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

President Obama asks Congress to pass transportation measures, protect jobs

This morning, President Obama urged Congress to pass a clean extension of key transportation programs as soon as possible. I was proud to stand in the Rose Garden with the President as he called for Congress to protect critical jobs and bolster our roads, bridges, runways and railways.

At the end of September, if Congress doesn’t act, the nation's surface transportation program will expire.  This provides funding for highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems, and other essential projects that keep our people and our commerce moving quickly and safely.  It also provides money for thousands of transportation projects currently under construction around the country.  When the law expires, those projects will shut down, taking precious jobs with them.

For America's construction workers and their families, it represents the difference between making ends meet or not.

 

If we allow our transportation law to expire without an extension, almost 1 million construction and other workers will lose their jobs over the coming year. If the extension is delayed for just 10 days, our nation will lose nearly $1 billion in highway funding, and that is money we can never get back.  In addition, more than 4,000 of our professionals in the Department of Transportation will be immediately furloughed without pay.

Like the President, I think it is unacceptable to put jobs at risk in these difficult times just because Congress cannot work out its differences.

DOT continues strengthening bus and truck safety across America

Whether you’re traveling by air, bus, or rail, your safety is always DOT’s top priority. And today I want to talk about what DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is doing to improve the safety of our nation's roadways for the more than 750 million passengers who ride motorcoaches and buses.

Last week, FMCSA awarded $8 million in federal grants to Pennsylvania to strengthen law enforcement efforts targeting buses and trucks on high-crash corridors throughout the state, and will also help the state conduct safety audits.

Inspectors in Philadelphia make sure a bus passes safety muster

As part of that effort, FMCSA Deputy Administrator Bill Bronrott joined with Pennsylvania officials last week at a surprise safety inspection checkpoint in Philadelphia to announce nearly $175,000 in funding for that city's commercial motor vehicle inspection unit that will be used to increase safety inspection strike forces at popular tourist destinations.

FMCSA also awarded the Pittsburgh Police Department nearly $240,000 to bolster commercial truck and bus inspections at tunnel entrances and to train its commercial motor vehicle enforcement unit.

And yesterday, on the opposite side of the country, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro was in Bismarck, ND to award the North Dakota Department of Transportation nearly $350,000 for an electronic commercial driver’s license testing system across that will help prevent fraud and ensure uniform testing. FMCSA also awarded the North Dakota Highway Patrol nearly $2 million to ramp up compliance reviews, safety audits, and thousands of inspections throughout the state, including ports of entry and remote border locations.

It's just common sense; proposed rule eases traffic sign burden on local governments

As I travel around the country, people often tell me what they think of the way government works. One thing I have heard over and over again is a complaint from cities about regulations requiring them to replace their street signs before they have worn out.

They say it doesn’t make sense to spend precious dollars to replace perfectly good signs. I couldn’t agree more.

Today, the Federal Highway Administration proposed eliminating 46 deadlines mandated by federal traffic control regulations.  Instead, in most cases, we want to let cities and states upgrade their signs when the existing signs wear out.  It's just common sense.

This is all part of President Obama’s call for an unprecedented government-wide review of regulations. He asked us to identify and change rules that are unnecessary, excessively burdensome or overly costly.  Today's proposal demonstrates the value of the President's initiative by saving communities millions of dollars in unnecessary expenses. 

Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement project brings jobs, safety, congestion relief to Colorado Springs

At DOT, we know that investing in our roads, rails and runways creates jobs today and ensures that our economy has the ability to keep growing in the future. And the Woodmen Road Corridor Improvement Project in Colorado Springs is a great example of a job-creating project that will also foster economic opportunity.

On Friday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined state and local officials in Colorado Springs to open the first phase of this project.

Opening ceremonies included a parade of vintage cars, photo courtesy Colorado Springs Gazette

This first phase of the Woodmen Road project received $35 million in Recovery Act funding, making it the largest single Recovery Act highway project in Colorado.

Decades of planning and two years of construction went into this phase of the project.  But in the end, it was completed on budget and 34 days early.  That’s what I call a job well done!

