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

DOT's 2013 RAISE Award, engaging tomorrow's transportation leaders to solve today's challenges

At DOT, we're concerned with a variety of transportation goals, from improving safety and enhancing mobility to creating jobs and helping America's cities, neighborhoods, and businesses thrive.

With the approaching retirement of the Baby Boom generation, the transportation community is poised to lose a tremendous number of its most talented and experienced leaders. That means DOT must also be concerned with making sure there will be skilled experts available to pursue these important goals in the years to come.

Last year, on these pages, I asked this question: How can we encourage America's students to consider transportation-related careers?

As part of our response to that question, we challenged students to solve a current transportation issue with the Secretary's “Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering” (RAISE) Award. And we are happy we did. We received a number of entries from engaged students across the country, and we selected an excellent team of young men from Connecticut as our winners.

The adaptable winglet submitted by the winning Falcon Tip team has the potential to increase the fuel-efficiency of one of commercial aviation's workhorses, the Boeing 737. In fact, their winglet offers a potential saving each year of 600 million gallons of jet fuel--that's about $2 billion--and a seven percent reduction in carbon emissions, which is the amount absorbed by about 50 million trees.

Although it's too soon to know whether last year's entrants have jumped into transportation careers with both feet, it makes sense that students who engage in solving transportation-related challenges will become even more interested in the opportunities the industry offers.

So today, I'm delighted to announce our second annual RAISE Award to recognize students who create unique scientific and engineering innovations in aviation and aerospace.

AASHTO members understand that safe streets, economic strength go hand in hand

A few weeks ago, President Obama laid out his plan for a strong America. In his State of the Union address, he called on us to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth – a rising, thriving middle class – and to do so in part by improving our nation’s infrastructure.

One organization that understands that connection best is the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. So, when I spoke to AASHTO members this morning about improving America’s economy through transportation investments, it was no surprise to see a lot of heads nodding in agreement.

And I was equally pleased that there was plenty of agreement in the room when I talked about doing our best to build safety into our transportation infrastructure.

At DOT, we are very proud of our work to save lives and reduce injuries. But, we also know that our job is never done. This is especially true when it comes to bicycle and pedestrian safety.

We have consistently promoted bicycle and pedestrian safety through public education, such as encouraging bike riders to wear a helmet, and through improved infrastructure and more livable communities that make biking and walking great, safe options for getting around.

But, as demand for walking and biking continues to grow, we must make sure that our policies keep up with the changing ways people move. And that means ensuring that our streets, bridges and highways are safe—whether you are in a car, on foot, or on a bike.

America's business leaders want us to build 21st century infrastructure so they can attract the best and brightest employees to their facilities and so their customers and suppliers can get to them. That's what our communities need to be competitive.

I'm pleased to say that walking and bicycling is part of that infrastructure. AASHTO members know this. Corporate America knows this, too.

Guest blogger FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff: Making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing

When President Obama spoke in his State of the Union address about making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing, I started thinking about the hundreds of manufacturing companies who produce vehicles and components for America's public transit systems.

Last week, I visited one of those suppliers, Piedmont, South Carolina's TransTech Power Transfer Systems, a small company of about 70 employees. TransTech produces pantograph systems--the train-top power connectors you see in rail transit around the country. They also manufacture an innovative aluminum third rail and other power components for rail transit systems.

FTA Administrator Rogoff (right) learns about third-rail production from TransTech president Ian Paradis

TransTech is busy building systems and components for transit service across the country. From Los Angeles to Chicago to Long Island, train after train is powered with parts made by the men and women of TransTech.

And federal infrastructure investments like those that President Obama proposed play a big part in TransTech's success. The folks working on the TransTech factory floor are busy building components for public transportation systems funded in part by the Federal Transit Administration. We're not only talking about new rail lines; but the work created through FTA’s State of Good Repair investments also helps Transtech’s bottom line, as they take on transit maintenance and refurbishing contracts.

Express Lanes in Southern California promise relief and opportunity for commuters and businesses

When infrastructure investments result in economic benefits to their communities, it's not magic. It's a formula proven time and again that improved mobility reduces the costs of road congestion and creates more opportunities for residents and businesses. We know from last week's blog post that South Florida is working to bring those very benefits to Broward County very soon.

And with Friday's opening of the Metro ExpressLanes on the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway in Los Angeles, California has already done it.

President Obama said in his State of the Union address last week that we should both "Fix it First" and make sure our infrastructure attracts and supports businesses and families that rely on them. These lanes will do exactly that.

