum of businesses eager to help get America's high-speed-rail industry moving. In fact, last fall, 30 foreign and domestic rail manufacturers committed to employing American workers and locating or expanding their base of operations in the U.S. if selected for high-speed-rail contracts. And the administration's 100 percent Buy America requirement is sure to generate a powerful ripple effect as manufacturers buy supplies and as workers earn and spend their paychecks.

Faces of Distracted Driving: Joe Teater, 12 "Why aren't people screaming from the rooftops that this is dangerous?"

It never gets easier for Judy Teater--even after almost seven years.

“Our lives will never be the same since losing Joe,” she says.  “We loved him so much, and we still miss him every day."

I first met Judy at the 2009 Distracted Driving Summit.  And the story she shared--about the son she adored and the crash that took his life--has stuck with me ever since.  Now, I'd like to share it with you in the latest video from our "Faces of Distracted Driving" series.

DOT helping fulfill Obama Administration's commitment to tribal communities

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to attend the second White House Tribal Nations Conference.  It was a great chance to hear the concerns of the Native American community and discuss ways that we could build upon our government-to-government relationship.

At the conference, President Obama reminded tribal leaders that, before he took office, he had promised them they would have a voice in the White House:

"I said that so long as I held this office, never again would Native Americans be forgotten or ignored.  And over the past two years, my administration, working hand in hand with many of you, has strived to keep that promise."

President Obama at the White House Tribal Nations Conference

The President also noted that one key to unlocking economic growth on reservations is investments in infrastructure that better connect tribal communities to the broader economy. And I am proud of the work the Department of Transportation has done to help fulfill the President's commitment by strengthening ties between American Indians & Alaskan Natives and our transportation programs. 

Stearns Road Corridor pays a variety of dividends in Kane County, IL

Congratulations to Kane County, Illinois, for completing their largest infrastructure project ever--the Stearns Road Bridge Corridor--and for finishing it on time and under budget!

Credit for completing the bridge goes, of course, to the project's many workers. They worked in the January cold to make up for delays, and finished the project with no loss-time accidents. Not one. And we're talking about more than 250,000 hours of work.

FHWA Administrator mendez crosses the new bridge

As Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez, who represented DOT at yesterday's ribbon-cutting, said:

“About 220 people worked on site every day, creating hundreds more paychecks that were spent throughout the community. We’re seeing that type of job creation all across the country today thanks to our federal-aid highway program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And more than $78 million from those two sources helped make this corridor a reality."

But now that it's open, the benefits of the new corridor are just beginning.

Future of Aviation Advisory Committee delivers recommendations for industry's future

In a highly competitive, global market, the US aviation industry faces a wide range of challenges. And that’s why Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt and I were excited to receive the final recommendations presented yesterday by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.

You might recall from this blog that earlier this year I asked this diverse group of aviation stakeholders for concrete recommendations we could act on to make the industry stronger.

The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee delivers its recommendations

Committee members focused on five areas: workforce development, competition and viability, financing aviation systems, environmental concerns, and safety. And, as I told the committee yesterday, the 23 recommendations they presented will not just sit on a shelf in my office.

DOT's "Buy America" website: helping keep American companies healthy and American workers on the job

Today I am pleased to share the new Department of Transportation "Buy America" website. This new tool will help American businesses rebuild our infrastructure and create jobs at the same time.

The Obama Administration's "Buy America" commitment ensures that American transportation projects are built by American hands using American-made products. It maximizes our bang for the buck by making sure that transportation money flows all the way through the supply chain. And it generates a powerful ripple effect as workers from each of the links in that supply chain spend their paychecks.

This has been an essential part of the Recovery Act, and it has been an essential part of our high-speed rail program. We are absolutely intent upon encouraging manufacturers to reopen shuttered plants and rehire skilled American workers.

DOT's Buy America web page, part of our commitment to American companies, American workers

Now, sometimes a company will seek a waiver because American-supplied material is difficult to access. That's fine, but when that happens, competitors who can provide that material in American-made form should have a chance to do so.

And that's where www.dot.gov/buyamerica comes in. Our new website improves access to business opportunities by posting links to all waiver requests in one central location. This will help any American company easily identify if they can fill a particular "Buy America" need.