Woodmen Road project during construction, photo courtesy FOX21

Transportation workers help East Coast recover from Hurricane Irene

This afternoon, I want to remind everyone that the effects of Hurricane Irene continue to pose dangers on roadways up and down the East Coast.  Flash flooding, for example, has been reported throughout many states, particularly in Vermont.  And downed trees and power lines plague communities from the Carolinas to New England.  So if you're driving in one of the areas affected by this storm, please proceed carefully.

I also want to follow President Obama's lead in saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones and those whose lives have been affected by the storm."

 
Workers clearing trees, photo courtesy Baltimore Sun

And I want to let readers know that tens of thousands of people have been working hard in the aftermath of this storm to clear roads, reopen runways, and restore rail and transit service. 

The workers in state and local departments of transportation who have been on the job for days clearing roadways of debris, downed trees, and flood conditions deserve a big “Thank you” from all of us.  And let's add to that list of those who deserve our thanks the men and women who are doing similar tough work for airport authorities and transit agencies.

This Labor Day weekend, drive sober or get pulled over

While we have made great strides in reducing drunk driving over the years, this deadly behavior remains one of the leading causes of death and injury on our nation's roadways, killing nearly 11,000 people each year.

So, as Labor Day weekend approaches, DOT's annual crackdown on drunk driving is again underway.  This year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a new nationwide advertising campaign that will support the efforts of law enforcement agencies to let Americans know to "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over."

According to NHTSA data, fatal crashes involving alcohol occur most frequently between midnight and 3:00 a.m.  In fact, during that window, two-thirds of all fatal crashes involve a drunk driver, which amounts to one drunk driving fatality every 23 minutes.

I hope you agree with me that this is unacceptable.  Across the country, more than ten thousand law enforcement agencies do agree, and that's why their annual enforcement crackdown is particularly focused on nighttime driving.

“High visibility law enforcement is an important part of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving,” said MADD National President Jan Withers. “MADD is proud to partner with NHTSA and the heroes who keep our roads safe to remind the public to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

 

FAA Spaceport grants will strengthen America's commercial space industry

If you're like me, you probably watched the final landing of the Space Shuttle Atlantis last month with a strong sense of nostalgia for an astounding era in American space travel.  The good news is that the Federal Aviation Administration has been working hard to usher in a new era for U.S. space transportation.

Today, I'm excited to announce that the FAA is awarding grants to projects at three spaceports.  With matching support, these projects will develop and expand our nation’s commercial space transportation infrastructure.  These grants will go a long way toward meeting President Obama’s National Space Policy and its greater emphasis on using the commercial space industry to meet our current and future space transportation needs.

Commercial space launch, image courtesy space.com

That's right; although the NASA Shuttle era has drawn to a close, the U.S. already has a commercial space transportation industry that is ready, willing, and able to meet the challenges of providing access to space for science, research, tourism, and other national needs.  This industry is absolutely poised to take American space transportation to the next level. 

And, since 1984, the FAA’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation has been in charge of regulating and promoting this dynamic sector.  The new matching grants are just the latest example of that support.

New MADD president continues the fight for safer roads

The DOT and its safety partners have worked hard to achieve several year over year reductions in traffic fatalities in America, but we know our work is far from finished.  One of the most pressing challenges we have is continuing to combat drunk driving.  Today, one-third of all fatal crashes on our roadways involves alcohol impaired driving.

In an ongoing effort to stop this deadly epidemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently conducting its annual Labor Day enforcement crackdown on drunk driving.  August is the most deadly period of the year when it comes to drunk driving, and we want to make sure people are safe throughout the rest of the busy summer driving season.

Next Monday, I will join with state police and safety advocates to talk about the importance of these law law enforcement crackdowns on drunk driving -- as well as to launch an exciting new phase in our anti-drunk driving efforts.  And I'm looking forward to being joined by one of our most crucial allies in this fight--Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  Their advocacy on behalf of drunk driving victims and the safety of the traveling public has been so successful over the last thirty years that the White House recently named MADD a "Champion of Change."

With NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and Jan Withers

And today I want to highlight the efforts of the person leading their charge--Jan Withers, the new President of MADD.  When I first met with Jan last month, it didn't take long for me to realize that she will be a strong ambassador for one of America's most effective safety organizations.

Jan brings a wide range of experience to the MADD presidency.  She first joined MADD in 1992, after the tragic loss of her 15-year-old daughter, Alisa Joy, who was killed by an underage drunk driver.  Since then, she says, “I’ve made it my life’s work to support the victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes.

