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

At Gallaudet, a commencement message for graduates everywhere: dream big; be bold; work together

At colleges and universities across America, a wave of commencements is underway. For thousands of students, crossing the threshold and becoming graduates is a moment when everything is possible.

And for the Class of 2013 at Gallaudet University, a world leader in educating deaf and hard of hearing students, this is particularly true. Because the 144th graduating class at Gallaudet has already faced their share of adversity, and they have responded with their share of boldness.

I was honored to speak at Gallaudet's commencement ceremony last Friday. As a member of the Gallaudet Board of Trustees from 1997 to 2009, I welcomed the opportunity to return to the Kendall Green campus and challenge the Class of 2013 to continue being bold. It's a challenge I'm sure they will have no difficulty meeting head-on.

After all, boldness is in their blood--it’s been there all along. When other kids treated them differently. When the clerk at the grocery store was unable to answer a simple question because they couldn’t sign. When people misunderstood their abilities, and so dismissed their dreams.

Boldness helped them overcome the many obstacles they’ve faced throughout their lives, and it will continue to push them along and help them pursue their big dreams.

 

Summer air travel is heating up; DOT has you covered

As May moves toward June, the summer air travel season is heating up right alongside the weather. And with air travel poised for takeoff, DOT wants to make sure that you and your family get a fair shake when you take to the skies.

That's why www.dot.gov features an extensive list of Air Travel Tips for consumers.

With Frequently Asked Questions and a catalog of online resources, our Aviation Consumer Protection office has you covered from the time you begin planning your trip until after your return.

Need information on choosing between nearby airports? We can help. Connecting flights vs. nonstops? We've got that, too. The FAQs are organized to prepare you through every step: before you travel, at the airport, at your destination, and after you return.

Bike to Work Day, big and getting bigger as bicycle commuting continues to grow

Congratulations to everyone who celebrated Bike To Work Day 2013, and particularly those who were first-time bike commuters. It was a banner year for this event, with cities from Anchorage, Alaska, to West Palm Beach, Florida, reporting bigger-than-ever turnouts.

Bike To Work Day is a terrific opportunity for those who have considered bicycle commuting to give it a try.

Bike associations organize convoys from different neighborhoods to help people see what routes are bike-friendly. They set up pit stops where they offer water, coffee, and breakfast. And they host rallies where speakers talk about local bike amenities and the many benefits of bicycling. First-time riders-to-work learn that --depending on the community-- what might have seemed intimidating is easier than they thought.

Here in the Washington, DC, region, the Washington Area Bicyclist Association reported more than 14,500 people registered for the event, a 20 percent increase from last year. Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was spotted at the region's biggest rally, held annually in Freedom Plaza. Capital Bikeshare tallied 10,166 rides, its highest-ever ridership for a weekday. And, I'm happy to report, the WABA pit stop at Canal Park, across the street from our DOT headquarters, had twice as many participants as last year.

Greeting DOT riders as they arrive to work

Building a 21st Century Infrastructure: Better Outcomes, Faster Timelines, Less Red Tape

Co authored with Sylvia Burwell, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
Cross-posted from www.whitehouse.gov/blog

President Obama today signed a Presidential Memorandum that will shave months, and even years, off the time it takes to review and approve major infrastructure projects. This means that states, local governments, and private developers will be able to start construction sooner, create jobs earlier, and fix our nation’s infrastructure faster.

On March 22, 2012, the President issued an Executive Order launching a government-wide initiative to improve the efficiency of federal review and permitting of infrastructure projects. Since then, agencies have expedited the review and permitting of 50 major projects, including bridges, transit , railways, waterways, roads, and renewable energy projects.  

Federal agencies have also identified a set of best practices for efficient review and permitting. Those range from expanding information technology (IT) tools to strategies - like simultaneous review - for improving collaboration. Today’s Presidential Memorandum directs all relevant agencies to put these best practices into effect.

Cutting red tape and streamlining the process for making permitting decisions will help us meet the President’s goal of cutting in half the timelines for major infrastructure projects, while creating better outcomes for our communities and for the environment.

The President’s initiative is already showing real results. For example, this afternoon, President Obama and Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari will visit Baltimore, where we sped up the approval process for the city’s Red Line rail transit corridor by six months.

We also recently expedited Federal approval for the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement project in New York. By speeding up the approval process, Federal agencies trimmed up to three years off the timeline for this multi-billion dollar project that will help put Americans back to work.

To learn more about the Administration’s reform effort, you can read the President’s 2012 Executive Order, the Federal Action Plan describing what we are doing in more detail, and our first annual Report to the President on our progress so far. You can also track the results of specific projects on the Administration's Infrastructure Permitting Dashboard, a new tool that provides an unprecedented level of transparency into the Federal permitting and review process.

Going forward, the Administration will make even more extensive use of performance tools like the Dashboard as we work to make the exceptional time savings achieved on the first 50 projects the norm. We are also working to expand innovative mitigation tools to improve environmental outcomes; develop more targeted and relevant environmental reviews; provide more opportunities for public input; and build on our first five regional pilot teams to improve collaboration with State, local, and Tribal governments.

This permitting modernization effort is an important component of the President’s larger effort to grow the economy, accelerate job creation, and improve U.S. competitiveness by building a 21st Century infrastructure. Notably, the President’s 2014 Budget calls for immediately investing $50 billion in our Nation’s transportation infrastructure, with $40 billion devoted to “fix-it-first” projects that target areas in the most urgent need of repair. The President also proposed a “Rebuild America Partnership,” creating tools to encourage partnerships between the private sector and Federal, State, and local governments to enhance the role of private capital in U.S. infrastructure investment and ensure America has the best transportation, electric, water, and communications networks in the world.

MARAD Small Shipyard Grants mean a lot to Steve Williams and many others

America’s maritime industry is critical to our nation’s economy. Federal investments in our ports and shipyards not only help keep goods moving for farmers and manufacturers; with more than 107,000 jobs in the U.S. shipbuilding and repairing industry, our investments also make a big difference to workers nationwide.

For example, when our Maritime Administration awarded more than $150 million to help foster modern, globally competitive shipyards through its Small Shipyard Grant Program, we put men and women to work in good jobs.

Steve Williams, at the yard and on the job!

One of those workers is Steve Williams, a ship fitter with four decades of experience. He entered the industry in 1973 after a stint as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army Airborne:

"I was laid off in 2009 after more than 35 years of steady work, " Steve said. "I was in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and the opportunities just weren't there. You can't imagine the sudden uncertainty--almost as bad as jumping out of a plane.

That's a big job

This month and every month, please Share The Road

Just as National Transportation Week reminds us to celebrate the many ways we have to get where we're going, for drivers it's also an opportunity to remember that not everyone on the road is in a car. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and I urge drivers across the country to Share The Road with your fellow drivers who are on two wheels.

Because of their size, it is not always easy for drivers to see motorcylces in traffic. But motorcycles are especially visible in crash statistics released by our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2011, 4,612 motorcyclists died on America's roads. Those deaths amounted to 14 percent of total U.S. highway deaths, even though motorcycles make up only about 3 percent of all registered vehicles.

On a per mile basis, motorcyclists are more than 30 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of cars, and five times more likely to be injured.

In fact, while automobile fatalities have been declining to historic lows, motorcycle deaths have increased every year --except 2009-- for the past 14 years.

How can those of us driving cars and trucks help reduce the number of motorcycle fatalities?

• Never drive distracted.
• Allow motorcyclists a full lane.
• Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging.
• Check your mirrors and blind spots carefully before entering or leaving a lane and at intersections.
• When road conditions change --wet surfaces, grooved pavement, etc.-- give motorcyclists room to adjust.
• Allow more distance when following a motorcycle; motorcycles can stop abruptly.

