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

DOT continuing to help veterans find work and success in transportation

Today’s generation of heroes are risking their lives to make the U.S. safer and more respected around the world. President Obama has asked that we serve our veterans as well as they’ve served us, and at DOT, we are proud to answer the President’s call.

This morning, DOT held a Veterans Transportation Career Opportunities Forum with the Department of Labor, which focused on careers in the trucking, transit, and motorcoach sectors. Participants discussed the importance of working with truck and bus companies to recruit qualified and safety-conscious service men and women for the critical jobs that need to be filled.

This forum represents a monumental initiative and partnership to link our veterans with careers in the transportation industry.

At DOT we think that removing barriers that stand in the way of our veterans’ success and connecting them with job opportunities that they deserve is the least we can do to thank them for their service. So this meeting gave motor carriers and other stakeholders a chance to tell us how DOT can assist them in making the transition for veterans easier.

And, believe me, we were listening.

BTS marks 20 years of delivering quality transportation data

Transportation statistics and the people who collect and organize them don’t often make the front page. But the fact is, solid, relevant data is a critical part of building a 21st century transportation system.

After all, you can't make data-driven decisions if you don't have data.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) is the data arm of DOT, responsible for collecting a wide variety of information about airlines, border crossings, freight movement, maritime trade, household travel, and much more. BTS was founded to help us understand the health of our nation’s transportation systems and infrastructure and how they impact our economy and way of life.

And yesterday we celebrated its 20th anniversary.

From founding Deputy Director Bob Knisely and his original co-worker Rolf Schmitt --yes, when BTS started, the two of them comprised the entire Bureau-- to the current Director Patricia Hu, Deputy Research and Innovative Transportation Administrator Greg Winfree, and a roomful of BTS employees, there was plenty to celebrate.

Since 1992, BTS has truly been an asset to DOT, to the transportation community at large, to our nation’s leaders, to businesses, and most importantly, to the American people. It addressed a huge gap in our nation’s transportation data--giving us the knowledge we needed to back-up our policy decisions.

It's one thing to collect important statistics, but it's quite another to transform that data into useful information. BTS excels at making statistics accessible for policymakers, elected officials, business decisionmakers, travelers choosing carriers, and students working on school projects. And I encourage everyone to visit the BTS website and see the treasure trove of information these folks make available.

Sharing a laugh with original BTS-er Bob Knisely

Secretary's RAISE award winners reach for the stars

Supporting the future of aviation requires us to invest in young Americans—the next generation of pilots, engineers, mechanics, and air traffic controllers. And we need those young Americans to invest their energy in a STEM education—that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math—which is critical to their ability to fill many of these jobs.

To encourage students to pursue STEM education, DOT recently hosted a national competition called the Secretary's RAISE Award, Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering. The award was recommended by the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee to develop and expand education programs geared to support the industry’s future needs. And it recognizes extraordinary students who develop innovative solutions to address real world aerospace and aviation issues.

Today, I am very excited to announce the winners of our first Secretary's RAISE Award: Miraj Rahematpura, Christopher Muckle, and Mario Chris of Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut. I congratulate these students for their winning idea.

Under the mentorship of Michael Humphreys, a teacher at Xavier, Chris, Miraj, and Mario spent many days during their summer vacation meticulously preparing their project using the resources of a nearby university. They designed a light-weight winglet with variable angles, built a model of it, measured the reduction in drag on the wing, and then calculated the resulting fuel savings.

Charlotte and LYNX on a roll with FTA support

During the last decade, Charlotte, North Carolina, has grown faster than any other urban area with a population of one million or more. Through those years, the city has worked hard to expand transportation options for the increasing number of people traveling area roads and transit routes to the jobs, schools, and services that attracted them to Charlotte in the first place.

Light rail ridership has mirrored the city's growth, far exceeding expectations with more than 19 million riders since the line opened in 2007 and more than 15,000 riders on an average weekday. So in 2011, DOT awarded a TIGER grant of $18 million to expand capacity on the existing LYNX Blue Line through additional power substations and extended platforms at three stations.

