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Bring on 2010; this DOT has its sleeves rolled up

As the New Year rolls in, pundits and psychics are making predictions left and right. Well, I've got one of my own: your DOT is going to look back on 2010 as another year to be proud of!

Here's just a preview of what's in the works:

• More recovery, more renewal: as more complex stimulus-funded projects get underway, we'll see even more Recovery Act jobs than in 2009, and more upgraded infrastructure. Two highlights that will arrive early in the year? $8 billion in High-Speed Rail grants as we take our first steps toward new American regional inter-city passenger rail. And $1.5 billion in TIGER discretionary grants to begin nationally significant projects in economically distressed areas.
• More safety: I am not about to lay down on this; whether it's distracted driving, impaired driving, or driving unprotected by seat belts, expect to see more from us on making our roadways safer for everyone.
• More livability, sustainability: as 2009 wound down, we made our first grants for livable communities in New Orleans; in 2010 the TIGER grants we award will include as criteria the project’s contribution to sustainability and livability. Also in 2010, the Obama Administration's Partnership for Sustainable Communities of DOT-HUD-EPA will continue to align our efforts to promote the Three E's of economic development, environmental protection, and equitable access to transportation.

2009 one busy year for DOT

I'm really not one for looking back. While revelers are busy preparing to ring out the old year, I'm chomping at the bit to get 2010 underway. But DOT employees have worked hard this year in safety, recovery, livability, and more, and their achievements deserve a shout-out.

First, I want to let readers know how thankful I am to have been invited to join President Obama's Cabinet. This is a terrific honor, and the chance to serve the nation in this capacity is a truly special opportunity.

You may recall that Jon Stewart suggested to me on The Daily Show that being DOT Secretary is "not the most glamorous Cabinet position," but I am here to say that 2009 has been a very rewarding year for me.

In the confines of this blog, I can only mention a few highlights from the more than 30 major items on our 2009 DOT Record of Accomplishments, but you can review the list in greater detail here.

Here, then, is my "Top Five for O-Nine"

1. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: through the most ambitious transportation infrastructure investment program in more than half a century, we approved funding for over 11,300 projects creating tens of thousands of jobs.
2. Campaign to end Distracted Driving: from the Distracted Driving Summit to our newly launched Distraction.gov website, we are reining in this deadly practice.
3. Air traveler protection: from new safety measures to record fines and new rules covering extended tarmac delays, we have the backs of America's airline consumers.
4. Livable Communities Initiative: an interagency partnership that will ensure Americans have safe, reliable, accessible, and affordable transportation to get them where they need to go.
5. Car Allowance Rebate System: better known as Cash For Clunkers, within a four-month period, we processed more than $2.8 billion in voucher payments for more than 21,000 automobile dealers who sold nearly 700,000 new, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Distraction.gov another tool to promote common sense, fight distracted driving

I want to thank the folks at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for a great holiday gift--our new www.distraction.gov website. This page is a terrific resource for anyone wanting to learn more about this deadly practice...and about how to kick it to the curb.

This site has a host of useful features including news, statistics, the latest research, a rundown on state and local laws, and a plain language set of answers to frequently asked questions.

But my current favorite part of the site has to be the public service television ad in the upper right corner. This 30-second spot--"Calling Plan"--airs nationally this week and makes its point in the clearest possible terms: driving without distraction should be common sense.

FHWA approves 10,000 Recovery Act projects; 2010 to bring more projects, more jobs

It's difficult to imagine a better way to close 2009 than by announcing that our Federal Highway Administration has approved 10,000 Recovery Act projects. That's quite a milestone to reach in the 10 months since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed.

Of the $26.6 billion available for highway projects through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, $21.8 billion has been obligated to 10,000 projects nationwide. 6,092 of those projects are already underway with thousands more expected to get going in 2010.

This money is working; it's putting tens of thousands of men and women back to work and significantly improving more than 27,000 miles of roads and bridges.

As FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez noted:

“Highway projects are moving forward across the country. Thanks to the Recovery Act, drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists will see significantly improved roadways in 2010.”

Strengthening the economy and making travel smoother and safer for everyone--that's a winning combination.

Stay Alive...Just Drive working to reduce distracted driving in Florida and around the world

It seems like the right time of year to talk about people who are working hard in their communities to make life better for others. So today I'd like to talk about Jay Anderson and the organization he started to reduce distracted driving, Stay Alive...Just Drive.

 
In September, 2003, Jay's wife was speedwalking near their home in southwestern Florida. A teen driver talking on a cell phone hit Mrs. Anderson, knocked her into a ditch, and sped on, leaving her behind with multiple fractures.