Jan has been on the MADD National Board of Directors since 2005, and also serves on the MADD Maryland Operations Council, where she is a certified victim advocate and certified trainer for MADD Victim Services.

MADD CEO Kimberly Earle said of Jan, “During her nearly 20 years as a MADD volunteer, Jan has demonstrated an exceptional ability to connect with those who have been through the unimaginable devastation of a drunk driving crash.”

New consumer protections for airline passengers take effect

Yesterday, our new set of consumer protections for air passengers went into effect, which we hope will make flying more convenient and hassle-free for air travelers nationwide.  It's simple: the Obama Administration believes consumers have the right to be treated fairly when they fly.

Since April 2010, domestic airline passengers have been protected from lengthy tarmac delays. The results of those protections have been terrific.  In June 2010, DOT proposed another set of consumer protections for air travelers, and this week airline passengers have good reason to celebrate as those new protections went into effect on Tuesday.

As Kate Hanni of FlyersRights.org said, "It's huge. If you're flying, you're 400% better off than you were before."

DOT grants to Northeast Corridor will add jobs, continue to deliver high-speed rail to America

When federal rail investments create 12,000 new jobs and improve the infrastructure that keeps our economy moving, that's a win for America.

That's exactly what's happening right now along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor as DOT continues its unprecedented investment in this valuable rail line.  The nearly $745 million we committed yesterday will increase reliability and allow for the fastest passenger train speeds ever achieved in North America.

The Northeast Corridor will use nearly $450 million to improve electrical systems and tracks between Trenton, NJ, and New York City.  This is the corridor's most heavily used section, but some of the catenary wiring--the electrical lines above the trains--dates back to the 1930s.  Boosting and stabilizing the power supply, modernizing signals, and upgrading track will soon have Acela Express trains reaching top speeds of 160 mph.  That's a considerable increase over today's 135 mph top speed. 

Even better?  When Amtrak purchases next generation trains, passengers will travel at world-class speeds of 186 mph along the improved track.  That puts America well on its way to a high-speed, intercity passenger rail network even as it puts workers back on the job.

State Fair roundtable an opportunity to hear from rural leaders across Illinois

Visiting the Illinois State Fair is one of my favorite summertime traditions.  From livestock competitions to concerts to a giant butter cow, the Fair is great opportunity to spend time with my grandkids and see everything that Illinois has to offer.

But my visit to the Fair on Friday wasn’t only about fun and games.  As part of the President's efforts to reach out to people in America's heartland, I was pleased to lead a roundtable with members of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, small business owners, farmers, rural organizations, and government officials to hear their ideas about what DOT can do to continue expanding opportunities for them.

Illinois State Fair 2011 parade, photo courtesy IIS Photos - Illinois State Fair photos

Look, every day, President Obama, Vice President Biden, and all of us in this Administration are working hard to put Americans back on the jobsite.  We know that continued federal investments in rural communities will create construction jobs and ensure that farmers and ranchers have the roads, rail lines, and ports they need to move their products to market.

We have worked hard to create opportunities across all regions of the U.S., and during our first two years in office, we put Americans to work on more than 7,000 individual transportation projects in rural areas.

Safety takes center stage at Inspectors and Truck Driving Championships

Professional drivers and commercial vehicle inspectors have some of the toughest--and most important--jobs out there.  And the very best in their fields turned out in Orlando, Florida, this past weekend to show off their skills and receive recognition for their efforts to keep our roadways safe.

Every year, inspectors conduct 3.5 million roadside inspections all across the United States.  And on Saturday afternoon, fifty-four of the best safety inspectors from the U.S. and Canada came out to compete in the 2011 North American Inspectors Championship. 

Hosted by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, the event included competitions in a variety of categories, including inspections of hazmat vehicles, passenger buses, and cargo haulers. 

Administrator Ferro with 2011 Grand Champion John Sova and CVSA President Captain Steve Dowling.

And FMCSA's Administrator Anne Ferro was on hand to greet this year's overall winner, John Sova--a certified North American Standard inspector from North Dakota who received the Jimmy K. Ammons Grand Champion Award for his performance.