Now the Queen City is ready to build on its success with its next big step forward in public transit, and DOT is once again there to help.

Yesterday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was in Charlotte to announce a $580 million grant to extend the popular LYNX Blue Line from downtown Charlotte to the city’s University of North Carolina campus.

The new extension will effectively double the length of the system and allow more residents in the rapidly growing region convenient access to light rail. This is great news for thousands of students, who will have the option of going through school without owning a car or paying for the insurance and gas that comes with it.

And because the Charlotte Area Transit System expects the extension to create 6,000 new jobs, it's also great news for working families in North Carolina.

New enforcement programs in Connecticut and Massachusetts aim to reduce texting while driving

We’ve been tackling the issue of distracted driving for almost three years here at DOT, and I’m proud of how much we’ve accomplished with the help of the many individuals and organizations who share our commitment to safety. But while we have come a long way in this important fight, there is still much work left to be done.

That’s why I’m excited to announce that DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is providing $550,000 to Connecticut and Massachusetts to help them plan and conduct high-visibility anti-texting enforcement programs.

Each state will receive $275,000 to develop and train police officers on better methods for spotting drivers who are texting, to train officers on those methods, and to develop awareness campaigns that alert the public to the dangers of texting and driving.

Today, 39 states have laws on the books that specifically ban texting and 10 states have laws that prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while driving.

But despite the existence of such laws, DOT distracted driving pilot programs conducted in Hartford, Connecticut, and Syracuse, New York, found that it is more challenging for law enforcement officers to detect drivers texting behind the wheel than drivers talking on handheld devices.

In order to more accurately identify and effectively stop the dangerous practice of texting behind the wheel, the demonstration grants announced today call for Connecticut and Massachusetts to develop anti-texting enforcement protocols and techniques such as using stationary patrols, spotters on overpasses on elevated roadways, and roving patrols.

These methods will be tested for effectiveness in four successive waves of high-visibility enforcement activities over a 24-month period, and the results will be shared with other states facing the same challenges so that they can learn from Connecticut and Massachusetts’ experiences.

As NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said, “These two new demonstration programs will help identify real-world protocols and practices to better detect if a person is texting while driving.”

The pilot programs in Hartford and Syracuse have shown that strong laws, strong enforcement, and ongoing public awareness make a noticeable difference in reducing distracted driving.  I look forward to seeing the results of the new enforcement programs announced today as we work to put an end to this deadly behavior.

DOT's TIGER hard at work completing the Anacostia trail, solving transportation problems across America

At DOT, we strongly believe in helping communities add the transportation options their residents want.  In Mesa, Arizona, that means a light rail connection. Near Charlotte, North Carolina, it means a safer interchange between area highways. Here in the metropolitan Washington, DC, region, it means a walkable, bikeable, and safe Anacostia River trail network.

Right now in Washington, the beautiful Riverwalk Trail extends 12 miles from Nationals Park to Benning Road, where it stops just four miles from a vibrant 40-mile trail system that takes trail users in Maryland all the way to the Bladensburg Water Park. For folks on bike and foot, this four-mile gap between DC and Bladensburg is a considerable obstacle that prevents a successful commute, blocks access to an urban waterfront, and impedes recreation.

That is about to change.

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar with the Anacostia River in the background

Yesterday, our Deputy Secretary John Porcari joined Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, DC Mayor Vincent Gray, US Senator Paul Sarbanes, and US Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton and Donna Edwards to unveil the design of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens segment that will finally connect these two regional trail systems into a more useable single transportation network.

The four-mile connecting segment is funded in part by a grant from our successful TIGER program. And for Deputy Secretary Porcari, it represents the culmination of work begun in the 1980s when he was a planner for the Department of Environmental Resources in Maryland's Prince George's County.

As the Deputy Secretary said, "This is a golden spike moment."