These are just a few of the useful tips NHTSA has prepared; you can find more safety information on NHTSA's Motorcycle Safety website.

Power Lunch proves that Everybody Wins! when adults read with children

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of hosting the students and mentors of Everybody Wins! at DOT for a celebration of the literacy group's Power Lunch program.

Readers who have followed this blog during the past few years might recall that Everybody Wins! has been a favorite non-profit organization for me since my days in Congress. And since Washington, DC's Amidon-Bowen Elementary School is just down the street, I was happy to welcome EW! Power Lunch participants to DOT.

Power Lunch is a terrific program where adult reading mentors are paired with students and agree to visit the student's school once a week to read with the student during lunchtime. The goals of Power Lunch are simple: to encourage the student’s interest in reading and to expand the student's opportunities for success.

When adult read with kids, it generates enthusiasm for books and reading and helps students overcome their apprehension. It also builds important life skills like listening, comprehension and vocabulary, and it increases a child's attention span and ability to concentrate.

Ann Arbor Bridge Replacement connects communities...safely

As Secretary of Transportation, there have been few things more satisfying to me than seeing this Department put men and women to work improving safety in communities across America. And yesterday's dedication of two new bridges on East Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a perfect example.

Since 2009, the Bridges Replacement Project has been the city of Ann Arbor's highest transportation priority. And, through the support of DOT's competitive TIGER program, we're happy to help community leaders check this critical project off their list.

The bridge over S. State Street, minus a deteriorated lane, in 2009. Credit:Angela J. Cesere | AnnArbor.com

The Boulevard is one of the most traveled roadways in Washtenaw County, with more than 25,000 vehicles --including transit buses and commercial trucks-- using the six-mile corridor each day. For safety reasons, in the last several years, the City has been forced to reduce the allowable load limits on the bridge over S. State Street several times, to prohibit heavy trucks from using both bridges, and to restrict the traffic lanes over each bridge from four to two.

The two bridges, just 350 feet apart, were built in 1928, and both were functionally obsolete--they did not comply with today's design standards, and both bridges lacked the necessary clearances for rail and road traffic below. In addition, the bridge over South State Street had been partially demolished because several beams were no longer safe, and the bridge over the Ann Arbor railroad tracks was structurally deficient.

Thanks in part to a 2010 TIGER grant and the more than 200 men and women who went to work on this project, what I saw yesterday in Ann Arbor was completely different.

 
The replacement bridge looks to be safer and includes bicycle and pedestrian amenities.
Photo courtesy Melanie Maxwell, AnnArbor.com

New locomotives carry America's rail renaissance forward

What if we took the most popular passenger rail corridor in America and improved it with a fleet of 70 new electric locomotives? I'd call that a great way to treat the growing number of riders on Amtrak's Northeast and Keystone Corridors.

And what if those new locomotives were made by American workers using components and materials that were manufactured by American men and women at 70 other U.S. companies? I'd call that an impressive demonstration of DOT's Buy America program at work for our nation's economy.

Siemen’s Rail CEO Michael Cahill, Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman, and Deputy FRA Administrator Karen Hedlund
on the Siemens manufacturing floor with workers.

And what if the new locomotives could transform the energy generated by braking into electricity that would be fed back into the electrical grid, returning 65 percent of the locomotives' initial cost? That would be yet another win for a 21st Century national transportation system that is growing greener and greener all the time.

Finally, what if the new locomotives featured system redundancies and real-time remote systems monitoring to make trains on the Northeast and Keystone Corridors safer, more reliable, and easier to maintain? That would be a great improvement in American passenger rail travel.

And if we rolled all of the above into a single locomotive that achieves all of those gains? Well, that would be a terrific way to celebrate National Train Day and National Transportation Week.

This National Transportation Week, celebrate America's opportunity network

In millions of transportation-related jobs in the United States-- from the U.S. and State DOTs to the rail carriers, transit agencies, freight shippers, airlines, bus companies, ferry services and more--your fellow Americans think day and night about the importance of transportation in our everyday lives so you don't have to.

But for one week each year--National Transportation Week--we like to remind folks that transportation moves America.

Our national transportation system gets you where you need to go and even gives you choices for getting there. Need to get to work? Many of us can drive, ride rail or bus transit, bike, or walk. Traveling for business? Add flying or intercity passenger rail to the range of options. Taking classes? Again, you've got choices. Doctor, grocery, hardware store? We'll get you there.

Trucks, trains, planes, and marine vessels move our food from farm to grocery, with an occasional stop along the way to transform grain into breakfast cereal or milk into ice cream. Roads, rails, and rivers lead iron ore from mines in Minnesota to steel mills in Ohio; then, they steer that steel on to factories across the U.S. And when the manufacturing process is complete, our transportation network takes finished goods to markets, both locally and abroad.

At every step of the way, transportation is either creating opportunities or making them accessible to tens of millions of Americans. If we aren't adding value, we're making it possible for others to add value.

Birmingham Road To Recovery breaks ground with support from a friendly TIGER

When Birmingham, Alabama, was devastated by a tornado in April 2011, residents and community leaders immediately put the city on a "Road To Recovery." And when DOT awarded the project a 2012 TIGER grant, we helped keep that important recovery effort moving forward.

Last week, the initiative took another step forward as Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined Birmingham Mayor William Bell and others to break ground on the Enon Ridge Multimodal Corridor and Civil Rights Complete Streets project, a key part of the 33.6 mile transportation network envisioned by the Road To Recovery.

With repaired roadways, new and restored sidewalks, and upgraded bicycle paths, the Road To Recovery will improve access for 250,000 residents to public transit, jobs, retail districts, hospitals, and other services. The corridor will also connect 21 different neighborhoods.

As Mayor Bell said, "That's what community is all about -- reaching out to others and letting everybody know that we're not isolated, but we're an organism that's connected on so many levels. This grant will allow us to make that connectivity visible for all of our people."

New "Teens And Trucks" curriculum offers simple, important safety lesson

The tractor trailers, motorcoaches, and other large commercial motor vehicles on America's roadways play a vital role in our nation’s economy.They use our roadways the same as any personal vehicle, but because of their size, shape, and handling, drivers need to treat them differently than other cars on the road.

Too many drivers of passenger cars --particularly young drivers-- endanger themselves by failing to recognize that trucks and cars perform quite differently. For example, trucks require longer distances to brake; they have larger blind spots than cars; and they are difficult to see around.

That's why the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Alliance created "Teens And Trucks" to help educate novice drivers about driving safely near commercial vehicles. And Wednesday, Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari joined Teens And Trucks to help launch a new curriculum that does exactly that.

The "Teens And Trucks" partners hope to help young drivers counter that lack of experience and the dangerous enticement of texting and cell phone conversations through a new curriculum, “Teens & Trucks—Curbing Distracted Driving.” The new instructional video and course materials were developed with a grant from DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

 

White House Champions of Change features tech innovators in transportation

As we look forward to next week's National Transportation Week, it was great to kick-off the celebration a few days early with a White House Champions of Change in Transportation event yesterday recognizing “Transportation Technology Solutions for the 21st Century.”

These men and women represent the very best in American leadership, innovation, and progress. And since our latest Champions are all early adopters and tech innovators, it makes all the more sense to honor them a few days in advance of National Transportation Week.

 

Innovation built this country--from the ships that sailed our founders to the railroad that connected us from coast to coast. These Champions of Change are following in the footsteps of great Americans who built world class roadways, railways, and runways. And they are using cutting edge technologies to do it.