Jay, a retired EMS captain, soon added a campaign against distracted driving to his already impressive list of community engagment, including the Board of Directors of the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, the Community Traffic Safety Team, the Traffic Intervention Management Team, the Hwy 27 Safety Task Force, and the American Driver & Traffic Safety Education Association.

But, Jay explains, "In 2003, I was all alone out there. Even AAA didn't recognize the threat distracted driving posed. I was a little bit ahead of the curve, and it was hard to get anyone's attention."

Today, it's a different story.

FAA Administrator Babbitt clears Santa for annual mission

I am pleased to report that, just moments ago, FAA chief Randy Babbitt cleared Santa Claus for his traditional round-the-world holiday mission.

Said Babbitt: "Santa and his crew have always shown extraordinary professionalism. I'm certain they'll pull off this year's flight without a hitch."

The public is invited to follow Santa's progress on Christmas Eve at www.noradsanta.org via NORAD's famous SantaCams.

During the North Pole International Airport (NPIA) 90-minute check flight, Santa demonstrated precision execution of the pinpoint rooftop landing and takeoff maneuvers his extensive delivery manifest and single-night constraint require.

Babbitt also pronounced the sleigh's onboard equipment to be in tip-top operating condition, including the following systems:

• Deicing
• Reindeer propulsion
• Navigation
• Grinch/Heat-Miser avoidance system

Critically, Babbitt also verified Santa's crew manifest to ensure enough elves would be available to relieve Santa for proper pilot rest periods.

Strengthening air passenger protections the right thing to do

I've talked a lot on this blog about airline consumer protections. Well, today we announced a new rule that significantly strengthens those protections.

This rule sets a hard time limit for passengers stuck on the tarmac. After that limit, U.S. airlines must allow passengers on domestic flights to go back to the terminal.

Airline passengers have rights, and airlines have the obligation to respect those rights. Passengers want--and deserve--to be treated fairly, and these new rules will require airlines to do just that.

What does the new rule do?

• U.S. airlines operating domestic flights must let passengers off the plane after remaining on the tarmac for more than three hours.
• Reasonable exceptions are allowed for safety or security or if air traffic control advises the pilot in command that returning to the terminal would disrupt airport operations.
• Carriers are required to provide adequate food and potable drinking water for passengers within two hours of the aircraft being delayed on the tarmac and to maintain operable lavatories and, if necessary, provide medical attention.

The holiday gift on everyone's list? Employer policies against distracted driving

It's been a challenging year for Americans, and I think they deserve a truly valuable bonus: a distracted driving policy from their employers.

• In October, President Obama gave one to Federal government employees.
• Last week, Chrysler gave one to its employees.
• Two days ago, Governor Steve Beshear gave one to Kentucky's state employees.
• Yesterday, the New York City Taxicab Commission gave an even tougher policy to cabbies.

Who's next?

New report shows Safe Routes to School initiatives succeeding

Children walking and bicycling to school represent 11 percent of injuries and fatalities during the school commute but fewer than two percent of miles traveled. So it's no wonder that parents are reluctant to let their kids walk or bike to school. 

A recent report, though, shows that we can really increase children's walking and biking safety without breaking the bank.

That's good news. And it comes to us from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a coalition of organizations, government agencies, and professional groups working to implement effective Safe Routes to School programs.

The goal of Safe Routes to School is to get more children walking and biking to schools. In 1969, approximately 50% of all children walked or bicycled to school, and 87% of children living within one mile of school did. Today, fewer than 15% of schoolchildren walk or bike to school. Today's kids are less active, less independent, and less healthy.

Plus, as much as 20 to 30% of morning traffic is generated just by parents driving their children to schools, and traffic-related crashes are the top cause of death and major injury for children in the U.S. ages 1-17.

The new report, Safe Routes to School: Putting Traffic Safety First - How Safe Routes to School Initiatives Protect Children Walking and Bicycling, shows how Safe Routes to School programs can help keep children safe from traffic dangers while walking and bicycling to school.

Daily Show interview--this is not your grandfather's DOT

Last night, I spent a few minutes talking transportation with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Ray LaHood
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

I've already heard from Peoria folks on Twitter who are wondering where I found a sense of humor. For that, the credit goes to Jon, who is a total pro and really put me at ease.

Ohio's Keith Kist: "Being out of work isn't a good thing; it's a relief to get back at it"

Ohio's Keith Kist was one of those Americans recently laid-off from work, but he was never a statistic to this Administration or to me. These folks are people, and I think about them more than you can know.

This DOT wants to help get these men and women back to work, and through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we've been lucky enough to have that opportunity.

