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

Guest blogger Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff: FTA supports rural transit in North and South Dakota

Earlier this week, I was honored to be the first Federal Transit Administrator in history to meet with transit leaders from North and South Dakota in Rapid City, SD.

I had two goals for my visit. First, to convey my deep appreciation for everything transit leaders are doing to provide safe, reliable, affordable transportation options for the citizens who proudly make their home in hundreds of small cities, towns, and reservations from Williston, Bismarck, and Standing Rock in the north, to Mitchell, Pierre, and Pine Ridge in the south.

With transit leaders at new transit facility in South Dakota

My second goal was to share with Dakota transit leaders the steps the Obama Administration is taking to help them do an even better job serving the rural communities in their jurisdictions.

Secretary LaHood and I have not forgotten that access to transportation is absolutely essential to the economic and social health of every community in North and South Dakota.

And we have not forgotten that the FTA has an obligation to work with rural transit agencies and to help provide the resources they need to overcome the challenges they face

Peter Rogoff with Prairie Hills Transit Executive Director Barb Cline and Spearfish Mayor Jerry Krambeck

DOT meets Recovery Act deadlines; more good jobs, more good projects

The Department of Transportation reached three key milestones this week under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that I think people should hear about:

• The Federal Highway Administration designated its final Recovery Act project, meeting the September 30^th deadline for awarding nearly $27.5 billion for highway and bridge projects throughout the US.
• The Federal Transit Administration announced its final Recovery Act grant, meeting its September 30^th deadline for awarding $8.8 billion for transit projects.
• The Federal Aviation Administration selected three additional airport Recovery Act projects, paid for with $2.5 million that became available because of low bids on Recovery Act airport projects nationwide. This is in addition to $9 million for five airport projects FAA announced earlier this month, also because money became available due to lower than expected bids on other projects.

Work at BWI Airport is part of $1.3 billion in ARRA money made available nationwide by FAA

I want to thank the professionals of DOT for their hard work establishing guidelines, evaluating applications, and carefully selecting projects. This department has made more than $48 billion available to more than 14,600 needed highway, road, transit, bridge and airport projects across America. That kind of achievement does not come without dedicated employees working together on behalf of the American people.

The projects announced this week are more than just abstract milestones. Each one represents jobs. Each one represents a community benefiting from economic activity stimulated by construction and renovation. And each one represents improved infrastructure that will make getting from point A to point B easier for travelers and the goods we use every day.

Congratulations, Massachusetts, for taking action to save lives and stop distracted driving

I want to congratulate Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, MassDOT Secretary Jeffrey Mullan, and all the safety advocates who have worked hard to get Massachusetts' new anti-texting while driving law on the books. Thanks to your efforts, starting tomorrow Massachusetts roads will be safer for everyone.

This new law empowers state police to take action when they see dangerous distracted driving behavior on Massachusetts roads. And we know that good laws--like the one taking effect tomorrow in the Bay State--coupled with good enforcement can help reduce distracted driving behaviors.

We know this from our experience reducing drunk driving. We know this from our experience increasing seat belt use. And most importantly, we know this from our experience in Hartford and Syracuse, where our pilot distracted driving enforcement campaigns are making a significant difference.

I want to thank Massachusetts' leaders for taking action against the deadly epidemic of distracted driving. And I look forward to the safer travels this law will lead to on Bay State roads.

Safety, security & sustainability have no borders at ICAO

More than any other form of transportation, aviation brings the world closer together--connecting people with far flung places in a matter of hours instead of days or weeks.  So, it's no surprise that some of the most important issues facing aviation today require a global perspective. 

I was honored yesterday to represent the United States and President Obama at the 37th General Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  As a specialized agency of the United Nations with 190 member states, ICAO meets every three years to tackle major areas of interest in international civil aviation.  This year, the Assembly will focus on safety, security, and environmental sustainability--issues we deal with every day at DOT. 

 
Secretary LaHood with Fidelia Njeze, Nigeria's Minister of Aviation, at the 37th General Assembly of ICAO.

On the safety front, I was pleased to sign an agreement in Montreal that will help make flying safer here in the United States and around the globe.  In partnership with the Commission of the European Union, the International Air Transport Association, and ICAO, the U.S. Department of Transportation will participate in the new Global Safety Information Exchange--a safety database that will collect and share reports, analysis, and best practices. 

By breaking down information barriers and encouraging collaboration between international aviation experts, this new system will provide a framework for spotting trends and reducing risks.  Most importantly, it will help us figure out why things go wrong and how to prevent similar problems in the future.  

Likewise, planning is critical to the success of our security and emergency preparedness efforts.  As the devastating earthquake in Haiti proved, aviation can serve as a lifeline to people and communities in crisis.  For several days, it was the only mode of transportation that could shuttle food, water, and medical supplies into the country. 

This experience reminded us that aviation must be an integral part of every country's emergency preparedness and response procedures.  This year's ICAO meeting will highlight the leadership role the organization plays in informing emergency planning efforts among its member states.

Make no mistake; DOT and its safety partners will continue fighting against distracted driving

Last Thursday, I blogged about misleading claims from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) disparaging the effectiveness of good laws and good enforcement in our campaign to end distracted driving.

