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

Illinois veterans visit National World War II Memorial

Although we set aside today to remember America's fallen, in advance of Memorial Day, I had an opportunity to think about America's World War II veterans--both fallen and surviving.

Last Wednesday, I accompanied some of central Illinois' surviving veterans of World War II to the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. There, they had the chance to remember their fallen comrades and the years of their own service to America.

I cannot say what a privilege it was to join them at this stirring site.

You know, the period of service they came to recall may have been but a brief time many years ago in their long lives, but the memory of it still burns brightly.

Listening to veterans recount their tales of service

They recall their friends and fellow soldiers. They recall individual campaigns and battles. And they recall responding to the plea for national service. "The country needed us," said one veteran, nearly 70 years later, "So we went."

It was an honor to join these veterans at the National World War II Memorial last week. And, if you haven't visited this relatively new site, I encourage you to make a point of it if you're ever in Washington.

But it's also an honor to pause today and remember all of America's faithful fallen on this Memorial Day. I hope you'll join me in that, today and throughout the year.

What many have sacrificed for us must not be forgotten.

You wanted another round of TIGER grants, we've got another round of TIGER grants

We're calling it "Tiger II," and the application period is open!

If you've been following DOT news, you know that I'm talking about the next round of our wildly successful Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery discretionary grant program. Funds in this program are available on a competitive basis to support capital investment in surface transportation projects. The projects must have a significant impact on the nation, a region, or a metropolitan area--and they must create jobs.

You know, we received over 1,400 applications from all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for the first round of TIGER. These applicants sought nearly $60 billion in funds, more than 40 times the $1.5 billion available.

That shows we were onto something, and we know from that experience that there's a real backlog of worthwhile transportation projects in need of funding.

FMCSA's David Anewalt, going back to Indiana after 40 years of public service

Today, we bid farewell to a remarkable public servant, David Anewalt, who retires from federal service after 40 years of excellence.

Officially, David is leaving our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), where he has served as Deputy Chief Information Officer for two years. However, before he joined DOT, his long career had taken him from the Air Force to the Department of Defense as a civil servant and to the US Agency for International Development.

David Anewalt, a 40-year man, says good bye to federal service

He is, to say the least, full of surprises, and he will be missed.

David's career began at the US Air Force Academy followed by a distinguished stint as an Air Force pilot. He couldn't quite separate from the Air Force and served in the Reserves while also pursuing a civil service career in the Department of Defense, much of it at Grissom Air Base in Indiana.

As he describes it, "I was serving in the Reserves at Grissom while also being CIO at Grissom. So I'm pretty sure I was one of the few CIO's in the country sitting at his desk in an orange flight suit. But what was I going to do? I love flying."

Moving to DOT, David says, was easy:

"It's important for me to see how my service fits in, how it affects people. And the work we do at DOT really touches every American in a positive way. I mean, it's hard to find something more important than working on safety. And, dry as it may sound, information technology at Motor Carrier supports that safety mission."

David, posing with another long-time civil servant at Nationals Park

First round of High Speed Rail funds flowing to States

A few months ago, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced our American Recovery and Reinvestment Act High-Speed and Inter-City Passenger Rail grants. Today, we delivered the first round of those funds to states.

The President's vision for an American high-speed rail system will change the way Americans travel. And the grants DOT released today are just the beginning steps of making that vision a reality.

The interactive map on http://www.whitehouse.gov/high-speed-rail is loaded with information about HSR corridors.

As Vice President Biden noted today:

"Delivering these funds is an important step forward in our efforts to upgrade and transform America's transportation system, while spurring economic activity and creating jobs here at home."

And he is absolutely correct. Because, as I made perfectly clear last month on this blog, "Those trains and their components will be made by skilled American workers."

High-speed rail will transform American inter-city mobility

NextGen no longer just around the corner; it's here

You may have heard me talking about NextGen, a comprehensive overhaul of our national airspace system. Today, we’re announcing final regulations to aircraft manufacturers for implementing NextGen's surveillance capability, called ADS-B.

NextGen is important for the convenience, dependability, sustainability, and safety of your air travel. And it is happening--now.

Download the NextGen Implementation Plan at http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/nextgen/media/NGIP_3-2010.pdf

Today's regulations set clear performance requirements for the electronics that will allow aircraft to be tracked with greater precision and accuracy. And by 2020, all aircraft flying over the United States will be broadcasting an ADS-B signal.

Since December 2009, our new satellite-based airline tracking system, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), has made air traffic control services available in an area over the Gulf of Mexico where these services had never been possible before.

And since then we’ve been testing this new capability in the high-traffic airspace over Philadelphia, over Louisville, Kentucky, and over Juneau, Alaska, where there’s little or no radar today.

NextGen technology will allow better decision-making from flight planning to arrival gate

ADS-B will allow pilots to get the same information as air traffic controllers and see the same things on their screens. Pilots will know where aircraft are located and how close one plane is to another. They'll have a clearer picture of what’s happening in the air or on the ground--even in low visibility.

