U.S. DOT
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Trump Administration Trying to Snuff Out Climate Progress at U.S. DOT
The White House is trying to squash assessments of how transportation projects affect carbon pollution. NRDC, Clean Air Carolina, and U.S. PIRG are suing the administration to ensure these climate impacts are publicly disclosed.
August 3, 2017
NTSB: Speed Kills, and We’re Not Doing Enough to Stop It
In a draft report released earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board says excessive speed is a deadly problem in our nation's transportation system -- one that federal and state officials aren't doing enough to address.
July 27, 2017
Trump DOT Shuts Down Civil Rights Probe of Larry Hogan’s Decision to Kill the Red Line
The issue may be settled at U.S. DOT, but it's not going away. All five Democratic challengers to Larry Hogan's 2018 gubernatorial run have said they'll revive the Red Line.
July 17, 2017
When Will America’s Street Design Bible Enter the 21st Century?
Last year, the number of people killed on U.S. roads surged back above 40,000. But you don't see much urgency on the part of the transportation engineering establishment to change a failing street design paradigm. So we checked in with one of the engineers in charge of America's street design bible.
March 14, 2017
Transportation Agencies Will Finally Measure the Movement of People, Not Just Cars
Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent in the quest for free-flowing vehicular traffic. The result is wider highways, more sprawl, and more people stuck in congestion. But this week U.S. DOT took an important step to change course, releasing new standards to guide how transportation agencies measure their performance. Advocates for transit and walkability say the policy is a significant improvement.
January 12, 2017
3 Highlights From Elaine Chao’s Very Vague Confirmation Hearing
Chao gave a tight-lipped performance that didn't reveal much about how she would use the regulatory and approval power at her disposal, but here are three instances where you can try to read the tea leaves.
January 11, 2017
Trump’s Pick for U.S. DOT Is GOP Insider Elaine Chao
Chao was secretary of labor under George W. Bush and is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Her family owns an international shipping empire.
November 29, 2016
Will US DOT’s Self-Driving Car Rules Make Streets Safe for Walking and Biking?
This week, U.S. DOT released guidelines for self-driving cars, a significant step as regulators prepare for companies to bring this new technology to market. Autonomous vehicles raise all sorts of questions about urban transportation systems. It's up to advocates to ensure that the technology helps accomplish broader goals like safer streets and more efficient use of urban space, instead of letting private companies dictate the terms.
September 22, 2016
FHWA’s New Goal: Eliminating Pedestrian and Cyclist Deaths in America
The Federal Highway Administration wants to eliminate pedestrian and cyclist fatalities "in the next 20 to 30 years." In a new strategic plan [PDF], the agency calls for reducing serious injuries and deaths 80 percent in the next 15 years, which would be an intermediate goal on the way to zero.
September 15, 2016
Engineers to U.S. DOT: Transportation Is About More Than Moving Cars
A trade group representing the transportation engineering profession thinks it's high time for American policy makers to stop focusing so much on moving single-occupancy vehicles.
August 26, 2016