Unfortunately, they're at it again today with another misleading "study."

The Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of IIHS, is now saying that state anti-texting laws may actually "increase" the overall number of crashes statewide. There are numerous flaws with this "study," but the most obvious is that they have created a cause and effect that simply doesn't exist.

For example, we have a national law against drunk driving. People are also required to wear seat belts. But if the number of fatalities in a state goes up one year, would it now pass as "research" to say that seat belt and anti-drunk driving laws are to blame?

This "study" is also inconsistent with research that HLDI-IIHS has relied on in the past, showing that drivers are four times as likely to crash if using a handheld device while driving. What's more, they don't actually take into account whether distracted driving behavior went up or down in the four hand-picked states they looked at.

Fortunately, the Department of Transportation can help on that front, and we can prove that good laws coupled with tough enforcement can reduce deadly distracted driving behavior. In April, we launched pilot enforcement campaigns, called "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other" in Hartford, CT and Syracuse, NY.

In the last six months alone, hand held cell phone use has dropped 56% in Hartford and 38% in Syracuse; and texting while driving has declined 68% in Hartford and 42% in Syracuse.

Listening to Syracuse Police Dept. Captain Shannon Trice discuss the effectiveness of our pilot enforcement program

But you wouldn't know about the importance of good enforcement from reading IIHS's misleading report.

That's because they leave enforcement completely unaddressed. But we all know that good laws don't mean anything without tough enforcement.

Look, from 2005 to 2008, distraction-related fatalities as a proportion of all traffic fatalities jumped from 10% to 16%. In 2009, for the first time in four years, that percentage was stabilized. That leveling off coincided with our national anti-distracted driving campaign, other public education efforts, and an increasing number of state anti-distracted driving laws.

That tells us that--although distracted driving is still a massive epidemic--our efforts to raise public awareness, enact tough laws, and step up enforcement can make a difference and save lives.

My message to the US Conference of Mayors: This is no ordinary time

Last week the US Conference of Mayors gathered in Washington, DC, "to discuss national policy issues critical to the progress of American cities." And the number one item on their agenda was transportation.

Why transportation? Because 21st century economies need 21st century infrastructure to move goods and people safely and efficiently where they need to go. Fortunately, we have a President who understands how important that infrastructure is.

When President Obama came into office, America's mayors were facing a number of infrastructure challenges that had lingered unaddressed for decades:

• Bridges had deteriorated;
• Daily commutes grew longer, more congested, and more expensive; and
• Airport delays dragged on and on.

Now, I’ve been in public service for more than three decades. And I have never seen an administration take on more problems, more effectively, than the one in which I’m honored to serve today.

Because of the Recovery Act, we’ve been able to put Americans back to work rebuilding our urban and rural infrastructure through major investments not only in roadways, railways, and runways. With our discretionary funds, we’ve also been able to help communities build many unique, forward-thinking transportation projects that provide people with more flexible, affordable and environmentally sustainable options about how they get around.

We're restoring transit facilities and upgrading buses. We're taking the needs of cyclists and pedestrians into account like never before. We're making an $8 billion down payment on high speed rail, a long overdue investment that will bring America's transportation system up to par with that of European and Asian nations.

And we've introduced TIGER grants to fund innovative, multi-modal projects that achieve several objectives at the same time. Important objectives like safety, competiveness, livability, and environmental sustainability.

Safety is paramount at DOT

It's no accident that our roads, rails, and skies are safer than ever for travelers.

From the outset, safety has been my number one priority at the Department of Transportation. And every day, tens of thousands of DOT staff are working to make transportation safer.

So I am pleased to share that, already in 2010, we have completed more NTSB safety recommendations than in any of the last five years. While it's no secret that we have set an aggressive safety agenda, these numbers attest to the historic progress we are making.

As the Detroit News reported today:

"Data obtained by The Detroit News shows that the Transportation Department has closed 96 recommendations so far this year -- compared with 60 in both 2008 and 2009."

When investigating transportation incidents, the NTSB issues safety recommendations to the Department of Transportation. In 2010 so far, we have completed 92 recommendations, compared with 60 in 2009, 60 in 2008, 40 in 2007, 50 in 2006, and 70 in 2005. And, more than 80% of the remaining open recommendations are either pending at the NTSB or have been accepted.

Addressing each one of these recommendations requires a committed effort and a great deal of work.

A majority of NTSB recommendations to the DOT require rulemakings, which--as you can imagine--involve a lengthy process largely dictated by federal law. Recommendations are also made that require us to invent new technology or that exceed the limits of our statutory authority.

In other words, the fact that we've completed so many recommendations already this year is a monumental achievement for the Department, and reflects the tireless efforts of many hard-working DOT staff.

A recent student journalism article in the Washington Post does not reflect the current state of transportation safety, nor does it provide readers with news about the strides made under President Obama to ensure safety is the highest priority of the Department of Transportation.