Later that day, the focus turned to the professional drivers who safely and efficiently transport goods on our nation's highways every day.  The 2011 National Truck Driving Championships is the largest event in the trucking industry--those in the know even call it the "Super Bowl of Safety."

New stamp collection highlights the rich history of the U.S. Merchant Marine

The U.S. Merchant Marine has long played an important role in America's security and economic growth.  And last month, the U.S. Postal Service honored our merchant mariners with the release of four stamps commemorating historic ships that played vital roles in our nation's history.

The new stamps, which were unveiled at dedication ceremonies in New York, Los Angeles, and Baltimore, are now among the 60 million "Forever" stamps available and in circulation today.  Their release coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which helped further the development of America's merchant marine and promote U.S. commerce.

White House Rural Economic Forum puts the focus on transportation investments in rural communities

I grew up and raised a family in central Illinois, and I spent 35 years serving the farmers and small-business owners in that part of the country--including 14 years in Congress.  So I know the challenges rural economies face. 

Yesterday, as part of the President's three-day bus tour, I was pleased to join President Obama for the White House Rural Economic Forum at Northeast Iowa Community College in Peosta, Iowa.

The Forum brought together small business owners, private sector leaders, rural organizations, and government officials to discuss ideas and initiatives to promote economic growth, accelerate hiring, and spur innovation in rural communities and small towns across the nation.  And I had the opportunity to hear directly from a variety of rural leaders and talk about what DOT has done to help them during a special breakout session on transportation and infrastructure.

We know that affordable transportation choices in our rural communities give residents better access to jobs and health care, and provide an incentive for much-needed economic development.  And continued federal investments in rural communities will create construction jobs and ensure that farmers and ranchers have the roads, rail lines, and ports they need to move their products to market.

President Obama, Vice President Biden, and all of us in this Administration are working every day to put Americans back on the jobsite--and to get our economy moving again.

My message to FAA employees: We hear you, and we've got your backs

For over a week now, I've been hearing from employees across the country who are thrilled to be back on the job since Congress passed an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration bill.  And on Friday, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and I traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey, to meet some of these workers in person at a town hall meeting at the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center.

During the partial shutdown that furloughed 4,000 FAA employees and affected 70,000 workers in construction and related fields nationwide, the Hughes Technical Center was especially hard hit.  Almost 650 employees at the Center were furloughed for almost two weeks, and hundreds of contractors received stop-work orders that prevented them from doing their jobs.

These are hardworking, dedicated professionals on the front lines of developing many of the NextGen technologies that will completely revolutionize our air transportation system and get passengers to their destinations more quickly and with a smaller carbon footprint.  I need our employees at work every day and America needs them at work every day.

And yet, the most common question I was asked during our town hall was, "Is this going to happen again?"

The fact is, with the current FAA extension bill once again set to expire on September 16th, it's more important than ever for members of Congress to put aside their partisan differences and pass a long-term FAA reauthorization bill.  And I want our employees to know we are doing everything possible to make sure we avoid another furlough.

Focus 360° Drive Safely Work Week 2011 just around the corner

Every October, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) hosts Drive Safely Work Week.  This week is an opportunity for organizations to help their employees focus on safe driving.  These employers take their employees' safety--and the safety of others on the road--seriously, and at the same time, they're helping protect their organization's bottom line.

This year's campaign is called Focus 360°: Getting there is everyone's business, and for the second year in a row NETS is using its resources to fight distracted driving.  Employers have the potential to reach up to one-half of the nation's population, and their support in our fight to stop distracted driving is crucial.

Through their excellent Drive Safely Work Week toolkit, NETS offers three paths for employers this year:

Those who already have a workplace policy covering mobile device use and driving can get tips and activities to reinforce and help sustain their policy. 

Those who have yet to establish a policy will find plenty of resources to help design the right policy for their organization. 

Finally, those who aren't interested in adopting a corporate policy but still want to educate employees can find materials on the dangers of distracted driving.

Last year's efforts bore tremendous fruit: 88 percent of the nearly 5,000 organizations that participated in Drive Safely Work Week 2010 now have some form of corporate mobile device policy.

And this year's kit is even better because NETS has expanded their materials to help employees stay focused not only when they're driving, but when they're riding as passengers, walking, and even bicycling.  That's the full circle Drive Safely Work Week covers in 2011, and that's why this year's campaign is called Focus 360°.

