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At DOT, greener transportation includes roadways

At DOT, we know that by making our infrastructure smarter and greener, we can give our environment a break while still keeping the public moving safely, growing our nation's economy, and reducing congestion.

And that commitment to better air quality is not limited to transit and bicycling; it also includes the important work we do on America's roadways.

Today, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez spoke about FHWA’s commitment to providing more sustainable transportation options at the American Council on Renewable Energy’s (ACORE) first ever Transportation and Renewable Energy Industry Forum. And he had plenty to talk about.

For example, the Every Day Counts initiative gives states tools and new technologies for accelerating project construction, so people can see the benefits of new projects sooner. The sooner we can help relieve congestion, the sooner the emissions associated with traffic jams can be eliminated.

One of our biggest success stories for reducing congestion is a technology called Adaptive Signal Control. This approach adjusts traffic signals to actual conditions, instead of having them run on pre-set schedules. By some estimates, national deployment of this technology could cut traffic delays by up to 40 percent, cut fuel consumption by 10 percent for an annual savings of 17 billion gallons, and cut emissions by 22 percent.

In addition, FHWA is also encouraging states to use a technology called Warm Mix Asphalt, which can be placed on the road at lower temperatures than more traditional “hot mix.” What difference does that make? It significantly reduces the amount of energy needed to complete a paving project. 

DOT, FTA ready for long overdue transit safety mission

One of the most promising provisions in MAP-21, the new transportation bill, is that--for the first time--transit passengers in America will travel on a system protected by robust federal safety oversight. This means that when you board a light rail, commuter rail, subway, or bus you will be able to ride with confidence.

At DOT, we have been fighting for this safety measure since 2009, when I first submitted to Congress a proposal to establish and enforce minimum federal safety standards for rail transit systems.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari

We've been working hard every day to ensure the safety of America's airways, roadways, and railways. But the missing piece of our safety efforts has been the authority to regulate safety on the nation’s public transportation systems.

MAP-21 puts the missing piece of that safety puzzle into place. And yesterday, Deputy Secretary John Porcari celebrated our new responsibility at a transit maintenance facility in Hyattsville, Maryland:

“Safety is our highest priority. This legislation takes a long overdue step that will provide Americans with the confidence that the buses, subways, streetcar, and light rail systems they ride every day are the safest in the world.”

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.