Transportation
Obama administration draft transportation bill embraces performance measures, boosts options
The unofficial release of a draft six-year transportation bill last week offers a promising albeit non-definitive glimpse of Obama administration priorities for the nation’s infrastructure programs. The draft bill contains few surprises, as the White House hinted at many favored reforms in its 2012 budget blueprint in February. The proposal, titled the Transportation Opportunities Act, [...]
Continue reading...Today’s Headlines – 5/12/11
12 May 2011 – 7:42 am PST
Comments Off
Two Democratic Senators introduced legislation to create a $5 billion infrastructure fund. (The Hill) Mary Peters, transportation secretary under President George W. Bush, told a Seattle conference it’s “game over” for the gas tax as a dependable revenue source. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer) House transportation committee chairman John Mica opined in favor of his home state’s SunRail [...]
Continue reading...Sixth Street Travel Restrictions At Arizona Stadium
11 May 2011 – 4:37 pm PST
Comments Off
Beginning on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at about 9 p.m., westbound travel on Sixth Street, just west of National Championship Drive, will be shifted to the center turn lane for about 700 feet as crews close the two westbound travel lanes to accommodate the construction of a new video scoreboard in the south end zone [...]
Continue reading...Toyota production increasing faster than expected. Hybrids?
11 May 2011 – 11:23 am PST
Comments Off
Better Prius supplies coming this summer? Time for North American Prius hybrid production Today, Toyota is only producing about 30 percent as many vehicles in North America as normal due to the supply shortage caused by the Japanese tsunami. However, by June North American production should be back to at least 70 percent according to [...]
Continue reading...Today’s Headlines – 5/11/11
11 May 2011 – 11:14 am PST
Comments Off
Democrats and Republicans are largely attacking each other rather than proposing real solutions to gas prices. (Transportation Nation) Senate budget chief Kent Conrad proposed a budget with a 50-50 split between spending cuts and new revenues. (The Hill) Speaker John Boehner’s economic arguments are contradicted by market trends and several studies. (Bloomberg) Secretary Ray LaHood [...]
Continue reading...Kia Optima hybrid to top $27,000 in June
11 May 2011 – 9:19 am PST
Comments Off
Kia set to launch its first hybrid in June Loaded, fuel efficient but not exactly cheap The Kia Optima hybrid is set to hit dealerships in June with an MSRP of $26,545 + a $750 destination charge. While the base model includes many luxury amenities such as keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone climate control, power [...]
Continue reading...Huge uptick in Chevy Volt production by 2014
10 May 2011 – 12:02 pm PST
Comments Off
2012: The Year GM sheds its government motors image? Today, the auto world has been abuzz with news that GM will invest $2 billion to upgrade a number of manufacturing centers throughout the US, with a significant and timely focus on fuel efficiency. Even better, in 2012 GM will begin rolling out a horde of [...]
Continue reading...Kicking CAFE: Why does 62 mpg actually mean 44 mpg?
10 May 2011 – 10:05 am PST
Comments Off
Time for the EPA to get real regarding CAFE And probably even worse fuel economy in the real world? At the LA Auto Show John Krafcik, Hyundai’s North American CEO, poked a little fun at the hybrid cars and plug-in vehicles so many automakers were hyping at the show – including both Hyundai and Kia. [...]
Continue reading...Today’s Headlines – 5/10/11
10 May 2011 – 7:55 am PST
Comments Off
Gas prices could be cresting at slightly below $4 per gallon. (USA Today) A sizable majority think oil companies deserve a “great deal of blame” for rising gas prices. (Plum Line) Speaker John Boehner told a Wall Street audience he wants trillions in spending cuts in exchange for raising the debt ceiling. (Politico) Republicans were [...]
Continue reading...Florida’s high-speed rail loss is the Northeast’s gain
10 May 2011 – 7:55 am PST
Comments Off
Secretary Ray LaHood is in a good mood this morning. The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced the recipients of $2 billion in high-speed rail funds, a total of 22 “carefully selected projects that will create jobs, boost manufacturing and spur development while laying the foundation for future economic competitiveness,” LaHood wrote on his blog. [...]
Continue reading...
12 May 2011 – 11:53 am PST
Comments Off