Today’s Champions of Change have:

• Made our bridges safer and our commutes more reliable (HCB, Inc.);
• Improved the way we move goods from our ports to the heart of our cities (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment);
• Developed tools to reduce highway fatalities (Minnesota Office of Traffic, Safety and Technology);
• Brought real-time travel information to our smartphones (University of Maryland's Regional Integrated Transportation Information System);
• Made our roadways more sustainable (Greenroads Foundation);
• Helping us begin building a high-speed rail network (Nippon-Sharyo); and
• Moved the airline industry into the 21^st century (Dallas - Fort Worth Airport).

These are only a handful of the accomplishments of the 12 extraordinary leaders honored yesterday, and I thank them for their achievements.

James Crites, Executive Vice President for Operations at the Dallas Fort Worth Airport

Young NOYS advocates step up for Global Youth Traffic Safety Month

We all share a responsibility to help keep our youngest and most inexperienced drivers safe when they get behind the wheel. That's as true here in the United States as it is around the world.

And, as we enter the summer driving months, when more and more teen drivers take to the road, Global Youth Traffic Safety Month is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of good driving habits everywhere.

 

Fortunately, DOT and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have a terrific partner to help us do that: the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS). Today, NOYS hosted a number of safety leaders and youth advocates at a safety rally in Washington, DC, to help put an end to motor vehicle crashes –the leading cause of death for teens.

It was quite a gathering, including Office of Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske; Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin; National Transportation Safety Board Chair Deborah Hersman; Centers for Disease Control Director Thomas Frieden; NHTSA Administrator David Strickland; South Africa Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool; former Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta; and Kweku Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela. That's a pretty loud affirmation of traffic safety's importance.

But as impressive as the support of these leaders is, it pales in comparison to the energy that the young safety advocates of NOYS bring.

 

Guest blogger Lauren Marchetti, National Center for Safe Routes to School: Bike to School Day rides a wave, steers thousands toward health, safety, fun

Is there a biking equivalent of riding a wave? Because it sure feels like we’ve caught a big one.

Today and throughout the month of May, thousands of school children across the country will be biking to school as part of the second annual National Bike to School Day.

Families in more than 1,400 communities --from Anchorage, Alaska, and  Zephyrhills, Florida, to Wahiawa, Hawaii, and Lewiston, Maine-- will take part in the celebration. You can see who’s biking this year at www.walkbiketoschool.org. And it’s not just the number of events; the buzz around Bike to School Day is also exciting.

Today, I was able to participate in an awesome event in Washington, DC's Lincoln Park. Despite a dreary forecast of rain, more than 100 students came out to bike to school together. Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez even joined us to help encourage our many bike trains to enjoy a safe ride to school.

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez and DC Councilman Tommy Wells hold up our "thank you" banner.

FMCSA Administrator Ferro goes off the beaten path to talk about commercial motor vehicle safety

The United States conducts a substantial volume of cross-border trade--$48.9 billion in February alone--with our northern neighbor, Canada. And more than 54 percent of that trade in February was carried by truck. That adds up to a lot of tons of freight carried across our shared border by a lot of commercial trucks.

And that's why, last Sunday, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne Ferro traveled to Iqaluit, Nunavut, very near the Arctic Circle, to speak with the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators.

Administrator Ferro reminded the Council that the U.S. and Canada share a common safety goal--to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads. And by bringing the Council up to date on our latest safety initiatives, she reaffirmed that we take safety very seriously.

Among the safety efforts the Administrator highlighted are:

• Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA), our major enforcement program, and its Safety measurement System (SMS), which helps us identify high-risk carriers.
• Hours of Service, where our new rule is expected to reduce driver fatigue and the accidents that can happen as a result.
• Electronic Logging Devices, which will help curb employee harassment and improve compliance with safety regulations.

The Administrator also spoke about areas where our two nations have worked together to achieve safety gains, like Cargo Securement and the North American Fatigue Management Program. And she praised the ongoing partnership working toward reestablishing reciprocity for driver medical standards and revalidating our commercial driver's license agreements.

She also updated the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators on our latest strike force to improve motorcoach safety in America.

Public Service Recognition Week acknowledges good work and a strong commitment

Each year during Public Service Recognition Week, we honor the men and women who serve our nation as federal, state, county and local government employees. It's an important opportunity to reflect on the many benefits we enjoy as a result of their work at all levels of government.

In this year's PSRW Letter of Recognition, my fellow Cabinet Secretaries and I invoked the oath that all Federal employees take: "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Wherever we come from and wherever we serve, these words unite those of us in Federal service, from ambassadors to air traffic controllers. And in fulfilling this oath, public servants work hard--many of them tirelessly--applying a tremendous amount of training and expertise to confront and overcome challenges on behalf of the American people.

Greeting DOT staff as they arrive at work this morning

As I prepare to leave the Department of Transportation, this year's Public Service Recognition Week is a somewhat bittersweet celebration.

Sweet because, as I said last week when President Obama introduced his nominee Mayor Anthony Foxx, the next Secretary of Transportation will inherit some of the smartest, brightest people in transportation and in public service.

FMCSA announces safety belt poster contest winners; young artists encourage drivers to "Be Ready. Be Buckled."

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you – some of the most effective safety experts in the country can be found sitting in the backseat as they are shuttled to school, soccer practice and music lessons. Our children have been raised to think safety first. They climb into the family car; they buckle their safety belts right up – and they make sure everyone else has, too. They do this because, for years, that's what their parents and caregivers have instructed them to do.

And thanks to the "Be Ready. Be Buckled." art contest, each year we give kids the chance to share their advice more broadly. In this contest, hosted by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership, kids use their artwork to show truck and bus drivers that safety belts save lives. And today, we are once again thrilled by this year's submissions encouraging commercial drivers to buckle up--every trip, every time.

Today our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced this year's winning contest entries. Reilly Taylor (above left) of Independence, MO, and Caleb Zhao (above right) of Gaithersburg, MD, earned the grand prizes. The two grand prize winners and 10 other honorees will see their winning entries transformed into the CMV Safety Belt Partnership's 2014 "Be Ready. Be Buckled." calendar.

Small shipyard grants generate big economic ripples

The grants DOT awards aren’t just local investments. They’re a catalyst for changes that pay long-term dividends in industries and communities nationwide. Thanks to federal investment initiatives like our Maritime Administration's Small Shipyard Grant Program, new opportunities are created each day. While shipyards are using these federal funds to improve their infrastructure, they’re also strengthening the companies that supply the materials and equipment used in this process.

Last Friday, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda visited Marine Travelift (MTI) of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, where he toured the grounds and spoke with employees.  MTI has never received a small shipyard grant, but still feels the benefits, demonstrating the powerful ripple effect of these essential investments.

Marine Travelift manufactures boat handling equipment.  Since 2009, the company has provided boat hoists and other marine services to more than 11 shipyards nationwide that received Small Shipyard Grant funding from our Maritime Administration. According to MTI, this translated into nearly $15 million in revenue, helping the company create more jobs in Sturgeon Bay. 

And from where I stand, every federal dollar that prepares our infrastructure for economic competititveness and helps put Americans to work is money well spent.

National Strategy for the Arctic Region seeks maritime security, sustainability

Those of us who don't live in Alaska probably don't think about our country this way, but the United States is an Arctic Nation. And because we share this complex and sensitive region with other nations, the Obama Administration has articulated our strategic priorities in the region with a new National Strategy for the Arctic Region.