NextGen is about getting the right information to the right people at the right time to help them make better decisions. It will make our aircraft safer, our runways and taxiways less congested, our skies quieter, and our carbon footprint smaller.

Simply put, NextGen will be a better way of doing business. And that better way is no longer just around the corner.

It's here. Today.

Mario Bonds, an ambassador of effectiveness at DOT

If you read The Washington Post, you may already know the story of Mario Bonds, a recent graduate of Virginia's George Mason University, who happens also to be sightless. While reading the Post article, I seized on one sentence: "In addition to making good on his GMU dream, Mario is a program assistant in the civil rights office of the U.S. Department of Transportation."

Yes, it turns out that Mario, the driven young man whose grandmother told the Post, "He don't have a disability; he's blind," works right here at DOT.

Mario Bonds, on graduation day at George Mason Univ., courtesy of Nikki Kahn

He joined DOT through a job fair for disabled persons last August. "I already had one offer," he says, " but I really wanted to get into DOT."

Why? "First, because the Federal government is very good at accommodating disabled workers and making sure they have what they need to work effectively."

"And, second, because there are so many transportation issues for persons with disabilities. I want to be able to help with that, maybe affect policy to make things better in some way."

Mario, being congratulated by Prof. Smith on graduation day at GMU, courtesy of Nikki Kahn

For right now, Mario is in our civil rights office working on assistive and adaptive technology issues, and helping manage things in our business operations and information technology division.

"I'm definitely busy," he asserts, " And I wouldn't have it otherwise. I can't stand a day that's not full; it seems like such a waste of valuable time. I want to spend my life doing something meaningful and substantive."

New DOT Briefing Room brings you into the picture

Long-time readers of this blog may have noticed we gave it a new look a couple of months ago. And, if you're a regular visitor to the DOT website, you may have also noticed a new look there.

Today, I'm pleased to announce we've achieved our online trifecta with the unveiling of our new Briefing Room.

http://www.dot.gov/briefing-room.html

Now, we're calling it a "Briefing Room" rather than a "Media" page or "Newsroom" for a reason. Where once we offered only a catalog of our News Releases, the new page offers a broader look into DOT with video, pictures, and widgets.

You probably know from reading the blog that I love the Voices of the Recovery Act videos on our usdotgov YouTube channel. Sure, we post news releases in "Latest News" about the benefits of our Recovery Act projects--the infrastructure challenges they solve and the good jobs they create or save. But watching a transportation construction worker talk about the people being hired back to work puts a face on those benefits and helps convey what those jobs really mean to that community.

And watching video of an event--like UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying it's time to stop the scourge of distracted driving around the world--lets you draw your own conclusions about what's happening. It goes beyond the AP-style constraints of a news article and puts you into the story.

That's the value of our "Featured Video" section.

Gayle King at DC's Newseum "No Phone Zone" Day rally

The same can be said of our "Photo Gallery." You can see for yourself the enthusiasm of Oprah Radio host Gayle King surrounded by thousands of supporters at a recent  "No Phone Zone" Day rally. A photo of rally-goers staring up at a huge screen broadcasting from L.A. with anti-texting celebrities communicates a great sense of what it was like to experience that event.

And that's what we're trying to do with our new Briefing Room--communicate.

Because we think we're doing something at DOT, and that something is worth communicating. So take a moment to check out the widgets along the right side of our Briefing Room page that feature a sampling of current DOT spotlight efforts. I can talk about Distraction.gov, our one-stop resource page on distracted driving, but seeing that stark icon may just get you to visit that valuable site for yourself.

Whether it's safety, or livability & sustainability, or consumer protection, we're here at DOT to work for you, 55,000 strong. And--through our new Briefing Room, this blog, and the redesigned DOT.gov--we want to share that work with you.

We like what we do, and we hope you will, too.

Mahlon Simmons on the Recovery Act: "It has definitely kept families in the construction industry going"

Today, I'm pleased to present our latest Voices of the Recovery Act video. It features Mahlon Simmons, who works for Concrete General in Maryland.

Mahlon Simmons was working on a project that was almost complete. Just in time, Concrete General secured the contract on a bridge replacement project near Baltimore. This project on I-695, Baltimore's beltway, is being funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And through this investment by the Obama Administration, Mahlon is still working.

Even better, some of Mahlon's colleagues who had been laid off eight months ago are being hired back to work today on this $18 million, ARRA-funded project. In fact, according to Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the project "is expected to support 200 jobs."

Mahlon Simmons, seen hear with FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez

As the economy continues to gain steam, it's easy to forget how important the Recovery Act has been to the transportation construction industry. But Mahlon has clearly not forgotten.

If you watch the video, you'll hear him say:

"This is definitely a help to all the families and the people at Concrete General. It's helped families in the construction industry. A lot of families have mortgages, mouths to feed, kids in college, so it has definitely kept the economy going."

And he's right. Through investments in good transportation projects that saved or created good jobs, the Recovery Act kept a dire economic situation from becoming even worse. And it has positioned the US economy for the growth we're experiencing today.