Mobility matters: the view from the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit

This week in Irving, Texas, transportation experts from the private and public sectors gathered for the Transportation and Infrastructure Summit.  This year's theme, Modern Mobility: Advancing to the Future, reflects the need for transportation solutions that meet today's challenges and begin addressing tomorrow's needs.

At the summit, DOT leaders presented scenarios for improved transportation to seamlessly move people and goods while protecting our environment, reducing dependence on foreign oil, and creating jobs.

Karen Rae, Deputy Administrator of our Federal Railroad Administration, laid out this scene.  Business owners in Raleigh will be able to board trains in the morning, check email and prepare for a full day of customer presentations, sail past DC’s infamous I-95 and Beltway gridlock and avoid the headaches of air travel, arrive on time, and transfer easily to Metro, streetcars, urban circulators, taxis or a car sharing service to reach their appointments throughout the Capital region.  After a productive day, an afternoon train will take them back home in time for a late dinner with their families.

A successful day trip to and from a city hours away?   Yes, under President Obama's vision for transportation, we can do this.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland had his own vision.  In that vision, gas prices in America stop eating up household budgets thanks to strong, but attainable fuel-economy standards put into place by the Obama Administration.  Those include the first-ever fuel-economy standards for medium and heavy-duty trucks, saving America's truckers thousands of dollars every year.

On 8/11 States Can Lead the Way in Pipeline Damage Prevention

In America's pipeline community, it is customary on August 11 – or 8/11 – to celebrate our national Call-Before-You-Dig number , 8-1-1. Whether you're a contractor with a large excavation project or a homeowner planning a family garden, calling this number before you dig is an important step toward preventing accidental pipeline damage and potentially devastating injury.

One part of DOT's mission is to ensure that America's pipelines are safe, reliable and environmentally sound. But the safety of our nation's pipeline network – a combination of over 3000 public and private systems – is a shared responsibility. DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration works closely with state pipeline safety offices to ensure pipelines are properly inspected and that enforcement action is taken when necessary.

Still, pipeline incidents do happen.

Over the past 20 years, excavation damage has been the number one cause of pipeline incidents that result in fatality, injury, or significant property damage. These incidents can occur during all types of underground work from digging before construction to tractor plowing while farming, and even to our neighbors planting in small gardens.

Fortunately, leaders such as the Common Ground Alliance have helped drive a decline in pipeline accidents by promoting damage prevention. For example, best practices and the continued push for widespread use of 8-1-1 have helped considerably.

But newer and stronger state excavation damage prevention laws can help save lives and property by further reducing the incidence of excavation damage to pipelines and other underground utilities.

Let's be crystal clear: there are no new DOT regulations in the works for America's farm community

"How to blog about something we aren't going to do?"  That's the challenge I'm facing today, and I'll just say it right out: DOT has no intention to propose new regulations governing the transport of agricultural products.

What are we going to do?  We're releasing guidance for states to make sure they clearly understand the very common-sense exceptions that allow farmers, their employees, and their family members to accomplish their day-to-day work and get their products to market.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari drives a virtual tractor at Ohio State Fair, photo courtesy Ohio Dept. of Agriculture

Growing up and raising a family in central Illinois, I understand that farmers don't just put food on our tables; they also help fuel our economy.  It’s not an easy life, and we are not about to make that critical job any harder. 

So, far from adding onerous regulations to the burden our nation's hardworking farmers are already shouldering, we are trying to make sure states don't go overboard in enforcing regulations on those who operate agricultural vehicles.  We want farmers to know that reasonable exemptions will continue to be consistently available to them.

In this photo, courtesy Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, Deputy Secretary Porcari climbs into the real thing

As Deputy Secretary John Porcari said, "We want to make it absolutely clear that farmers will not be subjected to new and impractical safety regulations.  The farm community can be confident that states will continue to follow the regulatory exemptions for farmers that have always worked so well." 

Faces of Distracted Driving: Heather Hurd, 26 "Nothing will ever be the same again because Heather should be here"

From the time she was a little girl, Heather Hurd loved Disney World.  She first visited at the age of five and immediately swore that one day she'd live in Orlando and work at the park.