Just think about all we've done to advance safety over the last 18 months:

• We're waging an all out campaign to end the deadly epidemic of distracted driving.
• We've proposed a landmark rule on pilot fatigue to make sure pilots are well-rested and help prevent another crash like the one that happened in Buffalo last year.
• We've proposed legislation that would give us safety oversight over transit agencies like WMATA and others around the nation.
• We've been aggressive with automakers to ensure they report and fix safety defects.

The list goes on.

In addition, air travel is safer than its ever been, and road safety deaths are at the lowest level since records began to be kept in 1950. Nevertheless, despite the strides we have made on safety, we won't rest.

Safety will always be my top priority. And if there's one thing I want people to know, it's that we are hard at work making travel safer for them each and every day.

MADD marks 30 years of effective road safety advocacy

Yesterday, I was honored to join hundreds of victims and advocates on the West Lawn of the US Capitol to mark the 30th anniversary of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

It was an event of mixed emotions. On the one hand, we could celebrate the more than 300,000 lives saved by MADD since 1980. But, on the other, we were there to remember the thousands of victims killed by drunk drivers on America's roads every year.

We have come a long way. Since 1980, drunk-driving related fatalities have dropped by more than 40%. Between 2006 and 2009 alone, they declined by 20%. And we owe much of the progress we have made to the effective advocacy MADD has demonstrated--at the local, state, and federal levels--for 30 tireless years.

How community college changed my life

Cross-posted from White House blog.

Years ago--I won't say how many--I enrolled at Canton Junior College, and commuted to class. It was local; it was inexpensive; and it was less of an investment for a young high school graduate who hadn't yet mapped out his future.

In those days, Canton J.C. didn't even have its own building; it was housed in four rooms of Canton Senior High School. But Canton has grown since then, becoming Spoon River College, getting its own building, and expanding into four different physical campuses and a thriving online component.

That development perfectly mirrors the growing importance of community colleges across America. On October 5, that growing importance will be recognized as Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, hosts the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges.

I think this summit is a terrific idea, and I hope folks will tune into it. Because, were it not for my time at Canton, I would never have decided to become a junior high school social studies teacher. And had I not taught civics, I would never have decided to get involved in local politics.

And, if I hadn’t become involved in local politics, I would never have been elected to Congress and made friends with a fellow named Barack Obama, who eventually appointed me to my current job as US Secretary of Transportation.

Now, I can't say that attending a community college will necessarily lead you to a Cabinet position. But I can say that my experience at Canton helped me find my way in the world. And I can say--without any doubt--that as you begin considering higher education, community colleges offer a tremendously valuable opportunity.

Opportunities for you to participate are available on the summit website.

Please, tune into the White House Summit on Community Colleges. The summit website offers several ways for you to participate, so give it a whirl. You just don't know what you might learn.

Engineering alone will not end the distracted driving epidemic

From day one, safety has been my top priority at the Department of Transportation, which is why I am so committed to ending the deadly – and entirely preventable – epidemic of distracted driving.

To succeed, we need a combination of good laws, effective enforcement, education, and awareness, and we need everyone to take personal responsibility for driving safely.

DOT is working very hard to promote these elements of our national anti-distracted driving effort, and we think we’re beginning to see a change. In just the last year, public awareness has grown, 12 more states have passed distraction laws, and we’ve recorded major drops in distracted driving in Hartford, CT and Syracuse, NY where we are testing enforcement programs.

Secretary LaHood at the Distracted Driving Summit. 

But some – or at least one – have questioned whether these gains are important and whether our efforts are actually making a difference. And their position flies in the face of common sense, crash fatality statistics, and academic research.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety claims state distracted driving laws are pointless because, in the absence of cell-phone use and texting, drivers will find other distractions. I hope readers can see why that line of reasoning is ridiculous. By that logic, we should throw all our safety laws out the window.

Rather than throwing our hands up in the air, we’re going to tackle the problem head on. And we know we can change behavior through good education and enforcement. That combination was effective in curbing drunk driving, and it was effective in encouraging seatbelt use. The success of these two safety campaigns provide us with a strong model for putting an end to distracted driving.

Child Passenger Safety Week urges age-appropriate seats and free safety seat inspections

During Child Passenger Safety Week (September 19-25) the Department of Transportation and our safety partners encourage parents and caregivers to buckle their children safely into appropriate seats. Whether child safety seats or booster seats, children need to be buckled up whenever they ride in a motor vehicle. And they need to be buckled correctly.

Let's start with the good news: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2009, 96% of children three years old and younger rode in child safety seats. That's up from 92% in 2008, a significant increase for a number that was already so high. It's pretty clear that parents and caregivers are trying to protect young children in cars.

But there's also some alarming news from NHTSA: Three out of every four of those child safety seats are not being used correctly. And I probably don't need to tell you that child safety seats used incorrectly cannot protect our children.

That's why Child Passenger Safety Week encourages parents and caregivers to have their child safety seats checked at one of the thousands of free inspection stations across the country. You can find the station nearest you at http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS. I know America's families are busy, but spending only a few minutes at one of these inspection stations can save you a lifetime of regret.

And, as a grandfather of nine terrific kids, let me just add that it's just as important for grandparents to properly install these seats.

