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

Merchant mariners have an important place in Veterans Day ceremonies

On this Veterans Day morning, I had the honor of laying a wreath and saying a few words at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC. 

 
We gather on Veterans Day to remember all the veterans who have defended freedom and democracy against the forces of tyranny and oppression around the world, but this occasion was especially to recall the bravery, skill, and camaraderie of the generation who fought in the Second World War.  

As Secretary of Transportation, I represented the United States Merchant Marine at the ceremony.  Merchant mariners have an important place in our national story, and they wrote a particularly compelling chapter in World War II.

 
Throughout our history, our Armed Forces have needed the Merchant Marine to support any overseas conflict or emergency.  Merchant mariners command and sail the commercial ships that carry the supplies, and, in many conflicts, carried the troops.

In World War II, merchant mariners crossed hostile waters in all the oceans of the world.  More than 6,000 of them lost their lives.  General Dwight Eisenhower, the commander of the D-Day invasion, said, “When final victory is ours, there is no organization that will share its credit more deservedly than the Merchant Marine.”

Our merchant mariners continue to serve America, supporting our Armed Forces.  More than 85% of the supplies and equipment for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are carried aboard ships crewed by civilian mariners.

Let us remember all these brave individuals who risked their lives crossing the Atlantic, the Pacific, the Persian Gulf, and many other seas to transport essential goods or bring soldiers and others out of harm’s way.  They served bravely to preserve the freedoms we enjoy, and it is right to remember them with honor and with gratitude.

The FAA, an active and vigilant partner in aviation safety

Today I want to focus on aviation safety and share some things I told the National Air Transportation Association earlier in the week.

The basic point--that safety is this DOT's number one priority--cannot be said too many times. However, I think it's important to make one other point very clearly:

The Obama Administration's Federal Aviation Administration is an active and vigilant partner, and we are moving aggressively to put new safety measures in place.

Now, there are two parts to this claim.

One--the new FAA is active and vigilant.

For that look no further than the recent incident where two Northwest Airlines pilots overflew their destination on the way to Minneapolis. The FAA took action immediately, revoking the pilots’ licenses within a matter of days.

Two--the new FAA is a partner, working with key stakeholders to solve aviation problems.

In June, for example, we issued a call to action encouraging all players in the aviation industry-–labor, management, and the FAA--to come together to scrutinize operations, share best practices, and implement actions we know can improve safety. 

We held twelve different regional stakeholder meetings over the summer, and this process is going to produce a number of important improvements in the way safety is practiced and managed in the industry:

• A new flight-and-rest rule;
• New guidance on comprehensive crew training; and
• Continued emphasis on greater professionalism across the aviation industry

We cannot say that safety is our highest priority, and then fail to follow through. So you can expect a more proactive FAA.

Look, folks, I travel by air a lot. And I am regularly impressed by the professionalism of the many different crews I see, just as I am impressed by the professionalism of the FAA personnel I've met.

These are people who know that being professional means more than just following the rules-–it means constant attention and taking responsibility for your actions every minute you’re on duty.

As this Administration continues to transform transportation in America, I hope we will all see more of that professionalism--in aviation and in all our transportation activities.

Message to American Chamber of Commerce Executives: Transportation is a gateway to economic development

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors. The ACCE is an organization of the people who manage state and local Chambers of Commerce.

In the audience at this meeting were leaders of state and local Chambers around the country. Now, these leaders are doing important work: connecting the businesses that turn to them for information, education, networking, and a strong sense of community. And I appreciate that.

But I also want them to appreciate what this Administration has been doing and the changes we want to bring to transportation policy. And I hope they carry that message back to their state and local Chamber members.

I tried to give these folks a sample of what we have already achieved transportation-wise:

• Cash for Clunkers injected $2.8 billion into auto sales around the country and created the equivalent of 21,000 jobs;
• Recovery Act spending made more than $30 billion available for more than 9,800 transportation projects in every state and territory--from roads and bridges to transit systems, airports, and seaports.

Both of these programs have helped stabilize targeted sectors of small businesses--auto dealers, construction companies--core members of the Chambers of Commerce across the country.

But more important than that may be the philosophy that is guiding our approach to transportation planning:

We see transportation not just as a way of moving people and goods around, but as a gateway to economic development and a better quality of life for all of us in the United States.

To put that into action, DOT will listen more carefully to state, regional, and community priorities, the kinds of priorities that small businesses help shape.

With thoughtful planning, and good public-private cooperation, our transportation policies will enhance economic competitiveness by giving businesses greater access to markets and providing Americans access to jobs, education, and services.

DOT teams up with Roadway Safety Foundation to award innovative safety projects

Right off the bat, I want to thank Greg Cohen and the Roadway Safety Foundation, DOT's co-sponsor for the National Roadway Safety Awards.

The National Roadway Safety Awards ceremony, held yesterday, is an opportunity to shine a light on the nation’s most innovative road safety projects and programs that eliminate--or sharply reduce--highway deaths across the United States.

The winning projects represent a range of strategies across the safety spectrum-–from rumble strips and pedestrian crossings, to senior zones and safety programs aimed at teen drivers.

These winners are a real testament to skill and innovation--just great stuff, all around. And many of these projects bring together public and private-sector stakeholders across geographic boundaries. That's the kind of collaboration that gets things done.

I hope the best practices these awards celebrate will serve as a model for other states across the country. Because, where transportation safety is concerned, we can never stop looking for new and creative ways to make driving and traveling safer.

The bottom line? The work we honor with the National Roadway Safety Awards saves lives. That is DOT's highest priority, and the winners of these awards have certainly delivered.