Deputy Secretary Porcari talks about his career-long relationship with the Anacostia River trail network
as DC Mayor Gray and MD Governor O'Malley look on

A big week for road safety as two key efforts coincide

This week two very important safety events coincide, and here at DOT we welcome the opportunity to celebrate them both: "National Teen Driver Safety Week" and the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's "Operation Safe Driver Mobilization Week."

 

Congress established National Teen Driver Safety Week in 2007. Today, it is recognized by DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), AAA's Foundation for Traffic Safety, the Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia, and many other safety advocates across the country.

To mark National Teen Driver Safety Week, NHTSA is focusing its attention on parents and caregivers, urging them to set and enforce safe driving ground rules with teens. Through a parent-teen driving contract, discussions about alcohol, and regular supervised driving sessions, you can help mold your teens into well-prepared drivers.

 

Now, as a parent of four I know teenagers don't always listen to what we say, but studies indicate that they are always watching what we do--and how adults behave behind the wheel is an important factor in how young people learn to drive. So NHTSA is also urging parents and caregivers to practice what they preach. That means always buckling up, putting electronic devices away, and not driving while impaired.

The reality is that drivers aged 16-17 are involved in more crashes per mile than any other age bracket. I'm hoping that--together--we can change that. As NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said, “Immaturity, inexperience, and a penchant for risk-taking are the major reasons for high crash and fatality rates among teen drivers. Parents who reinforce responsible driving habits are vital in creating safe drivers."

Central Mesa Extension will connect Arizonans to economic opportunity

With transit ridership on the rise and the economic benefits of transit reaching into the billions of dollars, communities across America are seeking to add transit options. One region that appreciates the value transit adds is greater Phoenix, Arizona, where transit has proven to be a wildly successful investment and where the regional transit agency, Valley Metro, continues to seek further opportunities to serve area residents.

In Phoenix, the Central Phoenix/East Valley Light Rail project, which opened in 2008, is estimated to have spurred more than $5 billion in economic development along its corridor, and ridership continues to exceed expectations. Over the last six months, ridership throughout the Valley Metro light rail network has risen 6.2 percent on average, compared with the same period in 2011.

Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and Valley Metro planners are banking on light rail's success in the Valley of the Sun with the 3.1-mile Central Mesa Extension to connect residents in the downtown hubs of Phoenix, Mesa, and Tempe. The extension in central Mesa will run on Main Street from Sycamore to Mesa Drive with four station locations and a park-and-ride facility.

Mirroring the success of the existing line, the extension is expected to spur new residential and commercial development in downtown Mesa while providing convenient, reliable access to Arizona State University and Sky Harbor International Airport.

When I visited Mesa last Friday to announce a $75 million grant through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment (New Starts/Small Starts) program, I saw a community that can't wait to expand its transportation choices.

Investing in the Central Mesa Extension will help thousands of workers, seniors, students and others in Maricopa County connect with jobs, education, medical care, and all that this region has to offer.  As FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said, "Extending the popular Central Mesa light rail line will open more doors to economic opportunity and spur new development, while reducing congestion in one of the Arizona’s fastest-growing regions."

 

DOT maritime investments create opportunity

America needs a transportation system that allows our economy to grow while also reducing our fuel costs and our impact on the environment. The more effectively we can move goods to and from American businesses, the better our businesses can compete globally.

Most of the goods that American consumers buy and our businesses produce are moved over water at some point on their way to markets. And to make sure we're using our thousands of miles of river and coastline effectively, the Obama Administration has developed an innovative Marine Highways Program and we have used TIGER funding to invest in our ports. But we’re also committed to ensuring that our waterways are as good for the environment as they are for business.

There is perhaps no greater symbol of this Administration’s commitment to a cleaner maritime industry than the clean-up of California's Suisun Bay. For years, obsolete vessels sat idle in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet while the government and environmental representatives tried to come to an agreement about the most appropriate way to remove them. 

