FY18 Budget Caps Increase By Another $558 Million
April 5, 2018 – The fiscal 2018 spending caps were raised by another $558 million this week, but very quietly. And, as usual, it is the fault of the Transportation-HUD Subcommittee.
Omnibus Bill Triples USDOT’s Discretionary Grant Money
April 4, 2018 – The just-enacted omnibus appropriations act for fiscal year 2018 has tripled the amount of funding available for the U.S. Department of Transportation to select its own transportation projects to fund – from $2.2 billion in 2017 to $6.7 billion in 2018.
Tax Cut Law Forces Change in Offset for Excise Tax Change Proposals
April 3, 2018 – The cost of increasing the federal gasoline tax just got lower. (The financial cost to general revenues, not the political cost.)
Managing transportation infrastructure in the digital age
It is an exciting time in the transportation industry. Never before have we seen technology revolutionize transportation systems so quickly and so dramatically. Transportation agencies, like the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), are working tirelessly to learn about and test new technologies that could ultimately be implemented as…
FY18 Omnibus Revives 2020 Census Funding: Question Bias and Lack of Testing Still Could Hold Back Transportation Research
Census data is critical for a myriad of research areas, including public health, education, economics, and of course infrastructure and transportation. This data is vital to transportation planners to understand the past and plan for the future in land use and transportation.
Trump Signs FY18 Omnibus Bill into Law
After the House passed the $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations package last Thursday, the bill passed the Senate and was signed into law by President Trump.
Op-Ed: Good Public Policy Drives Freight Rail Investment (Not Public Funding)
President Trump and many in Congress have placed a high priority on infrastructure investment. The Administration’s plan has significant federal funding associated with it, primarily aimed at attracting more non-federal dollars into infrastructure, including private sector investment. As Congress and the Administration consider this approach, it should be reassuring that…
Op-Ed: What’s the big deal about celebrating Women’s History Month in the transportation industry?
Women still face challenges in the transportation industry — the same challenges faced by women across all industries: glass ceilings, lack of opportunity, lack of diversity, safety issues, unequal pay, and sexual harassment. These challenges hurt the industry as they waste time, money, and human resources, which affect critical mission achievement. There must be attention and intention to remove these barriers.
Integrating Dockless Bikeshare in your Community
Even without a financial commitment, localities offering their valuable public space for operations are investing in dockless bikeshare companies. As a savvy investor, local governments and agencies must ensure they see measurable returns that advance transportation goals.
Building a Blueprint for Ending Roadway Fatalities
For the first time since recordkeeping began over a hundred years ago, unintentional injury has catapulted to the #3 overall cause of death for Americans. Motor vehicle crashes are a top cause of unintentional death throughout our lives. However they disproportionately affect children and young adults, meaning they take lives…