With Future of Aviation Advisory Committee, industry charts its own flight path

This morning, the DOT-organized Future of Aviation Advisory Committee hits the runway at full-throttle.

The FAAC convenes for its first meeting

This 19-member panel of experienced aviation industry professionals has no small mission: to map a course that ensures the industry remains vital, competitive, sustainable, and--above all--safe.

Because industry professionals themselves nominated the best and brightest from a true cross-section of the aviation community--airlines, transportation unions, manufacturing, general aviation, academia, finance, and consumer groups--I have high expectations for the committee's success.

Getting down to work with the FAAC

Another factor that bodes well is that the five core issues of the committee's charge were also chosen as aviation's top challenges by seasoned industry experts:

1. Ensuring aviation safety
2. Ensuring a world-class aviation workforce
3. Balancing the industry's competitiveness and viability
4. Securing stable funding for aviation systems
5. Addressing environmental challenges and solutions

Now, these are not Ray LaHood's issues; they are not President Obama's issues; they are not the FAA's issues. These are the aviation community's issues, the ones the experts know must be taken head-on if we're going to nourish a safe, competitive, and sustainable 21st century aviation industry.

2010's Click It Or Ticket campaign has one goal: to save lives

This Memorial Day Weekend marks summer’s official beginning. And I am glad of that.

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone, too, because this weekend, 28 million Americans will hit the road for a vacation. Tens of millions more will get into their cars for a barbecue or other festive gathering across town.

But 16% of those on the road this weekend won’t buckle up on the way. They will choose not to wear their seat belts. And the consequences of that choice can be grim--equal parts deadly and heartbreaking. And 100% preventable.

At the 2010 Click It or Ticket launch

Today, we launched our annual Memorial Day weekend Click It or Ticket enforcement campaign. Between May 24th and June 6th, 10,000 police departments across the country will be out in force, writing tickets if you’re not wearing your seat belt.

The point is not to write tickets; the point is to get people to buckle up.

To the class of 2010: Our differences matter; Finding common ground matters more

I love the commencement ritual.I love the joy on students faces. I love the pause between celebrating what has been achieved and facing what waits just around the corner. And I love the commencement speech, which tries to mark that achievement and give students a watchword or two as they turn that corner.

This past weekend, I had the honor of delivering such a speech to the class of 2010 at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

Loras College in Dubuque overlooks the Mississippi River

My message was simple: Let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

I believe this message can help us find our way out of what must be recognized, sadly, as an age of acrimony.

Look, serious debate is what makes our democracy work. And politics in America has never been for the faint of heart. But, even so, partisan rancor feels worse today. We attack each other’s motives instead of contesting each other’s ideas. We obsess over who’s up and who’s down, rather than finding ways we can work together to move forward.

And it's not just our leaders. I see it everywhere, even on my Facebook page and my blog, and on Twitter. You'd be surprised how uncivil people can be in only 140 characters!

Disagreement is fine. But we can choose to let it lead it to dialogue, not disrespect.

Video courtesy Dubuque Telegraph Herald

In Congress, Senator Obama and I didn’t always see eye-to-eye on every single issue. But we shared the conviction that Americans can disagree without being disagreeable. We shared the conviction that the common good is more important than individual political persuasion. And we shared commitments to listening and learning, to treating people fairly and with respect, to not letting the perfect prevent us from making progress when possible.

And, when President Obama asked me to serve in his Cabinet, I enthusiastically agreed. Because, by inviting me--a lifelong Republican--to serve with him, he signaled a desire to put aside partisan interests and work together to move our country forward. And, like I've said many times before, there are no Republican bridges or Democratic highways.

Nation, DOT take to the streets--with helmets onfor National Bike to Work Day

Today is National Bike To Work Day, and this morning many DOT employees saddled up, strapped on their helmets, and hit the streets on two wheels.

DOT crew gathers with Asst. Sec. for Administration Linda Washington and Asst. Sec. for Policy Polly Trottenberg

Several of DOT's top officials joined the celebration, riding to work and talking about the many positive changes we've seen since last year's National Bike To Work Day.

Under Secretary for Policy Roy Kienitz with FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff

At DC's Freedom Plaza, Under Secretary for Policy Roy Kienitz spoke about why we are so keen on putting bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure on an even footing with roads and transit--and laid out a number of practical points to bike skeptics:

"We have some cold, logical reasons for this policy. We believe all transportation investments should justify themselves based on how effective they are in meeting overall goals like safety, environmental sustainability, convenience, etc. And it turns out that travel by bike helps us achieve all of these things. Plus, bike infrastructure is flat-out less expensive."

Also at Freedom Plaza, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff spoke about the role that bikes and transit can play in fostering livable communities. "When I'm not riding public transportation," he added, "I'm on my bike!"

Many of my old colleagues in Congress agree, especially Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon who has been a passionate biking advocate for as long as I can remember. Rep. Blumenauer and 23 members of Congress--from both sides of the aisle--sent me a very kind letter yesterday thanking me for and DOT for "recognizing biking and walking as important components of our transportation system that deserve dedicated funding." Rep. Blumenauer has a great op-ed in the Huffington Post today on this subject as well.