Twenty-one years later, she was living her dream.  She worked in the Magic Kingdom, and even got engaged there. And on January 3, 2008, Heather and her fiancée Patrick were set to have their first meeting with a Disney wedding planner to discuss their dream ceremony.

But on the way to their appointment, tragedy struck.  A tractor-trailer traveling at 65 miles per hour hit Heather's car--and eight others--while they were stopped at a red light.  Patrick was critically injured in the crash.  Heather died at the scene.

The truck driver, who was texting with his company at the time of the crash, never applied his brakes.

Obama Administration launches cost-saving fuel-efficiency standards for trucks

At DOT we have been working to encourage safer, more innovative, and more cost effective ways to move goods across our nation’s highways. Today, President Obama introduced one more step toward that goal.

“While we were working to improve the efficiency of cars and light-duty trucks, something interesting happened,” said President Obama.  “We started getting letters asking that we do the same for medium and heavy-duty trucks.  They were from the people who build, buy, and drive these trucks.  And today, I’m proud to have the support of these companies as we announce the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency and decrease greenhouse gas pollution from medium and heavy-duty trucks.”

The 2014-2018 fuel efficiency standards for trucks are designed to account for the different kind of work done by different kinds of trucks.  Long haul trucks will save an average of 4 gallons for fuel for every 100 miles traveled.  Heavy-duty pickups and vehicles like buses, delivery trucks, or vans would save one gallon for every 100 miles traveled.  Altogether, we're looking at saving a projected 530 million barrels of oil.

That is a huge benefit to truck owners and operators.  Over the life of a new truck built to fit these standards, a semi-truck driver will see a net savings of $73,000 through reduced fuel costs.  Will the technology required to meet these standards add to the cost of a new truck?  Yes, but the fuel-savings will more than match that cost within one year of driving.

In fact, I'd call $50 billion in total fuel savings a significant win for a hard-working industry.

Generation tXt: Tackling distracted driving from a new direction

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Distracted driving is an epidemic on our roadways. And teens are especially at risk--in 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20.

Luckily, teens across the country are recognizing the dangers and taking a stand against distracted driving.  One such organization is Generation tXt, a youth group based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that is using peer to peer education to get their message out: Texting while driving just isn't cool.

Generation tXt, with help from State Farm, focuses on educating 8th and 9th grade students who can’t wait to get their hands on the wheel. By focusing on this age group they hope to stop bad driving habits before they start.

And this isn’t your standard texting and driving educational program.  One of their most creative tools is a catchy hip-hop music video with lyrics that lay out the potential consequences of texting and cell phone use while driving.

Senate reaches breakthrough on FAA extension; tens of thousands of workers can go back to their jobs

I am thrilled this morning that the Senate has approved an FAA bill.  It is a tremendous victory for American workers everywhere.

I'm thrilled for our dedicated FAA employees who will be able to go back to work on Monday.  And I'm thrilled for the tens of thousands of hardworking workers who can go back to airport construction sites around the country.

As a matter of fairness, we will also do everything we can to get Congress to provide our furloughed employees with the back pay they deserve. 

  

This was really no time to stop work on so many critical airport improvement projects--right in the middle of the construction season.  But now, these good workers can get back on the job Monday doing the work they want to do, earning a good wage, and taking care of their families.  And I am very, very happy for them.

I want to thank President Obama for his attention to this situation.  Even during the days of intense debt and deficit discussions, he insisted to me, "Take care of our employees.  Take care of the construction workers.  Figure this out.  Get it done."

So that's what we did.  We worked with Congress day and night to figure out a way to get these people back on the job.  And, thanks to the leadership of Senators Reid, Rockefeller, Hutchison and Baucus, we got it done.

2011 Feds Feed Families food drive in high gear at DOT

I’m proud to be part of an administration that is committed to service.  Our President and First Lady have called attention to the very real issue of hunger, a problem that exists here in Washington as it does in many communities across the nation.

It is no surprise that Federal employees have responded to the First Family's call.  And this summer, as we did in 2009 and 2010, DOT is an active participant in the third annual Feds Feed Families food drive.

The Feds Feed Families mission is simple: use Federal employees to collect as much food as possible for area food shelters. This undertaking is especially important in the summer months, a time when shelters are low on food and children aren’t getting meals in their schools.

