It’s nearly unfathomable how much we rely on healthy oceans. These remarkable ecosystems feed us, provide jobs, and generate trillions of dollars in economic activity. But, every day, our oceans are threatened by unsustainable illegal fishing, marine pollution and climate change.
Secretary of State John Kerry launched the Our Ocean Conference in 2014 to draw attention to these threats and to empower future generations to be responsible stewards of our oceans. It’s a privilege for me to let FastLane readers know that SeaVision — developed by DOT’s go-to multimodal research arm, Volpe, the National Transportation Systems Center, on behalf of the U.S. Navy — will be one of the three featured exhibits at Our Ocean 2016.
Earlier this week, I attended the Pro Walk/Pro Bike/Pro Place Conference in Vancouver, Canada, where two outstanding DOT employees were recognized by the Association of Pedestrian & Bicycle Professionals (APBP) for their singular efforts in creating safer, more efficient street networks for those traveling on foot, by bike and in vehicles.
Barbara McCann of the Office of the Secretary of Transportation was presented with the 2016 ABPB Lifetime Achievement Award, while Dan Goodman of the Federal Highway Administration was named the recipient of the APBP 2016 Professional of the Year – Public Sector Award.
The beautiful weather and strong job market have long made San Diego one of America’s most desirable and fastest-growing metro areas. But, as Southern Californians well know, that often means more cars on the road and more congestion.
At the Federal Transit Administration, we’re committed to helping local partners find the best solutions to their mobility issues. Today, I’m proud to join San Diego officials to announce a $1.04 billion Full Funding Grant Agreement for the Mid-Coast Trolley project, which will offer a new, modern transit option to connect the area’s most in-demand destinations.
The General Dynamics/NASSCO shipyard has been designing and building ships in San Diego’s industrial corridor for decades, and is one of only a few full service shipyards on the West Coast of the United States.
I was in San Diego, California recently for the christening and launch of the latest vessel to come off their line – the 610 foot SEACOR tanker, Constitution.
How Transit Can Change Lives
At the Federal Transit Administration, it’s always a pleasure to meet with our colleagues from throughout the industry at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Annual Meeting, which I addressed earlier this week in Los Angeles.
Conferences like these bring people together to talk about the future. But today, I also wanted to share a look back at our past – the highlights of what we’ve accomplished together over the past eight years.
I’m proud to once again participate in the Put the Brakes on Fatalities campaign, as I have for the past several years. The folks at Kansas DOT are doing important work highlighting the ways all of us can have a positive impact on safety, and I’m grateful for the platform to share our perspective at the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Safety is always our number one priority. Transportation systems simply don’t work if people can’t get where they need to go. When developing new policies and regulations, and in awarding grants through programs like TIGER and FASTLANE, we are constantly evaluating how each and every project we’re involved in contributes to a safer environment.
Watch: DOT After 9/11
Yesterday, Americans across the country came together in service and remembrance to mark the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On one of the darkest days in our nation’s history, the Federal Aviation Administration helped bring every aircraft in the U.S. airspace safely to ground, and U.S. Merchant Mariners rushed to New York Harbor to help evacuate thousands who had sought refuge from the chaos of Lower Manhattan.
Former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta explains how the Department of Transportation changed after 9/11:
Have you ever looked around your neighborhood and thought to yourself: “There should be a bus stop here.” Or watched as a mother dashes across a busy intersection with her children and thought: “We need a crosswalk to make that intersection safer.”
The process of fixing these issues is often mired in confusing transportation jargon – but DOT’s new Every Place Counts: Leadership Academy is here to help.
As we mark the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, we remember the thousands of innocent lives lost on that tragic day.
In our latest 50th Anniversary video, my predecessor, former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, reflects on the events of the morning of 9/11 and pays tribute to the heroic efforts of those who saved countless lives.
While every transit project is unique, they tend to share some similar traits, including making our communities more livable by encouraging economic growth and connecting people to opportunity.
Today, I’m proud to join community leaders in Cincinnati, Ohio for the grand opening of such a project: the Cincinnati Bell Connector.