In addition to identifying near term priorities, the Strategy also lays the foundation for future development as new challenges emerge.  It recognizes and builds upon the outstanding work to date by 22 Federal agencies, the State of Alaska, and local and tribal governments. And it seeks to promote greater unity of effort among these stakeholders.

The new strategy makes it clear that--on land and sea--the U.S. intends to advance our own security interests, pursue responsible stewardship of the region, and strengthen international cooperation.

How does that involve the Department of Transportation?

As portions of the Arctic Ocean become more navigable, there is increasing interest in the viability of the Northern Sea Route and other potential routes, as well as in development of Arctic resources. Pursuing those activities, however, requires developing and maintaining infrastructure--whether it's ports, pipelines, or navigational aids.

Sustainability Awards show DOT going green, inside and out

At DOT, we're fortunate that improving sustainability is a part of so much of our work. That includes promoting railroads and marine highways for shipping, supporting alternative-fuel buses for transit, developing cleaner burning jet fuel for aviation, upgrading roadways to reduce congestion, and more.

Day in and day out, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and easing our reliance on oil is part of what we do. And we're not just emphasizing sustainability in transportation across the U.S. We're also working hard to improve sustainability in our own operations.

As the internal sustainability awards we presented to outstanding DOT professionals yesterday show, when it comes to sustainability, DOT is walking the walk.

Federal Environmental Executive Jon Powers delivers the keynote address at DOT's Sustainability Awards

The projects that earned these awards reflect DOT's thorough embrace of President Obama's 2009 Executive Order 13514 on Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance. In that order, the President asked us to lead by example, and in DOT offices across the country, we took his request to heart. I'm proud to say that since 2010, DOT has moved from the bottom tier of Federal agencies on President Obama's sustainability scorecard to the upper tier.

And we're not going back. In fact, the projects we honored yesterday show that our sustainability gains seem to be getting even more impressive.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff and I stand with Elizabeth Patel, who worked with communities to incorporate environmental benefits into their transit grant applications

New safety investigators and border inspectors start FMCSA careers at a critical time for motorcoach safety

Today, our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration welcomed 16 investigators and 9 border inspectors as the newest members of our safety family. The 25 men and women are new graduates of the National Transportation Center Academy in San Marcos, Texas, and we are glad to have them join us.

The training these graduates received will help them fit right in with FMCSA's mission to protect the lives of the motoring public by improving the safety of commercial vehicles and their drivers. FMCSA pursues this mission by setting a high safety standard and preventing violators of those standards from operating on our nation's roadways.

And that's where investigators and inspectors come in. Over the past few months, FMCSA has shut down nearly a dozen motorcoach operators and seven interstate trucking companies. Those out-of-service orders that are protecting Americans from high-risk carriers and drivers are the direct result of hardworking inspectors and safety investigators.

It's simple; Americans deserve to share the road with commercial vehicles and drivers that are safe. That's why FMCSA, along with its state partners, is in the field keeping unsafe drivers, vehicles, and carriers off the road, and making our highways safer. Night and day, Federal and state inspectors and investigators have your back on commercial motor vehicle safety.

Safety Investigator Mark Halter conducts a curbside inspection.

Renovated Columbus Plaza a historic gateway to the Nation's Capital

Readers of this blog know that DOT has supported infrastructure repairs and modernization in every state across the nation. Revitalizing our roadways, transitways, runways, and railways not only keeps America moving forward; it also creates jobs and helps position our communities for greater economic competitiveness.

Those critical investments have also paid dividends right here in DOT's backyard, Washington, DC. And earlier today, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff was at DC's Union Station to help cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Columbus Plaza.

Union Station is more than just the landmark gateway to our nation’s capital. It's an important part of President Obama’s vision for a revitalized Northeast passenger rail corridor. Our investment in Columbus Plaza is part of a long-term effort to transform the station into a 21st Century transportation hub ready to provide high-speed rail services that meet the needs of the millions of travelers who pass through this station each year.

The historic station also houses DC's intercity bus hub, is the busiest stop in the Metrorail transit system, and serves as a point of departure for many tours of our capital city.

Columbus Plaza sits in front of the station, with sidewalks and roadways that help manage all forms of traffic into and out of the busy station. The renovation, funded in part by FTA, performed long-overdue road, sidewalk, and security improvements. The project also created new traffic patterns, making access to the station safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit buses, taxis, tour buses, and private vehicles.

Among other improvements, the Plaza redesign (bottom) eliminates the need (top) for cars exiting the station to loop back. Photos courtesy Washington Post

National Moving Month a good time to protect your memories and your money by protecting your move

May is National Moving Month, kicking off the busiest season for relocation. It's the time of the year when a lot of American families begin thinking about who they will hire to help them move. It's also a time when consumers need to exercise caution and choose their household goods carrier wisely.

This year alone, more than 35 million Americans will move, and at DOT, our goal is to ensure that everyone who moves is treated fairly. After all, consumers should be able to expect honest and reasonable treatment when they move.

But all too often, we hear from people who were tricked by bad moving companies who disappeared with their goods or held their goods hostage for more money.

That's why our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is working so hard to protect consumers from unscrupulous carriers. And that's also why FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro and I were in Houston today reminding families to protect themselves by visiting protectyourmove.gov.

When families are taken advantage of, FMCSA can help prosecute bad companies, order them to return hostage goods to their owners, and--thanks to new powers under the latest transportation bill--even return part of a company's fine to the victim.

But, as Administrator Ferro said today, people who are relocating can avoid a lot of this trouble in the first place.

 

Nippon Sharyo Manufacturing Shop 3 shows that investing in American rail is investing in American jobs

In Rochelle, Illinois, Nippon Sharyo already has 250 men and women working at its railcar assembly plant. Yesterday, the manufacturer took the first step toward adding 80 more good jobs for American workers with the groundbreaking of a new metal fabrication and machining shop.

Last November, I was in Rochelle with Governor Quinn to announce that Nippon Sharyo had been awarded a contract through the President’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program to build 130 new rail cars for California and the Midwest. Yesterday, I was thrilled to be back to help Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Nippon Sharyo Chairman Katsuyuki Ikushima celebrate this 330,000 square-foot expansion.

Nippon Sharyo's $54 million investment demonstrates what we've been saying for the past four years: investing in American rail is an investment in American jobs for American workers.

Celebrating the groundbreaking, with white gloves and daruma doll, considered a good luck talisman

It is our Buy America program - requiring that all the components of the 130 railcars or any other rail project be built by US works in US factories - that helped bring about yesterday's groundbreaking. By expanding their plant, Nippon Sharyo is proving to us that they’re 100 percent committed to meeting these standards. And that's not only good news for the 80 workers who will fill those new jobs, but also for the more than 200 potential suppliers and vendors the company has already identified in the Midwest alone.

And it’s not just the Midwest who benefits. Because we have railway suppliers in 49 states and Washington, DC, all of America benefits.

Road safety funds another example of our commitment to tribal communities

In his State of the Union address, President Obama called on us to 'Fix it First' by targeting the most urgent upgrades for roads and bridges. Today, we're making sure that roads on tribal lands are part of that equation.

And to make that happen, our Federal Highway Administration has announced the availability of more than $8.6 million from its Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds (TTPSF). These grants will help fund much-needed road repairs, improve safety, and create jobs.

They're also a good example of our steadfast commitment to America's tribal communities.

These funds will address a need to improve road safety on tribal lands, which have consistently endured road fatality rates among the nation's highest. As FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez said, "Over the years, I've met with many tribal leaders who share our interest in improving road safety. These funds will do much to help keep roads on tribal lands safe for all who depend on them."

