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

Alaska, the 49th State: natural beauty to spare and unique transportation needs

This week, I had the opportunity to visit a state that many Americans never see: Alaska. The wilderness and coastline of America's 49th state are absolutely beautiful and the people I met were wonderful, but as I learned this week, the folks on our "Last Frontier" also have many unique transportation challenges and needs.

One of Alaska's star modes of transportation is the scenic Alaska Railroad, which I rode south from Anchorage. This historic railroad is a great way for tourists to experience Alaska's natural beauty. It also generates a lot of economic activity for local businesses.

In Girdwood, Alaska I met with transportation officials and community members to talk about regional traffic safety challenges -- particularly the need to find ways to reduce the fatality rate on the Seward Highway. Since 2006, stepped-up enforcement and public awareness efforts have improved safety, but we can do better. I made sure state and local officials know that DOT will continue supporting their efforts to bring the highway's fatality rate down even further.

One of the most interesting parts of my visit, and one of the transportation resources that really provides Alaskans a wealth of economic benefits is the Port of Anchorage. I toured the port with U.S. Representative Don Young, U.S. Senator Mark Begich, former Governor and current Port Director Bill Sheffield, Anchorage Mayor Sullivan, and representatives from a number of shipping companies that use the port.

Through rail, road, and air connections, this port receives approximately 90 percent of all goods heading to Alaskan homes and businesses across their vast state. It stages 100 percent of the exports of refined petroleum products from the state’s largest refinery in Fairbanks and facilitates petroleum deliveries from refiners on the Kenai Peninsula and in Valdez. And, it has been designated by the Department of Defense as one of 19 "National Strategic Ports" because it provides valuable supplies to Alaska's military installations. In fact, the Port has deployed more than 18,000 pieces of military equipment around the world since 2005.

Work begins on Montgomery, AL's Outer Loop bringing construction jobs, congestion relief, and economic opportunities

If Congress passes the American Jobs Act, the projects we could see breaking ground across the country will make life easier for commuters, create opportunities for businesses, and get workers back on the job.

Yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez visited a project that will do exactly that.  He joined Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and other state and local officials to kick off construction on the Montgomery Outer Loop, a roadway that will relieve congestion and improve traffic and freight movement throughout the area.

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (left) and FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez (2nd from left)
join Montgomery-area mayors to launch Outer Loop road construction

This project will connect I-85 in east Montgomery to an interchange at SR 110. The plan includes on and off ramp reconstruction and construction of interchange bridges, road bridges, and a double bridge over SR-110. That means a lot of construction workers will have job sites to go to each day.

In fact, R.R. Dawson Construction, the project's contractor is hiring back 45 employees for this road work.  All told, they expect the work to create 155 jobs.  And that's before their projected purchases of supplies and equipment.

When the Outer Loop is complete, it will make travel safer and less congested for commuters and tourists in the Montgomery area as well as Montgomery area residents who simply need to get somewhere--a doctor's office, a store, a local college.

It’s also going to make it easier and safer for trucks carrying parts and finished products to get around Montgomery without getting bogged down in traffic.  This will help businesses in the region operate more effectively and will make greater Montgomery more attractive to new business.

Courtesy http://www.waka.com

Deputy Sec. Porcari holds Panama Canal listening session, walks atop Golden Gate Bridge

Earlier today, Deputy Secretary John Porcari wrote a great blog post for Fast Lane.  To thank him for his contribution, I thought it would be fun to share some fascinating photos of his recent trip to San Francisco.

Last week, Deputy Secretary Porcari traveled to the Bay Area to lead a Panama Canal listening session with Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.

The expanded canal will provide many benefits – and some challenges – to the maritime industry, and that’s why studying the changes that the widened Panama Canal will create is so important.  Last week’s session provided participants an opportunity to not only learn more about the Panama Canal study, but to become part of an ongoing dialogue that we look forward to continuing. 

While in San Francisco, Deputy Secretary Porcari was able to fulfill a lifelong dream – touring behind the scenes of the Golden Gate Bridge.  Having biked across the bridge when he lived in San Francisco, he always wanted to climb it, and with the help of the Bay Area Toll Authority, he was able to see his dream realized.

 

 

Guest blogger Deputy Secretary John Porcari: Creating jobs, opportunity through transit investments

Since President Obama introduced the American Jobs Act a few weeks ago, Secretary LaHood has been an outspoken advocate for its passage, and with good reason. 

On Monday, for example, Brian Lombardozzi, a senior policy analyst with the BlueGreen Alliance, joined me to discuss the importance of investing in job-creating transit projects.  And yesterday, I had the chance to extend that conversation at a conference called "Building the Future: New York State Transit Manufacturing Conference."

This extended discussion fits President Obama and Secretary LaHood's message perfectly because transit investments create jobs and opportunities.

Transit literally connects people with opportunities.  It connects them to jobs, to school, to the grocery store. It connects customers to businesses.  For many Americans and American businesses, it’s an absolute lifeline.

But in many places, that lifeline is crumbling.  If we're going to be honest with ourselves, we have to acknowledge that our major transit systems were built and paid for by our parents and grandparents.  The American Jobs Act would provide $9 billion for thousands of jobs repairing bus and rail transit systems.  Once Congress passes the Act, that money will go out quickly and easily into the economy, creating jobs and helping get our transit systems up to speed.

Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot driver clinics test how drivers get along with innovative safety technology

In July, I wrote about our upcoming Connected Vehicles Safety Pilot driver clinics.  The first of these was in Brooklyn, Michigan, at the Michigan International Speedway, and participants were pretty excited about the new safety technology.  Today, Brainerd, Minnesota, hosts our second clinic, and I can't wait to see the results.

With Connected Vehicles, cars, trucks, and buses are equipped with devices that communicate with other vehicles on the road. The technology warns drivers of nearby hazards, such as an impending collision, a vehicle approaching in a driver's blind spot, or an unsafe lane change.  But unlike a cell phone or radio, these devices do not pose a distraction; drivers only become aware of the safety application when they are in potential danger.