Congestion isn’t just an inconvenience. It wastes money, stifles economic growth, and harms the environment. In fact, in 2011 Americans wasted $121 billion in time and fuel being stuck in traffic. It’s an absolute drain on our economy, and projects like the I-10 ExpressLanes offer Angelinos a terrific way out.

As Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said at Friday's celebration in Los Angeles, "These express lanes created jobs and brought an innovative solution to a very congested area of Los Angeles. When our highways work better, we have a better chance of attracting businesses and jobs."

DOT continuing to help veterans transition to civilian employment

Each year between 260,000 and 360,000 service members retire from or leave the military. And as we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we expect an additional million service members to leave the military over the next several years. Many of our returning veterans face unique challenges transitioning to the civilian labor market.

But President Obama, DOT, and the entire Administration are committed to doing everything we can to assist these veterans in re-entering civilian life and finding employment.

Today the Obama Administration released a new report discussing the measures the Administration and States have taken and still need to take to ensure that the skills and abilities of these individuals can be applied to meet employer needs while providing good, middle-class jobs for our military families.

As First Lady Michele Obama said today, the Administration has worked hard to ensure that veterans have the opportunity to apply their skills in civilian employment.

One significant obstacle is that much of the training they receive for their military specialties doesn't count toward civilian certifications and licenses. Despite having valuable skills and experience that make them desirable job candidates for civilian employers, when it comes to state certification and licensing, veterans often find it difficult to obtain recognition.

 

Central Florida's SunRail poised to move commuters and the Orlando-area economy

Last week, I wrote about the I-595 Express Corridor Improvements Project, a highway initative that's creating jobs and improving the way folks in South Florida get from place to place. Further north, in the Orlando area, the Sunshine State is also putting men and women to work solving transportation problems with construction of the SunRail commuter line.

This Central Florida transit line parallels the highly congested I-4 corridor in Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties. When completed, it will extend for 32 miles. Last Friday, our Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff had the chance to view the progress at the construction site of the Florida Hospital station, the first of 12 stations planned for SunRail's initial phase.

 

Already, SunRail has put about 800 people to work and has spurred a $250 million investment in a 176-acre Health Village at Florida Hospital that will allow thousands of medical researchers, hospital employees, patients and their families to take transit to work or when seeking medical care.

And across the entire rail line, more than two dozen retail, office, government, and residential development projects within a 10-minute walk of new transit stations are planned or under way—representing about $1.6 billion in public and private investments.

The SunRail commuter line makes it clear that investing in transportation projects is a great way to keep our local economies growing.

As Administrator Rogoff said, “The SunRail commuter line will help grow our economy from the middle class outward and reduce our reliance on foreign oil by connecting residents from DeBary to Sand Lake Road with the jobs and services they need, while opening doors to new opportunities across Central Florida.”

Sequestration Will Have an Impact on Air Travel

By now, you have probably heard about the automatic budget cuts--known as the sequester--that are scheduled to take effect on March 1.

As we stare down that fast-approaching deadline, it's important to know that sequestration will have a serious impact on the transportation services that are critical to the traveling public and the nation’s economy.

At DOT we will need to cut nearly a billion dollars, which will affect dozens of our programs. More than $600 million of those cuts will need to come from the Federal Aviation Administration – the agency that controls and manages our nation’s skies.

As a result of these cuts, the vast majority of the FAA’s nearly 47,000 employees will be furloughed for approximately one day per pay period until the end of the fiscal year. In some cases it could be as many as two furlough days per pay period.

In addition to the income those men and women will lose, the costs of sequestration will be felt far and wide in the form of delayed travel for air passengers, and disruptions to air cargo shipping.

Today, we are sharing more details with our unions and with industry so they can start planning for the serious impacts of sequestration.

Here is what these automatic cuts are going to mean for the traveling public:

• Safety is our top priority and we will only allow the amount of air traffic we can handle safely to take off and land – which means travelers should expect delays.
• Flights to major cities like New York, Chicago and San Francisco could experience delays of up to 90 minutes during peak hours because we will have fewer controllers on staff.
• Delays in those major airports will ripple across the country.
• Cuts to budgets mean preventative maintenance and quick repair of runway equipment might not be possible which could lead to more delays.

Once the airlines see what the potential impacts of these furloughs will be, we expect that they will change their schedules and cancel flights.