I'm also pleased to announce that the FHWA is leading webinars on May 1 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. EDT and on May 8 from 4 to 5 p.m. EDT. The webinars will help potential applicants navigate the funding process. Links to the webinars will be available on the FHWA Tribal Transportation Program web page.

Motor vehicle crashes leave an indelible mark on virtually every community, and we're doing what we can to make our nation's roadways as safe as we can. That's true for interstate highways and rural byways.

And, thanks to MAP-21 which authorized the Tribal Transportation Program Safety Funds, it's also true for tribal roads.

In the Year of the Bike-Share, a call for safety

Let's face it; America is undergoing a major outbreak of bike-share.

Earlier this month, the wildly popular Capital Bikeshare (CaBi) in the Washington, DC, region hit a new record, with more than 11,000 rides taken in a single day. Two weeks ago, in just two days, New York's Citi Bike signed up more than 5,000 members for its inaugural year, far surpassing its initial goal. That's more than double the number of members who signed up for DC's CaBi when it launched in 2010. In the Midwest, Chicago's Divvy program is slated to put its bikes on the road this June, and Mayor Emanuel has promised to make Chicago the "best big city in America for cycling."

As of April 2013, there were 41 cities in the United States have or are launching bike-shares, and that number is only expected to increase in the coming years. So here at DOT, we've taken to calling 2013 the Year of the Bike Share.

But, with all of those folks across the country using bicycles as a way of getting where they need to go, we need to make sure we're doing what we can to keep them safe.

That's why we held our second Bike Safety Summit yesterday in Minneapolis. We wanted to get planners, safety experts, engineers, educators--anyone with something to add to the safety discussion--together in one place to share what we know about protecting bicyclists. Then, we can take those ideas back to communities across the nation.

Doing this in Minneapolis just made sense. Bike ridership in Minneapolis has skyrocketed, up 56 percent in the last six years. The Nice Ride bike-share has been a big success, with nearly 600,000 trips taken since 2010. And--bucking a worrisome national trend--the number of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes in Minneapolis has actually declined.

President Obama nominates Mayor Anthony Foxx as 17th Secretary of Transportation

This afternoon, it was my great pleasure to stand with President Obama as he nominated Charlotte, NC, Mayor Anthony Foxx to be the next U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

When the President said today that I had enjoyed this job, he was absolutely right. This has indeed been the best job I've ever had, and I don’t leave it lightly. Mayor Foxx will soon learn what I have had the good fortune to learn, that DOT boasts some of the smartest, brightest people in transportation and in public service. 

He will also learn that the President is a terrific man to work for, a man with a vision and a man who gives his nominees the license to achieve. There really is no way to thank my very good friend, President Obama, for having given me this tremendous opportunity.

If you've been following this blog over the past four years, the President's nomination of Mayor Foxx should come as absolutely no surprise. Whether I was blogging about highways, aviation, rail, or transit, I've had no shortage of reasons to say something good about what's happening transportation-wise in Charlotte.

For winter Seaway work, safety remains number one priority

Although the St. Lawrence Seaway has been open for the 2013 navigation season for more than a month, there's terrific news today as our Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation takes stock of its off-season infrastructure modernization.

The SLSDC announced that this past winter’s Asset Renewal Program work was accident-free.

For infrastructure work spanning January through March, there were zero hours lost to safety-related incidents. During that time, three major construction projects were completed at the U.S. Seaway with no time lost to safety incidents. Sustained over nearly 130,000 work hours in harsh winter conditions, that's a pretty good achievement.

It's a testament to the Seaway’s effective safety protocols and to DOT's pursuit of our number one priority, safety--not just in transportation, but also in the critical work that supports our nation's transportation system.

“This past winter was the busiest time at the U.S. Seaway locks since their construction in the 1950s,” said SLSDC Acting Administrator Craig H. Middlebrook.  “Our staff  worked collaboratively with contractors to ensure that intensive timelines and milestones were met at every step along the way to get these important projects completed safely prior to the Seaway’s opening.” 

West Rail Line a promising step toward RTD's FasTracks future

Today the Regional Transportation District of Denver is opening its West Rail Line, 12.1 miles of light
rail running between Denver's redeveloped Union Station and Golden's Jefferson County Government Station.

The new line features 11 new stations, six Park-n-Rides, and three new Call-n-Rides. What exactly does that mean for Denver-area residents? It means opportunity. It means that DOT support for this public transit project will have helped millions of families, seniors, veterans, students, and others gain access to the jobs, education, and services they need.

The line's new stations include stops near employment hubs like Denver Federal Center and Jefferson County Government Center as well as the Auraria Higher Education Campus and Red Rocks Community college, which together serve more than 50,000 students. In addition, St. Anthony’s Hospital recently relocated, allowing medical professionals and patients to take advantage of the new line's convenience.

And, it's just the beginning. The West Rail Line is only the first completed line of RTD's ambitious FasTracks project. FasTracks is a comprehensive transit expansion plan to build 122 miles of new commuter rail and light rail, 18 miles of bus rapid transit, 21,000 new parking spaces and bike amenities at light rail and bus stations, and enhanced bus service for easy bus-to-rail connections. The project will extend across eight different Colorado counties.

After all, the Denver area is currently home to 2.8 million people, and that number is expected to grow to 4.2 million by 2035. Area residents know that improvements in transportation infrastructure are critical to maintaining the quality of life that attracts so many to this area.

Passenger rail an economic driver

When I wrote about the latest round of funding for our TIGER program earlier this week, I mentioned the multi-modal "transportation centers that have revitalized downtowns by offering a range of transportation options."

And just yesterday, leaders from our Federal Transit Administration and our Federal Railroad Administration were in Seattle to help Mayor Mike McGinn and Congressman Jim McDermott celebrate the grand reopening of one such center, Seattle's King Street Station.

After a decade of repairs and revitalization, the 107-year-old station--one of the busiest in the Pacific Northwest--has been transformed into a modern transportation hub providing travelers seamless connections to Amtrak, commuter trains, light rail, and bus lines. Eventually, it will link to Seattle streetcars as well.

But the station is not just pulling transportation duty. Other downtown transportation centers have anchored economic development in their communities. For example, Brunswick’s Downeaster station is on its way to attracting more than $325 million in new investment by 2030. Expectations are high for the King Street Station to give a similar lift to Seattle's Pioneer Square, helping create jobs and boosting economic growth. 

King Street Station: improving--not replacing--what exists.

Thanks in part to strong support from President Obama and record ridership on Amtrak, rail has once again emerged as a people's choice for transportation. As Mayor McGinn said of the historic station, “It’s not just about the past, but about a future where we recognize the best of the past ways of doing things.”

And, as I told the National Association of Rail Passengers recently, that's exactly what the President's proposed budget for the Department of Transportation would continue doing.

Minneapolis here we come; Midwest bike summit seeks answers to safety challenges

Next week, DOT is hosting the second of our two Bicycle Safety Summits. Our host city this time is Minneapolis, where the number of bikes on the roads has increased by 56 percent over the past six years, according to the 2012 City of Minneapolis Bicyclist and Pedestrian Count Report. During the same six years, the number of pedestrians has increased by 22 percent.

With the number of bicyclists and pedestrians on the rise, it's more important than ever to think about their safety. That goes for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians themselves, as well as the City of Minneapolis and the US DOT. And with next Monday's Midwest Regional Bike Safety Summit, that's exactly what we're doing.

No one is more pleased than I am about the steady increase in the number of bikes that have appeared on our nation's streets, paths, and trails over the past few years. Here at DOT, we've worked pretty hard to help nurture the resurgence of bicycling--not just as recreation, but as transportation.

