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

Improved access to and from key Texas port spells opportunity for truckers, shippers

One of the most important things we've done at DOT in the past four and a half years is to provide good stewardship for the $48 billion in economic stimulus funds that were invested in America's transportation network. When we began awarding Recovery Act grants in 2009, I said, "These will be good projects, with no sweetheart deals and no boondoggles."

And yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez joined U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela to celebrate the opening of one of those good projects, State Highway 550 in Brownsville, Texas. As Administrator Mendez said at the ribbon-cutting, "At DOT, we see projects through from start to finish."

The new highway offers an alternate route between the Port of Brownsville and US 77 / US 83, a key highway north, that Administrator Mendez announced was redesignated as I-69. SH 550 is a divided, limited-access road with two new tolled truck lanes allowing commercial drivers to bypass the City of Brownsville when carrying cargo to and from the port.

The project stands for many things that are important to the FHWA and all of us at DOT.

“It goes to prove that the Recovery Act did what it was intended to do,” Administrator Mendez said. “It created jobs. It put a lot of people to work.”

On the Go with Ray LaHood: the last episode

As far as "On The Go with Ray LaHood" goes, this is it. I promised President Obama that I would stick around until the Senate confirmed my successor, and I will. But we hope that will happen soon, so this is my last episode of "On The Go."

I want everyone to know that answering your questions on YouTube is something I’ve really looked forward to every episode. Hearing directly from all of you is one of the reasons I describe this as "the best job I've ever had."

 

Responding to your questions and hearing what's on your mind when it comes to transportation has been a terrific opportunity. But I'm also happy to have had the opportunity to educate Americans about what the U.S. Department of Transportation is doing for them every day.

You might see my face in these videos, but behind the camera is where the important work of DOT is done by more than 55,000 men and women whose faces you don't see.

It has been an honor to share with you their hard work through our "On The Go" series. Hope you've enjoyed these as much as I have.

The Year of the Bike Share rides a blue wave into New York City

Earlier this spring, I wrote that 2013 is the Year of the Bike-Share, and on Monday, New York City proved it. That morning, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and NYC DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan launched Citi Bike, the nation's largest bike share system.

With 6,000 bright blue bikes available to more than 16,000 members at more than 300 stations --including the solar-powered City Hall station where the launch ceremony took place-- this is a terrific next step for a city that has already embraced bicycling as a mode of transportation that residents want.

As the Mayor said, "The Citi Bike program is a big win for New York. It's going to give New Yorkers another way to get around town by extending connectivity from subway and bus stops. It's also going to be great for our millions of visitors."

Observers have already noted the wave of blue seen around New York. In fact, the Citi Bike blog reports that more than 6,000 trips were taken by late afternoon on the system's opening day.

Photo courtesy Michael Appleton, New York Times

We know that bike-sharing is wildly popular in cities across the nation and around the world. But New York's system is poised for even greater success because the City has been preparing its streets for bicycles well in advance. “We didn’t just drop this bike share system in overnight,” said Commissioner Sadik-Khan. “We spent five years installing more than 350 miles of bike lanes.”

That preparation will go a long way to making city streets safer and friendlier for all cyclists, particularly those who are unaccustomed to urban bicycling.

Worcester Union Station Bus Hub brings better access, more transportation options

Nearly a year ago, in June 2012, I visited Union Station in Worcester, Massachusetts, to see the progress the Worcester Regional Transit Authority had made rehabilitating the city's important transportation hub. I wrote in this blog that, "By building an outstanding transit center, they have sparked private investment and completely revitalized the surrounding neighborhoods."

Yesterday, the Union Station Bus Hub --the bus transfer facility that was under construction when I visited last June-- opened its doors, and it is indeed an outstanding transit center.

New hub, photo courtesy Rick Cinclair, Worcester Telegram and Gazette

The new Bus Hub replaces a transfer facility that was several blocks away from Union Station's rail services. Riders of the more than 200 buses that will use the Hub each day will now have direct connections to Amtrak, intercity bus service, and commuter rail.

As Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said, "Worcester’s new transportation hub is a huge win for transit riders, offering a seamless connection between bus and rail service in New England’s second largest city."

This means hard-working families, students, and other riders now have more options for getting to work, school, medical appointments and wherever they need to go. And not just in Worcester. The new Hub will allow transit riders easy access to destinations throughout Central Massachusetts, New England, and the entire Northeast Corridor.

For NHTSA, a safer summer means preventing heatstroke

With the Memorial Day weekend now in our rear-view mirrors, temperatures are heating up across the nation. And that means the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is once again reminding Americans to prevent child deaths and injuries from heatstroke in vehicles.

Just as they did last summer, NHTSA, Safe Kids Worldwide, and other partners will be working together this summer to raise awareness of the deadly threat that heatstroke poses to young children in hot cars.

Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash vehicular deaths for young children. It is especially dangerous because vehicles heat up quickly.  Even with a window rolled down two inches, if the outside temperature is in the low 80s, the temperature inside the vehicle can reach deadly levels in just 10 minutes.

In the United States, from 2003 to 2012, 384 children died due to heatstroke in cars, according to researchers at San Francisco State University.  We are already saddened by the heatstroke deaths of four children in 2013.

At last week's safety campaign launch, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said, "The safety of children is a special area of concern for NHTSA and DOT. We got involved in this very tragic issue a few years ago and --with our partners-- we have worked hard to spread the message that this is a problem that can be solved."