I-595 Express Lane project a good illustration of President Obama's infrastructure investment plan

Earlier today, Federal Highway Deputy Administrator Greg Nadeau joined state and local officials in Ft. Lauderdale to review progress on the I-595 Express Lanes project in Broward County. Once the work is complete, these lanes will bring congestion relief to residents, businesses, and visitors to South Florida.

The project is being supported by an innovative financing package including a $603 million TIFIA (Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act) loan, other federal funds, and a public-private partnership. In making this happen, the Florida DOT has exercised exactly the kind of creativity we need to see for infrastructure investments across the country.

And it is already paying dividends. According to FDOT, there are 115 companies working on the project, currently employing more than 1900 workers. At the peak of construction, the I-595 Express Corridor Improvements Project employed as many as 179 companies and 2470 employees.

These numbers illustrate President Obama's vision for investing in our transportation system to help reignite the engine of America's economy. And the threefold plan the President proposed on Wednesday will do just that.

Visit to Montana makes it nifty fifty United States

To say it has been a good ride would be understating it. During the past four years, it has been a series of many, many rides...by plane, train, car, boat, streetcar--you name it--and all of them good.

Now, with my most recent ride to Monday's transit announcement in Montana's Glacier National Park, it's official: As U.S. Secretary of Transportation, I have visited every one of our nation's 50 states. I've also traveled to 211 different cities.

And I have enjoyed every single one.

Photo courtesy Justin Franz, The Flathead Beacon

Because from coast to coast, I've seen hundreds of communities where people are coming together, putting aside their differences, and working to achieve their transportation needs. Cities, towns, and counties are forging more efficient transportation regions. State and local governments are creating alliances with private organizations and businesses. And this DOT is happy to partner with them.

Just last month, for example, I was in Detroit to announce Federal Transit Administration support for the region's M1 streetcar line. This Woodward Avenue line will put residents in touch with thousands of local jobs, education, medical care, and other destinations in the Detroit metro area. It will also help them save money on gas. And it's only happening because a coalition of private-sector philanthropic and business leaders came together--the State of Michigan created a Regional Transportation Authority, and leaders from the city of Detroit and four neighboring counties worked closely with the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments.

Guest blogger Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo: In the Midwest, high-speed rail reignites manufacturing

In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama called on us to reignite the engine of economic growth. Here at DOT, we know that investing in America's transportation infrastructure is one way to jump-start that economic engine--through the construction and engineering jobs created right away and through the efficiencies modern infrastructure provides to our nation's businesses.

To see an example of this in action, we need look no further than our own Midwest, where U.S. high-speed rail investments are already boosting economic activity, and where 460 different companies are poised to contribute to the rail supply chain and modernize passenger rail in America.

That means manufacturing growth; it means modernized old-line plants; and it means jobs.

Courtesy, Environmental Law and Policy Center

The President proposed to build on the progress we've made during his first term and strengthen the middle class by making America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing, equipping every American with the skills they need to do those jobs, and ensuring that hard work leads to a decent living. These investments in manufacturing, clean energy, infrastructure, and education will grow our economy from the middle class out—instead of from the top down.

And, according to a report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center, that is exactly what is happening in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio right now--thanks to the development of high-speed and higher performing intercity passenger rail.

FMCSA's Quick Strike Action Plan will improve safety oversight of motorcoach operations

Every time someone boards a bus or motorcoach, they should be confident that they will arrive at their destination safely.

And with the increasing popularity of bus travel – Americans now take 15 percent more trips on motorcoach buses than on airlines – DOT is committed to ensuring that commercial buses traveling between states are well-maintained and operated by men and women who are alert and driving responsibly.

A strike force inspector checks a driver's hours-of-service

On Thursday, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro and I met with bus safety stakeholders to discuss ways that DOT can improve safety oversight of motor coach operations and protect passenger lives.  During the meeting, Administrator Ferro presented our three-phase action plan to accelerate and strengthen FMCSA’s oversight of unsafe bus operators.

Beginning in April, DOT will target high risk carriers with specially-trained safety investigators.  Industry, law enforcement, and advocate stakeholders will help in this effort.

We will also undertake national risk assessment and outreach efforts, assess safety management controls at all motorcoach companies, revise motor coach safety investigator and inspector training requirements, and expand efforts to educate the public and tour industry on safe motorcoach travel.

Transit in the parks preserves a democratic idea; moves America forward

In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama called on us to upgrade our nation’s transportation infrastructure to help grow our economy and create jobs. Yesterday, our Federal Transit Administration took a big step forward on both fronts with $12.5 million in grants for 29 transit projects in 20 states to improve access to America’s national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges.