Safe Kids USA's Countdown2Drive: a smart idea for young teens

Yesterday, I was honored to be part of the Safe Kids Countdown2Drive kick-off.

Countdown2Drive is a smart idea--it's a program to educate young teens and their parents about safe driving well before the teen is ready to drive legally. With easy-to-use online materials, it is designed to help teens learn safe driving habits as they prepare for the day when they get behind the wheel.

As John Formisano, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide said, “Teen pre-drivers are eager to learn, and they are focused on the freedom a driver’s license and access to a car can provide. By preparing them to be good passengers, Countdown2Drive can help decrease the number of crashes and injuries that occur during their first and most dangerous year of driving."

The stakes couldn’t be higher. More than 350,000 teens were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2009 and car crashes are the number one killer of children and teens in this country.

Mile for mile, teenagers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash as compared to all other drivers. And, at ages 13 and 14, a teen’s risk of dying while riding with a teenage driver doubles, and continues to rise as they get older.

So National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland and I welcome Countdown2Drive's important emphasis on the vulnerable age group in between young children and young drivers.

TIGER grant set to improve bus service in and around our nation's capital

During the last two years, I’ve visited dozens of transit systems across the country and around the world. But I think it’s sometimes easy to forget that we have one of the very best right here at home in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia.

Every single day, the transit agencies of the greater metropolitan Washington, DC, area connect hundreds of thousands of people with school, work, businesses, doctors, family, and friends. They move tremendous crowds in and out of the downtown area for large national rallies and patriotic events like Presidential Inaugurations and the Memorial Day and Fourth of July celebrations. And, with their daily service and accessibility, they set a great example for similar systems across America.

Today, we’re building on that record of accomplishment with almost $59 million in new funding to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to boost priority bus service.

Signing the TIGER grant agreement with MWCOG

These new resources will help make buses faster and more reliable through a combination of designated lanes, better signals, and other improvements.

This award is possible only because of our TIGER discretionary grant program, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Through the TIGER program DOT is supporting innovative, strategic projects like this one across the country--projects where regions roll up their sleeves to solve problems together.

Bread For The City working hard to meet a greater need

Yesterday, several members of my staff and I volunteered at Bread For The City's Southeast Center food pantry here in Washington, DC. It was an eye-opening morning in many ways.

It's one thing to stand at a podium and ask Department of Transportation employees to donate to the Combined Federal Campaign. But it's another to spend time at one of the CFC recipient organizations.

With Bread For The City Executive Director George Jones and DOT's Katie Thompson

Bread For The City's Southeast Center is quite a busy place with staff, volunteers, and clients coming and going. Despite all the activity, the food pantry is well-organized, allowing volunteers to package 50-pound sacks of potatoes into family-size portions even as clients are coming through and choosing food from the shelves.

While much of the credit is due to food coordinator Tony Weldon, who presides over the pantry's operation--directing traffic and answering a steady supply of questions--he is supported by a very capable staff who are in constant motion transporting and unloading food donations from around the city.

Food coordinator Tony Weldon

"No Refusal" gives law enforcement officers a valuable tool for keeping drunk drivers off our roadways

Today, at the Arlington County Detention Center in Virginia, I kicked off our annual "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit, Under Arrest" winter holiday enforcement effort.

Thousands of police departments across America will join us this December during National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. And, as the busy holiday travel season gets underway, we’re taking another step to get drunk drivers off the road with a national “No Refusal” initiative.

Flanked, from left to right, by NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, ADA Warren Diepraam, MADD National Pres. Laura Dean-Mooney, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre

The "No Refusal" strategy is a tool many states are using this season to put a stop to drunk driving. "No Refusal" allows law enforcement officers to contact on-call judges and obtain warrants for blood samples from suspected drunk drivers who refuse a breathalyzer test.

MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney

I want to thank MADD National President Laura Dean-Mooney for joining me today. No other organization in the country has been as staunch an ally in our efforts to end drunk driving. And their support of "No Refusal" has helped provide our frontline law enforcement officers another critical tool for making our roads safer.