While some cars currently have forward-collision warnings, blind-side warnings, and other high-tech safety systems, those systems are large, radar-based, and very expensive.  We’re looking at a system that uses low-cost devices placed in vehicles, traffic signals, and other infrastructure.

The clinics in Michigan took place over four days, and they are part of a cooperative research project run by DOT and eight car manufacturers.  The idea is to see how ordinary drivers get along with the new technology—can they use it safely, comfortably, and effectively?  Over 100 drivers participated--people from all walks of life and no prior knowledge of connected vehicles. Overall, drivers reported that they were extremely impressed with the safety features and ease of operation that this innovative application offers.

FMCSA motorcoach summit laser-focused on passenger safety

When Americans board a bus or motorcoach, they should be able to expect a few basic things.  The driver should be a licensed professional; the bus should be mechanically sound, and the company should take passenger safety seriously.  Last Friday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration held a National Motorcoach Safety Summit to make sure bus operators take steps to live up to those basic expectations.

Safety is DOT's number one priority.  Everyone on our team understands that, and most of the operators in the motorcoach industry understand that.  I'm pleased to say that bus service remains one of the safest forms of travel in America. 

But a series of high-profile crashes in 2011 has brought tragedy to too many families.  These crashes have put a dent in the industry's once-sterling safety record and undermined passenger confidence.  The goal of the summit was to bring stakeholders together to find a way to turn that around and protect passenger lives.

At the summit, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro announced an upcoming two-week sweep of thousands of surprise safety inspections.  The Passenger Bus Safety Inspection Strike Force involves inspections of motorcoaches, tour buses and school buses around the country.  Over the past five years, FMCSA has doubled the number of safety reviews of our nation's 4,000 carriers.  I’d much rather hear about a bus failing an inspection – proof that our system is working – than think of the consequences if that bus were still on the road.

Later, participants discussed best practices to increase vehicle and driver safety and effective public outreach tools to make sure consumers choose a safe company every trip and every time.

College students show off engineering prowess in Steel Day competition

Last Thursday, in honor of Steel Day, the Federal Highway Administration invited teams of students from Virginia Tech and Howard University to compete in a steel bridge building demonstration.  Suddenly, the atrium of our DOT headquarters was transformed into a metal shop, with cardboard protecting the flooring and sections of what looked like adult-sized Tinker Toys spread out across the room.

The National Student Steel Bridge Competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), has been held annually since 1987.  From humble beginnings, the competition has grown to 200 teams competing in preliminary contests, and 48 qualifying for last May's National Championships.

Watch Lakehead University's title-winning effort

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez, President Elect Andrew Hermann from ASCE, Brian Raff from the National Steel Bridge Alliance (NSBA), a department of AISC, and Lawrence Cavanaugh, President of the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI) spoke about the role of innovative technologies in bridge building. 

They also had plenty of praise and encouragement for the talented young visitors.  As Administrator Mendez said, “We certainly need all the bright, creative minds we can get to help build our 21st century transportation system, especially people who excel in science and math.”

Sherman Minton Bridge one among tens of thousands; let's fix them

I've spoken more than once in the past couple of weeks about the Sherman Minton Bridge.  As you may recall, that's the bridge on I-64 connecting Louisville, KY, and New Albany, IN, across the Ohio River.  After decades of overuse, it's been shut down indefinitely because of dangerous cracking.

On Friday, I visited the bridge to see for myself what a serious problem this really is for the people from Kentucky and Indiana who rely on the bridge to get where they need to go.  I wanted to hear about the safety issues that threaten the bridge and to learn what the folks on the ground plan to do about it.

Now, if the Sherman Minton's challenges were unique, fixing it would simply be a matter of finding the resources to restore it.  But this bridge is far from unique; instead, it's a symbol of the disrepair that’s striking tens of thousands of other bridges in America. Crumbling infrastructure, crumbling roads, crumbling bridges--this is what's happening across the nation, and our states don't have the money to make it right.

We must pass the American Jobs Act so Americans, like the construction workers seeking jobs in Kentucky and Indiana, can go back to work fixing up bridges like the Sherman Minton.

As I told Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, U.S. Representative John Yarmuth, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, and Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan, we will continue to work closely with the two states to repair this bridge as quickly as possible.  I-64 is a major commercial artery--for people, parts, and products--and the Sherman Minton Bridge is simply too important.

As Mayor Galligan said, “We need to get this bridge fixed.”

From the Courier-Journal: How the Sherman Minton closure affects Southern Indiana's Eagle Steel,
which delivers steel to businesses, including Ford and GE, in Louisville dozens of times a day.

Capital Bikeshare celebrates one remarkable year

At 7:15 Tuesday morning, Eugene Morris checked out a bicycle from Capital Bikeshare in Washington, DC.  It was an uneventful 15-minute ride, but for Capital Bikeshare--funded in part by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration--it was a perfectly timed milestone.  His ride was the one millionth logged by the nation's most popular bike-sharing program, and it occured on the program's one-year anniversary.

As Capital Bikeshare turns 1-year old, Washington Post columnist Mike DeBonis asks, "Has any previous government initiative this cheap affected the municipal landscape so dramatically in such a short time?"

For Washington area residents, Capital Bikeshare's 1,100 red bikes have become a familiar sight this past year.  But if you don't live around here, Capital Bikeshare works like this: the more than 18,000 members pay an annual fee (there are also single-day and 5-day options) and can check out bikes from any of the 114 stations in DC and Arlington, Virginia.  Stations are conveniently located near popular destinations, like transit stations and office buildings.  Trips under a half-hour are free, and members pay a nominal rental fee for longer rides.

And last night Capital Bikeshare, known by members as CaBi, threw itself a festive first birthday party to celebrate its remarkable success.  In addition to Morris, the program honored the five members who logged the most rides, including Theodore Melahropoulos, who checked out a Capital Bikeshare bicycle 1,258 times in one year--that's an average of nearly four times a day. 