The goal of the overall 2011 drive is to collect two million pounds of food.  While that's an ambitious benchmark, we believe it’s attainable.  Especially when the Federal workforce exceeded its 2010 goal.

Here at DOT, we’re aiming to collect 58,100 pounds of food.  We’ve raised the stakes by hosting an exciting intra-agency competition to see which agency can collect the most food. 

And it doesn’t stop there. Last week, we held our annual Can Castle Competition, where teams from each DOT agency have three hours to build the most creative structure using donated food. 

Transit grants set to improve mobility for residents of rural tribal lands

The Obama Administration is firmly committed to improving tribal transportation resources. The Recovery Act, for example, included a $310 million boost for the Indian Reservation Roads Program, and we increased the annual amount of that program from $275 million to $450 million.

We’re also working to make it easier for Native American communities to access resources through discretionary programs like Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER). For example, we provided $12 million in TIGER support to improve roads on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.

And just last week, I was pleased to announce the availability of $15 million in Tribal Transit grants. These grants will enable rural American Indian and Alaska Native tribal governments across the United States to invest in public transit options that provide convenient access to employment centers and promote new economic development on tribal lands.

The Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Tribal Transit Program provides grants to tribes for capital transportation projects and operating expenses to meet the growing public transit needs of rural tribal communities.  Funds available on a competitive basis to tribes through the Tribal Transit program are in addition to formula funds tribes receive from states through FTA’s rural transit program.

New mobile vessel hoist "America" ready for Great Lakes service

In 1899, the Great Lakes Towing company acquired a steel-hulled tugboat named "America" that revolutionized the role of tugs in harbor ship handling.  Last week, DOT Deputy Secretary John Porcari was on hand in Cleveland as the company's Great Lakes Shipyard subsidiary dedicated a new mobile vessel hoist also named "America." 

The new hoist, capable of lifting a ship, tug, or barge weighing 770 tons, was built with support from a 2009 Small Shipyard Grant from our Maritime Administration. 

The "America" is the largest hoist of its kind on the Great Lakes and the third largest in the world.  The company hopes the new hoist will stand "as a symbol of the country's commitment to revitalize its shipyard industry and manufacturing base for the economy and for national defense."

With the jobs created to build the hoist and the jobs the hoist makes possible in shipbuilding and ship repair, the America has already been quite a spark plug.

The hoist was built by Marine Travelift of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, shipped to Cleveland on 25 trucks, and assembled by Great Lakes Shipyard workers.  Its size and technology make it possible for the "America" to accommodate the simultaneous repair or construction of 10 or more vessels.  Its mobility also allows rapid emergency response for repairs. 

It is clear this hoist adds a new dimension to the capabilities of the Great Lakes Shipyard and the Port of Cleveland.

Congress takes its vacation; 74,000 workers, off the job in FAA impasse, take their lumps

At airports across America, projects representing $11 billion in work and 70,000 construction jobs and jobs in related fields sit idle because Congress has failed to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. Now, Congress is going on vacation, without passing the simple FAA extension that would allow those 70,000 workers--plus the 4,000 FAA employees who have also been furloughed--to get back to work.

We are smack dab in the middle of the construction season, but we are watching a Congress leave town without putting 74,000 workers back on the job. Congress has been talking the talk on jobs, but they refuse to walk the walk. We have heard many speeches about creating jobs and putting people to work; well I can tell you, turning a blind eye is not the way we put people to work.

As U.S. Representative Steny Hoyer said, "This is a perfect example of the politics--not of persuasion, not of compromise, of coming together--but the politics of confrontation."

It's a shame, especially in this economy, to let the financial security of 74,000 families be caught in partisan debate. We are talking about families--good, working families, maybe friends of yours or neighbors--having to go without a paycheck. And if Congress doesn't act until reconvening after Labor Day, these families will have endured nearly 50 days without income.

Rent, mortgages, groceries, back-to-school needs, medical care, electricity--these expenses don't take a vacation; they just accumulate relentlessly. Meanwhile, members of Congress jet out of Washington, using the same aviation system they've turned their backs on.