The idea of someone skirting the law and walking away from a drunk driving offense by refusing a breathalyzer test is an insult to the tens of thousands of people who have been killed by drunk drivers over the years.

But, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about one in every four DUI suspects refuses a breathalyzer test. And, because prosecuting suspected drunk drivers is much more difficult when the offender refuses a breath test, those drivers are more likely be dismissed only to drive drunk again.

In some states, the rate of refusal is even higher. For example, Florida, Massachusetts, and Louisiana show refusal rates of 38-41 percent. New Hampshire tops all states with an 81 percent refusal rate.

This is a persistent, ongoing safety problem.

But states like Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, and Utah that have adopted "No Refusal" programs demonstrate more guilty pleas and fewer costly trials.

Airlines embrace the holiday spirit

As the Secretary of Transportation, I spend a lot of time at airports.  But every once in a while, those ordinary trips can be quite extraordinary.  And that was the case this week as I helped American Airlines and United Airlines honor some special kids this holiday season.

On Thursday morning, I attended a Snowball Express send-off event at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia.  Snowball Express, now in its fifth year, is an annual gathering that helps the children of fallen military heroes create new holiday memories.

 
At the Snowball Express, with a few elves

As the official airline for the Snowball Express, American Airlines donated dozens of charter flights to help over 1,300 people get to and from Dallas, Texas for this year's event.  And over the weekend, these families were able to enjoy a trip to the Mesquite Championship Rodeo, a performance of "The Nutcracker" ballet, and a special show by ventriloquist Terry Fator.

But the Snowball Express is about much more than just entertainment.  For Jon Marie Pearson and her four children, it's a chance to connect with other people who understand the loss they've experienced. Her husband, Army Captain Andrew R. Pearson, was killed in Iraq on April 30, 2008.

"We get to see we're not alone in this," Jon Marie said.  "There's other families that are going through the same thing, and it helps us get through the holidays."
 

I found a similar sense of community on Saturday morning at the United Airlines' Fantasy Flight to the North Pole.  The Fantasy Flight began 20 years ago at Washington Dulles International Airport and helps bring a little holiday magic to seriously ill kids from Children's Hospice International.

With the help of United Airlines and its employees, the children and their families boarded a Boeing 777, took off for a brief flight, and landed at the "North Pole"--a special gate at the airport decked out in holiday decorations and featuring carolers, costumed characters, holiday treats, gifts, and more.

 
On board United's "Fantasy Flight"

Faces of Distracted Driving: Ashley Johnson, 16; "We talked about cell phone use while driving--I didn't think she would do it."

Ashley Johnson wanted to help people. And by the age of 16, she was already taking college courses and planning to become a psychologist. She was a smart girl and a caring girl. And when you watch her father, Amos, talk about her, you can really see how much Ashley was loved and how proud she made him.

Watching Amos Johnson’s story is not easy. Since his daughter Ashley was killed while trying to drive and retrieve a text at the same time, his life has never been the same.

Amos Johnson with daughter Ashley

What’s even more tragic is that Amos did everything right. He says:

"When we started driving, I was telling her the laws--what to do, what not to do--and the cell phone was one of the biggest things. I told her, 'We do not talk on the cell phone while driving.' We talked about it quite a bit."

It goes to show what we’re up against in our fight to end distracted driving. The allure of multitasking and staying connected is coupled with the illusion that we’re capable of doing those things while driving. But we aren’t. And Ashley’s story shows that.

DOT redirecting $1.195 billion for high-speed rail projects nationwide

This afternoon, I announced that the Department of Transportation will redirect $1.195 billion in high-speed rail money originally headed for Wisconsin and Ohio to high-speed rail projects underway elsewhere. Because Wisconsin and Ohio are not moving forward on high-speed rail projects, more money is available for other states. And we are happy to help them get their high-speed rail projects off the ground.

Last year, the Obama Administration provided $8 billion to jump-start a national high-speed rail program in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For that first $8 billion investment, we received more than $55 billion in requests. We were similarly oversubscribed for the second round of awards--we received $8.8 billion worth of requests for only $2.4 billion in available funding.