DCDOT Director Terry Bellamy, DC Councilman Tommy Wells, CaBi Board member Jay Fisette,
and DC Planner Harriet Tregoning blow out the candles on the birthday cupcakes.

The event was emceed by a young man known only as Car-Free Matt, since winning a contest last summer for car-free diet skeptics who were challenged to live without their cars for an entire month.

Capital Bikeshare Board member Jay Fisette roused the crowd by reminding them that the biggest achievement of the program's first year was introducing urban bicycling to the everyday person and dispelling the myth of specialized gear and technology:

"It's not about spandex shorts.  It's not about spending thousands of dollars on the latest gadget.  It's about every day on your way to work.  It's about a basket with milk and other groceries."

President Obama stands up for the American Jobs Actat the Ohio River's Brent Spence Bridge

Two weeks ago, President Obama presented his American Jobs Act to a joint session of Congress and to the people of America.  Today, I was pleased to join him at the Brent Spence Bridge across the Ohio River, a functionally obsolete crossing on one of North America's busiest trucking routes. Replacing this bridge is exactly the kind of project that the American Jobs Act could support. 

And the Brent Spence Bridge from Cincinnati, Ohio to Covington, Kentucky is just one example.  As the President said, "The same is true in cities and towns all across America.  It’s not safe.  It lengthens the commute to work.  It costs our businesses billions when they can’t ship parts or products as quickly as possible."

We were joined beside the bridge by ironworkers, laborers, and carpenters from the area, some of whom have been out of work for months on end.  They would be happy to get back on the job rebuilding the Brent Spence or any of the tens of thousands of bridges in America that need repair, replacement, or modernization.  If only Congress would pass the American Jobs Act.

Carpenter Ronnie King--who has been mostly unemployed since 2007--told us today, "Roads and bridges desperately need work, and there are a lot of people out there who desperately need work."

Well, as soon as Congress passes the American Jobs Act, we can get people like Ronnie back to work.  But we need Congress to act soon, and it's not clear that they will.  As laborer Johnnie Jacobs, who was also with us today, said, "This is supposed to be the land of plenty, but people are too busy bickering to help the people who are really suffering here.”

I hope that's not the case.

Chuggington characters offer valuable safety lessons

As a former school teacher, I believe education is of the utmost importance: especially safety education.  Teaching children at an early age to wear bicycle helmets, look both ways when crossing the street, and buckle up in the car leads to a lifetime of good traffic safety habits.  That’s why I am so excited to announce our partnership with Chuggington, an educational children’s show on the Disney Channel. 

The sad fact is that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, crashes are the leading cause of death in children ages 3 to 14.  But these deaths are preventable.  We know from another NHTSA study that child safety seats, when used properly, decrease the risk of death by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers. 

Our new partnership with the animated trains of Chuggington, just in time for Child Passenger Safety Week, will help us share the facts about proper installation of the right sized safety seat with parents and caregivers.

 

Dick Rothkopf and the other Chuggington creators at Ludorum also believe in the importance of teaching young children and their parents to be safe inside and outside vehicles.  The new Chuggington public service announcement is a perfect demonstration of that.  They also have a terrific safety website with games, tips, and other activities for kids.  And they have agreed to provide information about helmets, bike safety, seat belts, and safety seats in upcoming episodes of their show.

Bill Millar, a true champion for transit

Today I want to congratulate Bill Millar, President of the American Public Transportation Association after 15 years of extraordinary service to our nation's transit workers and riders.

Bill's hard work has improved the quality of daily life for millions of Americans and, in the process, has helped us create thousands of good jobs.

During Bill's tenure as APTA's president, transit ridership across the country is up by more than 35 percent.  Our communities are safer; they are stronger; and they are more accessible to those Americans who cannot afford to own a car, cannot drive, or choose not to drive.

The stakes for success have been high.  America's population centers are facing steep growth in the next 20 years, and they will need more transit options.  But Bill Millar has helped our nation's transit agencies prepare; he knows that planning early and advocating loudly can help us expand our transit systems and build new ones in time to meet this challenge.

Charlotte Streetcar project: American jobs building American transportation

It was very exciting to be in Charlotte, NC, yesterday to announce nearly $25 million in funding for the initial section of the Charlotte Streetcar project.  But I’m also excited for the other cities across the country that could benefit from similar transportation investments proposed in the American Jobs Act.

With Charlotte's mayor, Anthony Foxx, photo courtesy Charlotte Observer

The first 1.5-mile phase of the 10-mile streetcar line was funded by the Federal Transit Administration’s Urban Circulator Grant Program.  We made $280 million in grants available for America’s cities to make their neighborhoods safer, healthier, more vibrant – and more connected. In this case, we’re connecting a number of important local destinations like the Charlotte Transportation Center, Presbyterian Hospital, and Central Piedmont Community College.

Whether it's to their friends and family or to shopping, work, or school, we’re making it easier for the people of Charlotte to get where they need to go.

 

Charlotte’s streetcars aren’t just a way to help people avoid the pain of the gas pump and the hassles of traffic and parking – they’re a path to economic recovery.  Building the streetcars will require the efforts of capable construction professionals who are ready to work.  And after they’re built, the areas around the stations will become walkable, livable community hubs with thriving businesses and services.

Transit is a proven way to boost growth and development. 

As holidays approach, DOT’s new consumer protections make flying easier, less stressful

Believe it or not, America's most intense travel weeks--Thanksgiving and Christmas--are nearly upon us, and many people have already made their holiday airline reservations.  As those of you who are planning holiday trips begin navigating airline and other travel websites, I want to remind you that DOT has been working hard to make sure this year is different.

As I’ve mentioned many times before on this blog, DOT strongly believes that passengers are entitled to strong and effective protections when they fly, and that they should be able to expect fair treatment from airlines. 

And that applies no matter how busy the travel period is.

You'll be happy to know, for example, that our April 2010 ban on extended tarmac delays has been very effective. That's right; the delays that sometimes left travelers stranded aboard aircraft without access to food, water, or working lavatories for hours on end have virtually disappeared.