The solution? Look before you lock. Every time you leave the car.

On Memorial Day, honoring the service of merchant mariners

This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day, honoring the courage, sacrifice, and heroism of the many men and women of our Armed Services.

On Monday, Deputy Maritime Administrator Paul “Chip” Jaenichen, along with other distinguished guests, participated in an event at the World War II Memorial commemorating these servicemen and their sacrifice.   This year’s proceedings were especially unique because of a special ceremony where veteran merchant mariner James Van Splunder was finally awarded his service medals--68 years after his service.

Deputy Administrator Jaenichen pinning medals on Van Splunder

Mr. Van Splunder served in World War II as a merchant mariner from 1944 through 1945, with a total of 401 days at sea. His service during that time--delivering ammunition and other combat essentials--took him all over the world supporting our national security.

Called the “fourth arm of defense”, by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, more than 215,000 U.S. Merchant Marines served our nation during World War II. Our war effort relied on merchant mariners to get our troops, ammunition, and essential equipment to all corners of the world.

Van Splunder and his sons, who are also servicemen, posing with U.S. Merchant Marine wreath
along with Dep. Admin. Jaenichen

As US population shifts, DOT pursues livability

In 2011, our nation's 78 million baby boomers began turning 65. That is an unprecedented demographic shift, and it means that the kinds of infrastructure and services needed in communities across the nation will change. And, as I noted earlier this week at The Atlantic's Generations Forum, that is particularly true for transportation.

 

In preparing for the Generations Forum, I thought about DOT's strategic goals: safety, sustainability, economic competitiveness, and a state of good repair for our transportation infrastructure. And it occurred to me that to talk about livability, another one of our strategic goals, is really to talk about all of those goals.

That's why at DOT, we work hard to make sure that as our population ages, we’re providing the livability people need and want.

One year after White House Digital Government Strategy, DOT putting safety information in consumers' hands

On May 23, 2012, President Obama launched a comprehensive Digital Government Strategy aimed at delivering better services to the American people. The Strategy is built on a simple idea: that all Americans should be able to access information from their government anywhere, anytime, and on any device.

As we note the strategy's first anniversary today, I want to congratulate the folks at DOT who have been working so hard to meet this Department's obligations in the President's strategy.

Through their efforts, the public can now access critical safety information about passenger vehicles on their mobile devices. If a father is trying to select a car safety seat as his baby becomes a toddler, the SaferCar app from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is at his fingertips to help him find the appropriate seat style. If a mother is looking for a new vehicle at her local car dealership, SaferCar is in the palm of her hand with NHTSA's 5-star safety ratings.

That is useful government data made accessible to the people who need it.

On National Maritime Day, honoring a proud tradition of service

Today we celebrate Maritime Day, an annual opportunity to recognize the contributions of the maritime industry and the U.S. Merchant Marine.

The maritime industry and our merchant mariners have supported our nation’s economy and our national security for more than 235 years. But this year, I am reminded of one mariner in particular, Eugene Quidort, who, in February, finally received six medals from the Maritime Administration for his brave service to our country with the United States Merchant Marine during World War II.  

In 1943, while a midshipman at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, Quidort was serving aboard the Esso Gettysburg, delivering 120,000 barrels of crude oil, when two German torpedoes hit the tanker. He was flung from the ship and, after swimming through oil, water, and sharks for three hours, was among a few survivors able to find safety in a badly burned lifeboat. Tragically, 40 of his fellow crewmen, including three other cadets, were not as fortunate.

 

Quidort was undaunted by his experience. He continued to support the war effort as a merchant mariner aboard another tanker, a hospital ship, and two different troop transport vessels. "As far as Hitler goes," he says, "I did my part."

Eugene Quidort’s service is in the fine tradition of merchant mariners ready to answer any call during times of need. That tradition dates back as far as 1775, and it continues today.

Last fall’s Hurricane Sandy relief effort showed that our merchant mariners and the midshipmen of Kings Point are still prepared for whatever comes their way.

Celebrating National Maritime Day at DOT, with U.S. Representative John Garamendi and Maritime Administrator David Matsuda

Night and day, Click It Or Ticket seat belt campaign has one goal: your safety

In 2010, if everyone age 5 and older in a passenger vehicle had worn seat belts, 3,341 lives could have been saved. That's according to the latest Safety In Numbers snapshot from our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

That's why NHTSA is urging Americans to buckle up--every trip and every time. And that's the message we're sending with our 2013 "Click It or Ticket" seat belt enforcement effort.

Every year during the Memorial Day Weekend holiday period, law enforcement agencies join forces day and night, from coast-to-coast, for an enforcement blitz that delivers on our message, Click It or Ticket. At the same time, safety organizations like NHTSA launch a wave of public service announcements all with the same goal--encouraging Americans to buckle up for safety.

Since the first seat belt campaign was launched in 1985, we’ve made great strides. In 2012, a record high of 86 percent of people in a passenger vehicle chose to fasten their seat belt. These folks recognize that it takes only three seconds to buckle up, and the benefits can last a lifetime.

But we still have work to do.

Seat belt use at night, for example, lags behind daytime use. We know that the risk of being involved in a serious crash increases at night. Yet, the percentage of people buckling up at night is actually lower than during the day. In 2011, 62 percent of motorists who died in a crash that occurred at night were unrestrained, compared to 43 percent of those who died in a crash during the day.

 

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.