4-year old Madeline Aldana is checked by trained technician for booster seat size-appropriateness

NOYS youth leaders are important allies in our fight to end distracted driving

This morning, I had a terrific visit with the young leaders attending the National Organizations for Youth Safety's Youth Summit on preventing teen distracted driving.

If we could end teen distracted driving through sheer enthusiasm, these teens would be a silver bullet for road safety.

The sad fact is that it will take more than enthusiasm to defeat this deadly epidemic. In 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20. And the NOYS youth leaders know this. They've seen it with their friends and classmates: drivers swerving, running red lights, narrowly missing a pedestrian because their eyes and minds are on their phones, not on the road.

Some of them, like Emily Reynolds, who lost her sister Cady, know too well the human cost distracted driving imposes on families.

And others, like Justin and Danielle Levy, who produced the runner-up entry in our Seventeen Magazine/AAA/DOT Video Challenge, have already been working on this issue.

But our young allies from NOYS are prepared for the hard, sustained effort solving this problem requires.

A few key takeaways from Distracted Driving Summit

Yesterday, we hosted our second Distracted Driving Summit, and, even after so much anticipation, it's difficult to imagine that it could have gone any better. Although you can watch video from the day's proceedings, I want to share a few points that I'm still thinking about this morning:

• Enforcement works;
• We must reach America's young people; and
• Americans don't need more dashboard distractions.

But, before we get to those, I must stress this one idea: Distraction-related crashes are 100% preventable; all we need is for drivers to step up and take personal responsibility for the 2,000-pound vehicles they command. Distracted driving does not just happen; it is a choice that flies in the face of that responsibility.

All photos courtesy Julie Fischer, DOT

First, I want to thank Captain Shannon Trice of the Syracuse Police Department, who spoke about the effectiveness of our pilot enforcement program and made this observation:

"Law enforcement officers are ready to enforce distraction laws. Our pilot program shows that we are able to enforce these laws. And--because traffic enforcement is law enforcement--we are anxious to do so."

Captain Trice discussed the most effective techniques his colleagues in Syracuse were able to use in cracking down on drivers who flouted New York's ban on texting and using handheld phones while driving. The most interesting point for me? None of these techniques involved high-tech gear; they were all common sense approaches to police work.

Giving FocusDriven's Jennifer Smith a hug as the summit closes

What's important to me about the ability of these enforcement efforts to reduce distracted driving in Syracuse (cell use down 38%, texting down 42%) is that it neutralizes one of the main arguments I hear against laws prohibiting use of these devices while driving. What's the point, people ask, of passing laws if they can't be enforced?

Well, Captain Trice made it plenty clear yesterday that these laws can be enforced and that officers--recognizing that it makes their communities safer--want to enforce them.

US Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis talks about employer responsibilities

Welcome to DOT's second Distracted Driving Summit

Today the Department of Transportation hosts our second national Distracted Driving Summit. We have a lot of ground to cover in our fight against distracted driving, and we've got a great line-up of panelists to help us begin covering it.

We have so much to discuss today because, last year, distraction-related crashes killed at least 5,500 people and injured more than 450,000 others.

But those statistics don't even begin to tell the real story of this deadly epidemic. Each one of those 5,500 killed means an uninvited telephone call from a state trooper. Each one of those nearly half a million injured may mean months of painful rehabilitation.

Yesterday, I met with more than a dozen victims of distracted driving--daughters who lost parents, mothers and fathers who lost children. And today, those brave family members will gather at the summit and tell their stories in the hope that someone will listen, that someone will nod in agreement and say, "She's right; that text message or that cell phone call is not worth it."

The research presented today will confirm what I've been saying over and over for the past 12 months: you cannot text or talk on the phone while driving safely. You just can't do it.

So please tune into our webcast at www.distraction.gov and follow our staff who will be blogging about the summit's proceedings in real time below.

We must stop this deadly behavior. Working together, I know we can.

Distracted Driving Summit an opportunity to build on progress, new information

Cross-posted from  National Journal's Transportation Experts blog

This week the Department of Transportation hosts our second national Distracted Driving Summit. This summit brings together transportation experts, safety advocates, law enforcement officials, industry representatives, academic researchers, and distracted driving victims.

And to share the wealth of information the summit promises, we're webcasting it at www.distraction.gov and blogging about the proceedings live at fastlane.dot.gov.

We're hosting this summit because there is important work to be done. In 2009, as indicated by data I shared with the Orlando Sentinel yesterday, distracted driving-related crashes caused at least 5,500 deaths in the U.S. and upward of 450,000 injuries.

And, because many police departments do not routinely document distraction factors in their crash reporting, I think it's safe to say these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg.

But once you've met the victims and the loved ones left behind by this dangerous behavior, it gets even worse. Because then you understand that we are not talking about numbers, but about lives being broken and people being killed in crashes that are 100% preventable.

You can watch this video clip from ABC's Good Morning America to see what I mean.

National Two-Second Turnoff Day has a simple message: Turn it off and just drive!

Today, Seventeen Magazine and AAA have one thing to say to America's young drivers: Turn off your phone to save your life!"