Better transit in our parks will help us preserve these national treasures for future generations and make it easier for millions of visitors to enjoy the nation’s scenic Federal lands.  This announcement is part of $80 million distributed to 134 Transit in the Parks projects across the country over the last three years.

To celebrate this year's "Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks" awards, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and I were in Colorado to announce a $1,735,000 grant. These funds will help expand the Rocky Mountain Greenway, a pedestrian and bicycle trail system to connect the Denver metropolitan area’s trail systems, three National Wildlife Refuges in the region, and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Whether we're building new bike paths to connect Denver with the region's parklands or renovating a train station in downtown Denver, infrastructure moves Colorado--and all of America--forward. Through transportation investments, we can make this country a magnet for jobs and manufacturing.  And we can build a transportation network that helps us meet President Obama’s goal of combatting climate change.

 

Sandy road relief on its way to New York

Outside of DOT, it's not often that Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari and I are in the same place at the same time. But because we understand how important federal support is in the wake of natural disasters, we both wanted to be in New York to announce emergency relief funds to help the state rebuild roads damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

We both understand that when disaster strikes, we owe it to our fellow Americans to lend a hand. And that's why DOT is providing $287 million for New York to rebuild roads and bridges damaged by natural disasters. That includes $250 million specifically designated for Sandy relief.

With US Senator Schumer (NY) and NYC Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn

The Obama Administration is absolutely committed to helping hardworking families in New York and throughout the Northeast recover and rebuild from Sandy.  And with this funding, we are delivering on our commitment.

And that commitment doesn't end today. We will continue to work with the region as it rebuilds. In keeping with the vision that President Obama laid out in his State of the Union address--we will "Fix It First" by focusing on the infrastructure projects that will create jobs and help businesses fastest.

The funds we announced today from our Federal Highway Administration are part of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 signed last month by President Obama. They will be used to reimburse New York State for expenses associated with storm damage like reconstructing or replacing damaged highways and bridges, establishing detours, removing debris, and replacing highway infrastructure devices such as lighting and guardrails.

Entrance to the Hugh Carey Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel in Lower Manhattan

Groundbreaking in Durham kicks off state-wide rail improvements in North Carolina

Earlier today, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo helped break ground on a new railroad overpass at Hopson Road in Durham, North Carolina.

The new overpass will eliminate two different highway-rail grade crossings to improve safety for operators and passengers of trains, cars, and trucks. It will straighten a curve for greater rail safety. And it will add three miles of rail siding to allow passenger and freight trains to pass each other.

These are terrific improvements for our number one priority--safety--but the project also promises to be a great improvement in travel speed for rail service. And when we eliminate rail crossings, we also eliminate rail crossing delays--that's a win for motorists and truck drivers, too.

And, it's just the beginning.

Because the Hopson Road Grade Separation is just the first of 12 grade crossing separation projects set to begin construction this year between Charlotte and Raleigh. Altogether, that means removing 50 highway-rail grade crossings between North Carolina's two busiest cities.

In addition to the transportation benefits, these 12 different projects will create new jobs for the local and state economy.

DOT set to improve how US freight travels the arteries of the American economy

If we are going to reignite the engine of the American economy, our nation's businesses must be able to compete effectively. And the ability to ship and receive freight as quickly, safely, and affordably as possible is essential to that competitiveness.

That's why today we're taking two significant steps forward to improve how we move commercial goods: forming a National Freight Advisory Committee and a National Freight Network.

The goods our businesses produce and the materials that go into those goods travel over an extensive transportation network that includes highways, railroads, waterways, pipelines, and airways. While specific commodities are likely to favor one particular mode, a significant portion of the freight moved throughout the nation travels on more than one form of transportation to reach its final destination.

If we want our economy to continue growing, we need to move increasing volumes of freight. And that means we need a more comprehensive system of arteries with smoother connections, more efficient transfer points, and planning that integrates our different modes of transportation.

The recent transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21, signed by President Obama in July 2012, established a national freight policy and called for the creation of a National Freight Strategic Plan. By providing recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system, the National Freight Advisory Committee will help us do exactly that.

Great Lakes Waterways a critical part of America's economic engine

Last night, in his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama spoke about his vision for thriving American economy. One of the keys to the kind of economy the President talked about is a strong maritime transportation and port system.