The Washington Post follows a bike commuter group to Freedom Plaza

Exciting things were also happening closer to DOT headquarters this morning. Next door, at Nationals Park, the Federal Highway Administration's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager Gabe Rousseau spoke about the $1.2 billion federal investment in bicycle-pedestrian projects this fiscal year. He also reminded attendees that over 4 billion trips last year were taken by bicycle. Both of these are new records.

Nationals Executive VP Bob Wolfe, DC Councilman Tommy Wells, FHWA's Gabe Rousseau, and
Michael Stephens of the Capital Riverfront Business Improvement District greet arriving cyclists at Nationals Park

DOT and Women's Transportation Seminar partnering to seize, create opportunities

Today, I spoke to the Women’s Transportation Seminar International.

With the WTS audience as witnesses, I signed an understanding between DOT and WTS to encourage women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math--without having to put their transportation careers on hold.

Signing the memorandum of understanding for a promising partnership

This strategic effort will help us transform transportation by helping more women advance in transportation careers. And I think the folks at WTS agree. Their President, Elaine Dezenski, said today, "We're excited to launch this partnership with DOT and to help develop a transportation workforce of the future."

Now, at DOT, we are also deeply committed to supporting women in every field of transportation--and we are reaching out to girls and young women who are looking for rewarding careers.

The good news is that--as we revitalize our nation’s transportation infrastructure--the entire industry is full of opportunities. Many modes of transportation will need environmental engineering and alternative fuel research. And the railroad, construction, and aerospace industries will certainly need highly skilled professionals in the years ahead.

UN chief calls for global action against mobile phone use while driving

The most gratifying headline I woke up to this morning was in the Student Operated Press, "UN Chief Ban Ki-moon: Phone use while driving kills."

His exact words at the UN yesterday?

"We are seeing a major emerging challenge of driver distraction, mainly by using mobile phones. Together we have a message to all drivers of the world--don't let using a mobile for a few seconds make you and others immobile for life."

Helping spread this important message goes far beyond the fact that Secretary General Ban issued a directive prohibiting UN employees from texting while driving UN vehicles.

Although, that was also huge. As US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice said, "We're here today to shine a spotlight on a problem that affects us all. Texting while driving isn't a harmless habit; it's a killer."

But, as Jennifer Smith, founder and president of FocusDriven, added yesterday:

"This is not just about texting. It's about all cell phone use behind the wheel."

Today, the call to end distracted driving goes global

This is a big day. Later this morning, I'll be at the United Nations in New York, joining Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, and Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin in launching a Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving.

You can watch the event live at www.un.org/webcast, or on this blog, where we'll host the UN's Real Player stream.
Later, we'll convert the webcast into other platforms to share with you.

You know, 65 years ago, delegates from 50 countries pledged that they would join together to promote the safety and security of all people.

In so doing, they established a remarkable institution, the UN.

And in that same spirit, Secretary General Ban, Ambassadors Rice and Churkin, and I are joining forces and issuing this global call. We'll be joined by FocusDriven founder and President Jennifer Smith who brings with her today Jacy Good, an extraordinary advocate on this issue.

Why are we coming together on this issue?  Why now?

Because, during the last few years, distracted driving has evolved from a dangerous practice to a deadly epidemic. In the United States, it’s an epidemic because everyone has a mobile device--and everyone thinks they can use it safely behind the wheel.

Well, we’ve learned. They can’t.

Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda: DOT Observes National Maritime Day

The UN's International Maritime Organization has declared 2010 to be the Year of the Seafarer.

That makes this year's observance of National Maritime Day, in which we pay tribute to our nation's seafarers, particularly memorable.

Today's master of ceremonies, MARAD Senior Policy Advisor Orlando Gotay

Now, it is not easy being a seafarer.

They face long periods away from home and family, and the familiar safety hazards that the sea has always presented. Sadly, they also still face the risk of being shot at by pirates.

Attendees stand in silence as a ship's bell is tolled eight times in memory of departed mariners

Our country has long relied on the skills and expertise of people to build ships, sail them, and train the next generation to do the same. And, if we are to retain our status as a trading nation and a world military superpower, we will continue to rely on a strong merchant marine.

Call to end distracted driving goes global Online campaign supports UN event

Distracted driving. It's not just an American tragedy; it's global. And because it's not just an American epidemic, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has joined the campaign against this deadly behavior.

UN Headquarters in New York, site of the Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving

Tomorrow morning, at UN Headquarters in New York, we're launching a "Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving". I'll be joining the Secretary General, the Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin, US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, and FocusDriven President Jennifer Smith.

Together, we're saying, "Hang up." We're saying, "Put it down." And we're saying, "Just drive."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

We'll say it in as many languages as it takes until the world's drivers get the message: you cannot text or talk on a call phone and drive safely. It doesn't matter what country you're in; you just can't do it.