That's the message of National Two-Second Turnoff Day, a day on which Seventeen, AAA, and the Department of Transportation are reminding everyone that turning your attention away from the road while driving for just two seconds doubles your crash risk. And that two seconds is all it takes to shut off your phone to protect yourself and others from potential distraction.

Because, we know that texting and talking on a cell phone while driving can have deadly consequences for more than just the distracted driver. This behavior also kills passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and people in other vehicles. In 2008, distracted driving-related crashes killed 6,000 people and injured at least half a million more.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. Photo courtesy AAA

To mark National Two-Second Turn Off Day, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland took part in an event here in Washington, DC, where the audience pledged to "Turn it off!"

As Administrator Strickland said, "Your choice will keep you and your friends and family safe. You are choosing to be part of the solution to distracted driving crashes. And you are helping us spread the word."

Federal Highway Administration officials mark Recovery Act highlights in Virginia, Colorado

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez didn't have to travel far last Monday when he cut the ribbon on the first two phases of the Fairfax County Parkway Extension in Virginia. But Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau did log some miles traveling to Denver to break ground on the I-70/Central Park Boulevard Interchange.

Both projects--as well as the jobs needed to get them done and the traffic relief they will provide--were made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Cutting the ribbon on the Trooper Charles Mark Cosslett Memorial Highway

In Fairfax, the first two phases of the four-phase project completed the final two miles of the Fairfax County Parkway, an interchange, an access road, and an extension of a local road to provide an on-ramp.

For the first time, Fairfax County will be connected all the way from Route 7 in the north to Route 1 near Fort Belvoir. And the Belvoir work comes just in the nick of time. The area is preparing for a surge in daily traffic in the fall of 2011 from the Army's base relocation program. The Army's plans for Fort Belvoir and other nearby facilities are expected to bring 43,000 new jobs. And that means tens of thousands of additional vehicles on area roadways.

And, as Administrator Mendez pointed out, "The next phases of this critical project, which are expected to be completed next year, would not even have been started until 2015 at the earliest without the Recovery Act dollars."

Drivers in Northern Virginia appreciate the relief expediting the Parkway Extension by a half-decade will bring to their daily commutes. And the construction workers on the project today because of the Recovery Act appreciate it, too.

DOT employees learn about National Preparedness Month

Last week, a Ready team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Citizen Corps visited the Department of Transportation to help spread the word to DOT employees about National Preparedness Month.

Having just marked the five years since Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast, National Preparedness Month offers us a reminder and an opportunity to take simple steps to prepare for an emergency in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

The FEMA Ready Campaign provides easy and practical steps every American can take. And, if you read no further on this page, I urge you to visit ready.gov to learn how to prepare, plan, and stay informed.

In setting aside September for NPM, President Obama said that during this month:

"We stress the importance of strengthening the security and resiliency of our Nation through systematic preparation for the full range of hazards threatening the United States in the 21st century, including natural disasters, cyber attacks, pandemic disease, and acts of terrorism."

Now, that's a tall order, and it may even sound a little scary to some, but the President is confident that, "By empowering Americans with information about the risks we face, we can all take concrete actions to protect ourselves, our families, our communities, and our country."

Recovery Act helps WMATA add buses, paratransit, and new bus body and paint shop

Yesterday I visited a nearby Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Metrobus facility to help unveil 120 new buses and paratransit vans bought with the support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

As you know, during the past 20 months, I've had the opportunity to visit dozens of transit systems across the country. And sometimes it's easy to forget that, right here in our nation's capital, we have one of the very best.

WMATA, as we call it, has a lot to be proud of. It operates the second largest transit system and sixth largest bus network in America. It connects hundreds of thousands of riders every single day with their workplaces, schools, and essential services. And it smoothly handles special occasions like national rallies, Fourth of July festivities, and presidential inaugurations, which can add millions of riders to the system.

Now, with 48 new diesel-electric hybrid buses and 80 new vans, WMATA will be able to handle even more riders. Adding hybrid buses means adding service--yes--but it also means taking greenhouse gas emissions out of the DC air and reducing our dependence on oil.

Cleaner, safer, more sustainable: the New Flyer hybrid diesel-electric bus, manufactured in Minnesota, USA

As Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said, "In addition to putting people to work, these Recovery Act dollars mean Washington Metrobus riders will have a cleaner, safer ride."

Distracted Driving Summit on September 21 offers online access, full agenda of expert panelists

At the Department of Transportation, we have been working hard preparing for our Distracted Driving Summit (next Tuesday, September 21). And today I'm pleased to be able to announce the agenda for that Summit.

You can view the agenda at www.distraction.gov/2010summit; it features a terrific range of panels and speakers that should help us make an even bigger dent in the deadly epidemic of distraction.

By now, many readers know that the number of traffic deaths and injuries fell in 2009 to the lowest level since we began recording those statistics. But I hope everyone also recognizes that we can do better, and distracted driving is a key front in that ongoing battle.

Hundreds of thousands of people are still being killed or injured every year in accidents caused by distracted drivers.

That's why, from leading researchers and law enforcement officials to industry representatives and safety advocates, this year's summit will build on what we learned last year to help shape our fight for safer driving habits.