This is great news for anyone who has ever been stranded on the tarmac for a long period of time, or who has heard horror stories from a loved one who has been stranded.  Our analysis shows that our new protections have not directly affected cancellation rates, though we continue to monitor and study these.

Just last month, additional protections went into effect to make flying even more convenient and hassle-free for air travelers nationwide.  The new consumer protections, finalized earlier this year require:

• Refunded baggage fees if bags are lost,
• Increased compensation for passengers involuntarily bumped from oversold flights,
• Extending the ban on lengthy tarmac delays for international flights on foreign carriers and domestic flights from small-hub and non-hub airports.

Minnesotans understand the American Jobs Act will put people back to work and our economy on the fast track

It's no secret that I have been very outspoken about the American Jobs Act that President Obama proposed to Congress two weeks ago.  If Congress passes this bill, we can put people back to work quickly improving our roads, bridges, runways and rails.

Yesterday in Minneapolis, I had the good fortune to talk about the American Jobs Act with a group of people who need very little persuasion, the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association.   These folks know that one of the ways we can put Americans back to work while making our transportation system more efficient is by investing in rail.

And the President has been out in front on rail investments for quite some time.  Continued support for high-speed rail, passenger rail, and freight rail are a key part of the President’s vision for the future of transportation in America as part of the American Jobs Act.

To see a clear example of how investing in transportation can put people to work building new ways to connect communities, I didn't have to travel far from Minneapolis.

 

Across the river, in downtown St. Paul, the historic Union Depot Station is under construction, soon to be reborn as the Union Depot Multimodal Transportation Hub.  When complete, the new hub will connect Amtrak trains from Milwaukee and Chicago with the new Central Corridor Light Rail Line that will connect St Paul with Minneapolis.

Aung Gye makes DOT proud

Every day, I have thousands of reasons to be proud of the professionals of DOT, who work hard to improve the way we move people and goods.  And many in the DOT family take their commitment to service beyond their assigned duties.  The Federal Highway Administration's Aung Gye is one of those.

Gye is a Transportation Planning Team Leader for the Office of Federal Lands Highway.  Through his 18-year career, he noticed that some assets purchased by DOT--cars, vans, office equipment, meeting rooms--aren't used every hour of every day. Then he thought about how many items might be similarly underused across the entire federal government, and he wondered how to increase their use so we get more value out of these items.

"It's like the airlines," says Gye. "They never keep their planes on the ground if they can help it.  They want them up in the air, earning value from their investment.  With the current budget situation, we can do the same thing in government."

Aung Gye outside of DOT headquarters, courtesy US DOT

He imagined a shared inter-agency catalog of assets and their availability.  In Gye's model, if a Department of Labor van were sitting idle in a parking lot, it could be signed-out by a group from the Department of Health and Human Services.  The more that vehicle is used, the more value our nation gets from it.

Child Passenger Safety Week a reminder that safety seats can save precious lives

As we mark the beginning of National Child Passenger Safety Week, there is plenty of good news to share about child safety seats. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, properly used child safety seats decrease the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. We also know that older children are 59% less likely to be injured in a booster seat than if they were using seat belts only.

This boils down to one simple message: If you are driving with children, the most effective step you can take to prevent harm to your young passengers in the event of a crash is to buckle them into a correctly installed safety seat appropriate to their height and weight.

Unfortunately, not enough drivers are taking that step.  A recent report from Safe Kids USA shows that only 29 percent of drivers who carry young passengers are using the tethers that secure child seats in crashes.  And, of those who do use the top tether to protect their children's heads, only 59 percent are using them correctly. 

While the report shows that child safety seat use has improved in many categories--for example, parents and caregivers are buckling children up more often than they were during a 2007 study--we know we can do better for our nation's kids.

And to help us better protect our kids, Child Passenger Safety Week winds up on September 24 with National Seat Check Saturday.  At sites around the country, certified child safety seat technicians will be on hand to inspect car seats and assist parents and caregivers with correct installation. 

You can find information about safety seat checks near you at www.nhtsa.gov/cps/CPSFitting/index.cfm.

But that's not all we have in store; stay tuned later this week for an announcement about another exciting child safety initative.

It's all part of NHTSA's efforts to keep Americans and their children safe in and around automobiles.  And it's one more way we at DOT demonstrate that safety truly is our number one priority.

Congress passes FAA, surface transportation extensions that keep jobs; now let's talk about creating jobs

Last night, the U.S. Senate followed the House and voted to extend authority for the Federal Aviation Administration and our nation's surface transportation programs to continue operating.  Passing this legislation keeps hundreds of thousands of men and women on the job.   For commuters, truck drivers, and air travelers, it will allow critical road, transit, and airport projects to move forward.

Our surface transportation law provides money to the states for thousands of transportation projects currently under construction around the country.   The hundreds of thousands of workers on road and transit project job sites across America will all breathe a little easier this weekend without the threat of a shutdown looming over them.  And our valuable professionals at the FAA will be able to go about their business of modernizing our airports and researching new and better ways to run the best aviation system in the world.

Now it's time for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act and put even more men and women back to work across the country.  The American Jobs Act will help us build roads, repair bridges, and modernize our rails and runways, all of which are essential to boosting the economy and spurring economic development in communities from coast to coast.

When we put people back to work on transportation projects, we won't just get lower unemployment rates.  We'll get roadways that are safer, bridges that aren't cracking beneath loads they weren't built to carry, and new bus and transit routes to spur development.  We'll get reduced highway bottlenecks for America's truck drivers and fewer rail bottlenecks for freight trains.  We'll get ports where containers can move from ship to truck or rail faster than ever before.

Our nation deserves a transportation network that once again allows American businesses to compete and win.  I thank Congress for allowing the professionals at DOT to continue their important work.  And I urge members to turn their attention to the American Jobs Act.  Let's put people back to work.