Today, Keith Kist is back to work on a stimulus-funded $16 million project underway to improve the taxiways at Cleveland's Hopkins International Airport. About the stimulus, Keith says, "I'm the perfect example that it's working. If this weren't happening, I'd still be at home."

Airport Director Ricky Smith, who recently toured Vice President Joe Biden around the new project, says the new taxiway will allow the airport to run more efficiently and move passengers more quickly.

"So, we're not just creating jobs," the Vice-President commented. "We're not just making work; these are critically needed investments. We should be doing this even if there weren't a recession."

We recently added to our Voices of the Recovery series a great video of Keith talking about his new job, and I urge you to view it for one of the great stories of this economic recovery.

Florida youth pen arguments against distracted driving

When I talk about stopping distracted driving, I often point out my concern that some of our youngest, least experienced drivers are the most inclined to text at the wheel.

So it's only fair that I also point out some young people who are doing something to stop this deadly practice. And I want to start by thanking The Lakeland Ledger 2009 Student Editorial Contest and the 485 students who submitted contest entries.

(If you've been following on Facebook, you may have seen me mention these winners, but I think you'll like the video below of Morgan reading her winning entry.)

The winning entry in the Elementary School category was written by 5th grader Morgan Snyder who supplied a range of compelling statistics in wisely asserting a crucial fact that many over-confident drivers ignore: "Cell phone use while driving is more of a mental distraction than a physical one."

Thank you so much, Morgan!

Infrastructure = Competitiveness + Jobs

It was an honor to stand yesterday at the Brookings Institution podium two days after President Obama outlined the Administration's efforts to put Americans back to work while rebuilding the nation's infrastructure.

I was speaking to an audience gathered for the Bernard L. Schwartz Forum on US Competitiveness, "a discussion on the connection between infrastructure investments and economic growth." For me, that connection has been made obvious by DOT's successful experience with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

From DOT’s perspective, this program has been enormously successful.

• $32 billion out the door
• 11,000 projects so far, with over 7,100 of those under way, all of which provide jobs while making long-term investments in our infrastructure.
• $16 billion more ready to be put to work

So next year, as the money keeps rolling out to states, thousands of new transportation projects will come on line, including major highway projects that will keep a lot of people employed for quite a while.

Carver FSB adds to legacy, joins DOT Lending Program

Since it first opened its doors in 1949, Carver Federal Savings Bank has been a pioneering institution. That legacy continues today as Carver became New York's first participant in DOT's Short-Term Lending Program.

For more than 25 years, our loan guarantee program--run by our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization--has offered the Disadvantaged Business community access to flexible lines of credit they can’t obtain elsewhere.

This credit allows small and disadvantaged companies to participate in transportation-related contracts, and it's really important for helping them get in the game and thrive.

President Obama and I fully understand that small businesses create most of the jobs in this country. And we want to see these companies emerge from the recession ready to grow and hire, or re-hire, all the workers they need.

But we also want these companies to compete for federal contracts on a level playing field.

Coburn Report dismissesRecovery-supported bike paths

Should biking advocates be angry that Senator Tom Coburn included two bike paths in his  latest list of stimulus "waste?" Or thrilled that the Senator singled them out?

As reported by The Washington Times, Coburn said, "When we run $1.4 trillion deficits, the money we spend ought to be a high priority for the American people as a whole."

What he really means is that, because he doesn't get bikes, no one else does either.

His report calls-out an extension of Minnesota's Cedar Lake Bike Trail that would allow people to commute to and from downtown Minneapolis all the way to the new Minnesota Twins stadium. It's a project supported by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. I guess a better bike connection to Minneapolis's central business district doesn't count as infrastructure to some folks.

Rail transit proposal caps year of DOT safety initiatives

Rail transit is the only mode of transportation within DOT that operates without comprehensive Federal safety regulation, oversight, or enforcement. For the sake of the 14 million Americans who ride rail transit every weekday, we must close that gap.

So today I went to Congress to propose legislation reforming DOT safety oversight of America's rail transit systems.

Traveling by rail transit in the United States remains extraordinarily safe. Yet serious accidents do occur, such as this summer’s tragic Washington Metro crash and other recent accidents in Boston and San Francisco.

And, as transit use increases in this nation, passengers need additional action to make rail transit even safer.

This holiday season, please drive sober--ABSOLUTELY sober

The holiday season is well upon us. And like many of you, I’m looking forward to enjoying some time off and celebrating with my family and my grandchildren back home in Peoria.

My holiday wish for everyone is 'safety.'

So this morning, with DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier and the Metropolitan Police Department, I sent a reminder, as we do every year, that drinking and driving do not mix. Ever.