And if you want to follow the day's activities, we have a number of ways to keep you in the loop.

This WMATA Metrobus sends the message!

Voices of the Recovery Act video series: Burt Austin "The Recovery Act? It directly stimulates the economy by commerce at the local businesses and suppliers."

"Michigan’s a distressed state and, probably, if we didn’t have the recovery act, we’d probably have only about 30% of the workload. So, there’s a high possibility I might be laid off or not even working."

Our latest "Voice of the Recovery Act" is Burt Austin of Dan's Excavating.

Burt is working on the M-59 reconstruction in Michigan. This project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is improving a major bottleneck in southeast Michigan. It's making the road safer and the drive to work shorter.

It's also creating jobs. And not just the direct jobs of Burt and his coworkers.

Burt points out in his video interview that the M-59 Recovery Act project has increased economic activity for local businesses and suppliers. And that stepped-up commerce means more jobs. As Burt says, the ripple effect in hiring includes, "Many people besides the ones you see out here in the field."

Direct jobs, indirect stimulation, shorter drive times, and a safer commute. That's what Burt's talking about. And that's the Recovery Act working for Michigan, working for America.

TRACS helps DOT hit the ground running on transit safety

At the Department of Transportation, no matter what the form of travel, safety is our number one priority.

We promote automobile safety through Click It or Ticket, Over the Limit: Under Arrest, and anti-distracted driving campaigns. We inspect commercial trucks. We propose rules to prevent pilot fatigue. We're working hard every day to help people and goods get from point A to point B safely.

And we want to do everything in our power to ensure that public transit also remains safe and reliable.

That's why last week Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and I convened the first meeting of our Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS). We hope this expert committee can provide a plan for federal safety oversight of America's transit agencies.

As Administrator Rogoff said:

"If you want to solve the problem of ensuring safety, it makes sense to have the most experienced transit professionals from across the country in one room with one question to answer--how do we keep America’s rail transit riders safe?"

Landmark rule to manage pilot fatigue will help protect 700 million air passengers each year

Today, we're announcing a significant improvement in air travel safety: a proposal to fight fatigue among commercial pilots. This will help protect the more than 700 million passengers and pilots who travel our nation's airways each year.

As you may recall, managing fatigue was a top priority in our Airline Safety Call to Action following the tragic crash of Colgan Air flight 3407 in February 2009. We held a dozen safety forums all across the US. We've talked with safety experts, aviation specialists, and fatigue scientists. And I'm pleased that we have addressed this issue.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt testifies in the Senate

The proposed rule also incorporates input from an Aviation Rulemaking Committee with members from labor, industry, and the FAA. As Administrator Randy Babbitt said, "Fighting fatigue is the joint responsibility of the airline and the pilot, and after years of debate, the aviation community is moving forward to give pilots the tools they need to manage fatigue and fly safely."

Key new features of the proposed rule include:

• One consistent rule for domestic, international, and unscheduled flights
• A nine-hour opportunity for rest prior to duty (a one-hour increase over current rules)
• New approach to measuring a rest period that guarantees the opportunity for eight hours of sleep
• Different requirements based on time-of-day, number of scheduled segments, flight types, time zones, and likelihood that a pilot is able to sleep

Features to manage cumulative risk include:

• Weekly and monthly limits on duty time of any kind
• Thirty consecutive hours free from duty every week (a 25% increase over current rules)

The proposed rule also gives pilots the right to decline an assignment if they feel fatigued--without penalty.

The FAA has also prepared guidance for air carriers who are required by Congress to develop a Fatigue Risk Management Plan.

One important aspect of our proposed rulemaking is that it will be open for public comment. So please weigh in at www.regulations.gov.

Like our roads, America's skies are the safest they've ever been. But they must be safer, and this rule is one more step toward that goal.

Decline in traffic fatalities a good sign, but we will not relent on safety

Last year saw the lowest number of fatalities and injuries ever recorded. This has to be seen as encouraging news. And the people who worked hard to help drive those numbers down deserve some thanks for their fantastic work.

But let's be clear; road fatality numbers are nothing to celebrate. If you lost a loved one in 2009 to a crash, you are unlikely to take any comfort in knowing that highway deaths declined last year to the lowest level since 1950. And nearly 34,000 motor vehicle fatalities on America's roads is still unacceptable.

So we are not about to rest or relent on safety.

Fielding questions at a press conference with NHTSA Administrator David Strickland

Still, it is good to know we're heading in the right direction in every category--from large trucks to pedestrians. Even motorcycle fatalities declined, for the first time in 11 years.

Why did the numbers of fatalities and injuries go down even as miles driven went up?

• Cars are getting safer--as crash avoidance and crash worthiness technologies improve;
• Roadways are getting safer--with safer intersections, better signs and lighting, and more effective crash barriers; and
• Drivers are getting safer--buckling their seatbelts, not getting behind the wheel when impaired, and keeping their eyes and attention on the road, not on their cell phones.