However, we have also seen an increase in the number of bicyclists killed in motor vehicle crashes.

Data released earlier this month by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that, in 2011, 677 cyclists were killed on our nation's roadways, a 9 percent increase from 2010 to 2011. Every single fatality is one too many, and this increase in the number of bicyclists killed is especially alarming.

New in-vehicle technology guidelines are latest effort in fight against distracted driving

For the past two weeks, I've welcomed guest contributors to this blog in honor of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. I cannot thank each and every one of them enough for their generous work. I also want to thank everyone who read these informative and heart-wrenching blog posts, particularly those who shared one or more of them with others.

After all, that's how we continue spreading awareness of this deadly epidemic.

As technology evolves, however, it's clear that distractions behind the wheel don't end with cell phones. And here at DOT, neither do our efforts to prevent distracted driving.

Many carmakers are now developing in-vehicle electronics systems that can post to social networking sites, text message, search the internet, and give directions. And while there’s no doubt that drivers appreciate these amenities, we have an important obligation to balance the innovation consumers want with the safety we all need.

That's why, today, we're issuing voluntary guidelines for in-vehicle electronics systems.  These safety guidelines were first proposed last year and now include feedback from stakeholders across the country. They include:

• Limiting --to 2 seconds at a time and 12 seconds total-- the time drivers must take their eyes off the road to operate in-car technology;
• Disabling texting, social media, and web browsing features unless a vehicle is stopped and in park; and
• Disabling video-based calling and conferencing unless a vehicle is stopped and in park.

Intelligent transportation: better performing infrastructure means greater safety, efficiency

At DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), dedicated professionals are working hard to make sure our transportation systems get smarter and smarter.

Why do we want to improve the intelligence of American transportation? To help you travel safely. To help you avoid congestion in your daily travels, saving time and fuel. To help move raw materials to factories and finished goods to market as efficiently as possible.

As our Undersecretary for Policy, Polly Trottenberg, said this week, "Even as we work to bring American transportation into the 21st century, we have to coax better performance out of our 20th century infrastructure."

A smart road will safely alert drivers in advance of changing pavement conditions. A smart transit network will let you know how long you'll wait for the next bus. A smart highway will alert commercial drivers to delays ahead and redirect them to alternative routes, saving time and fuel.

Intelligent transportation systems read and interpret data and communicate useful information--information that you can act upon-- to vehicles, traffic signals, message signs, drivers, and passengers. It might seem obvious, but when drivers and transit riders have more transportation information, we can make more informed transportation decisions. The same holds true for traffic signals and other devices that keep vehicles moving smoothly and safely.

This week, the intelligent transportation community--the thousands of leading transportation officials, technology providers, policymakers and researchers who are doing this important work--holds its annual ITS America meeting in Nashville. There is a lot of brain power gathered in Music City this week, and there is plenty to talk about.

Click on the image to learn more about the ITS America 2013 Annual Meeting.

Maritime shipping; relatively green, and getting greener

Earth Day has been an American institution since its founding in 1970. Each year, we recognize the many efforts made across the nation to reduce our carbon footprint and move toward a greener economy.

This year, with our economy growing and shipments of everything from raw materials to parts and equipment to finished products increasing, I'd like to call attention to recent improvements in the shipping industry.

For example, Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE), a marine transportation company, is planning to build two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered container ships to operate between Jacksonville, FL, and San Juan, PR.  With cleaner-burning LNG, we can significantly decrease emissions on our waterways.

Photo credit General Dynamics NASSCO and TOTE, Inc.

According to TOTE, the 764-foot vessels will be the largest ships in the world primarily powered by LNG. In addition, the company is also planning to convert two existing diesel-electric powered vessels to liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion.

Announcements like these are a proud moment for me because it demonstrates that the maritime industry is not only setting the bar high for greener transportation, but also taking the Obama Administration’s commitment to a clean energy economy seriously.

Foss hybrid tug in Long Beach

DOT, transportation community happy to see long-awaited return of a TIGER

President Obama has challenged us to make sure our nation’s transportation infrastructure provides the mobility options necessary to attract and support the businesses and families that rely on them. And through four rounds of DOT's popular TIGER program, we've supported 218 projects that are helping do just that in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Today, we're taking the next step to keep moving our transportation infrastructure into the 21st century with a fifth round of TIGER funding. And, as excited as we are about TIGER 2013 here at DOT, I know that communities across the country are even more thrilled over this latest version of DOT's favorite cat.

The $474 million available for TIGER 2013 will help increase mobility--for people and for freight. The new and upgraded transportation facilities that will be built as a result will also strengthen our economic competitiveness and create jobs.

And because the Appropriations Act that funds TIGER requires that funds be obligated by October 1, 2014, this round of TIGER will begin making a difference soon. The limited amount of time means the Department will give priority to projects that are ready to proceed quickly. The deadline for project applications is June 3.

In addition to project that are ready to go, DOT is looking for surface transportation projects that have a significant impact on the nation, a region or metropolitan area--projects that will:

• Improve existing transportation facilities and systems;
• Contribute to American economic competitiveness;
• Create and preserve jobs;
• Increase transportation choices and access to transportation services for people in communities across the U.S.;
• Improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on oil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
• Improve safety.

If the past is any indicator, the competition for TIGER 2013 awards will be strong.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor NAMIC: Preventing harm is the bottom line

Most people only think of auto insurance when they need to file a claim or shop for new coverage, but many American insurance companies have joined DOT in the fight against distracted driving.

Preventing losses is even more important than insuring them. Distracted driving advocacy and education isn’t just good for preventing losses though; for the members of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), it’s also part of our commitment to protecting our policyholders and their loved ones from real harm.

For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the nation's auto insurance companies have been working to get the message out.

Companies like American Family, SECURA Insurance Companies, EMC Insurance Group and Amica Insurance have been taking to social media to provide statistics illustrating the risks of distracted driving--for example, taking your eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds is the equivalent of driving blind for the entire length of a football field. Through their Twitter feeds and Facebook pages, America’s auto insurers also provide consumer with links to more information and advice to avoid distracted driving on their own websites, Secretary LaHood's Fast Lane blog, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Distraction.gov website.

America's insurers know that the statistics are chilling--according to NHTSA, more than 3,000 people were killed in distracted driving related crashes during 2010--and we want to make sure consumers know it, too.

Many companies have also taken their message directly to drivers--particularly younger, tech savvy but less experienced drivers--by funding awareness events at schools, providing grants to distracted driving awareness programs, and running their own awareness campaigns.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor Capt. Shannon Trice, Syracuse Police Department: High visibility enforcement improves safety

The traditional way to address traffic safety issues is with the three E’s: Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. These strategies are proven to work well when combined.

Using these tools with distracted driving, there are some caveats. First, engineering that changes the roadway infrastructure or leads to new smartphone safety technology will not alter outcomes if drivers will not pay attention to the roadway or use the technology. Second, although we've made tremendous gains in distracted driving awareness efforts, education only goes so far in changing behavior.

At the Syracuse Police Department, we know that what adds value to education; pushes people to technology; and gets people to pay attention is enforcement.

Behavior and perception shape our culture, and law enforcement is in a unique position to influence behavior and perception. Our tool to change an unsafe driving culture? High Visibility Enforcement.

And it's not a new idea.

Ohio sets the Safe Digging Month example as DOT spreads the message to Call 8-1-1

Whether it’s watching cable television, showering, or just keeping the lights on, public utilities are vital to our daily activities and are part of our country’s critical infrastructure. Many of these--like energy transportation pipelines--are buried right beneath our homes, schools, and offices. For everyone's sake, they need to be protected from potential damage.