Meeting airline pilot at LaGuardia Airport on Monday, photo courtesy Henny Ray Abrams, AP

Don’t jet out of town, leaving the FAA grounded

Cross-posted from The Hill

For 11 days and counting, the Federal Aviation Administration has been without the authorization to go about a portion of its daily business.  We owe the American people a solution to this crisis before members head home for the August recess.

 

Because of congressional inaction, the FAA has been forced to issue some 200 stop-work orders — and turn 70,000 construction workers away from their jobs at airports across the country.  The FAA also was left with no choice but to put approximately 4,000 public servants on unpaid leave in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. 

Every day this situation goes on, the consequences mount.

Runway paving, rehabilitation and extension projects are on hold. America’s transition from the radar-based airspace management system of the 20th century to the satellite-based airspace management system of the future is at a standstill.

Helping veterans and their families get where they're going

Our nation is tremendously grateful for the sacrifices America’s armed forces and their families are making every day,  and the Obama Administration is committed to giving them the opportunities and support they have certainly earned.

Last week, the Federal Transit Administration launched a new initiative to help ensure that getting a ride to work, day care, or to a medical appointment is no longer an obstacle for veterans or their families.  The Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative will award grants to local transportation providers and other groups around the country so they can better coordinate and deliver important transit information through “one-call” or “one click” centers.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff signs the VTCLI notice of funding availability

All too often, our veterans face serious transportation challenges at home.  For instance, rising gas prices have hit military families' budgets hard.  And roughly 4 in 10 veterans--including our younger Iraq and Afghanistan veterans--live in rural areas where affordable transportation options are often limited, and where it's necessary to travel great distances to receive medical care, reach employment centers, and access other services to which they are entitled.

While public transportation services might be available, coordinating and using those services can be too complicated.  Our veterans and their families deserve convenient, ready access.

At LaGuardia and airports across America, construction workers clamor for Congress to give them back their jobs

Last week began with the hustle and bustle of any other work week at New York's LaGuardia Airport–except among the workers hired to demolish the old air traffic control tower.  Luca Toscano of Paul Scariano, Inc., had to deliver a painful message to his 40 employees: "Congress didn’t do its job. So, you are barred from doing yours."

At airports across America, the same story has been taking place.  With unemployment in the construction sector running in the double digits, Congress' failure to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration forced the FAA to issue stop-work orders on dozens of control tower construction projects already underway.

Meeting with workers at LaGuardia

The result?  As many as 70,000 construction workers and workers in related fields told they cannot come to their jobs.  In addition, 4,000 FAA employees have been sent home without pay in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

This is devastating news for them.  Tens of thousands of American households won’t receive paychecks–while their rent or mortgages, grocery costs, and back-to-school bills continue to pile up.  Contractors will stop buying supplies.  Small business owners will buy fewer goods for their restaurants and stores. 

These are blows America simply can’t afford.  And for what?   As Paul Fernandes of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York said, "We're losing jobs not because of forces beyond our control, but because of political dysfunction in Congress."

Cleveland-Cuyahoga County and Toledo-Lucas County Port Authorities honored with Seaway Pacesetter Awards

As I’ve said many times, the St. Lawrence Seaway is a crucial part of our nation's transportation network, and vital to the health of the U.S. economy.   After all, marine transportation remains the single most fuel-efficient and cost-effective way to haul goods from one place to another.

Recently, I was pleased to learn that, since opening for the season in March, grain exports being shipped from Seaway ports are up more than 20% from last year. This is exciting news for the U.S. economy that underscores the importance of maritime transportation.

SLSDC Administrator Terry Johnson presents award to Will Friedman, President & CEO, Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority

And last month, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) Administrator Terry Johnson singled out two important Seaway ports, presenting the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County and the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authorities with our Robert J. Lewis Pacesetter Awards. The Pacesetter Award is presented annually to U.S. Great Lakes Seaway ports that register significant increases in international overseas cargo tonnage shipped through the Seaway.

During the 2010 navigation season, the Port of Toledo achieved a 16 percent increase in its international tonnage from 4,124,410 tons in 2009 to 4,798,487 tons in 2010, earning the Port its eleventh Pacesetter award.  The Port of Cleveland achieved a resounding 64 percent increase in its international tonnage from 166,550 tons in 2009 to 273,280 tons in 2010, earning the Port its ninth Pacesetter award.

Pig-iron shipment handled by new cargo equipment at Port of Toledo