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

On Clunkers debate, one point we can all agree on

A big "Thank you" to the White House blog team for a witty and perceptive account of Cash for Clunkers' real contribution to our economic recovery.

If you haven't read about the brush-up prompting that White House response, it began with a report from Edmunds.com that minimized the impact of Cash for Clunkers.

You don't have to look too far beyond Edmunds to find loads of support for a positive analysis of this successful program:

• Ford Motor Co. estimates 30-40% of Cash for Clunkers sales were truly incremental--an increase of 210,000 to 280,000 vehicles, or twice what Edmunds asserts).
• Moody's Investors Service estimated 60% of sales were incremental or about 420,000 extra vehicles.
• Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, told the Detroit News': "Simply put, they [Edmunds] have misrepresented the facts, and the White House is completely justified in calling them out on it. Edmunds' political views have tainted their usual rigorous approach to research. We believe that the incremental sales are over 500,000 new vehicles."

But, let's also not forget about the larger goal of the Cash for Clunkers program: to jump-start this economy. By that measure, the 1.7% of our 3.5% growth this past quarter attributable to the automobile industry reveals that this program has done exactly what was intended.

DOT's Secretary Awards ceremony recognizes service above and beyond

Yesterday we held DOT's 42nd annual Secretary Awards ceremony. This is our moment to recognize members of the DOT family who have risen above and beyond the call of duty over the last year, to help this Department succeed during a year of political and economic transition.

The awards we presented are well-deserved, and I want to thank these folks for their outstanding contributions to DOT and for their commitment to public service.

I am enormously proud to count them as colleagues. And I am reminded every day that without their expertise and work ethic, we could not have achieved so much for the American people in so short a time.

House Committee tackles distracted driving

Today I went back to Congress to talk about distracted driving.

Distracted driving poses a serious danger on our roadways. And I have made it my cause to reduce that danger. So, more talk about distracted driving? You bet.

Before I went to the House, I stopped by CSPAN to visit with the viewers and listeners of Washington Journal. The great thing about that program is the interaction it allows; anyone who wants to can call in and respond or pose questions to the host and guest. I was glad to hear from a lot of folks this morning--not all of whom agreed with me. Watch a replay at CSPAN.org.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wanted information on the dangers of distracted driving, and I was more than willing to talk to them about this epidemic. You can hear what I said on the Committee's website.

Basically, I wanted the Committee and everyone to know that our research shows that nearly 6,000 people died last year in crashes involving a distracted driver.

It's not acceptable to see the horrible results of this deadly practice and not want to do something about it.

So, I welcome the House and the Senate's engagement on this issue. And I welcome the engagement of our State and local governments.

Together, we are going to reduce this threat to roadway safety. Together, we're going to get to the point where driving while distracted just feels wrong–-just as driving without a seat belt or driving while intoxicated feels wrong today.

Senate getting the message: texting is a perfect storm of driver distraction

Yesterday, I reminded the Senate Commerce Committee of two things readers of this blog have heard from me repeatedly:

Transportation safety is the Department’s highest priority.  And distracted driving is a serious and ongoing threat to safety.

Now, this trend distresses me deeply, and I am personally committed to reducing the number of injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving.

I am pleased to see the Senate considering legislation to help reduce texting and other distractions while driving.

But I also know that legislation will not be enough. Education and awareness--including targeted outreach campaigns--must be part of the mix.

Here's a start: Experts agree that there are three types of distraction--

1. Visual – taking your eyes off the road;
2. Manual – taking your hands off the wheel; and
3. Cognitive – taking your mind off the road. 

While all distractions can adversely impact safety, texting is particularly troubling because it involves all three types of distraction. In the words of Dr. John Lee of the University of Wisconsin, this produces a “perfect storm.”

Not convinced? Our latest research shows that nearly 6,000 people died last year in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than half a million people were injured.

 

At our Distracted Driving Summit, we heard from several victims of this behavior whose lives have been changed forever.  Mothers and fathers who lost children, and children who lost a parent, told us their stories.

And I want you to know I promised these families that I would make this issue my cause. And I will.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act--seizing the future

The Obama Administration and the Department of Transportation believe that making the transition to a clean energy environment and combating climate change are major priorities, and the time to act is now.

One part of that transition is the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (#cejapa for those of you following on Twitter).

And that's what I and four other senior Administration officials told the Senate Committee on the Environment yesterday.