I am pleased that so many states have been enthusiastic about the additional support they will now receive. But it’s no wonder. High-speed rail will modernize America’s transportation network, spur economic development domestically and jumpstart our manufacturing sector. In addition, it will keep the U.S. competitive with other leading nations.

Look, high-speed rail will transform US transportation in a way we haven't seen since President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System more than a half-century ago. And, looking at the advances other nations have already achieved in high-speed rail, it's clear that our investment in this game-changing technology is long overdue.

Investing in high-speed rail will reinvigorate our manufacturing sector and put Americans back to work in good-paying jobs. Last year, we received a commitment from 30 domestic and foreign rail manufacturers that they would establish or expand their operations in the US if selected for high-speed rail contracts. More importantly, they agreed to build these rail networks with American workers using American-made materials. We're ensuring maximum economic benefit with a 100 percent "Buy American" requirement.

States set to receive high-speed rail dollars are: California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin (for its existing Hiawatha line).

The Recovery Act was designed to provide an economic boost to our nation, and that’s what we’re committed to doing. Redirecting these funds will ensure American taxpayers get a good return on their Recovery Act dollars, and that money goes to projects that will be a success.

New transit facility, rail service mean new opportunities for Rhode Island residents

As I've written about many times before, innovative transportation planning can help improve communities and increase opportunities for residents and businesses. Two newly completed projects will help the people of Rhode Island experience these benefits firsthand.

On Monday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff traveled to Warwick, RI, for the first day of commuter rail service at the T.F. Green Airport.  He joined Governor Donald Carcieri, Senator Jack Reed, and Rhode Island transportation officials to celebrate the completion of a critical passenger rail route that connects Warwick, Providence, and Boston.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff rides the rails at T.F. Green Airport.

This connection was made possible by the newly-opened InterLink intermodal transit facility.  Attached to the airport by an impressive 1,200-foot elevated, enclosed skywalk, the InterLink houses the new MBTA commuter rail service, a rental car center, a six-level parking garage, and a hub for local and intercity buses.

Aerial view of the skywalk connecting the InterLink to the T.F. Green Airport. [Photo: Don Pillsbury]

Taken together, these projects add up to an integrated transportation system that offers travelers in Rhode Island and the Boston metropolitan area a seamless way to move from trains to buses to planes to cars.

Now that's a real multi-modal success story.

As DOT gives to the 2010 Combined Federal Campaign, CFC-recipient organizations give back to DOT staff

I'm glad to report that the Department of Transportation has raised more than $1 million for the 2010 Combined Federal Campaign. But the January 17th deadline for the 2010 CFC is fast approaching, and we still need people to contribute.

The organizations we help through the CFC face serious financial challenges this year; the people they serve face even graver challenges. And one of those people may be sitting right next to you.

Candi Lovelace on the job in Public Affairs

For example, in our Office of Public Affairs, Candi Lovelace benefited as a youth from two weeks at summer camp courtesy of Easter Seals:

"I had a stroke when I was six months old, and I was paralyzed on my right side. But Easter Seals sent me to a camp the summer when I was nine, and I met other kids who were disabled. It was just great being around other kids who didn't see me as different. And I remember it to this day."

Candi has taken her vow to give something back to Easter Seals to the next level by volunteering as a CFC key worker for 12 years.

Guest blogger FAA Randy Babbitt: FAA seeks your help to curb laser incidents

Keeping the flying public safe is the FAA's mission. We have thousands of employees who work to keep our air space system the safest in the world.

But there's a growing safety problem that I want to make sure everyone knows about: pointing lasers at airplanes.  It sounds silly, but this is a serious problem. Just this year alone, we have had over 2,200 reported instances of people pointing lasers into the cockpits of airplanes flying around some of our nation's busiest airports.  This is up from 283 reported events in 2005.

Why is this dangerous? Lasers can distract pilots or temporarily blind a pilot while he or she is taking off or landing an aircraft.  Some of these exposures have required pilots to have to temporarily give up control of an aircraft to their co-pilot or abort a landing.  We have also had reports of people shining lasers into air traffic control towers.