But beginning in 2009, the Department of Transportation set out to change that. First, we resumed stalled negotiations. Then, we began removing vessels for the first time since 2007. In March 2010, we reached an agreement with the California Regional Water Board and environmental groups to remove 57 obsolete vessels at Suisun Bay by September 2017. We set an ambitious goal of removing 28 of these ships in three years—the ones that presented the greatest risk to the environment. 

Today, I was thrilled to visit Suisun Bay to announce that we’ve surpassed that goal.  We’ve removed 36 vessels so far, with three more slated to go by the end of the year. In fact, we’re actually two years ahead of schedule.

I-40/I-77 interchange modernization in North Carolina promises big dividends

When the economy fell into its gravest challenge since the Great Depression, construction workers were hit hard. That's one of the reasons President Obama pushed so hard for the transportation provisions in the Recovery Act. He knew that putting men and women to work repairing and modernizing America's transportation infrastructure would be a smart investment, and he was right.

Administrator Mendez looks over plans for the new interchange

Our Federal Highway Administrator, Victor Mendez, saw an example of this firsthand today when he visited the construction site of the I-40/I-77 Interchange Rebuilding Project in North Carolina.

In one of the state's largest road improvement projects, workers are building a multi-level interchange in Iredell County, widening I-40 from four to six lanes, reconstructing U.S. 21, building several bridges, and closing a nearby interchange on Old U.S. 64.

The $89 million project received $20.9 million in funding from the Obama Administration. That investment will go a long way toward smoothing the traffic flow of the 70,000 drivers who rely on this interchange every day and the 110,000 daily drivers estimated by 2035. When the current interchange was built 50 years ago, only 5,000 vehicles traveled through the area each day.

NCDOT Secretary Gene Conti

DOT's TIFIA and Los Angeles’ Crenshaw Light Rail Line, working together to create jobs, improve transit options

At DOT, we’re committed to investing in transportation projects that give hard-working Americans safe, reliable, and affordable options for getting to work, school, and everywhere else they need to go. One such project is the Crenshaw Light Rail Line in Los Angeles, California, which I had the opportunity to tour with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa yesterday.

Earlier this month, DOT was proud to provide the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority with a $545.9 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan to help build this new light rail transit line along the Crenshaw corridor. The MTA expects this DOT TIFIA loan to help generate a total of $1.75 billion in investment in this key project.

The 8.5 mile long Crenshaw/LAX line will connect existing rail service on the Metro Green Line with the Metro Exposition Line. The increased connectivity will make it easier for low-income residents, seniors and other riders to reach downtown Los Angeles, the Westside, the South Bay and the cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne and El Segundo. The project also includes a new transit vehicle maintenance and storage facility.

The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that the project will generate more than 18,000 direct jobs.

That makes this investment an all-around win for Los Angeles and the surrounding communities. It will put people to work in the short-term while strengthening the regional economy for the future by making it easier for transit riders to reach downtown Los Angeles, nearby cities, and the shuttle to Los Angeles International Airport.

It will also help reduce congestion and keep carbon emissions out of the Southern California air.

The project is just one example of how DOT’s TIFIA credit assistance program extends the value of America's transportation dollar. By providing direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit for major infrastructure projects throughout the nation, a relatively small DOT TIFIA investment helps projects like the Crenshaw Line attract significant investment from other sources.

River Cities Public Transit in South Dakota meeting the future with help from the FTA

When most Americans think about public transit, they think about cities and dense populations. Legacy subways and elevated trains in older systems like New York and Chicago, light rail in fast-growing cities like Charlotte and Phoenix.

But this morning I toured the recently modernized River Cities Public Transit Facility in Pierre, South Dakota. This system has a remarkable service radius of 100 miles, and that means a service area of bus and transit vans covering more than 31,000 square miles.

Local public transit is tremendously important for many residents living and working in Pierre and the surrounding region. Serving 11 different counties--including seniors, people with disabilities, veterans and the Cheyenne River and Lower Brule Sioux tribes--is a real challenge, but the River Cities team is meeting that challenge thanks in part to $5 million in support from our Federal Transit Administration. And this morning I was thrilled to see the difference those grants are making to the people in central South Dakota.