At DOT, we understand that transportation contributes to--and is affected by--climate change, and therefore our transportation policies must be part of the solution. So transportation must play a role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing our reliance on oil, creating more livable, sustainable communities, and generating green jobs.

If you've been reading this blog, then you know some of the many ways we are already working hard on these solutions:

• Our interagency partnership with HUD and EPA on Livable & Sustainable Communities
• High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail
• Recovery Act transit grants and Tiger discretionary grants
• Partnership with EPA on automobile fuel-economy and emissions standards
• NextGen air traffic control system to reduce aviation emissions

These are all programs we have been able to undertake, but with the right legislation, this Department can do so much more.

Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered bus visits DOT headquarters

Imagine a bus that runs entirely on battery power for 3 hours then recharges in less than 10 minutes. Imagine a bus that cuts fuel costs to transit agencies from $40,000 a year to $4,000. Imagine a bus with no emissions.

That bus is the Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered transit vehicle that visited DOT headquarters yesterday. And it shows incredible promise for a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Proterra, maker of this bus and its Battery Electric counterpart, is a small company doing big things. And when you talk to founder Dale Hill you see why--the man loves what he is doing, and he and his team are working hard to deliver the transit-ready, fuel-sipping buses America needs.

We all know that transit is a relatively green way to get where we need to go. But to take a mode like transit and make it even greener by reducing fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions, well, that's just exciting.

And that's what FTA's National Fuel Cell Bus Program (NFCBP) has helped the folks at Proterra do so successfully. Credit should also go to the Center for Transportation and the Evironment (CTE), an Atlanta-based consortium chosen by FTA to manage this project.

Why is it exciting to be in transportation right now? Because of projects like the Fuel Cell Hybrid-Powered and Battery Electric buses. Because of groups like the CTE that organize businesses, universities, and government agencies into effective public-private partnerships that make a difference.

DOT, Aviation Enforcement Office are dedicated to protecting consumers

First let me say that I support Chris Elliott's advocacy on behalf of airline passengers. Our society needs people who are willing to step up to the plate on behalf of others.

But let me also say that in his recent Washington Post column Mr. Elliott seems to have taken a swing at a really bad pitch.

Look, this Department’s staff, and the Aviation Enforcement Office in particular, are dedicated to protecting consumers. Dedicated. And I see them working hard every day to accomplish that difficult task.

Mr. Elliott is wrong to suggest otherwise.

Here are some points to consider:

• The Department has a comprehensive disclosure rule covering the sale of flights involving codeshares. Codeshares are flights ticketed by one airline but operated by another, and  passengers can't even inquire about--much less buy--a ticket without first having been told if their flight involves a codeshare and who that codeshare airline partner actually is.
• During the past year alone, the Department has issued enforcement orders in 31 cases. We have assessed over $2 million in civil penalties.
• Twenty-one of those cases directly involved violations of what commonly are referred to as our consumer protection rules. These include the codeshare disclosure rule that Mr. Elliott suggests we've been ignoring.
• But they go even further, into deceptive ads, bumping, refunds, and public charter flights. 
• We have also conducted on-site compliance visits at the headquarters of 5 airlines, resulting in 3 enforcement orders involving various consumer protection requirements. More such visits are planned to ensure compliance. They were planned long before Mr. Elliot's column.

I'm sorry that Mr. Elliott doesn't think extended tarmac delays require DOT attention. I'm sure that will come as an unwelcome surprise to the 47 passengers of Flight 2816 who spent a night on the tarmac in Rochester, Minnesota, without working toilets.

If people want to argue about what's the most important area of consumer protection, go ahead. But at DOT we're here to help consumers in every aspect of their dealings with airlines.

DOT Safety Council; ten operating agencies, one goal

On several occasions I have written here that, "Safety is our highest priority." Today, I convened the first meeting of our newly created  DOT Safety Council, where DOT's ten operating administrations will come together to identify and tackle critical safety issues that cut across these agencies.

This Council takes our safety commitment to the next level.

Now, no one should doubt the capabilities of any of these ten administrations to enhance safety in their particular areas. But why not bring together the best practices of these agencies? Why not make it easier for them to share safety data?  Why not let the best minds of one agency offer a helpful perspective to the best minds of another agency?

If DOT can partner effectively with HUD and EPA on something like the Obama Administration's Livable Communities initiative, why not have agencies within DOT partner with each other on safety?