The FAA encourages pilots to immediately report any laser events to air traffic controllers so law enforcement can be notified right away. People can face stiff local, state or federal penalties if they are convicted of purposefully shining a laser into an aircraft cockpit.  In 2009, California, Texas, and Florida topped the list of states with the most reported laser events.

We know that laser pointers are an important tool for astronomers and casual stargazers.  But, we just can’t stress enough the importance of being careful when you are shining them into the night sky. 

Flight crews and air traffic controllers are dedicated to aviation safety and the FAA is committed to raising the awareness of this important safety issue so we can stop these laser events from occurring.  You can help us by alerting your local law enforcement officials if you ever see someone shining a laser at an airplane.

Thank you for your help.

At the Turner-Fairbank Center, solving America's transportation safety challenges through research

This morning, I had the opportunity to tour the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in Virginia. Though the Center is part of FHWA, the work done by Turner-Fairbank employees cuts across all modes of transportation.

While most people have never heard of the Turner-Fairbank Center, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of the work they do.

The groups stand beneath a traffic signal that communicates with vehicles

That’s because the testing, modeling, and development in each of the Center's labs leads directly to greater safety for everyone on America’s roadways. And safety is, as my Fast Lane readers know, our top priority at DOT.

Turner-Fairbanks staff even let me try out some of their tests, like a Transportation Operations Lab vehicle that communicates with traffic signals and other infrastructure in the area to make sure drivers don’t miss important information. I also took a virtual spin in the Highway Driving Simulator on the Missouri DOT's revolutionary Double Crossover Diamond Interchange.

Recovery Act upgrade of California's SR 91 crosses the finish line in Anaheim

Last Thursday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez went to Anaheim, California, to help reopen State Road 91, the largest Recovery Act transportation project in Orange County and the first to reach completion. The $65 million project relied on $47.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

It’s exciting that we're getting to the point when some of the projects supported by the Recovery Act are opening for business.

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez at ribbon-cutting for the renewed 91, photos courtesy Doug Hecox, FHWA

Since President Obama signed the Recovery Act almost two years ago, DOT has committed more than $27 billion to more than 13,000 bridge and highway projects across the country--$2.5 billion of which went to California.

Today, we're seeing just what those funds helped make possible in the Golden State and across America, and the work on SR 91 is a terrific example. The road was widened to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety; and not only was it finished both on time and on budget, but it also created jobs.

Renewed infrastructure that boosts capacity and safety at the same time, plus good jobs. That is what the Recovery Act is all about.

And that is why California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “We are constantly working to bring Recovery Act funding into California quickly and responsibly to help drive our economy."

With some help from the Recovery Act, Dallas Green Line extension is on-budget, way ahead of schedule

This is the kind of story I love--and I hope you will, too.

Last Friday, the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) celebrated completion of its “Green Line” extension. And not only was it on-budget, but--thanks to some help from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act--it opened six months ahead of schedule.

The 24-mile light rail line opened today serving 15 new stations between Carrollton-Farmers Branch and the Pleasant Grove area of South Dallas

And, as Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said at the ribbon-cutting, "While cars and pick-up trucks will always be a way of life in Dallas, there's no question that adding more transit makes life better for millions of residents."

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff rides the new Green Line with DART Board Chair William Velasco

Communities welcome projects like the Green Line for many valuable reasons.

During construction, men and women are put to work building the extension. Then, workers are needed to run the new line effectively. The transit line also makes it easier for folks to get to and from their jobs and to access the services they need. For others, public transit is a great way to get to job interviews.

The line is also great for businesses since it helps business travelers and tourists move around the city more easily. In fact, DART estimates that its light rail lines are responsible for roughly $7 billion in current, planned, and projected transit-oriented, mixed-use development.

FTA Administrator Rogoff speaks at the Green Line expansion opening celebration as DART Pres. Gary Thomas looks on

As DART President/Executive Director Gary Thomas said:

"The Green Line changes everything for our customers. People living in Pleasant Grove now have seamless access to jobs at Baylor, Downtown Dallas, the Market District, UT Southwestern/Parkland, Love Field and Farmers Branch and Carrollton. Business owners all along the corridor can connect with new customers and new pools of prospective employees."