Ridership on River Cities Public Transit has grown more than six-fold over the last five years, making the upgrades to the system more important than ever before. The transit facility used FTA funding to create maintenance space to service nearly 100 buses and other transit vehicles in the River Cities fleet. It also has a new dispatch center with upgraded computer scheduling and GPS technology to better monitor and track vehicles and keep them on schedule.

The FTA has also provided money to help replace aging buses and minivans and to improve transit for the area’s veterans.

If you're waiting for a bus in the cold of a high plains South Dakota winter, a system that keeps its vehicles well-maintained and as close to on-schedule as possible is an absolute lifeline.

Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day 2012

Cross-posted from the Kansas Department of Transportation blog

Each year on October 10, a nationwide network of road safety partners celebrates "Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day" to raise awareness about the causes of highway crashes. This year marks the 11th anniversary of this effort, and I am proud to add my voice to the many safety messages on the Kansas Department of Transportation's Put the Brakes on Fatalities blog page.

At the US DOT, we have thousands of professionals working every day to improve road safety. Whether it’s our five-star crash test ratings or our use of innovative technology to help drivers avoid accidents altogether, safety is the most important thing we do.

But all of our technological advances alone are not enough to move us toward zero highway fatalities. We need America's motorists to help. We need them to hear safety messages like the entries on the Kansas DOT blog page, and we need them to follow up by driving safely.

It’s Fire Prevention Week: Have 2 Ways Out and Know What’s Below Before You Dig

Guest Blogger: Deputy Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator and former fire chief Tim Butters

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that killed more than 250 people. Since its first observance in 1922, the slogan for Fire Prevention Week has taken many shapes – from the straightforward “Help Prevent Fires” (1937); to “YOU Caused 1,700,000 Fires Last Year!” (1947); and this year’s “Have 2 Ways Out!” This week, PHMSA reminds you of another important safety message: “Call 811: Know What’s Below Before You Dig.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Prevention Week slogans have evolved over the last 90 years, but the message has always been about education, prevention and safety. Most fires are preventable, and it is up to every one of us to keep our families and homes safe.

As a firefighter and former fire chief, I’ve seen firsthand how devastating fires can be. And in my role at PHMSA, I’ve also seen the devastation caused by excavation damage to pipelines. Sometimes these pipeline accidents result in fires, but they almost always put people and the environment at great risk and can come at a great cost both in terms of property disruption and dollars.

So in honor of Fire Prevention Week, I would like to remind you of another important safety message from PHMSA: “Call 811: Know What’s Below Before You Dig.”  I encourage everyone, including emergency responders, excavators and backyard gardeners to remember this: digging is the number one cause of pipeline damage that results in a fatality or injury or property/environmental damage.

Most people don’t realize that there are more than 2.6 million miles of pipeline in our nation, and the odds are good that some are in or near your yard, not to mention utilities such as cable, water, gas, and electrical lines. While pipelines are the safest way to transport natural gas and hazardous liquids, they aren’t impervious to outside forces.

PHMSA Deputy Administrator Butters speaks to the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The bottom line is that, like fires, most pipeline incidents can be prevented. By calling 811 48 hours before digging, a utility technician will come out and mark the locations of pipelines and utility lines you should avoid--all at no cost to you.

We have the tools and the know-how to help extinguish fires and fix pipeline leaks, but we would much rather prevent them from occurring in the first place. This week, make sure you have working smoke detectors and develop a fire evacuation plan at home and at the office. But also tell your friends and neighbors to always call 811 before digging and learn more about pipeline safety.

Stay safe and remember: have 2 ways out and always know what’s below by calling 811 before you dig.

PHMSA develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable and environmentally sound operation of the nation's 2.6 million mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air.