Now, they can. The new Safety Council, to be chaired by Deputy Secretary John Porcari, will underline the safety focus of all DOT agencies and improve the impact of all DOT safety programs.

Our new Safety Council--one DOT, one important goal.

Good ideas from good people; GreenGov Challenge rounds final turn with nearly 6,000 sustainability suggestions

This is the final week of the GreenGov Challenge, and I urge everyone to view some of the remarkable sustainability ideas submitted thus far by government and military employees.

And for those readers who are government or military employees, I urge you to share your suggestions. Though nearly 6,000 have been submitted thus far, that good idea in your mind right now could rewrite the way the Federal government reduces energy use, conserves water, reduces waste, and supports clean technology.

Not ready to submit an idea of your own? Sign-in to review current submissions and vote for your favorites.

Not familiar with the GreenGov Challenge? It's a simple, powerful idea born from President Obama's October 5 Executive Order on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic Performance.

The President's point was clear: "As the largest consumer of energy in the U.S. economy, the Federal government can and should lead by example."

Now, we're asking you to show us ways we can take up the President's charge to:

"Create innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies."

Many thanks to The Motherhood, energetic advocates for safe driving

It's no secret that I've been blogging a lot about safe driving lately. With motor vehicle crashes being the number one killer of children in this country, our friends at The Motherhood have been thinking a lot about safe driving as well.

From car seats to teen drivers to distracted driving, these moms are working hard to help spread the word on safety.

I first met Cooper and Emily at our Distracted Driving Summit where they were blogging about the conference to their community. Now, these two traveled a long way just to be the eyes and ears of their friends and followers.

But, that wasn't the end of it; the very next day they launched Mom Sends the MSG, a circle within The Motherhood that quickly became its own website.

A key feature on that site that I encourage everyone to visit is the PLEDGE, a place where people can sign their names to a promise to model safe driving behaviors. This is how we do it, folks; this is how we eventually change attitudes about distracted driving.

Now, Mom Sends the MSG has a PSA contest much like the NOYS Drive To Life contest I wrote about last week. It's a great opportunity for moms to put their concern and their creativity to a very good public use.

Current data makes it clear: child safety seats and booster seats save lives, prevent injury

First things first, and let there be no mistake about it: in a motor vehicle crash, a seat belt alone does not deliver the same level of protection as a child safety seat or booster seat.

In a recently released, peer-reviewed article for the journal Pediatrics, authors Kristy Arbogast and Dennis Durbin conclude that:

"Children aged 4 to 8 and using Belt Positioning Booster seats were 45% less likely to sustain injuries than similarly aged children who were using the vehicle seat belt."

I bring this up today because of a disturbing segment on Tuesday's Good Morning America. The audience for this piece heard authors Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner--who were promoting their latest book--suggest that child safety seats and booster seats are no more effective than adult seat belts at protecting children during motor vehicle crashes.

Now, if you want to slice up the data to be provocative, have at it. As a grandfather and as Secretary of an agency whose number one mission is safety, I don't have that luxury.

I prefer to help parents make the kind of choices that can keep their kids not just alive, but safe.

It won't raise any eyebrows, but if advocating child safety seats and booster seats can reduce the number of deaths and injuries among children from motor vehicle crashes, I'm okay with that.

At the websites of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, and DOT's National Highway Traffic & Safety Administration, you'll find plenty of analysis supporting the common-sense decision to use child safety seats and booster seats.

National Teen Driver Safety Week 2009 focuses on parents

October 18-24 is National Teen Driver Safety Week, but this year's theme is not teens; it's parents.

Two recent studies in the journal Pediatrics suggest that parental involvement and restrictions significantly reduce risky driving behavior during a driver’s first 12 to 18 months behind the wheel. So, it only makes sense to try and get teens to drive safer by getting their parents more involved.

Remember, parents control the car keys; parents need to set the rules of the road.

Need some motivation? Here are some compelling facts from 2007:

• Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for U.S. teens;
• More than one in three deaths for this age group involves a motor vehicle;
• More than 4,200 teens in the United States, aged 15–19, are killed in motor vehicle crashes;
• 11 teens, ages 16-19, die every day from motor vehicle injuries;
• 400,000 teens were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor-vehicle crashes; and
• Per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

Look, it's simple. Teens are the least experienced drivers on the road. And, they tend to take on greater risk and underestimate dangerous situations.

So, parents, please, talk to your kids about the dangers of driving.  It's not just good parenting, it's a matter of life and death.