So it’s simple really: whether you benefit directly by riding DART or not, more transit means more jobs and greater economic opportunity for Dallas.

With strong 2010 navigation season, St. Lawrence Seaway delivers the goods

Last Friday, I had the opportunity to visit the dedicated men and women who work at the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) headquarters in Massena, New York.

The Seaway is a valuable workhorse in the American transportation system, with ships steadily plying its waters throughout the navigation season. It may not attract much attention, but it provides important passage for American exports.

A ship approaches the Eisenhower Lock

And our Seaway employees are true professionals.  Not only have they kept the Snell and Eisenhower locks operating 99 percent of the time, around the clock, throughout the navigation season; they also achieved 100 percent on their ocean vessel safety and compliance inspections. 

Their hard work keeping the Seaway open for business has helped commercial trade increase by 17 percent this year over last year--an important sign of hope for the nation's economy. For example, grain exports have jumped nearly 23 percent over 2009 levels.  That's nearly 1.9 million metric tons of American grain that have moved through the waterway this year.

There's no doubt that the Seaway is an important economic engine, providing a direct link from the ports serving our agricultural heartland to the international customers awaiting the harvest of America's farmers.

In the Eisenhower Lock (Copyright © AustinMN, Used by Permission: Panoramio)

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to visit with our Seaway professionals once again, and I'm always impressed by their dedication and commitment -- they truly keep America's economy moving. And I will make sure that DOT continues to provide them with the resources necessary to maintain the US seaway locks and to keep waterborne trade flowing throughout the Great Lakes region.

Thanks to everyone on the Seaway team for a great visit, and congratulations for a terrific 2010 navigation season.

DOT Proposes Rear View Visibility Rule to Protect Kids and the Elderly; measure would reduce backover deaths

As a parent, some things in life you never recover from.

Every year, nearly 300 people are killed and 18,000 more are injured when someone--often a parent or grandparent--backs over them. Nearly half of these deaths are young children under the age of five.

That's more than two kids killed per week. Over time, those numbers add up.

So today, as required by Congress, the Department of Transportation is proposing a new safety measure to help eliminate the blind spots behind passenger cars and other light vehicles that can lead to tragedy when a driver is reversing the vehicle. And I am proud that DOT is taking this step to prevent backover deaths and injuries.

No matter how skilled a driver you are, you can't avoid hitting what you can't see. By increasing your field of vision, this rule will save lives.

Courtesy ABC / Good Morning America

Today's proposal was mandated by The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2007, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bush. This law directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a standard improving the ability of drivers to detect pedestrians in the area immediately behind their vehicles, minimizing the likelihood of a vehicle striking a pedestrian while reversing.

Two-year old Cameron Gulbransen was killed when his father accidentally struck him while backing his SUV in the family’s driveway.

It's difficult to imagine backing out of your garage or driveway and killing an undetected child playing behind your vehicle. But Greg Gulbransen, Cameron's father, is a pediatrician. And the fact that a professional, well-versed in the risks children face, was involved in a backover tragedy should give you an idea of how easy it is--no matter how carefully you look--to not see people directly behind your vehicle.

That's exactly what this measure seeks to prevent.

It's clear that we're talking about our most vulnerable neighbors and family members, so I hope we can all agree that helping prevent these deaths is the right thing to do.

FAA regions recognize top airports for 2010

Recently, the regions of our Federal Aviation Administration recognized some of the best airports of 2010.

You may recall that, last month, I blogged about our Secretary's Awards ceremony and the talented, hard-working DOT professionals we acknowleged. But I'm not the only one starting to look back on the last 12 months. As 2010 winds down, awards and "best-of" selections are all around us. For example, earlier today I wrote about Time Magazine selecting the B20-fueled Amtrak Heartland Flyer as one of the 50 Best Inventions Of 2010.

Now, we can applaud the FAA's best airports. It's a long list--and not all of the regions select award winners--but I think the winners deserve to be mentioned here.