 
In Raleigh, North Carolina, President Obama urges Congress to pass the American Jobs Act

Secretaries' Cup back on Kings Point campus

My alma mater, Bradley University, hasn’t had a football team for a long time.  In fact, the school discontinued its football program while I was still a student.  So on Saturdays in the fall, I like to check in on the football team for DOT's service academy, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.

And although there are still a lot of football games left to play this season, it will be difficult for the Mariners to top Saturday’s last-second win over their long-time rivals, the Bears of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

It doesn’t get all the attention of the Army-Navy Game, but the rivalry between these two service academies is just as intense.  When the Coast Guard was part of the DOT family, the two teams would play each year for a trophy called the Secretary’s Cup.  Now that the Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security, the trophy has been renamed the Secretaries’ Cup. But whatever it's called, both teams and their fans circle this match-up on their calendars every year.

The two teams met again Saturday, with the Mariners looking to reclaim the cup after last year's narrow loss.  It didn’t look good to start. Down 14-0 and then 21-10, the Mariners fought back to tie the game with 1:53 remaining.  Kings Point drove down the field and, with only eight seconds left, Chase Dunn, a sophomore from Dade City, FL, caught his third touchdown pass of the day to bring the Secretaries’ Cup back to Kings Point in thrilling fashion, 35-28.

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and USMMA Superintendent RADM Philip Greene
pose with the Mariners and the newly reclaimed Secretaries' Cup

Faces of Distracted Driving: Xzavier Davis-Bilbo "If you still think it's okay to text and drive, watch this story"

At 5-years-old, Xzavier Davis-Bilbo was only just starting to figure out who he was and what he wanted to be.  But he was always on the move--running around the house from the moment he woke up in the morning until the moment he got wrestled into bed at night.

More than anything, he loved football.  And he was sure that one day he'd grow up to be a star player, with his mom Valetta sitting in the stands somewhere chanting, "X! X! X!"

But, those were last year's dreams.  This year, Xzavier and Valetta are coming to grips with a different future--a future where a text message cost Xzavier his ability to walk.

Infrastructurist readers keep "On the Go" going strong

Cross-posted courtesy of The Infrastructurist

A heartfelt thanks to readers of The Infrastructurist for submitting some terrific questions to "On the Go with Ray LaHood."  As you know, the President is putting a spotlight on America's transportation infrastructure because these projects can create jobs right now and improve our nation's economic competitiveness.

Transportation leaders know this; construction leaders know this; and, based on your questions, the readers of www.infrastructurist.com know this.

As you also know, I can't answer every question submitted for "On the Go."   But thanks to The Infrastructurist, I’ve got a little more room to answer some of your questions about transit, tolling, and trucks from Mexico.

Get Real asks: “Transit users are highly subsidized; why should they receive this huge level of public subsidy?”

Public transit offers one of the best returns on investment in US transportation today.  In fact, for every billion dollars we invest each year, we generate well over three billion in cost-savings and other economic benefits.  Millions of low-income workers with access to affordable bus and rail service can find and keep jobs, stay off public assistance, and support their families.  This helps staff America's businesses.  Transit reduces traffic congestion, which also helps businesses stay productive.  When transit is available, the elderly can remain longer in their homes, reducing the burden of costly nursing facilities on our health insurance programs.  And transit helps keep tailpipe emissions down, improving the air we breathe.  Investing in transit adds value to our communities and our nation; without question, it is money well spent.

 

Oakland International air traffic control tower project: putting men and women to work, modernizing the way we move

Transportation leaders from all sectors of the industry know that we can put men and women back to work upgrading our highways, transit, and airports. That's why President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act last week, and that's why we need Congress to pass it. 

Yesterday, for example, Federal Aviation Administrator Randy Babbitt and I visited a project that is doing just that, a new air traffic control tower under construction at Oakland International Airport.  Oakland International is an important airport in a crucial location, serving 10 million people each year. Modernizing its tower is an important step for those passengers and for all passengers flying in and out of the Bay Area.

And there are many other good projects across the country where we could put workers back on job sites improving the way we get people and products where they need to go.  As Administrator Babbitt said, "We've got a lot of improvements we need to do, and these projects are critical."

Now, I'm encouraged that the House of Representatives took action yesterday to pass a short-term surface transportation and FAA reauthorization. I hope that bill can make its way through the Senate before Friday's deadline.

 

At the same time, I want to remind Congress that this would be the 22nd such short-term extension for the FAA.  Parceling out money in these short increments makes it nearly impossible to plan long-term improvements, and failing to be strategic in this way ends up costing American taxpayers.  It's no way to run the best aviation system in the world.

It's also no way to turn the American economy around.  In the name of solving the American people's most pressing problem--unemployment--we must go beyond the short-term.  As Administrator Babbitt said, "Putting the FAA in a holding pattern is no way to do business."

We're not just talking about the FAA and airports. We need to do big things throughout our transportation network, and we can if Congress passes the American Jobs Act.

New I-10 Twin Span Bridges built to withstand storms, improve shipping, reduce congestion in New Orleans

From tornadoes to hurricanes to tropical storms, the federal government plays an important role in helping communities prepare, respond, and rebuild in times of crisis or natural disaster.  One example is the Gulf Coast region, which has undergone an extraordinary recovery since Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005.

On Thursday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Mayor Mitch Landrieu for the ribbon cutting of the I-10 Twin Span Bridges, one of the largest public works projects in Louisiana history.

Administrator Mendez (right) cutting the ribbon on the new I-10 Twin Span Bridge near New Orleans
with Gov. Bobby Jindal and LaDOTD Secretary Sherri LeBas, photo courtesy Doug Hecox, FHWA

The Twin Span Bridges project marks a significant national milestone in the recovery of the Gulf Coast region after Hurricane Katrina, and New Orleans’ ongoing efforts to rebuild.  After the original crossing was shut down following hurricane damage, the Federal Highway Administration committed $800 million in emergency funding to build this magnificent new Lake Pontchartrain crossing, which I'm happy to say was delivered both on budget and ahead of schedule.