Here's the sad reality. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.2 million people die in road crashes worldwide each year--that's one traffic-related fatality every 30 seconds of every day. And another 20 to 50 million are injured annually.

We also know that crash injuries are the leading cause for all 15-29 year-olds.

In fact, the WHO projects that, by 2030 crash fatalities will become the 5th leading cause of all deaths worldwide, surpassing HIV/AIDS, all forms of cancer, violence, and diabetes.

The good news is that these crashes, these deaths--they're preventable. Between 80-90% of traffic accidents are caused by driver behaviors, dangerous and avoidable behaviors like distracted driving.

DOT aims to prevent rail crew distraction

You know how I feel about distracted driving in cars, trucks, and buses. And you know how I feel about airplane cockpit distraction and transit operator distraction.

Well, you can rest assured that DOT also will do what it can to prevent distracted operation of our nation's trains.

And today, the Federal Railroad Administration proposed a rule that bans improper use of electronic devices by on-duty rail employees. The proposed rule restricts use of cell phones and other handheld devices by engineers, conductors, switchmen, and other key crewmembers.

Metrolink, September 2008. Courtesy Lawrence Ho, LA TImes

Look, we can't have someone operating a speeding locomotive while texting his or her friends. That makes no sense to me, and I can't imagine it makes sense to any of you either. Because, in September 2008, an engineer operating a Metrolink locomotive in Chatsworth, California, did just that. And the outcome, as we all remember, was horrible. The passenger train collided with a Union Pacific freight train, and 25 people were killed.

The stakes are too high to risk distraction.

We can't allow that to happen again. Operating a passenger or freight train demands the full and undivided attention of railroad crewmembers at all times. Lives depend on it.

So we want to make sure that railroad employees--particularly what we call "safety critical employees"--know not to use hand held devices on the job. If you do that, you're jeopardizing safety, and that is simply unacceptable.

Professionalism, a DOT, FAA watchword in aviation and throughout transportation

Professionalism in aviation is a big topic of discussion this week--the NTSB is holding a three-day forum on the topic to look at developing and ensuring pilot and air traffic controller excellence.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and I couldn’t agree more. We know it's a simple equation; professionalism on the flight deck and in the control tower leads to greater safety.

Randy has been talking about professionalism since day one at the FAA.  As a pilot, he has seen firsthand the importance of taking personal responsibility to make sure safety is the top priority in the cockpit.  That means taking pride in doing the job right and raising your hand when the rules aren’t being followed.

But we all remember the news, last October, that a Northwest flight crew overshot their destination--by 150 miles. The control tower transcripts show the captain and first officer returning to their responsibilities after nearly an hour of radio silence.

Northwest Airlines planes, left. Flight path of Northwest Flight 188 is shown, right. Courtesy of AP

Federal Highway Administration posts Recovery Act doubleheader

Today, officials from our Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) played two in the Mid-Atlantic road improvement league.

Administrator Victor Mendez helped Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Ben Cardin, and Congressman C.A. "Dutch" Ruppersberger break ground on a bridge replacement project on Baltimore's beltway, I-695. An hour or so northwest on I-95, Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau--making his Fast Lane debut--helped Delaware Governor Jack Markell and Senators Tom Carper and Ted Kaufman break ground on that state's Newark Toll Plaza Improvement Project.

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez talks with Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley; Rep. Dutch Ruppenberger is in the background

I really like what Administrator Mendez told the crowd in Maryland, "Today, we are seeing the promise of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act brought to life."

Because he's right. These two projects do everything President Obama and Congress had in mind with the FHWA portions of the Recovery Act:

• Provide greater safety for motorists;
• Reduce congestion;
• Build capacity for anticipated future traffic loads; and
• Create good jobs for people ready and willing to work

The bridge replacement in Maryland, for example, calls for a bridge that is 38 feet wider than the 1961 original it replaces, adding 34% to its current capacity. And it will employ people who would otherwise be seeking work.

And it doesn't stop there. Those projects require supplies and equipment. Those workers buy food for their families, eat in local restaurants, and spread their paychecks throughout the local economy.

Delaware Gov. Jack Markell talks with FHWA Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau

Riding the rails in Japan, China

Are Japanese bullet trains coming to the US? This is a question I've seen being asked more than once in the media this week.

Now, to be fair, I may have started this buzz by riding a couple of Japan's lightning fast trains while visiting that country earlier in the week. And I have to say, those trains are fast. Very fast.

I'm also looking forward to riding to the Shanghai airport later today on China's maglev train.

My short answer to the question? No, Japanese and Chinese trains are not coming to the US.

BUT, Japanese and Chinese high-speed rail technology and expertise may be on its way. And, when an American high-speed rail system is up and running--thanks to President Obama's initial $8 billion down-payment and future rail grants authorized by Congress--those familiar with Japan's Shinkansen or Spain's AVE or Germany's ICE or Russia's Sapsan may find similar designs and components.

I think that makes sense. After all, rail companies in Asia and Europe have high-speed experience that American rail companies just haven't had yet. Do I look forward to the day when American companies have that experience? You bet.