Long-awaited congestion relief on the way-- Seattle, Spokane launch TIGER projects featuring faster freight, transit access, bike-ped facilities

Creating jobs and strengthening infrastructure--that's what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is meant to do. I've seen it working in 90 cities in 30 states during the last 18 months, and earlier this week, while helping break ground on two new projects, I saw it working in the state of Washington.

And if that infrastructure takes trucks off local roads, improves safety, unblocks freight congestion, leaves room for future high-occupancy transit, adds park-and-ride transit connections, and allows a bicycle-pedestrian trail connecting one community with others? Then that's yet another measure of the Recovery Act's effectiveness.

Breaking ground in Spokane, courtesy Spokesman Review

That's exactly what the North Spokane Corridor does. The completed six-lane North Side Freeway with interchanges for US 2 and US 395 will remove freight traffic from local streets and improve traffic flow dramatically. Eventually, the corridor will connect to I-90. 

Look, to get the economy back on track, we need to create jobs now, and we need transportation infrastructure that moves people and goods efficiently. This project does both.

We may be talking about only 3.7 miles of southbound freeway lanes, but those few miles will make a world of difference. Spokane has waited more than 60 years to get this project rolling, and they would still be waiting if not for $35 million in Recovery Act money from our TIGER program.

In Seattle, I helped break ground on the Mercer Corridor, a $160.7 million project supported by $30 million in TIGER money from the Recovery Act.

This crew is happy to be on the job in Seattle thanks to a TIGER grant from the Recovery Act

Guest blogger Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez: Read all about it! New website devoted to Every Day Counts initiative

We all recognize these are difficult economic times. Now, more than ever, we at the Department of Transportation need to give taxpayers maximum value for every dollar they entrust to us.

That means we need to give the transportation community better, faster and smarter ways to enhance safety, make our communities more livable, support our economy, and sustain our environment. Every Day Counts (EDC) is a first step in meeting those challenges through innovation.

I appreciate Secretary LaHood letting me share a few thoughts with everyone about EDC. Today we’re launching a new website devoted entirely to this innovation initiative. I hope you’ll check out our new site at www.fhwa.dot.gov/everydaycounts/.

On the new site you can watch a video introduction to the Every Day Counts initative

To give you a little background, we launched EDC last fall with two goals in mind: shortening the time it takes to deliver major bridge and highway projects and deploying new technologies into mainstream use faster.

The new website will allow anyone to learn more about the specific strategies and technologies we’ve selected and that we’ll be working with our state and private industry partners to begin implementing these strategies and technologies this fall.

We also see the website as a place where the transportation community can share ideas about what parts of EDC are working well, best practices and innovative ideas to move forward.

Warm-mix asphalt is just one of the good ideas you'll find on our front page

DOT, EPA invite public input on new vehicle fuel economy window stickers

Together, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency have produced a new vehicle fuel economy label, and we want your feedback on our two proposed designs.

A year ago I blogged that putting millions more fuel-efficient cars, SUVs, and small trucks on the road is a huge step forward toward US energy independence. Well, now that the Obama Administration has taken that step forward with fuel economy standards for model years 2012 through 2016, a new generation of vehicles is hitting the market.

But, as new technologies like battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have become increasingly available, fuel economy and environmental information has become increasingly complicated. Our current label just won't cut it anymore.

That's why, beginning with the 2012 model year, DOT and EPA want to use a new fuel economy label. We need a label that captures energy and emissions information in a way that helps vehicle buyers make better-informed decisions.

The problem is we've created two new labels, and we need your help to choose between them.

As EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said, "We are asking the American people to tell us what they need to make the best economic and environmental decisions when buying a new car."

 Click on the image above to learn more about the features of the proposed labels.

USMMA celebrates Acceptance Day; Class of 2014 sworn into Regiment of Midshipmen and US Naval Reserve

Welcome aboard to the newest members of the United States Merchant Marine Academy Regiment of Midshipmen!

Last July 8, the US Merchant Marine Academy opened its doors to the 342 members of the Class of 2014. Indoc Day, as it is known among the King's Point community, kicks-off an indoctrination period of intense training and orientation to life in the merchant service. Indoc subjects candidates to an intensive program of physical, moral, and regimental training.

For most candidates Indoc starts with a haircut. See more great photos from Indoc on Flickr

And last weekend, Plebe Summer came to its traditional close with Acceptance Day. On this day, the candidates formally joined the Academy Regiment and were sworn into the US Naval Reserve. They also dropped the "candidates" label and will be known as plebes through the end of their first year.

Acceptance Day coincides with Parents' Weekend at the Academy, the first opportunity for parents to see these students since Indoc Day. And they had good reason to be surprised at the changes in their cadets.

In formation by the first afternoon. You can see even more photos at Picasa

President proposes new jobs, renewed infrastructure

Yesterday I had the great honor of joining President Obama in Milwaukee to celebrate Labor Day. And it was a pleasure hearing his historic announcement of $50 billion in job-creating transportation infrastructure investments.

Infrastructure investments in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act have already shown terrific results, and it makes good sense to continue.

Now, when this Administration took office, America was facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Times today are still tough--we know that--and unemployment remains stubbornly high.

But I hate to think how much worse life would be if we had not passed the Recovery Act at the start of this presidency and begun implementing the most significant jobs and infrastructure plan since the New Deal.