Gilmerton Bridge innovative replacement project creating jobs, relieving congestion in Virginia

It’s no secret that, since taking office, President Obama and his Administration have been committed to rebuilding and modernizing America’s transportation infrastructure – supporting critical road, bridge, transit, rail, maritime, and aviation projects that create jobs today and economic growth well into the future.

One such project is the Gilmerton Bridge replacement in Chesapeake, Virginia, which Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez toured last week.

   

This project has already created jobs by putting people to work replacing the current bridge--more than 70 years old--with a safer, stronger structure. The new bridge, expected to be completed in early 2014, will have a higher vertical clearance to allow marine traffic on the Elizabeth River to pass below with fewer bridge openings and road traffic stoppages. That will help relieve congestion on the busy US-13 and I-64.

With 35,000 people a day using this bridge, improved safety and reduced congestion are critical upgrades--important steps toward creating what President Obama calls an America built to last.

As Administrator Mendez said, “This bridge will be built to accommodate the future needs of the region.  Virginians are closer to having a new bridge that will make it easier for workers to get to their jobs and for businesses to deliver their goods and products.”

But what’s also exciting about this project is the innovative construction technology that’s being put to work.

Administrator Mendez with the Gilmerton crew, photo courtesy VDOT

On time, on budget: Vermonter work pays dividends Rail corridor positions New England for economic growth

Skirting the Vermont-New Hampshire border from Vernon in the south to St. Albans in the north, Amtrak's Vermonter offers passengers a splendidly scenic journey in winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Now, thanks to a $52.7 million Recovery Act grant, Amtrak has improved speed, reliability, and service on this storied route.

Today, with the sun doing its best to burn through the morning fog along the banks of the Connecticut River, it was my great pleasure to help Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, U.S. Representative Peter Welch, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo, and RailAmerica Chief Operating Officer Paul Lundberg celebrate completion of this project.

This morning's celebration was made even more festive by the fact that this is one of the first major corridor development projects funded through President Obama’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program.

Even better? Workers completed the project on-time and on-budget, upgrading 190 miles of track and installing 130,000 new railroad ties in under two years.

DOT, DHS, Amtrak launch partnership to combat human trafficking

Recently, President Obama reaffirmed America’s commitment to the global movement against human trafficking, calling it one of the great human rights causes of our time. Today, I'm proud to announce that DOT is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security and Amtrak on a new effort to combat these crimes.

Amtrak will use training and awareness materials developed by DHS and DOT to educate its 20,000 employees to better recognize and report human trafficking.  It's all part of the Blue Campaign, which DHS launched in 2010 to more effectively combat human trafficking through enhanced public awareness, training, victim assistance, and law enforcement investigations.

This partnership fits perfectly with DOT efforts to ensure that America's transportation system is not being exploited for human trafficking.

We are currently training the more than 55,000 professionals at DOT to identify and report human trafficking. We're also working with representatives from all modes of transportation to secure their assistance in stopping this crime, and we're grateful to Amtrak for its leadership in stepping forward as our industry partner.

I also want to thank the Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Janet Napolitano for working with us on this important issue.

Boston "a better city" thanks to Hubway bike-sharing

We know that innovative partnerships can deliver tremendous benefits. Regional partnerships have proven successful in many of DOT's TIGER projects. And our collaboration with the EPA and HUD in the Partnership for Sustainable Communities has effectively coordinated housing, transportation, and environmental planning in communities across America.

In Boston, another innovative partnership, A Better City (ABC) has brought together business leaders, planners, and local government to achieve terrific results in transportation, land development, and other infrastructure investments that improve the Boston area's economy and quality of life. On Tuesday, I helped A Better City present its Norman B. Leventhal Awards to area leaders for their excellence in ABC's core areas: transportation, land development, and environment.

DOT has played an active role in transportation improvements in the Boston area, and I was happy to share a long list of projects that we've supported. From bus replacement that will give transit riders more reliable vehicles to runway safety improvements at Logan International Airport, DOT is hard at work in the Hub.