Emerging stronger and smarter thanks to transportation investments

Will it play in Galesburg? That's a question I don't need to ask about this Administration's Recovery Act investments in transportation. The answer is clear: "Yes, it will."

Yesterday, I talked with the Galesburg, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce about what stimulus spending had done for the community. As it has been everywhere I've had conversations like this, the response was very positive.

Why so positive? Because we've awarded $88 million in Recovery Act funds to help BNSF build a third main line and new storage tracks for freight cars in Galesburg. In turn, this will help Amtrak, which shares these rails, to better serve its passengers.

Making freight move faster takes trucks off the road. Making passenger trains move faster takes cars off the road. These systems are closely linked.

The Galesburg Chamber understands that people and goods--drivers, passengers, and freight--share the same infrastructure in America when traveling by highway and rail. And they appreciate that investment in freight may speed things along for passengers, that an investment in rail may help make things smoother for highways.

That's why we're so confident about the value of the investments we've been making through the Recovery Act; we're creating a smarter set of transportation systems for America.

River Conference demonstrates importance of cooperation

I've shed a lot of digital ink talking about the Obama Administration's Livable Communities initiative, and you'll no doubt hear even more from me on this partnership between DOT, HUD, and EPA down the road.

The idea that housing, transportation, development, and sustainability & environmental protection must be coordinated is picking up steam.

An example of an effective partnership dear to me and closer to my home of Peoria is the 12th annual Conference on the Management of the Illinois River System.

That conference opens today and showcases the work of the Integrated Management Plan for the watershed and other collaborative efforts. It also offers a public forum for discussion as well as panels on:

• Improvements in the River Corridor
• Water & Sediment Management in the Watershed
• Agricultural Land-Use & Conservation
• Sustainable Economic Growth
• Citizen Involvement & Community Action
• Utilization of Ecosystem Services

Now, I recognize that the Illinois River--though central to the history of my hometown and crucial to the economy and environment of my home state--may not be that interesting to all of you. And I didn't list those panels to entice you to Peoria for the conference (though you should visit!). There is a larger point here.

When I was a Congressman, I spent a lot of time working to protect and enhance the Illinois River with many different organizations--state, local, and federal. And I also spent a lot of time working very successfully on river matters with Democratic then-Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn even though I am a Republican.

Cooperation--that's the larger point. Bipartisan, collaborative, interagency, intergovernmental, citizen-community organization-business, public-private cooperation.

Recovery Act helps NE Pennsylvania check Control Tower off to-do list

On Friday, it was a pleasure to announce a $18.8 million project funded by the Recovery Act to build and equip a new air traffic control tower and radar control facility at Pennsylvania's Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport. $13.3 million of that will jump-start construction of the control tower in December, creating roughly 140 jobs.

The new facility will:

• Improve safety by improving the line-of-site for air traffic controllers;
• Be more cost-efficient thanks to new energy-efficient materials that cut down on heating and ventilation costs; and
• Reduce administrative costs.

And it's not just about the new construction jobs. It's also about the safety of over 250,000 flights a year that the radar facility handles. And it's about the community holding onto other jobs as well. The area was in danger of losing FAA employees as well and had been trying for several years to find the funding for this project. As Phil Gallagher, president of the local air traffic controllers union, noted:

"This is reassurance the FAA has a commitment to this facility. It allows us to fulfill our mission of maintaining safety and efficiency in our skies."

Finally, this project could not have moved from wish-list to reality without the hard work of Governor Rendell, Congressman Kanjorski, Senators Specter and Casey. These elected officials really provide the leadership the Keystone State needs.

This is a win-win for northeastern Pennsylvania, the flying public, and the families and communities of those hired to do this important work. This is adding jobs and renewing essential infrastructure. This is recovery.

Teens leading the way in campaign to end Distracted Driving

Our campaign to make driving safer has found great support from a welcome corner: America's teens.

This weekend, Teen Kids News, a television program with teen reporters, will feature a segment by teens for teens on the dangers of distracted driving. I'm impressed with their commitment to solving this problem. TKN airs across the country in many of the nation's markets: you can find a channel near you and its air-time here.

Right now, on the Teen Kids News website, they're featuring a video report called "Driving Safety for Kids" that shows the risk and prevalence of distracted driving. The report would be good enough, but the fact that they've got it featured at the top of their home page is even better.

Folks, while we wait for employers around the country to follow President Obama's lead with policies to reduce employee distracted driving, the kids are taking it to the airwaves.