Look, we hold this "Over the Limit, Under Arrest" event every year because too many people continue to get behind the wheel after they’ve had a few drinks. And when they do, they put themselves and others in grave danger.

That is unacceptable.

DOT staff live-blogging our HSR meeting

High-speed rail to be a US job-growth engine

America is excited about the Obama Administration's goal to develop a national high-speed rail network.

But, more than just moving passengers and goods more efficiently, high-speed rail will also be an engine for job growth in the US.

Today, as reported in Bloomberg, Reuters, and the AP, I am meeting with more than 100 business leaders, labor groups and rail experts. And I intend to make sure everyone in that room knows that American jobs are an absolute priority for this Administration as we develop the new rail system.

Alabama Distracted Driving Summit tackles an important challenge

Today I addressed the Alabama Distracted Driving Summit hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham's University Transportation Center. It's great to see UAB working to solve this problem, and I wholeheartedly support the one-day session's three goals:

1. Describe the scope and nature of the distracted driving problem
2. Identify meaningful ways to increase public awareness of the safety issues associated with distracted driving
3. Identify and review legislative and regulatory approaches for addressing distracted driving in Alabama

These goals seems both useful and manageable. Indeed, I cannot imagine why any of the states that have yet to take meaningful steps against distracted driving would not host similar sessions. And soon.

$280 million for streetcars, livability not chump change

It's difficult to imagine a better place than New Orleans to announce the availability of $280 million in grants for urban circulator projects like streetcars and buses.

I'm really excited about this opportunity, not just because the streetcar system in New Orleans is such a great part of that community, but also because this is the first batch of funding for the Obama Administration's Livability Initiative.

And few projects can enhance the livability of a community more than those that connect destinations and jumpstart the redevelopment of communities into walkable, livable, and sustainable environments.

Road stimulus still doing the heavy lifting

Maybe some folks just don't like good news.

How else to explain the curious arrangement of stories in today's Wall Street Journal. One article proclaims the CBO essentially validating the Obama Administration's stimulus jobs numbers. Another laments "Job cuts loom as stimulus fades."

Guess which piece made Page One.

While the Journal is decrying the absence of a "paving fairy," this Department of Transportation is still funding road projects at an unheard-of pace.

We have over 5,400 road projects underway, and we're not even close to stopping. We're projecting to get over the 10,000 mark, which means that we've got much more to come. It’s hardly the last rays of sunshine that the Journal's readers were offered.

Here are a few examples that belie the Journal's doom-and-gloom scenario:

• In New Orleans, work on the stimulus-supported $87 million I-10 Causeway project will continue through the summer of 2012.
• In San Francisco, the Caldecott Tunnel--at $257 million, one of the largest ARRA-funded road projects in the country--isn't even set to start construction until early January.
• In Clearwater, Florida, a $123 million project that uses $44.2 million in Recovery Act funds to create 12 miles of uninterrupted travel on US 19/SR 55 also doesn't even break ground until this Friday.
• Plus, of the $48.1 billion in stimulus funds available, we have obligated $31.8 billion. By my calculation, the $16.3 billion remaining buys a lot of road, transit, rail, and port work.

A big day in Big D

The challenge of spending the day in Dallas is trying to capture everything I saw in this limited space. Dallas is demonstrating an outsized appetite for innovative transportation projects.

It's hard to know where to even start with the forward-thinking ideas this city is developing:

• Woodall Rodgers Freeway Deck Park
  This is a 5.2 acre multi-use park that will sit atop a freeway and create a pedestrian link from Downtown to Uptown. It sits atop the freeway; that's a great use of space. Plus, the project uses a combination of public--city, state, and federal--and private funding, including a Recovery Act grant.
• DART light rail expansion
  This system, currently operating over 45 miles of light rail, is undertaking an ambitious doubling of its light rail miles by 2013. That's not  even mentoning the 20 miles of rapid bus transit corridors expected.
• Trinity River Corridor
  In conjunction with the Dallas Flood Extension Project for flood relief and the Trinity Parkway for traffic relief, Dallas is developing another ambitious environmental restoration and recreational public space. The Corridor will include The Great Trinity Forest, an Audubon Interpretive Center, and signature bridges to connect neighborhoods and promote revitalization.

Do I sound impressed? Well, I absolutely am. You know, transportation advocates have cities they like to name-check when discussing livability and sustainability. But innovative transportation projects don't have to be northern or coastal; there are transportation pioneers everywhere.

Thank you and congratulations, Dallas, for committing to a greener, more sustainable home. The Department of Transportation is proud to be your partner.