From DIY backyard landscaping to large construction projects, striking buried pipeline is a leading cause of pipeline-related death and injury and can lead to service outages for entire communities.

But all of that is preventable with a call to 811 before digging.

811 is a toll-free nationwide number that excavators should call 2 to 3 days before digging. The call prompts local utility operators to send a representative to mark underground utilities with paint, flags and other color-coded markers. All of this is free, and it can save your life.

Last week, the Administrator of DOT’s pipeline safety agency, Cynthia Quarterman, joined the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) for their 3rd Annual Ohio Damage Prevention Summit to thank them for their safety efforts, and to remind everyone to call 811 before digging. In my absence, Administrator Quarterman also read a letter of appreciation from me to Summit organizers and participants.

The only one of its kind in Ohio, the OUPS Summit gathers excavators and utility companies together to enhance communication between them. The ultimate goal? Safe, undisrupted utilities...even when there’s nearby digging activity.

Nearly every state requires excavators to place a prior call so local operators can mark buried utilities. State damage prevention laws protect construction and utility workers as well as everyday people from the risks of damage. This year’s Summit also drew lawmakers who have successfully advocated for the first updates to Ohio’s damage prevention law in 22 years.

The Summit keynote speaker, two-time Olympian Cliff Meidl, delivered perhaps the most compelling story yet about the importance of calling 811 before you dig.

] 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor Jeanne Brown: Alex's choices can save your life

The fall day was warmer than normal – a little overcast, but beautiful nonetheless.  School was in session, and I was busy with several items on my “To Do” list – adding more than marking off.  Just after 9:30AM, an aide from the high school stopped by to ask whether my senior daughter, Alex, would be coming to class that day.  I assured her Alex should be there and called Alex on her cell.

No answer.

After several attempts to reach her by phone, I called my husband and asked if Alex had overslept. He said Alex was up and ready for school when he left the house at 8:30AM for work. Since she wouldn’t answer her phone, I left campus to drive home and find her. As I left, my heart told me to take the back way home.

Four miles from school, I found Alex’s truck sitting in a field.  It wasn’t what I expected to see. I thought maybe she had car trouble and just had her phone on silent so she didn’t hear my calls.  But reality wasn’t that kind.

I ran to the truck.  It was sitting right side up, but it had obviously rolled.  Alex wasn’t there.

My mind raced: Where did she go? She must have gone to get help! Which direction did she go? I need to find her – she doesn’t know where houses are out here. She could be miles away from anyone. What direction should I go? How did she get out of the truck? What is that noise?

As I walked around the truck trying to locate the noise, I found Alex – several feet from the truck. She was laying in the weeds and dirt, going in and out of consciousness.

FMCSA urges consumers: "Protect your memories; protect your move"

This year alone, more than 35 million Americans will move, and Spring is the season when many of those families and individuals begin thinking about what moving company to hire.

If you're planning a move, it's also the time to protect yourself from unlawful carriers.

Moving is an exciting, but hectic time – the last thing you and your family should have to worry about is whether or not your personal belongings will arrive at your new home. That's why our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has launched a campaign warning consumers about the red flags that may be signs of an unscrupulous interstate carrier and advising you to "Protect your memories; protect your move."

 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor UNC Center for the Study of Young Drivers: Parents can help teen drivers limit distractions

There is little question that texting while driving is one of the most dangerous things a person can do behind the wheel. Not surprisingly, it’s also one of the greatest concerns among parents of beginning drivers.

Texting is dangerous for all drivers, but particularly for young, novice drivers.

Teen driver, eyes focused where they belong--on the road (all photos courtesy Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill)

It’s not until teens have considerable experience under their belt that they begin to see and respond to the driving environment in the same way as more experienced drivers. Because driving is less of an automatic behavior for teens than experienced drivers, teens must focus more of their attention on driving. That means they are less equipped to manage potential distractions like a cell phone, a car full of passengers, or even loud music.

Reducing distracted driving among teens is not an easy problem for parents to address. But, through the troubling statistics and many tragic stories we've heard in the past few years, we know it's a problem parents can't afford to ignore.

Hours of carefully supervised driving make a difference in a young driver's preparation

First and foremost, parents must put down their own phones while driving. Whether you know it or not, your teens are watching your driving behavior. And though your teens might be the last to admit it or even know it, parents are the primary role models for driving. Stepping up by putting your own electronic devices down is one of the simplest and most important safety actions you can take.

But that’s not the only thing parents can do to help. Enhancing the amount and quality of driving practice during the learner's permit stage provides the experience teens need begin to developing an ingrained intuitive understanding of driving.

 

When it comes to work zone safety, we're all in this together

As National Work Zone Awareness Week kicks off, I'm asking all drivers to protect America's road workers --this week and every week-- by driving carefully in work zones.

In 2011, 587 people died in highway work-zone fatalities. That's an increase of 11 fatalities compared to 2010, and it's 587 too many.

Here in Washington, DC, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez marked National Work Zone Awareness Week by attending a local event honoring Alice Ward, a highway worker from Royersford, Pa., who nearly died when she was struck in a work zone last year. He also honored Laurie Moser, the widow of a highway worker killed in a work zone near Frederick, Md., in 2007.

As the weather gets warmer, highway construction shifts into high gear, and we see more and more orange cones on our roads. For those traveling or commuting by car, the appearance of new work zones is as much a milestone of spring as opening day in a local ballpark or the blossoming of tulip bulbs in a neighbor's garden.

The men and women working in these road construction zones are helping maintain and improve our highways and bridges to make travel smoother and safer for you, for your passengers, and for everyone who uses our roadways. They deserve to be able to do that work safely.

FHWA Administrator Mendez and DC DOT Director Terry Bellamy apply memorial ribbons to orange work zone cones

NEC FUTURE makes tracks toward faster rail service

The Obama Administration has invested over $3 billion –more than any previous Administration– to improve rail service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). We've helped develop stations and track; modernize power systems; replace aging infrastructure; and support purchases of new equipment.

Through the Federal Railroad Administration, we have also set in motion the first comprehensive planning effort to determine the future of America’s busiest rail corridor in more than three decades. We call it NEC FUTURE, and it is happening now.

The Corridor is a key component of the Northeast region's transportation system and is vital to the area’s sustained economic growth. Today, the 457-mile NEC—anchored by Boston's South Station in the north, New York's Pennsylvania Station in the center, and Washington's Union Station in the south—is one of the most heavily traveled rail corridors in the world. The NEC is shared by intercity, commuter and freight operations and moves more than 259 million passengers and 14 million car-miles of freight per year.

While improvements continue to be made, the NEC faces serious challenges, with century-old infrastructure, outdated technology, and inadequate capacity to meet current or projected travel demand. With similar capacity issues on the region's highways, and some of the most congested airports in the nation, the Northeast's economic future could be hampered by transportation constraints.

NEC FUTURE will coordinate and prioritize future investments in the Corridor so we can free the region from some of those constraints.

Recently, we published our Preliminary Alternatives Analysis Report. The report presents 15 alternatives that represent a wide range of possible futures for the NEC.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor Jennifer Smith: You are not alone

It wasn't until September 30, 2009, that I realized I was not alone. And, while I may have arrived at the first Distracted Driving Summit alone, I left with new friends and resources to support me as I came to grips with the devastation of losing my mother to a distracted driver.