If we want American businesses to compete effectively, getting the goods from point A to point B quickly, safely, and affordably is essential. And our waterways offer us an important freight alternative that checks all three of those boxes.

The President knows this. We at DOT know it. And the maritime professionals attending this week's Great Lakes Waterways Conference in Cleveland know it.

I went to the Great Lakes conference to talk about the opportunities that abound for the region's waterways. Opportunities to create jobs, opportunities to improve safety and efficiency, and opportunities to invest in a revitalized fleet of Laker vessels, international vessels, and revitalized ports throughout the region.

We know from a just-completed Maritime Administration (MARAD) study that the regional industries served by the Great Lakes, their ports, and the St. Lawrence Seaway are rebounding from the recent recession.

Lake cargo volumes are recovering from their 2009 lows. The Lakes and the Seaway are supporting more than 226,000 jobs. And with the shift in our nation's energy needs, the Great Lakes region is poised to play an even greater role in our economic future as the supply chain for oil, gas, and renewable resources continues to expand.

To improve the state of the union is the task of us all

In last night's State of the Union address, President Obama charted a clear course for the next 12 months. "It is our generation’s task," the President said, "to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth -- a rising, thriving middle class."

And one way to reignite that important engine is by investing in American transportation.

As the President said, "Ask any CEO where they’d rather locate and hire: a country with deteriorating roads and bridges, or one with high-speed rail..."

And he noted that, "The CEO of Siemens America – a company that brought hundreds of new jobs to North Carolina – has said that if we upgrade our infrastructure, they’ll bring even more jobs."

So, the President’s plan to build on the progress we've made during his first term and to make America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing includes a “Fix-It-First” program that puts men and women to work as soon as possible on our most urgent infrastructure repairs.

On Lincoln’s birthday, it is for us to be dedicated to the great task remaining

On this day in 1809, our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was born near Hodgenville, Kentucky. Today, 204 years later, I was honored to help mark the anniversary of his birth at a wreath-laying ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial here in Washington, DC.

You don't have to be a student of American history or of Lincoln's biography to know that President Lincoln was a great leader and one of our greatest Presidents--if not our greatest.

As a former Member of Congress from the same part of Illinois that Abraham Lincoln represented when he served a term in the House of Representatives, it was a true privilege for me at today's ceremony to read aloud Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

And while I was reading it--in the shadow of Daniel Chester French's larger-than-life sculpture of this American hero, I couldn't help but think about the leadership Lincoln demonstrated.

During a time of great conflict, with the fate of the nation less certain than at any time since the American Revolution, he kept us united. Through his determination, and the sacrifices made by so many soldiers and their families, he succeeded.

He was equally determined to lead this nation through the difficult peace that was to follow. He understood that it would be no easy task, that Congress would be divided by factions, but still he charted a course--beginning with the 13th Amendment to our Constitution--that would carry us forward.

Although he was denied the opportunity to see that effort through, he understood that only together could our nation thrive. Only when we work together, setting aside our differences, can we solve our nation's problems.

As Lincoln said: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

We have work to do. Let's get it done.

  

The State of American Passenger Rail is good......and getting better

Four years ago, President Obama laid out a bold vision for transforming American passenger rail. Since then, DOT and its partners have been working hard to realize that vision, and this morning I had a chance to update members of the US High Speed Rail Association on our progress.

Through our High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program, the Obama Administration has invested nearly $12 billion in higher performing passenger rail, funding 152 rail projects in 32 states. In 19 states and the District of Columbia, 52 passenger rail projects worth $3.6 billion are currently under construction, or will be soon.

We have 11 projects that are now complete. And those projects are already paying dividends for the American people.

Last year, for example, trains on the Chicago-St. Louis and Chicago-Detroit corridors began reaching 110 miles per hour – the fastest speeds outside the Northeast Corridor. In two years, trains will run at that speed throughout most of both routes – cutting trip times on each by close to an hour.

In the Pacific Northwest, we are moving forward with 21 projects that will increase the number of roundtrips and cut trip times.

In the Northeast, new service to Brunswick, Maine, has linked thousands of travelers to Portland and Boston and has attracted millions of dollars in private investment and economic development to Brunswick.

Resolution to help prevent human trafficking one more reason to thank America's flight attendants

I often tell people that we have the best aviation system in the world. And our excellent safety record wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of the flight attendants who--in addition to their many responsibilities--help keep air passengers safe.

So it was a pleasure to be able to thank them in person this morning at a meeting of the Association of Flight Attendants in Chicago.