One of the DOT-supported projects that most impressed me in Boston is the Hubway Bike Sharing program started by Mayor Thomas Menino's Boston Bikes initiative. Boston Bikes is part of Mayor Menino's vision for a vibrant and healthy city that benefits all of its citizens, and what I saw of the successful Hubway tells me that the Mayor's vision is becoming a reality.

With Drive Safely Work Week, employers are encouraged to put safe driving first

When it comes to keeping our shared roadways safe, we all play an important role--and that includes our nation's employers. And with yesterday's official kickoff of the 2012 Drive Safely Work Week (DSWW) campaign, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) is reminding employers that encouraging safe driving is smart for employees and for business.

According to a 2010 CDC report, the annual cost of medical care and productivity losses associated with injuries from motor vehicle crashes exceeds $99 billion, much of which falls on employers.  That's why NETS has been sponsoring Drive Safely Work Week since 1996.  

Each year, they produce a free, up-to-date toolkit to help employers promote safe driving policies and resources in the workplace.  And they've got a big reach: in 2010 and 2011 combined, the DSWW toolkit was downloaded by over 7,000 employers. That represents about 25 million employees!

The theme of this year's campaign is "Back to Basics--Your Keys to Safe Driving," and it focuses on several key issues:

• Buckling up all the time and encouraging others to do the same, 
• Recognizing and preventing fatigue-impaired driving, 
• Driving distraction-free, 
• Safe parking and backing, and 
• Fine-tuning the fundamentals to avoid some of the most common types of crashes.

As Sandra Lee, NETS Chairperson and Director of Worldwide Fleets for Johnson & Johnson, said, "Having safe-driving policies in place is a crucial component of an organization’s safety culture. Drive Safely Work Week is an ideal time for employers to take a look at their policies, update them if necessary, and redistribute them to employees to renew attention and focus on safe driving behaviors.”

And the focus on safety behind the wheel doesn't end when an employee clocks out. One of the most important messages from Drive Safely Work Week is to take the safe driving commitment home and share it with family and friends.

No matter how long you've been driving, it's always a good idea to brush up on the basics. My thanks go out to our friends at NETS for making this terrific resource available to employers and for putting the spotlight on safe driving this and every October.

Deputy Secretary Porcari helps celebrate International Walk to School Day with simple message:Get up, get out, get moving!

As a father, grandfather, and former schoolteacher, I know how important it is to ensure that students arrive to school safely every day.

That’s why I’m pleased that more than 3,300 schools across the country are participating in this year’s Walk to School Day, an international effort to encourage more families to get out of their cars and on to their feet to enjoy the many benefits of safely walking, bicycling, and even scootering to school.

Deputy Secretary Porcari with PBES Principal Rachel Dubois,
Montgomery County Fire Department's Sparky, and Assistant Principal Orinda Nelson

To celebrate the big day, earlier this morning, Deputy Secretary John Porcari joined a group of Piney Branch Elementary School students and parents in Takoma Park, Maryland.

Through the Safe Routes to School Program, DOT has helped Piney Branch--and schools around the country--fund education programs, school crossing guards, and safer sidewalks near schools.

Deputy Secretary Porcari presents the national award to Takoma Park's Lucy Neher

Today, after everyone arrived energized by the walk and ready for a day of learning, Deputy Secretary Porcari presented Piney Branch with an award for its exemplary Safe Routes to School program, which makes it possible for many of the school's students to walk and bike every day of the school year.

As the Deputy Secretary said, “Every child should have the opportunity to walk to school safely.  Walk to School Day encourages children to experience walk-friendly environments and affirms the importance of walking and biking for a new generation of Americans.”

And others recognize the value of this program, too. The National Center for Safe Routes to School recently received a Bright Ideas in Government award from Harvard University for encouraging communities to collect school travel data and to use the information to help more kids get up, get out, and get moving.

Two girls walking to Piney Branch Elementary School in Takoma Park, MD

With support from DOT, air cargo industry delivers the goods

Our nation's businesses rely on a 21st century transportation network that can get parts, supplies, and finished products where they need to go--safely and efficiently. For many American businesses, that means an air cargo system that can keep up with the speed of global commerce.

