July 2009 Archives

Nearly six months ago, President Obama and Congress enacted a $787 billion stimulus package with the promise that it would boost the sagging economy, save and create jobs, and in the case of the $48 billion in transportation funding, jump-start the construction of "shovel-ready," worthwhile projects. To date, the Department of Transportation says it has made more than $22 billion available to the states and approved more than 6,600 projects, with more than 3,200 of those projects already begun.

But Republican critics say the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has failed to live up to its name. In a July 10 press conference, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee ranking member John Mica, R-Fla., and other GOP detractors noted that DOT data showed that as of July 3, only 1 percent of the $48 billion had actually been spent. Bureaucratic delays, they charged, mean idle workers and continued unemployment.

When it comes to the transportation sector, has the stimulus made good on its promise or fallen short? What is the most appropriate way to measure its success or failure? How much time should we give it?

21 responses: Marion C. Blakey, Jeff Rosen, Ed Hamberger, Mortimer L. Downey, Jeffrey Shane, Kurt J. Nagle, Steve Sandherr, Ed Wytkind, Steve Van Beek, Geoff Anderson, David A. Raymond, Pete K. Rahn, Greg Principato, Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Gov. Tim Kaine, Steve Heminger, Rep. James L. Oberstar, D-Minn., Phineas Baxandall, John Horsley, Ray LaHood, Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla.

Updated at 2:17 p.m. on July 22.

On Tuesday, the Senate Commerce Committee passed a $35 billion bill to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration programs through fiscal year 2011. The bill sidestepped the politically tricky funding issue, but it would accelerate the timetable for implementing the NextGen system of satellite-based air traffic control. Provisions to improve aviation safety include creation of a national database of pilot records and requiring the FAA to use the latest research on pilot fatigue in updating its rules on flight time limits and rest requirements for flight crews.

Like the House bill, which was passed in May, the Senate Commerce bill would increase FAA inspections of foreign repair stations from once a year to twice. But it does not contain controversial House bill language that would make it easier for FedEx workers to unionize. Nor does it include provisions that would make it harder for airlines to form international alliances with other carriers or that would allow airports to increase passenger facility fees. However, it does contain "passenger bill of rights" requirements that passengers be allowed to deplane after tarmac delays of more than three hours.

What do you think of the bill, and how does it compare with the House bill? Does it increase the likelihood that Congress will act quickly, as Commerce Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., urged, to update FAA programs?

6 responses: Bob Poole, Evan Sparks, Steve Van Beek, Carol J. Carmody, James C. May, Greg Principato

Updated at 3:01 p.m. on July 13.

The threat of climate change, the need for new energy sources, and the changing needs of a growing population demand that we not simply expand, but also modernize, our transportation system to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Our nation's roads, rails, airports, waterways and ports will continue to be a foundation of our economy, but they will almost certainly have to function differently. How can we update our national transportation policies to encourage greater economic growth and competitiveness in the global economy while accomplishing the equally important goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and congestion, increasing mobility and improving the safety our of transportation system?

Editor's note: To bring additional perspectives to the debate, we have invited business leaders who are in Washington, D.C., July 14-15 for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Transportation Is Your Business" event to join this week's conversation.

16 responses: Lisa Caruso, Marc Jordan, Suzanne Taylor, Richard Mudge, Bill Graves, Marion C. Blakey, Ed Hamberger, Gabriel Roth, Gabriel Roth, Jacqueline Gillan, Michelle Griffin Young, Deron Lovaas, Geraldine Knatz, Steve Van Beek, Jan Mueller, Janet F. Kavinoky

Transportation safety issues have been making news lately, although often for tragic reasons. On June 15, the Federal Aviation Administration met with airline executives and pilot union representatives and agreed on a series of voluntary measures that could be adopted immediately to promote regional carrier safety. The meeting was prompted by the February crash of a Colgan Air turboprop near Buffalo, N.Y., that killed 50 people and exposed disturbing lapses in pilot training and performance. Just a week later, a commuter train crash in the Washington, D.C., Metro system killed nine people; preliminary investigations indicate it may have been caused by faulty signaling equipment.

And last week, the Transportation Construction Coalition (co-chaired by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association and the Associated General Contractors) released a study that found poor conditions on the nation's roads and bridges cost the economy more than $217 billion in lost productivity, property damage and victims' pain and suffering, accounting for more than half of the 42,000 annual motor vehicle deaths and 38 percent of all non-fatal injuries.

Whether the lapses were due to human error, system error or deficient maintenance, it is clear that more needs to be done. What do we need to do to improve safety across all modes of transportation?

17 responses: Bill Graves, Ed Hamberger, Richard Mudge, Jan Mueller, Nancy LeaMond, Gabriel Roth, Carol J. Carmody, Ed Wytkind, Steve Van Beek, Phineas Baxandall, Robert Puentes, Ron Kuhlmann, Bill Graves, Gov. Tim Kaine, Robert L. Crandall, Pete Ruane, James C. May