Portland (Oregon) International Airport

With new grants Federal Railroad Administration continues its pursuit of clean transportation options

Yesterday the Federal Railroad Administration announced two grants totaling $766,562 to help advance the use of bio-based fuels and lubricants in American trains. The overall goal for the research programs at North Carolina State University and University of Northern Iowa is critical: reducing our carbon footprint through the use of alternative sources.

With its award, NC State will continue its research into biofuels for freight and passenger rail operations. Ideally, this will result in a recommendation of a “premium” biofuel blend for locomotive engines. And Northern Iowa's National Ag-based Lubricant Center will use its money to study the feasibility of using readily biodegradable soy-based lubricants in freight and passenger railroads.

This Amtrak locomotive is powered by a pioneering B20 biodiesel blend

Now, this is not the FRA's first step into cleaner fuels. Amtrak's Heartland Flyer is now using a blend of biofuel and traditional diesel called B20 on its daily run between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, TX. Thanks to another FRA grant, Amtrak has been able to work with the Oklahoma and Texas Departments of Transportation on this pioneering project.

And I am proud to say that, through its FRA grant, Amtrak's B20-fueled Heartland Flyer has just been selected as one of Time Magazine's 50 Best Inventions of 2010. Time cited Amtrak's "steps toward a greener, low-carbon future" and B20's ability to reduce emissions and slash Amtrak's fuel budget.

55 years after Rosa Parks stayed in her seat, FTA pursues equal transit access for all

Thanksgiving may have been last week, but today is the day to express our enthusiastic gratitude to the late Rosa Parks. It was on December 1, 1955, that this courageous seamstress refused to give up her seat in the "whites-only" section of a Montgomery, Alabama, transit bus.

Her arrest for disobeying the bus driver's authority to enforce Montgomery's segregation laws led to the end of those laws and helped fuel the Civil Rights Movement.

2005 poster commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest, courtesy Metropolitan Transit Authority / BusTalk

In the years since then, the Federal Transit Administration has worked hard to eliminate discriminatory barriers of all types on America's public transit systems. More proactively, the FTA has also worked to increase minority and lower-income engagement in the transit planning process.

Safety is our priority, but so is good government; Listening to the public helps to ensure both

This week, because we're listening to the concerns of state and local governments, the Department of Transportation took the unusual step of requesting additional public comment on regulations that deal with replacing street signs.

The regulations--initiated under the previous Administration--call for the replacement of some street signs.  While in better times this may have been appropriate, it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense given the difficult economic conditions facing many cities and states across the country. 

Although there are safety advantages to many of these recommendations and requirements, we want to find a way to improve safety without piling costs onto the American people.  That’s why we’re taking a second look and requesting additional public comment to get feedback on the best path forward.

And thanks to a few erroneous news stories, many Americans don’t have a good understanding of what these recommendations entail. For example, most of these requirements allow existing street signs to remain in place until the end of their useful life. And rules about upper- and lower-case lettering are not required unless a sign was being replaced anyway. The idea is to help aging baby boomers read road signs more easily.

But the bottom line is this: We don’t want to burden communities during hard economic times.

Now, you’ve heard me say time and time again that safety is this Department’s top priority.  But I also believe in good government.  Listening to the public ensures that we achieve both.

Faces of Distracted Driving: Julie Davis, 58 "One second she was there, and the next she was gone"

Wisconsin's roadways are on their way to becoming safer now that the state is the 30th in the country--in addition to DC and Guam--to ban texting while driving.  Their new primary law, which went into effect today, carries fines between $20 and $400 for drivers found text messaging behind the wheel.

This is a great step in the right direction.  And if you have any doubt about how important this is, I urge you to listen to Laurie Hevier's story.

Laurie, who I met at our second national Distracted Driving Summit in September, lost her mother Julie because of a distracted driver in central Wisconsin. We have featured her story on on distraction.gov in our recently launched "Faces of Distracted Driving" series.

Julie Davis lived a quiet life in Rudolph, WI.  She ran a small hobby farm with her husband Larry and spent her days knitting, tending her vegetable garden, and making jewelry.  But her true passion was for her friends and family--especially her fourteen grandchildren. 

"She said being a grandma was one of the busiest jobs, but she loved it," Laurie said.  "She was at every event - if she could make it, she would go."