One way the Obama Administration has thanked our flight attendants is by opening up the Family and Medical Leave Act to flight crews. For 20 years, flight attendants and pilots have been unable to take advantage of the benefits this historic law provides.

But last week, the Department of Labor announced a final rule to help flight crew employees tend to their obligations—both to their loved ones and to themselves—without worrying about losing their jobs or their benefits.

This is a long-overdue common-sense protection that is good for flight crew employees and their families. And that makes it good for the flying public whose safety our flight attendants help ensure every day.

One area where flight attendants have made a critical safety difference is with our most vulnerable passengers, infants and children. The safest place for children under the age of two when they ride on an airplane is in an approved child safety seat, and our Federal Aviation Administration has worked hard for the past few years to spread that important message to parents.

We have had terrific support in this safety campaign from America's flight attendants. 

Another critical area where flight attendants can make an impact is in the prevention of human trafficking. Flight crews are skilled observers and well-positioned in the cabin; they can be frontline allies in this fight.

Earlier today, the Association passed a resolution to actively educate flight attendants on ways to end human trafficking and to seek the addition of industry-wide training that "helps identify, report, and stop human trafficking in its tracks."

President Obama has made ending human trafficking a priority for his Administration, and this morning I thanked America's flight attendants for joining us in this effort.

First piles driven for reconstructed Mallory Pier at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy

If you arrive at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, by water--as I did for my first visit in May 2009--Mallory Pier is likely to be the first part of campus you see up close. At 825 feet long, and serving as the primary dock facility for a United States service academy, it should be an impressive sight.

And soon, it will be.

On Wednesday, a construction crew from Russell Marine took the first step toward repairing and modernizing the 50-year-old pier by driving the first pile into the seabed of the Long Island Sound. Like many in the USMMA community, I am very happy to see this important work get started.

When I first visited Kings Point nearly four years ago, it was clear to me that the pier was in no condition to support the Academy's mission to prepare shipboard officers and maritime leaders for a thriving merchant fleet and an effective national defense. I went to work immediately to secure funding to repair the pier and many of the Academy’s other structures, some of which had not been updated since they were built in 1942. 

As a result, last September, we were able to execute an $11.5 million contract to get this critical facility back into a state of good repair so we can once again boast that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy offers the finest maritime training facilities in the nation.

And last week, the first of the precast concrete piles that will provide improved support and long-term structural stability for Mallory Pier arrived in Hague Basin by barge. Seven more test piles will be driven in the seabed this week, and crews will measure their holding capacity. This will allow the remainder of the new piles to be sized properly for the actual conditions of the seabed. 

If you've got questions, I've got another episode of "On the Go"

One of my favorite parts of being Transportation Secretary has been the chance to hear from people across the country about the difference transportation makes in their lives, and "On the Go" is just one way we've done that. 

As you might have heard, I recently announced my decision not to serve a second term in President Obama’s Cabinet. I plan to stay on until my successor is confirmed, and before I go, I'm hoping you'll help me take advantage of the time we have together by asking me your transportation questions for my last episode of "On the Go."

 

Whether you commute to work in your own car or by transit; whether you travel between cities by motorcoach, passenger train, or airplane; whether the route your food travels from the farm to your family's table requires roadways, rail, or marine highways--how we move people and goods from place to place in America makes a difference in your life.

We’ve accomplished a lot over the last four years – in fact, you can read about some of our biggest achievements on our website.  But we all know that now is not the time to let up – we still have a number of critical safety goals to accomplish. 

So I’m eager to hear from you – what's important to you in the world of transportation, what you want to see us tackle next and maybe even what you think we did a good job addressing during the first term.

If you've got questions for me--and I hope you do--this is the time to ask them.

Just use the hashtag #q4ray (the "q" is for "question") on Twitter or post your question on the wall of the DOT Facebook page. I'll select a few of them and respond by video.

Now if you don't have any questions of your own, then tell a friend or two that the DOT social media lines are open for this episode until February 15th.

I look forward to hearing from you.

For Commercial Space Transportation, there's no time like the present

Long before it ever seemed possible, space travel was a fixture in our dreams of the future. Yet from the 1940s and 50s--the early days of suborbital space flight--to the first manned flights in the 1960s, the dream became real. But we continued to dream and to press forward --first with a mission to the moon, then a reusable space vehicle and a space station orbiting Earth.