That day was about a year after the crash that killed my mother, an event that obviously changed my life and the lives of my family forever.  At that first summit, I was asked to speak, along with six families who were feeling the same loss and devastation. I was thinking mostly about what the crash that killed my mother had put an end to. Little did I know that this Summit would be the beginning of something new for me.

It was that day I met Secretary LaHood. Through his generosity and his desire to do something about this deadly epidemic, we created a friendship. A friendship built on the desire to put an end to cell phone driver distraction. And, in 2010 at the second National Distracted Driving Summit, he honored me by asking me to deliver the closing remarks on behalf of victims' families across the country.

For thousands of families every year, distracted driving takes the life of mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, husbands and wives, significant others, friends, and the list goes on. By sharing our stories since that first summit, we've been trying to motivate you to make a change in your driving behavior.

I am privileged to share my commitment with the many families who have shared a similar loss, but none of us are happy to have had this dumped into our lives by someone else's single moment of inattention. Forming a bond with these families has been the fuel to keep me working to bring grassroots awareness to the state level.

 

On the Go with Ray LaHood: April 2013

Today, I'm happy to present the latest episode of "On The Go." Many thanks to all those who sent in their questions.

This time around, I'm answering questions about inland ports, farm-to-market infrastructure, and how the public can advocate for high-speed rail. I also have a response to the question, "Where can the next Secretary do the most good?"

But although I answered that one, let's not put the cart before the horse. I'm still here, and I'd like to do one last episode soon. So, start thinking about what question you want to ask and stay tuned to the Fast Lane

In the meantime, enjoy this episode. For those of you curious about such important issues, there's even an answer to the oft-asked, "How many times have you said 'lookit' in your four years as Secretary?"

 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor National Organizations for Youth Safety: Making some NOYS to stop distracted driving

Traffic crashes remain the leading cause of death for youth in the United States. There is much we can and must do to reduce their risks and keep them safe on our highways.  We now have a generation of young drivers who are coming into the driver learning experience with a device they hold dear--and have a hard time disconnecting from when behind the wheel.

Our challenge at National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and its member organizations is to engage and empower youth leaders to work together with their peers to become a generation of texters who text responsibly and not when they are behind the wheel of an automobile.

Youth from around the country apply and are chosen to attend the Washington, DC Teen Distracted Driving Prevention Summits and become the leadership teams that host summits in their states and communities.  In the tradition of NOYS, these Summits are youth-organized and youth-led. You can watch someof the activity from the 2012 Teen Distracted Driving Summit here. As you can imagine, they put bring a lot of youthful energy and spin. 

 

As part of their efforts, some of our young leaders developed a distraction driving prevention toolkit for adults trying to reach young people.

NOYS would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us in Washington, D.C. on May 8^th for the launch of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month™! For more information on Global Youth Traffic Safety Month and the 2013 Teen Distracted Driving Summit, or to get involved, email info@noys.org or visit www.noys.org.

As part of Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, teens around the country are hosting Act Out Loud rallies.  To find a rally near you visit www.actoutloud.org.

Southeast Bike Safety Summit: the starting line for a long, important ride

Every day, more and more people are hopping on a bike and heading out to work, school, the grocery store—wherever they need to go--using their bikes not for recreation, but for transportation. Every day, more communities are taking bikes into consideration when they plan transportation projects—creating livable neighborhoods, building bike paths, and launching bike share programs.

In fact, 41 cities nationwide have bike shares today—with more cities joining the ranks this year. One of those cities is Tampa, FL, where DOT held its first Bike Safety Summit today.

 

But as more people turn to biking for their transportation needs, it is increasingly important that we do everything we can to ensure their safety, just as we do for all other forms of transportation.  Recent data shows that in 2011, the number of bicyclists killed jumped by nearly 9 percent. In Florida alone, 534 cyclists died in traffic crashes between 2006 and 2010.

So, as thrilled as we are that more people are riding bikes—and that more communities are thinking about bikes as they plan for the future—we have important safety work ahead.

And that’s why we’re having these Bike Safety Summits--our second summit will be in Minneapolis on April 29. We need to look at how we can make our infrastructure safer for everyone. Because even one cyclist killed is one too many.

 

Distracted Driving Awareness Month guest contributor Jacy Good: Ripple effects multiply the number of victims

On May 18, 2008, the family I knew ceased to exist. A three-vehicle collision initiated by a cell phone distracted driver took the lives of my parents, Jean and Jay Good, and left me on the brink of death. I wasn't expected to survive.

Miraculously, I did survive, but was left with several permanent handicaps.

Obviously this crash has had an overwhelming impact on me and my loved ones, but such tragedies don't merely impact the people in the cars. Like dropping a stone in a pond, there is a far-reaching ripple effect on people who have been deeply impacted by the preventable pain caused by a single moment of inattention.

Thankfully my brother was not in the car that day, but that meant he had the responsibility of gathering our aunts, uncles, and grandparents to tell them that their sibling or their child was gone forever. While clinging to the hope that I’d survive, they were left with the task of planning my parents’ funeral.

This is the raw pain felt within the first ripple of tragedy.

Jean and Jay Good.

But the effects go so much further than that. My mom was the awesome eighth grade English teacher everybody wanted to have at Ephrata Middle School. The day after she was killed, a substitute teacher, along with several guidance counselors and school psychologists brought in to assist the school’s own support team, informed 300 13-year-old students that Mrs. Good wasn’t there and was never going to return.

For so many of those students Mrs. Good was a foundation of their education. She genuinely loved every student equally and provided support that many of them never saw at home. These students graduated high school four years later in June 2012, and at that ceremony four students were selected as speakers. Three of those four talked about Mrs. Good--how much they loved her, how much they missed her, and how much losing someone so important to them at such a critical age had changed their lives forever.

I was lucky enough to get to share my story and the power we have to prevent such horrible pain with these students last spring. I have spoken at more than 150 high schools through my career as a Hang Up And Drive public safety advocate, but I have never hugged so many crying young adults.

Through the last four years, every one of those grieving students needed friends and family for support; as the ripples traveled outward from my single incident, the number of “victims” spiraled into the thousands.

 

President's proposed budget seeks the transportation system America needs and the people deserve

Since day one, more than four years ago, President Obama and all of us at the Department of Transportation have been committed to putting people back to work rebuilding and repairing our infrastructure. 

Beginning with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the most significant public works program since the New Deal, we awarded $48 billion for more than 15,000 transportation projects across the nation which created tens of thousands of  jobs.  The Recovery Act projects lead to nearly 42,000 miles of road improved, over 2,700 bridges improved or replaced and the purchase or rehabilitation of over 12,220 transit vehicles.  And we continued that work over the next four years, from our TIGER grants and our new fuel-economy standards to our passenger rail improvements, to help put people back to work and help them get where they need to go as efficiently and affordably as possible.

Today, the President laid out a budget that builds on the progress we’ve made by investing in the things we need to grow our economy, create jobs, and strengthen the middle class, all while further reducing the deficit in a balanced way. The President’s budget funds critical investments in our nation’s infrastructure, furthers our promise to deliver 21st century transportation, and continues our deep commitment to safety.

The President’s 2014 budget requests $77 billion for the Department of Transportation. 

On top of that, the budget requests an additional $50 billion for immediate investments to sup­port critical infrastructure projects, such as improving America’s roads, bridges, transit systems, border crossings, railways, and runways. This includes $40 billion in “fix-it-first” investments for im­proving existing infrastructure assets and $10 billion to help encourage State and local innovation in infrastructure development.

Together, these proposals will help us create jobs and invest in the 21 century transportation that our businesses need to compete. They deliver on the President’s vision in his State of the Union address to prove there’s “no better place to do business than the United States of America.”