On hotnewz.tv, another news outlet with young reporters speaking to a young audience, they're showing a great video segment telling youth about the Drive To Life PSA challenge, which I've already written about in this blog. We've got that video embedded below.

These efforts by our young people really give me hope. We know that teens are less-experienced drivers, and we know that they are inclined by habit to use the technologies that distract drivers.

And now we know that they are becoming true partners in our efforts to stop this deadly practice.

President Obama celebrates 8,000+ ARRA highway projects

It was an honor to join President Obama yesterday at Virginia's largest Recovery Act project, the Fairfax County Parkway Extension. There, we noted the milestones reached since passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act:

• More than 8,000 road projects funded
• Nearly 5,000 road projects underway
• $19.5 billion of the $27 billion available provided to projects
• Largest investment in our nation's infrastructure since President Eisenhower

Projects like the one we visited in Virginia are not only putting the economy back on track by creating tens of thousands of jobs each month. They are also improving safety and convenience for motorists. In congested Northern Virginia, that's a big deal.

As the President said:

"What makes these kinds of projects so important isn’t just that we’re creating so many jobs. It’s that we’re putting Americans to work doing the work that America needs done."

Under the leadership of the Obama Administration, we have done a lot of work and put a lot of people back to work in a very short amount of time, but the benefits to our communities of strengthening America's infrastructure will be lasting.

Now, the President is right when he says that "hardworking Americans have borne the brunt of this recession." But he's also right when he credits the Recovery Act for creating jobs and stimulating economic growth that we would not have achieved otherwise.

Together, we are getting the economy moving again.

US Merchant Marine Academy honors Senator Daniel K. Inouye, a man of deeds

At our June graduation ceremony, the US Merchant Marine Academy announced it was awarding an honorary degree to Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii for Acta Non Verba--"deeds, not words." Today, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and I finally had the opportunity to present Sen. Inouye that much-deserved award.

Senator Inouye has a long and, really, tireless record of service and sacrifice to the United States, to Hawaii, to the Merchant Marine and transportation community, and to the Merchant Marine Academy. So, this honorary degree--which I am very proud to present--is only a small token of the large esteem and gratitude these communities have for the Senator.

From his distinguished service during World War II, for which he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, to his 40 years of service on the Senate Commerce Committee, to his current Chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Inouye has been a staunch advocate for our nation's Merchant Mariners.

For example, under his Chairmanship for only 2 years (2007-09), the Senate Commerce Committee passed legislation supporting the Maritime Administration, the Merchant Marine Academy, the National Sea Grant College Program, improved ocean and coastal mapping, and maritime pollution prevention.

Now, folks, that's just a single, two-year slice of Senator Inouye's career. So I really see it as a privilege to be able to present him this honorary degree from the Academy.

Acta Non Verba? Senator Inouye is the very spirit of "deeds, not words." And, on behalf of the Merchant Marine Academy, the Maritime Administration, and Merchant Mariners everywhere, I thank him for his devoted service.

Rail grant opportunity garners enormous support

The news is out; states and regions are laying the groundwork for American high-speed passenger rail service, and they would like Federal support.

President Obama's vision for new and improved American passenger rail service is speeding toward reality.

The Administration's Recovery Act, which establishes a national high-speed and intercity passenger rail program, may have stimulated this activity. And local plans are already in motion. Right now, there are 10 corridors of at least 100 miles where states are building infrastructure to allow trains to achieve speeds of over 110 mph.

The outcome is clear: this country is building high-speed passenger rail.

And the response to those grants has been enormous. As Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo noted last week,

"We have received 45 applications from 24 states totaling approximately $50 billion to advance high-speed rail corridor programs. We also received 214 applications from 34 states totaling $7 billion for corridor planning and smaller projects."

People are excited about American passenger rail again. And for good reason.

Detroit, Michigan moving into the future

Detroit is a city moving forward; I have seen the evidence.

Yesterday, I visited the Detroit Public Dock and Terminal Project, a terrific example of what we can accomplish when federal, state, and local governments team up with the private sector to invest in the future.

This is truly an exciting project that will help the City of Detroit reclaim its waterfront, introduce new ferry service, and invite cruise ships to call from all over the world. With this facility, commuters, day-trippers, and tourists can step ashore and enjoy all that Detroit has to offer. It's a great idea.

And there's more good news: the project creates over 450 construction jobs. I met a few of the folks hired for this project yesterday, and got a good sense of how fortunate they feel. That's Recovery Act money in action.