September "On the Go" shows DOT working hard to keep America moving

Today, I'm happy to share our latest installment of "On The Go with Ray LaHood," and I urge you to watch it and share it with others who are interested in America's transportation system.

I think we can all agree that it's important to keep the lines of communication open between you and your government, and I love having the opportunity to answer your questions.  This month, we received a number of great questions, including many from readers of The Infrastructurist.

 

If you want to know what DOT can do to help create jobs and increase our economic competitiveness, this month's "On The Go" is for you.  If you're wondering what DOT is doing to facilitate more public-private partnerships, this month's "On The Go" is for you.  If you want to see how DOT responds to local communities with common sense, then this month's "On The Go" is for you.

If it sounds like this month's "On The Go" offers a little something for everyone, that's because DOT is working hard in a wide variety of ways to keep Americans and our economy moving safely and effectively.

Do you have a question you'd like me to answer?  You can:

• Post on my Facebook Discussion board;
• Tweet me using the #q4ray hashtag; or
• Leave a comment here on my blog.

Thanks for watching, and check back tomorrow to read a few more of my answers to questions we couldn't get to in this month's video.

Easing congestion, enhancing competitiveness, employing construction workers; 11th Street Bridge demonstrates benefits of American Jobs Act

Last Friday, with Washington, DC, mayor Vincent Gray, I visited a construction site where 380 workers are on the job.

What are the workers on the 11th Street Bridge project doing?  They're replacing two existing bridges with three new bridges and improving interchanges for local and freeway traffic.  By 2030, these bridges are expected to serve nearly 180,000 cars, trucks, and buses every day.

Thanks to $189 million from the Federal Highway Administration, this project will relieve congestion on a crucial artery and boost the region's ability to move people and products when it is completed in 2013.  For the 380 workers building the new bridges and interchanges, the project is putting them on the job site right now.

And that's exactly what the American Jobs Act, introduced last week by President Obama, wants to do more of.  Across the country, all 50 states have roads and bridges that need maintenance and modernization, and they have new projects ready to go, projects that will relieve congestion and enhance economic competitiveness.

At the same time we’ve got unemployed construction workers standing by, ready to roll up their sleeves.  A nation with work to do, and workers who are ready to do that work; this is the moment for Congress to pass the American Jobs Act.

Day of Service inspires hope

Yesterday, I was proud to join with volunteers from DOT and hundreds of remarkable students from The George Washington University to honor those we lost on September 11th by serving communities in Washington, DC.

On a day when our nation recalled the terrible tragedy of September 11, 2001, more than a million Americans across the country came together to pay tribute to those who perished that day, including the first responders who sacrificed their lives in service of their fellow Americans.  And the community spirit I saw from these volunteers--and from volunteers across the country who chose to make 9-11 a National Day of Service--was an inspiration.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari with two of his kids join Deputy FTA Administrator Terese McMillan painting
a world map on one of the hallway walls at Ketcham Elementary School

At Ketcham Elementary School in Washington, DC, more than 250 members of GW's freshman class joined a team of DOT volunteers to paint murals and perform clean-up work.  And at nearby Fort Dupont Park, more than 400 GW freshmen joined another DOT team at nine different sites in the park to help remove invasive species, clear clogged drainage culverts, and clean up trash and debris.

A DOT trio spreads mulch to beautify a picnic area in Fort Dupont Park

The groups from DOT responded to President Obama's call to service, and the need to volunteer, by giving back to our communities.  By lending a hand and working together, the volunteers from GW University and DOT made a big difference for everyone who enjoys our public spaces and for the faculty, families, and students of Ketcham Elementary.

DC Schools 9/11 Victims Honored by Day of Service: MyFoxDC.com

Ohio River bridge closure one more reason to pass the American Jobs Act

On Thursday night, the President made a strong case for putting people back to work across the country, especially in modernizing our infrastructure, the backbone of our economy.  And just yesterday, we saw another example of why this is so crucial--not just to put more Americans back to work, but to protect people's safety and keep our economy moving.

On Friday, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was forced to shut down a major Ohio River crossing on Interstate 64 just before rush hour because of a large crack that threatens the critical load-carrying element of the bridge.  Structural engineers from the public and private sectors and from engineering universities recommended closing the bridge.  The Federal Highway Administration is helping state officials evaluate the crack more thoroughly to determine the best course of action.

Sherman Minton Bridge, photo courtesy Matt Stone, Courier-Journal

Whatever they determine, closing the Sherman Minton Bridge will put a big crimp into interstate commerce and getting people to their jobs and home again.  The bridge is a primary link for commuters between New Albany, Indiana, and Louisville, Kentucky.  I-64 is a major highway for east and westbound freight, connecting the important hub of St. Louis with points east. 

All told, the bridge carries 75,000 cars, turcks, and buses each day, and these vehicles now must be rerouted onto alternate routes, which are already congested and not designed to handle this extra capacity.  This will slow things down considerably for tens of thousands of commuters and for tens of thousands of truck drivers trying to deliver the goods that keep our economy going.

Modernizing the half-century old Sherman Minton Bridge is long overdue.  Fortunately, President Obama has a plan--the American Jobs Act--to help Indiana, Kentucky, and other states' critical roads, bridges, and transit systems across the country.  The President's plan would put our friends and neighbors back to work, modernizing our roads, upgrading our runways, and repairing our rails.

 

Kirk Bergstrom, back on the job thanks to federal transportation investments

Last night, as President Obama addressed Congress on the American Jobs Act, Kirk Bergstrom, a construction engineer from Centennial, Colorado, who personifies our economic challenges, sat in the First Lady’s box.

Kirk Bergstrom (far right) in the First Lady's box, photo courtesy AP

Here's what I mean.  Kirk Bergstrom is a stand-up guy, one of those Americans who has played by the rules all his life.  He went to college to improve his opportunities. He developed his skills and experience through more than a decade working in his field.  He got married and began raising a family.  He was doing all the right things.

Then, when the recession began, he was laid off from a company he'd been with for 11 steady years.  He was picked up by another construction company, but was laid off again.  Hired back by his original company, he was again let go when the projects dried up.