You've seen the results across the country this summer: 33,000 miles of road improvements, enough to criss-cross the nation a dozen times. And even as those miles of roadwork are paving the way for a 21st century economy, they are also employing thousands of American workers.

Watching President Obama and the crowd from the side of the stage

In the 19 months since joining this Administration, I have traveled to more than 90 cities in 30 states. And everywhere I visit, people can't wait to tell me, “Thank you,” for getting them back to work. Or “thank you” for the peace of mind that comes from knowing they have a reason to put on their work boots in the morning.

In fact, as the President told the audience in Milwaukee, "Because of these investments, and the tens of thousands of projects they spurred all across the country, the battered construction sector grew last month for the first time in a very long time."

BWI Recovery Act grant from FAA creates jobs, safety enhancements, and environmental upgrades

At the end of his career as a commercial pilot, Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt made his final landing at the Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). And, before becoming Deputy Secretary, John Porcari was formerly Maryland's Secretary of Transportation.

So yesterday's visit by both men to BWI to celebrate the $41 million in upgrades to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport supported by $15 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a return to familiar ground.

Work at BWI Airport is part of $1.3 billion in ARRA money made available nationwide by FAA

At BWI, Deputy Secretary Porcari praised the ongoing safety, environmental, communications, and utility projects. When completed next year, BWI’s reconstructed aircraft parking apron will enhance safety and allow more efficient operations among larger aircraft and service vehicles. The project also includes a new environmentally friendly deicing fluid collection system and new communications and utility systems.

And, according to US Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, about 200 jobs will have been created by the time the project is completed next year. After all, the apron-upgrade project at BWI will replace more than 14 acres of pavement and the utility and communication infrastructure beneath it. That's more than 11 football fields of work.

Healthy trucker movement an important development in an important industry

I can't let this week get away without thanking the Trucking Solutions Group Driver Health Council and the Healthy Trucking Association of America for organizing the 61+ Health Awareness Walk at last weekend's 2010 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.

The walk in Dallas was 1.5 miles and was conducted indoors, away from the heat of the Texas sun. As you can see from the pictures, the turnout was impressive.

These drivers weren't just walking; they even hit the steps! (courtesy Trucking Solutions Group)

According to the Center for Disease Control, the average life expectancy for a commercial truck driver is 61 years. That is 16 years lower than the national average, and I think you'll agree that gap is startling.

The critical job of moving the goods we need across America is no easy task. For many truckers, their schedules leave very little time to do more than deliver their loads. Carving out time for exercise and proper nutrition must seem like an impossible challenge.

Former driver Gypsy Kolb completed the 1.5 mile route in her wheelchair to support her husband,
a driver working hard to get back to a healthier lifestyle. (Courtesy the Trucking Solutions Group)

DOT most improved large federal agency in Best Places to Work rankings

The 2010 rankings of the Best Places to Work in the Federal Government were released yesterday, and I am pleased to report that the Department of Transportation leads the way as the most improved large agency with a nearly 16% increase in overall employee satisfaction and commitment.

I also want to congratulate the Surface Transportation Board for ranking first among small agencies, the Federal Highway Administration for ranking 19th among 224 sub-agencies, and the Federal Aviation Administration for improving more than 19% in sub-agency overall employee satisfaction.

Table designed by Washington Post

By now, it's no secret that I'm extremely proud of the men and women working at the Department of Transportation. Whether I'm blogging about a particular individual or about a Department achievement, everything we do at DOT is the result of the work of some or all of our 55,000+ employees.

One statistic from the rankings, compiled by the Partnership for Public Service, is "Mission Match," where employees rate their satisfaction with how their work fits into the agency's overall mission. In this important category, DOT scored a very high 78.2%, indicating that our employees have a strong sense of the many ways their work touches the lives of Americans.

And that's why it's so important to me that the Department fosters a workplace that values every employee and offers opportunities for professional growth and achievement.

New rail standards foster safety, inter-operability, and American manufacturing jobs

In Columbus, Ohio, yesterday, Deputy Secretary John Porcari announced the first-ever uniform technical standards for the manufacture of high-speed intercity passenger rail cars.

Now, you may think this announcement is about trains, but it's really about jobs. American manufacturing jobs.

As Deputy Secretary Porcari said,

"This is a watershed moment for railroading, but it's also a chance to get America back to building its own future. We are not going to outsource the fabrication, assembly, or jobs that will be created as we scale up our rail industry."

Because, as part of the Obama Administration’s focus on maximizing manufacturing opportunities, these standards provide an unprecedented opportunity for rail industry suppliers in the US. From rails to wheel bearings to final assembly, we are helping to establish a strong, stable manufacturing base for this exciting new industry.

You see, a uniform standard means that any manufacturer can compete to build this infrastructure; it's a level playing field. And the open competition this standard fosters should help keep costs down for railroads and travelers.

As Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo explained, "A common design for rail components makes it easier to stock parts, train maintenance personnel, and perform repairs, all of which reduces costs.”

Interior drawing showing both levels of bi-level passenger car conforming to new technical standard