In the meantime, if we do end up benefiting from foreign expertise, whether it's Japanese or Chinese or Canadian or European, another thing you can bet on is those trains and their components will be made by skilled American workers.

Ordinary Americans doing extraordinary work in the call to end distracted driving

I wish it were more difficult to blog about distracted driving. But a quick news search every day turns up all too many articles with titles like "Cell phone use cited in I-40 crash that killed two boys."

I wish it weren't so, but the numbers are compelling; this is a very real and very dangerous problem. In the Syracuse, NY, area, our pilot enforcement project cited 2,300 drivers texting or using a hand-held cell phone during the first 10 days alone. Our Hartford, CT, pilot reported similar numbers. Those are just two communities. Multiply that out across the country, and the math is simply staggering.

Thankfully, ordinary Americans are working extraordinarily hard, really putting their hearts into personal efforts to help stop this deadly epidemic.

Kari Galassi and Jodi Brubaker of Hinsdale, Illinois, are two moms who saw the problem and began selling a tan-colored car window sign with "Get off the phone" over a marked out cell phone image. "It always irritated me," Brubaker said, "that you could see so many drivers paying more attention to their phones than the road."

In conjunction with last month's Oprah show on No Phone Zone day, the signs were featured on groupon.com and orders skyrocketed. Galassi reports,"They were only going to be featured for one day, but they really took off, and Groupon kept them up through the weekend."

Kari, Jodi and their kids share the message: Keep us safe

But Kari and Jodi aren't in it for the sales. "The great thing about Groupon," says Kari, "is that the web page, which had over 3,000 views, wasn't just selling signs. It had a lot of educational content about distracted driving. And the  Groupon demographic is largely twenty-somethings. You've got a lot of concerned moms like us and also high school service groups spreading the message to their peers. But in between, there's not much going on, so Groupon really filled a valuable public service niche."

New technology, diverse partnership working to eliminate drunk driving

There is exciting news in the ongoing fight to prevent--and maybe even eliminate--a major threat to the American family: drunk driving.

There has been enormous progress since MADD’s founding 30 years ago. Together, we have cut drunk driving fatalities nearly in half, but we still face the entirely preventable loss of almost 12,000 deaths last year. That's nearly 1/3 of all traffic-related fatalities each year--100% preventable.

Advanced technology to prevent drunk drivers from operating vehicles holds the real potential of eliminating this threat. For nearly three years, our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and leading automakers, working through the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety, have partnered on an advanced alcohol detection research program called DADSS, Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety.

DADSS is an ambitious undertaking, addressing a broad range of issues while developing a technology to prevent drunk drivers from operating vehicles without disrupting the normal driving that is such an integral part of our everyday lives.

DOT, First Lady & Childhood Obesity Task Force share important goal: Let's Move!

Three months ago, President Obama announced a Childhood Obesity Task Force, headed by First Lady Michelle Obama, to encourage children to exercise more and adopt healthier eating habits.

One of the first steps the Administration took was establishing letsmove.gov, a great web resource for parents and others interested in healthier American children. Another key step in that process is the Interagency Action Plan released today by the First Lady and other task force leaders.

Here at DOT we support the First Lady's efforts wholeheartedly, and we're particularly interested in the report's Chapter V: Increasing Physical Activity, which includes a section on "The Built Environment."

We know that our "all-digital-all-the-time world" doesn't always encourage us to live the healthiest lives we can. That's why we're working hard to make it easier for Americans to walk or bike safely in their communities. And when kids see that more adults are choosing to walk or bike, they are more likely to exercise healthier transportation options.

And walking and biking aren't just good for our health; they're good for our environment, and they're ways of getting around that Americans have said they want.

• That's why, in March, we announced our new bicycle and pedestrian policy initiative.
• That's why, last year, we established our Livability Principles.
• That's why we support Safe Routes to School programs.
• That's why we support Complete Streets .
• That's why we've used TIGER discretionary funds to support projects that benefit their communities.

Each of these actions makes it easier and safer for Americans to have foot or pedal access to key services and to the jobs they need.

But look, when we talk about encouraging bicycling and walking, we're not talking about taking away anyone's roads, cars, or trucks.

We're only talking about adding options to the mix.

We're talking about joining the First Lady and the Childhood Obesity Task Force in saying--to those who want to get around their communities on foot or by pedal power--let's move!

Merchant Marine Academy grad helps lead evacuation of Deepwater Horizon

In 2008, when Darin Rupinski graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, he did not envision a career aboard deepwater oil rigs. But, fortunately for his crewmates aboard the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon, that's where he landed.

Because on April 20, when an explosion rocked the Transocean Ltd. oil rig, instead of fleeing for his own safety, Darin put his Kings Point training and leadership into action and helped facilitate the orderly evacuation of the Horizon.

"I ran up to the bridge and grabbed some radios, a flashlight, a bullhorn and ran back down toward the lifeboat deck," Darin recounted to Newsday's Bill Bleyer. "I used the bullhorn to get people into the boats and calmed down."