Indeed, stimulus spending has provided a down payment on Michigan’s new future:

• $1 billion for car battery and electric vehicle projects that will generate 40,000 more jobs
• More than $1.6 billion for long-term investments in transportation and infrastructure projects.
• Already, more than 400 stimulus-funded highway projects are under way in Michigan today.
  

DOT steps up digital vigilance for National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

President Obama has declared October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. In his proclamation, noting that "cyber attacks must be the concern of all Americans," he set aside this month to:

"...highlight the responsibility of individuals, businesses, and governments to work together to improve their own cybersecurity and that of our Nation."

DOT supports the President's efforts to increase cybersecurity awareness and his intent to treat our digital infrastructure as a national strategic asset.

Many of the systems that manage our nation's transportation networks are part of that digital infrastructure. And we will absolutely do what is necessary to continue securing those systems and networks.

Last week Deputy Secretary John Porcari visited the National Security Agency, whose personnel are key partners in the drive to bolster our national cybersecurity.

Deputy Secretary Porcari said the visit left him "an acute sense of urgency regarding threats to our networks, our critical cyber-infrastructure, and systems." But he was also thankful for NSA's leadership in cybersecurity and information assurance efforts.

FAA website grabs high marks in customer satisfaction surveys

It's a great pleasure to report that the Federal Aviation Administration's website has scored high marks in a recent customer satisfaction survey. FAA.gov earned a score of 73 in the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index, the nation's leading indicator of consumer perceptions of quality.

In customer satisfaction survey responses, folks visiting the FAA site made it clear that FAA.gov provides an exceptional experience.

The FAA score exceeds the website average and the average for regulatory agencies.

Distracted Driving Summit leads to wave of action; let's keep it going

A week ago, we wrapped up our Distracted Driving Summit. Since then, the nationwide campaign to end distracted driving has taken off. Today I want to share with you some of the developments I've seen.

That day I felt that everyone was leaving with a strong sense of momentum. In the blog, I noted that we were at a tipping point, achieving critical mass to move forward.

Well, the programs discussed below demonstrate that we are indeed moving with renewed vigor toward a safer driving world; I urge you to read about them after the jump--

• Mom sends the MSG: keep your mind on the wheel
• Drive To Life PSA Challenge
• On the Road, Off the Phone
• Drive Safely Work Week

Walk To School Day offers glimpse of tomorrow's livable communities

Today is Walk to School Day, and school kids everywhere will be out in force. I, for one, am glad to see it.

Now, lots of kids all over the world walk to school every day; what makes today's trip to school such a special event?

1. Today's big walk calls attention to safety issues that are so important. These kids need safe streets--roads in passable condition and drivers who are attentive to the kids' presence.
2. The large turnout of kids walking instead of being driven by their parents means that the Walk to School takes cars off the street. From this, kids learn about responsible environmental stewardship.
3. These kids are engaging in healthy physical activity.

Today's events are part of the Safe Routes to School program, funded by DOT's Federal Highway Administration. We need walking and bicycling to be safe transportation options for our kids. This means creating safe environments:

• sidewalks or bicycle-paths that connect homes with schools
• child-friendly opportunities to cross streets; and
• slow vehicle speeds through roadway safety measures and law enforcement.

Of course, there is one thing we can all do easily: reduce our driving speeds. In communities with kids biking, walking, and scootering to and from school, there is no question that driving slower saves lives.

Today, our kids are showing us the more walkable, sustainable world we need. Let's hope we're all paying attention.

Our future rides on public transportation

Yesterday, I talked transit with the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). I wanted everyone in the room to know this:

The Obama Administration understands that effective transit is absolutely critical to the success of our cities, our metropolitan regions, and our rural communities.

We want to move people where they need and want to go; we want to do it in a sustainable way; and we want folks to have real choices.

Look, mobility not only drives our economy; it is part of our way of life. And in the future, transit will have to carry an even greater share of that mobility.

  APTA had a nice message for me. (Thanks, everyone!) My message to them had 3 key points:

1. Transit is an innovation leader in America;
2. DOT is working hard on funding transit; and
3. Safety needs to become a greater part of the DOT transit conversation.

FHWA grant funds East Coast's largest bike center; DC transport hub may crack the "last mile" problem

Today, the city of Washington, DC, opened the east coast's largest bike center. It's the East Coast's first  such facility; it is the nation's most state-of-the-art; it features a public-private operating partnership; and it demonstrates that our nation's own capital city offers a model example of the kind of sustainable mobility President Obama's Livable Communities initiative seeks.