Meeting the Bergstrom family, photo credit US DOT

For long stretches during this period--three months, six months, another six months--Kirk was unemployed.  But even then he would not give up.  He took part-time work in a warehouse while his wife struggled to hold down different part-time jobs.  The bills--mortgage, utilities, groceries--piled up.

"My wife and I," Kirk says, "would sit up at night and just stare at each other, not knowing what to say."

Building bridges to a stronger economy through the American Jobs Act

Last night, President Obama spoke to a joint session of Congress and the American people about his plan to create American jobs right now.  Putting American workers on transportation construction sites is a crucial part of the President's vision.  Now, it's up to Congress to set aside the politics and partisanship and pass the American Jobs Act.

Every proposal in the American Jobs Act is the kind that’s been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past.  Every proposal in the Act will be paid for.  And every proposal is designed to meet the urgent needs of our people and our communities.  This Act will make a significant difference in job creation and economic growth as soon as Congress acts on this important legislation.

Two key elements of President Obama's proposal are immediate infrastructure investments and creation of a National Infrastructure Bank, an idea with strong bipartisan support.  These programs will help us modernize our roads, rails, and airports while also putting hundreds of thousands of our friends and neighbors back on the job.

Photos courtesy White House, Pete Souza

As I've said many times, there are no Republican bridges or Democratic roads.  These are projects that both parties have always agreed upon.  And this call has been joined by leaders from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka to U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Thomas Donohue.  Why?  Because transportation is an economic engine in community after community, from coast to coast.

Air traffic professionals recall team effort to save a child’s life on 9/11

On Monday, the FAA shared a great video recalling the monumental effort it took to safely land all of the planes in U.S. airspace following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. 

One of the unforeseen consequences of that effort was the grounding of a plane that had been scheduled to fly a lifesaving mission from Nashville to Houston.  When the attacks began, Tennessee Donor Services was readying a flight to carry an 11-ounce liver, newly recovered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to Kareena, a 6-month old girl awaiting that precious cargo 800 miles away.

The organization's director, Jill Grandas, called the Nashville tower for help.  Air traffic manager Sherry Jensen took the call and began working with Mark Herron, the tower's operations manager, to secure a plane to transport the delicate organ.

“She was able to make it real for us,” Jensen said of Jill Grandas. “It became a life for us, someone we could do something for that day.”

Maritime Administration's "SafeStor" helps communities prepare for and recover from disasters

Today, I want to highlight one of the ways DOT is helping America's coastal regions cope with severe weather -- particularly during this hurricane season.  While I've often talked about the superb job DOT's Maritime Administration does to support waterborne transportation and commercial activity at America's ports, not many people know that MARAD also maintains a fleet of stand-by cargo ships that can assist during natural disasters.

Cape Edmont

This fleet of vessels is called the Ready Reserve Force, and its primary responsibility is to transport Army and Marine Corps equipment, combat support equipment, and supplies to US troops at a moment's notice, before commercial ships can arrive.  Anywhere it’s needed, at any time.

Because of their rapid deployment capabilities, Ready Reserve ships can also help communities prepare for hurricanes and recover from disaster.   Small maintenance crews stand ready to load cargo onboard and house first responders with very little notice before a mjaor storm arrives.  We call this program "SafeStor," and, especially during hurricane season, many ports welcome this secure storage capability.

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda learns about the cargo capacity of the Cape Edmont

Our Ready Reserve vessels offer a safe haven for essential personnel, equipment, and emergency food and medical aid needed to get affected areas up and running as soon as possible.  Typically, local emergency management organizations use SafeStor to ensure their rescue boats, skid mounted helicopters, and vehicles--like fire trucks and road-clearing euqipment--will be available without delay once a storm passes. 

It all comes together to create an ideal location for local first responders and their equipment to ride out a big storm. 

NOYS National Distracted Driving Summit an opportunity for youth to make a difference

In our campaign for driving safety, one of our strongest partners is the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS).  The exceptional young people who make up NOYS are tireless safety advocates who have been enthusiastic participants in our fight to end distracted driving.

To train and empower even more youth leaders to help address this important safety issue, NOYS will host its 2011 Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC, on October 17, and they are looking for young people who want to participate.

   

NOYS believes that effective prevention programs for teens should be teen-led and teen-informed.  And, on this particular issue, peer-to-peer communication is especially important.  In 2009, the highest proportion of distracted drivers in fatal crashes was under the age of 20.

Summit participants will learn all about the most current distracted driving research, and about how to use a wide range of communication tools to persuade drivers to hang up their phones when they get behind the wheel.

After the summit, participants become safety ambassadors, applying what they learned.  They'll create programs to bring back to their schools and communities to help reduce distracted driving among their peers.

Rescue at Water’s Edge

Yesterday I wrote about the air traffic professionals who safely cleared America's airspace on the tragic morning of September 11, 2001.  Today, the Maritime Administration is proud to share a new video about the merchant mariners of the New York City area who used their skills and vessels to help evacuate more than 300,000 people from the chaos of Lower Manhattan.

"Rescue at Water's Edge" tells the story of the tugs, ferries, and tour boats--manned by selfless captains and crew members--who sailed into an uncertain situation to shuttle people away from the horror downtown.

 

Instead of heading for safety, the watermen and women of New York and New Jersey steered toward the thick clouds of smoke.  They began picking up shocked passengers and transporting them away from the devastation.  Joining them were cadets, faculty, and staff from the US Merchant Marine Academy at nearby Kings Point.  Their combined efforts became the largest unplanned water evacuation in our nation's history.

Passengers gather at the waterfront to await evacuation,, photo courtesy USCG

The passengers on these boats knew only that two planes had already struck the twin towers of the World Trade Center, lives had been lost, and all roads, tunnels, and transit out of Lower Manhattan were closed.  They needed to get away, and New York's waters offered the only outlet. 

In addition to ferrying passengers out of harm's way, the maritime community also delivered emergency workers and medical supplies into Manhattan, supporting the first responders on the scene.

