
What’s the Status of Hyperloop Standardization?
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released a status report on hyperloop standard development.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released a status report on hyperloop standard development.
New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has proposed $306 billion in infrastructure improvements as part of his 2021 agenda.
President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan on Jan. 14 that includes a $20 billion investment to “protect the future of transit.”
The University of Delaware (UD) is accepting applications for its Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering program, 2021-22 academic year. Professionals and engineering graduates may enroll; GREs (Graduate Record Examinations) are not required.
Inadequate U.S. infrastructure improvements could lead to a decline of more than $23 trillion in business productivity and a loss of $10.3 trillion in GDP over the next two decades, according to a recently released American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) economic study.
In my last report, I looked at Pete Buttigieg, President-elect Biden’s nominee for Secretary of Transportation, and what he would bring to the post. I looked at his own concepts as he expressed them in his acceptance speech, how he might serve USDOT’s business constituents, and his background. Part of that background is the time he spent as mayor of South Bend, a post he occupied starting in 2012. As I will describe in this article, he can claim some credit as an urbanist with his “Smart Streets” policy for the city’s downtown area, but local bus service remains limited, and the passenger trains that ostensibly run to South Bend do not go anywhere near downtown.
Following Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao’s resignation, effective Jan. 11, Steven G. Bradbury is Acting Secretary of Transportation in accordance with the Department’s established order of succession.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) named Peter Anastor, Director, Office of Rail; R.J. Corman Railroad Services LLC promoted Mark Boyle to Vice President, succeeding Rick Johnson, who transitions to Advisor; and Transit Wireless hired Kristin Steiner as Head of Strategic Partnerships and Sales.
Leadership at the industry’s two largest operating-craft unions, the SMART-Transportation Division and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, have petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration to issue an Emergency Order regarding “the safety of all passenger rail crews and passengers.” The unions have also petitioned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enact a “No-Ride List” on passenger railroads.
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reported that it will allocate $14 billion to public transportation systems under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021 (CRRSAA) (H.R. 133). CRRSAA directs recipients to prioritize payroll and operational needs.