Bikestation Washington, DC, sits right next to Union Station, a key access point for Amtrak and MARC commuter rail.

In addition, tens of thousands of DC commuters embark and disembark from an adjacent Metro subway stop. And thousands more live within walking distance of the Bikestation. All of the hundreds of thousands of commuters passing through this hub daily can either ride their bikes to the facility and hop on a train; or they can walk or take transit to the facility then hop on a stored bike to complete their trips.

Building the bike center was a project of the DC Department of Transportation's Bicycle Program, headed by Jim Sebastian. The Bicycle Program's Chris Holben shepherded the multi-year project. Operations at the center will be managed by Bikestation, a private company operating 6 other centers. The Federal Highway Administration provided 80% of the new center's $4 million cost, and there are particulars on the Bikestation at its new website.

But, what is really important to America is not what it provides, but what it makes possible.

This is a smart investment in truly multi-modal commuting. It is attractive; it is green; it provides what bicycling commuters need. And it is a model of the sustainable, livable mobility this nation needs now.

Congratulations Jim and Chris--and also to DC Transportation head Gabe Klein, Bikestation's Andréa White-Kjoss, mayor Adrian Fenty, and DC Ward 6 Councilman Tommy Wells (an avid bicyclist and new member of the Bikestation) for helping the DC Bicycle Program see this through to the last mile.

FAA lists carriers, pilot organizations yet to commit to safety Call To Action

Today, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced that the majority of US air carriers and pilot organizations have responded to our safety Call To Action. As promised, he also published a list of those who had not. That list is posted below.

The majority have provided written commitment to implement several best practices and adhere to higher professional standards for safety. As safety is DOT and FAA's highest priority, we appreciate the 94% response and will take those commitments very seriously.

They are a big step forward toward making future commercial air travel even safer than it is today.

The FAA will take non-responses into careful consideration when performing surveillance activities. And those carriers and labor organizations that have not responded must know for a certainty that the American flying public will also judge their reluctance to adopt proven safety practices.

Distracted Driving Summit a productive start to an urgent situation--but only a start

Some years from now, when we have made significant progress defeating the epidemic that is Distracted Driving, we will remember this moment.

Now, that is not to say that people haven't already been working to reduce this threat for several years. Those people, who were way out in front on this, deserve all the credit in the world.

But, yesterday and today, at our Distracted Driving Summit, we achieved what can only be described as critical mass.

For that, I thank everyone involved in the Distracted Driving Summit, from DOT organizers to panelists to web-followers.

And, once again, I want to particularly thank our youth panel and those advocates who have lost family members to this irresponsible driving practice; I admire their courage for publicly telling and re-telling what must be painful, painful stories.

Now the heavy lifting begins, and DOT is ready to lead in that work. In fact, we've already started.

(Please read about our important initial actions below the jump.)

Replay of our Live-Blog from Day 2 of the Distracted Driving Summit

Below is a window where you can replay our live-blog activities.

Here's the link to our live webcast, with an archive of the summit. Here's a link to the Distracted Driving Summit home page; it has 2 good fact sheets from NHTSA and a Media Support page that can help those trying to blog on this event.

Day 1 of our Distracted Driving Summit is in the books

I'm not sure where to begin--yesterday's Distracted Driving Summit proceedings were packed full of information; it was exciting to be in a room full of people putting their heads together so intently on this dangerous epidemic.

I was particularly moved by the stories of family members who have survived the death of a loved one due to distracted driving. Their words and experiences are such an important part of this discussion. And the strong response in the room and on the web to their stories tells me others think so as well.

Briefly, what conclusions do I draw from yesterday's panelists?

• The widespread nature of texting and talking on cell phones while driving indicates we need change the culture in America just as we did with drunk driving and seat belts.
•  Adults need to lead by example and end the disconnect between our knowledge that texting or calling while driving is indeed risky while persisting in that same risky behavior.
•  The technological picture is less than clear--many people yesterday got hung up in the weeds of the hand-held versus hands-free contest. That begs the question: Why can't we simply put these devices aside for short periods of time just as we do when we board airplanes?

That's enough to think about for now; I look forward to some guidance from today's panels.

And I'm particularly looking forward to our youth panel.

We've got something good going here, and I hope readers of this blog will tune in.