Answering the call for "All available boats," photo courtesy NYPD

On 9/11, many, many police officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and merchant mariners--like American heroes of previous generations--responded by fearlessly going into harm's way to do the right thing.  We can't thank them enough for their courage.

President calls for clean extension of transportation bill: Jobs are at stake, and the clock is ticking

In his weekly address on Saturday, President Obama called on Congress to do what it has done seven times over the past two years: pass a clean extension of the transportation bill.  

Allowing funding for America's roads and bridges to expire would be disastrous for our nation's economy, costing nearly one million construction workers their jobs over the next year, furloughing 4,000 transportation professionals, and losing almost $1 billion in revenue after the first ten days alone. 

According to a new report from the National Economic Council, a lapse in the federal program that supports road, bridge, and transit work would jeopardize more than 140,000 active projects and hundreds of thousands of jobs.  As the President said, "Those are serious consequences, and the pain will be felt all across the country.  In Virginia, 19,000 jobs are at risk. In Minnesota, more than 12,000. And in Florida, over 35,000 people could be out of work if Congress doesn’t act."

Click on the graphic above to see how many jobs your state is expected to lose if a clean extension is not passed.

At the local level, the economic impact--in addition to the lost jobs--will be severe.  Because state and local authorities expend their own resources before being reimbursed by federal surface transportation accounts, letting the law expire will subject them to significant financial exposure they will be unable to withstand.

These are outcomes we simply cannot afford.  The US Chamber of Commerce knows this.  The AFL-CIO knows this.  And the US Conference of Mayors knows this.

Ten years later: Air traffic controllers remember 9/11

This Sunday, our nation will mark a somber occasion, the tenth anniversary of September 11th.  There is much to remember about that day--the thousands of lives lost and families upended, the life-saving first responders at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the heroes of United Airlines flight 93.

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration is sharing a video about the quick-thinking air traffic professionals who recognized that the errant blips on their radar screens posed a potential threat to every passenger on every plane in our skies that morning.  In response, they were able to completely shut down U.S. airspace.

 

“The men and women who control air traffic in this country realized we were under attack on that terrible day and had the skill to quickly land thousands of planes,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “Ten years later we are still incredibly proud of their work.”

This is a radar view of US airspace on 9/11, before controllers took action

Those controllers took an unprecedented situation and used their training and experience to bring those thousands of planes safely down and out of harm's way.  They do an outstanding job every day, and we commend the decisive action they took on September 11th.

 
US airspace later on 9/11, after the complete shutdown

TIGER II grant to Tower 55 project in Ft. Worthwill create jobs, relieve major rail bottleneck

Imagine a railroad intersection where ten freight and passenger rail lines cross paths, carrying more than 100 trains a day.  That is Tower 55, in Ft. Worth, Texas, and it is one of the busiest rail intersections in America.

Unfortunately, the high volume at Tower 55 causes terrible delays, for freight and passenger rail as well as cars and trucks on area roadways.  And if we want to get our economy back on track, this nation needs to be able to get goods to markets and get people where they need to go.

So, yesterday in Ft. Worth, it was with great pleasure that I committed $34 million in TIGER II money to fund major rail improvements on the Tower 55 project and reduce traffic delays there by 100,000 hours per year.  Once complete, rail capacity will increase by more than 30 percent, making it more efficient for rail freight shippers and improving commuter rail reliability and performance.

As U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison--who fought hard to make this project happen--said, “Tower 55 is a crossroads of the North American continent.  This project will allow the Tower to go from a legacy chokepoint to the model of a freight and passenger checkpoint, a facility featuring efficiency, safety, and convenience.”

In the short-term alone, we'll be creating 900 jobs installing new signaling, bridge upgrades, a third track line, and improved street and pedestrian crossings.  And that is welcome news for construction workers.

Talking with construction workers, photo courtesy City of Ft. Worth

Building a road to new jobs

I am thrilled to be back in Dallas, and just like my last visit, today promises to be a big day in Big D. 

Earlier today, I saw the exciting revitalization work going on at Love Field.  These upgrades demonstrate that investments in America’s transportation system are essential for job-creation today and critical to American businesses and the economy over the long-run.

Signing an I-beam at Love Field, photo credit US DOT

I also attended a listening and action session of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness at Southern Methodist University.   I was there to deliver a simple message: America needs a Transportation Jobs Bill.

And the Dallas Morning News was kind enough to publish an opinion essay I wrote on that important topic:

Building a Road to New Jobs
Cross-posted courtesy Dallas Morning News

In 2005, the World Economic Forum ranked America’s infrastructure the best in the world. Today, we aren’t even ranked in the top 10.

The need for investment in this country is enormous. Highways are choked with congestion. Bridges are crumbling after years of neglect. Daily commutes have grown longer, more crowded and more expensive. Airport, transit and shipping delays cost businesses billions of dollars every year.

At the same time, nearly one in five construction workers is looking for employment.

This is worse than an economic problem. This is a missed opportunity.

DOT partners with Greater Denver to create jobs, add transportation options, and boost development

During the last three years, the Obama administration has been making targeted investments in transportation projects across America to get our fellow citizens back to work, improve mobility and lay the foundation for future economic growth.

Yesterday, we furthered our goal by committing $1 billion to Denver’s Eagle P3 commuter rail project, a 30-mile, two-pronged commuter rail project that will create 4,700 jobs, ease congestion, and bring real transportation choices to the Denver metro region.

Hundreds of area residents turned out for the celebration in Olde Town Arvada, where I signed the funding agreement at the site of a future Gold Line transit station along the western spur of the project. The community's excitement was overwhelming, and it was shared by the many officials from across the Denver region and Colorado who came to show their support for the project.

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff and I were joined by Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative Diana DeGette, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and many, many other area officials. It was impressive to see so many mayors and officials throughout the Denver region come together to make this visionary Eagle P3 transit expansion a reality.

Signing the agreement, photo credit US DOT