Amid the yelling and screaming, Darin worked with his supervisor to restore order from the chaos that spread among the crew after the explosion.

Eventually, they filled the supervisor's lifeboat and lowered it into the Gulf. 10 minutes later, the lifeboat Darin commanded was filled and motoring toward a supply ship nearby, but safely removed from the inferno.

Looking back on the oil rig, Darin says he saw, "basically, a huge torch in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico."

I can't express how proud I am of Darin's exceptional demonstration of courage and leadership.

Disadvantaged businesses, US economy benefit from broader inclusion

In 1989, the DOT limit on personal net worth for owners of Disadvantaged Businesses Enterprises was set at $750,000. Owners whose net worth rose beyond that threshold would have their businesses removed from our DBE program. Until last week, it had not changed for 21 years.

But on Friday, the Obama Administration proposed a new rule that would raise that limit to $1.3 million, adjusted for inflation. That change was part of an overhaul of our DBE program that--if enacted--will bring broader inclusion to women and minority-owned businesses.

Business owner Michael Martin of Northwest Infrastructure, photo courtesy Dan Carter, DJC

DOT's Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization helps small businesses that are majority-owned and managed by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. Through a range of services like bonding-assistance and matchmaking--we help these DBEs compete for contracts on federal highway, transit, and airport construction jobs.

We also require state and local transportation agencies to establish goals for small business participation. So, another provision of our proposed changes is to ask states that fail to meet their goals analyze the reasons for low DBE participation and initiate remedial actions to raise that participation.

After all, if you don't meet your goals, it makes sense to figure out why and take action to fix that problem.

Public employees provide critical services

Now here is something to celebrate: Public Service Recognition Week!

In the past 15 months, I've had the great privilege of getting to know the terrific federal workers who make DOT hum on all cylinders.

DOT employees provide critical public transportation services; improve our country’s roads, bridges, and other key infrastructure; and help ensure the safety of our goods and people.

Even better news? The hard work and integrity I've observed here at DOT is being repeated every day across the federal service and in state and local government offices across America.

As President Obama noted in his congratulatory letter:

"Federal, state, and local government employees devote their time and energy to the American people and our country. Each day, they provide essential services that protect us from harm, educate our families, and keep us healthy."

TTI study adds further tragic evidence to the fight against distracted driving

"We know driving at night is dangerous. We know using a cell phone behind the wheel compromises your ability to drive. Combine both of those with driver inexperience, and you have created a perfect storm."

These are the words of Bernie Fette, of the Texas Transportation Institute's "Teens in the Driver's Seat" center. He was speaking about TTI's 10 year study of highway fatalities, released yesterday, which shows that the percentage of nighttime fatalities has increased for teen drivers during the last decade.

And it's not because of alcohol.

As the Washington Post's Ashley Halsey notes:

"Among drivers 20 and older, alcohol was a clear culprit in the proportional increase in nighttime deaths. Not so with teenagers, among whom there was a greater increase but no corresponding jump in deaths that could be attributed to drunken driving."

According to TTI, 80% of teens know about the dangers of drinking and driving. Only 3% are aware of the risk of nighttime driving, yet driving at night is the single biggest risk factor for teen car crash fatalities.

TTI reports that "Nighttime fatigue can contribute to impairment that is similar to being intoxicated."

But, Bernie Fette says another factor--distraction--makes fatigue even deadlier:

"We have a test to see whether someone's been drinking, but there is no test to see whether you've been on your cellphone. Because teenagers have grown up with these devices in their hands, they feel a comfort level and a very false sense of security."

Livability works for rural communities

Today, I'll be joined by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan testifying before the Senate Appropriations Transportation, Housing & Urban Development Subcommittee. We'll be talking about a key item on the Obama Administration's agenda, livable communities.

Testifying with my partner in livable and sustainable communities, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan

I think by now it's pretty clear that Americans want the kind of communities that are walkable, that offer a sense of connection to their neighbors. Everywhere I've been in the US during the past 16 months--and I've been to more than 80 communities in 35 states--people have been telling me they want more public transportation and walkability with less congestion and sprawl.

Downtown Tupelo, MS, a community planning for livability

Now, maybe it seems more obvious that walkable communities and communities served by transit work well for urban centers. But I want the Subcommittee to know this model works great for small towns and rural communities.

In fact, the livability Americans say they want comes to us from rural communities with town centers that are walkable and accessible to all ages and income groups.

But rural communities also face special challenges that have threatened the kind of traditional community design that nourished livability.  Past transportation policies have resulted in many rural Main Streets being bypassed by the interstate highway system--contributing to the decline of once-vibrant business centers.

Many rural communities located close to cities have lost farmland and open space as urban areas spread outward.

Readers may be surprised to know that transportation costs are often significantly higher for residents of rural communities, especially those with longer commutes to employment centers.

So the Obama Administration's Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities wants better coordination of housing and transportation to protect and safeguard open space and agricultural land in rural areas, preserve the traditional culture of rural town centers, and provide rural residents with transportation options that decrease their household costs.
 