That's why President Obama and DOT are committed to investing in a reliable, modern transportation network that creates jobs today and supports businesses in the long-term.

And this morning at the International Air Cargo Forum in Atlanta, I reaffirmed the Administration's commitment to maintaining a strong air cargo industry that expands international trade and contributes to job creation and prosperity at home. What’s good for air cargo is good for the U.S. economy.

In fact, air cargo accounts for 31% of the total value of U.S. exports. It’s a $60 billion industry that has a huge effect on our economy. In Atlanta alone, more than 19,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Atlanta area are related to air cargo operations. I saw the contribution this industry is making in Tennessee when I visited the FedEx aviation hub in Memphis and the UPS hub in Louisville.

The President set the ambitious goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015, and a thriving air cargo industry is helping move us closer to that goal each year.

Guest blogger FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff: American public transportation, a good story unfolds

In October 2009, I told the annual meeting of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) that FTA was going to “lean forward” to strengthen our nation's transit networks and that I needed the transit industry to “lean forward” with us. Today, at the 2012 APTA annual meeting, I was happy to report that since then--together--we have done just that with great success.

In state after state, city after city, public transportation is on the rise. And the American people want more. The White House knows it. Secretary LaHood knows it. Governors and mayors of all political stripes know it.

Transit has been at the very center of many of President Obama’s domestic priorities, from reducing our dependence on foreign oil and decongesting our highways to improving the daily lives of working families and putting people back to work.

And between the Recovery Act, the White House’s energy initiatives, and Secretary LaHood’s strategic plan for DOT, our Administration has launched very clear and ambitious goals for public transportation:

• Providing FTA with safety oversight nationwide by reversing a 1964 provision that resulted in a web of varying safety standards;
• Reinvesting in the state of good repair of our nation's transit system;
• Streamlining our approval processes so the public can enjoy the benefits of transit projects sooner;
• Securing a seat at the table for transit, whenever local funding decisions are made;
• Promoting transformational projects; and
• Making sure that every Federal transit manufacturing dollar is spent right here at home to employ more Americans.

Introducing the redesigned www.dot.gov, your online gateway to American transportation

The next time you visit www.dot.gov, you're likely to notice some big changes. The terrific web team here at DOT has redesigned our online gateway from the bottom up with you--the people who visit our site--in mind.

DOT is here to serve the American people, and the redesigned page reflects our commitment to service by making it easier for you to find the information you need. Our team used direct public feedback and usability testing to build a site designed around what you want to do when you visit us online.

We want you to be able to rely on www.dot.gov as a useful transportation resource, so the new www.dot.gov has 3 main goals:

• To help you find what you need as easily as possible. That’s why we’ve divided content along audience lines. So, whether you’re an individual seeking consumer information or one of our partners looking for guidance, we’ve got you covered.
• To make the most popular resources more accessible. Along the left side of the new page, you’ll find “Top Requests,” a handy catalog of the website activities most often sought by dot.gov visitors. If you’re a veteran seeking a transportation-related job, this is the place to find information. If you’re shopping for a car and are searching for vehicle safety ratings, look no further. And if you’re working in transportation planning and are curious about how the new transportation law will affect your projects, we’ve got the answers.
• To arrange our resources in line with how you think about transportation. As you probably know, the work of DOT is performed by different Operating Administrations like the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and others. But most people don’t think about operating administrations —they think about trucks, buses or airplanes. And that’s why we’ve added 10 different buttons corresponding to different modes of transportation. Interested in Waterways? There’s a button for that.

We hope our new design makes it easier for you to find what you seek--and make new discoveries along the way.

We also hope you'll continue to let us know how we can make our site more useful to you, so we've made sure there's a "+Feedback" link available on every page. After all, the site is called "dot.gov," but it belongs to you.

I have said many times that this is not your grandfather’s DOT. I’m happy to say that we now have a www.dot.gov that proves it.