Today, the commercial space community dreams of space flight as a mainstream form of travel, as common as hopping a plane from New York to Los Angeles. And with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, we are well on the way toward realizing that dream.

One step on that path is a regular exchange of information, bringing experts together to share what they've learned and to shape the future direction of the industry. A terrific source for the latest information is the Annual FAA Commercial Space Transportation Conference, meeting this week here in Washington, DC.

The conference features key federal officials, leaders from Congress and industry, space entrepreneurs, international partners, astronauts, educators, and space enthusiasts. And they're all talking about one thing: how best to continue the tremendous progress we've made thus far.

Teens across the country Acting Out Loud for traffic safety

For teens, summer is the deadliest season on our roadways. That's why National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) is asking teens to join with them and help make some NOYS for safer summer driving.

Right now, NOYS and its partners are gearing up to support the Global Youth Traffic Safety Month campaign, held each year in May to kick off the summer season for young drivers. And they could use your help on three different fronts.

Act Out Loud is a nationwide high school contest led by NOYS and The Allstate Foundation to engage and empower youth-led traffic safety peer education projects. We know that teens are more likely to listen to other teens, so messages about the dangers of distracted driving and other unsafe driving practices are more effective when they come from other young drivers. And that's where Act Out Loud comes in.

This year, Act Out Loud youth teams around the country are planning safe teen driving rallies for Global Youth Traffic Safety Month, and you can participate. If you're involved in a local high school--whether as a parent, faculty, staff, or student--it’s not too late to get in the game.

Each step you complete in advance of a May safe driving rally will earn your team points in the contest. Act Out Loud provides monetary awards with a $10,000 grand prize, in addition to providing each high school team an opportunity to earn up to $1,000 just by participating in projects leading up to the May rallies.

Visit www.ActOutLoud.org to see the rules and a list of teams; if there isn't one in your area, you can help your local high school create a team and register by April 1, 2013. 

A few weeks left for kids to get in on the safety action; Safety Belt Partnership art contest open through March 1

Drivers on our nation's roads are often in a hurry. Whether they're driving to work, like so many of us, or driving for work, like America's truckers, most of us could use a few extra hours – or even minutes – in our day.

But here at DOT, we know that--wherever you're going--the most valuable three seconds of every trip is the time it takes to fasten your safety belt. It’s time worth taking no matter how rushed we are.

And to help spread that important message to truck and bus drivers, the DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration takes part in a Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership to host a "Be Ready. Be Buckled" children's art contest each year. This year's contest runs through Friday, March 1.

Each year, we ask kids everywhere to use their artwork to show truck and bus drivers that safety belts save lives. Each year, America's kids respond with terrific, safety-minded entries.

And for good reason. Safety belts are the single most effective injury prevention component of highway vehicles today.

DOT support for improved ferry service boosts another transportation option

It might surprise even transportation fans to learn that DOT's Federal Highway Administration is home to a program supporting ferry service in America. But it's true, and today the FHWA Ferry Boat Program announced $30.9 million in funding to improve ferry service in 37 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Ferry boats offer a valuable option for people living near waterways across the nation traveling to jobs, schools, medical services, grocery stores, and other important destinations. As FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez said, "Ferry service represents a key transportation link for certain communities--much like highways and bridges do in other areas."

And DOT is happy to help improve this service for those who depend on it. The funds announced today will support construction and rehabilitation of publicly owned or operated ferry boats and the terminal facilities that serve them. And because today's announcement includes projects in Maine and Florida as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and California, the awards really cover the nation from north to south and east to west.

Safety, fuel-efficiency on display at 2013 Washington Auto Show

With the recent Presidential Inauguration and the initial sessions of the 113th Congress, this is a season for new developments here in Washington, DC. But area automotive fans know that the real destination for seeing the most exciting new developments is the Washington Auto Show.

Featuring more than 700 new vehicles from the world's top car and truck manufacturers, it's a real treat for the hundreds of thousands of visitors expected to come through the doors during the 10-day show. And while the show is chock-full of eye-catching designs that are sure to get people excited about what's coming on the market, I couldn't help noticing the many safety and sustainability innovations on display.

The cars we're seeing today are safer and more fuel-efficient than ever. From more precise steering control to improved airbag technology, today's vehicles are designed to keep drivers and passengers safe from crashes and safe during a crash. They're also designed to help you save more of your hard-earned money instead of spending it on fuel.