Intelligent technologies promise greater road safety

When I spoke to the Intelligent Transportation Society of America’s annual meeting last year, I pledged that this DOT would be committed to:

• Improving safety;
• Creating jobs through infrastructure work;
• Promoting livable communities; and
• Exercising good environmental stewardship.

And I told ITSA that research and technology would play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. Well, readers of this blog know the Obama Administration has made good on that pledge.

Learn more about V2V communication at the IntelliDrive website.

But today, I'll speak at ITSA 2010 in Houston about the exciting technological research underway at DOT. The research project I'm most excited by is Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication.

Now, despite the tremendous advances our country has made in improving roadway and vehicle safety, nearly 34,000 people died last year alone on America's roadways. Far too many American families still experience the devastation caused by the loss or injury of a loved one in a traffic crash.

The 2.3 million injuries caused by vehicle crashes bring tragedy to individuals, families, businesses and communities, and are also an enormous burden on health care and other resources.

The bottom line is that roadway safety isn’t just a transportation issue; it's a matter of public health.

Our research shows that if drivers were warned about immediate dangers—like an impending collision—many of these deadly crashes could be avoided.

Science fiction? No, greater safety

It turns out that existing wireless technologies show real promise for dramatically reducing vehicle crashes. V2V communications systems will provide 360˚ situational awareness of other, similarly-equipped V2V vehicles within range. DOT analysis indicates that up to 76% of all crashes by unimpaired drivers could potentially be addressed by this technology.

I think that's pretty good news.

DOT announces $775 million to upgrade America's bus systems

Last Sunday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff addressed the American Public Transportation Association's 2010 Bus & Paratransit Conference.

He brought good news with him: DOT has made available $775 million to transit agencies to upgrade their bus systems.

Peter Rogoff, photo courtesy of The Washington Post

Bringing the nation's transit services into the state of good repair Americans deserve is a challenge FTA is facing head-on. And these discretionary bus and bus facility awards are a good start.

FMCSA congratulates student winners of “Be Ready, Be Buckled” poster contest

Yesterday, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne S. Ferro went to Capitol Hill with an important safety message, but not for Congress:

"I hope we all recognize that, from the delivery of vital goods to taking our children to and from school, commercial trucks and buses are important to our way of life.

"But nothing is more important than safety. Driving a 40-ton truck or a bus full of people is a big responsibility; drivers owe it to themselves, their families, and others to wear a safety belt every time they get behind the wheel."

The best thing about her message? It came from two schoolkids,  Adam Carr of Tampa, FL, and Vijeyta Revankar of Seabrook, TX, in the form of prize-winning posters.

The "Be Ready, Be Buckled" student safety belt poster contest asked students to create posters stressing the importance of commercial truck and bus drivers using their safety belts every time they get behind the wheel.

Contest entries were divided into two age categories: kindergarten through second grade, and third through six grades.Vijeyta won in the younger category, and Adam won in the older group.

Each winner received a $100 savings bond sponsored by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA).

As Administrator Ferro said:

"It’s very exciting to see our nation’s students get energized and involved in an issue that affects the safety of so many. Congratulations to our winners and all the students who participated in this year’s contest! Safety belts save lives.”

FMCSA's Anne Ferro (far rt) presents Adam's award while his family looks on

Vijeyta and Adam, I echo those congratulations. Way to go, kids!

Enlisting America's best and brightest to make roadways safer for everyone

Today, I'm pleased to help the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launch its Transportation and Energy Distinguished Lecture Series.

 

Touring fleet of electric cars with MIT's Electric Vehicle Team, photo courtesy L. Barry Hetherington
From left to right, Stephen Zoepf, me, Lennon Rodgers, and Radu Gogoana

The Obama Administration has a number of transportation-related problems we would love to have MIT students and faculty help us solve, and today I'll call upon the Transportation@MIT community to:

• Build a car that doesn’t crash
• Design a vehicle that emits zero greenhouse gasses
• Engineer a green revolution that changes the ways we generate and consume energy--and that powers a new century of economic growth.
  

But I'm particularly keen on using their talent to solve one more problem: distracted driving.

Click on the image above to watch my interview with Gayle King last Friday on The Oprah Winfrey Show

Readers of this blog know this is one issue I am passionate about; you know that I even appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show last Friday. But it's not until you read the posts on my Facebook wall that you begin to understand the devastating human cost of this deadly behavior.

Week after week family and friends of victims have been posting the stories of their tragic losses. And, as many of you know, these stories are truly heartrending.

If you watched Oprah on Friday, for example, you saw Jacy Good of Pennsylvania tell the story of her crushing injuries and the loss of her mother and her father in one moment. Because a driver was distracted. Jacy was on the verge of tears, Oprah was on the verge of tears, and in DC's Newseum where I participated in one of Oprah's viewing rallies, many in the crowd could not fight off their tears.

Well, my Facebook wall is all-too-full of similar sad narratives.

These horrible losses are 100% preventable; this has to stop.