Rosa Parks centennial a day to be honored by transit riders and all Americans

On February 4, 1913--one hundred years ago today--Rosa Louise McCauley was born in Tuskegee, Alabama. Later she would marry and take her husband's last  name, becoming Rosa Parks, a name that continues to inspire so many of us today.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks did one thing that will forever inscribe her in our nation's history: she boarded a bus and dared to sit down where she wanted.

2005 poster commemorating the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' arrest, courtesy MTA/BusTalk

It might seem like a small thing--a 42-year-old woman wanting to sit down after a hard day's work--but it was not. In choosing to be arrested rather than move from the whites-only section of the Cleveland Avenue transit bus, she helped set in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott, led by a young Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

As Dr. King said, "No one can understand the action of Mrs. Parks unless he realizes that eventually the cup of endurance runs over, and the human personality cries out, 'I can take it no longer.'"

The bus where Rosa Parks sat on December 1, 1955, now prominently displayed in the Henry Ford
Museum in Dearborn, MI, which I have visited several times.

On November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court upheld a federal district court's ruling that Alabama's racial segregation laws for buses were unconstitutional. Soon after, Montgomery changed its bus segregation law and the boycott ended. But by then, the Civil Rights Movement had achieved the critical mass necessary to help eliminate segregation in many areas of American life.

In the years since then, the Federal Transit Administration has worked hard to eliminate discriminatory barriers of all types on America's public transit systems. The FTA has also worked to increase minority and lower-income engagement in the transit planning process.

As FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said:

“The FTA is proud to carry on the legacy of Rosa Parks every day as we ensure that all transit riders are treated with dignity and respect and have equal access to transit. No one should ever be prevented from connecting with their families, meeting friends, or visiting their local downtown centers. And FTA will continue to work diligently to safeguard the civil rights of all transit riders in every community.”

Rosa Parks could little have anticipated the energy with which FTA has pursued improved access to transit for all Americans. But there is no doubt that our efforts owe a tremendous debt to her courageous action.

On behalf of transit riders across the nation and all who enjoy greater freedoms today, we at DOT want to honor the 100th birthday of Rosa Parks by reminding readers about a true American hero.

FTA makes available $2 billion in emergency relief funds for transit systems damaged by Sandy

On January 29, President Obama signed into law the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 to help the victims of last fall's Hurricane Sandy. A key feature of that law is $10.9 billion in funding for the Federal Transit Administration's new Emergency Relief Program. And today, the FTA is making available the first $2 billion of those funds to transit systems hardest hit by the storm.

The special disaster appropriation requires the FTA to issue interim regulations before the remainder of the $10.9 billion is released. But this initial $2 billion is certainly welcome relief to many transit agencies on the East Coast.

We'll use it to reimburse transit agencies for extraordinary expenses incurred to protect workers and equipment before and after the hurricane hit, and support urgently needed repairs to seriously damaged transit systems and facilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and elsewhere.

FTA’s Emergency Relief Program was established last summer under the two-year surface transportation law, MAP-21. The special disaster relief the President signed last week provides funds for the program so that FTA can respond to the worst transit damage in our nation's history.

FAA's Metroplex initiative helps NextGen keep American aviation moving forward

Today the American aviation industry is strong, and it’s getting stronger. More people are flying, and more cargo is shipped around the world. This is a remarkable turnaround from where we were a few years ago.

And that is precisely why the Federal Aviation Administration has been working so hard over the last four years to continue the roll-out of NextGen initiatives. There is no other project more important to American aviation than NextGen—the FAA's next generation transformation of our National Aerospace System--and we’re making it happen now.

One critical part of NextGen is improving the flow of air traffic for an entire region or Metroplex. The FAA has identified 21 areas across the U.S. where several commercial and general aviation airports serve a single, large metropolitan area.

In those regions, airspace congestion and other factors combine to reduce efficiency, often to the frustration of air passengers. But improving air traffic at one airport can have an unanticipated effect on other airports in the same region.

By looking at the metroplex as a whole, the FAA provides solutions on a regional scale, rather than focusing on a single airport or set of procedures. The optimization plan takes into account all airports and airspace that support each metropolitan area as well as how air traffic in those areas interacts with other metroplexes. It considers a wide range of factors including safety, efficiency, capacity, access, and environmental impact.

As part of our Metroplex initiative, flights approaching the Washington DC area started using satellite routes in August and immediately began saving fuel and reducing emissions. The new routes will save $2.3 million in fuel costs in the first year of operation – it helps airlines save money on fuel, and it helps consumers with more efficient flights.