March - 2019

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Texas oil export terminal plans stall over lease dispute

The Port of Corpus Christi's plans for a new oil export terminal have stalled after a former port commissioner sought to have the project blocked over concerns that negotiations were being kept from public view. The 13th Court of Appeals issued an injunction on Tuesday, halting port officials from voting on a multibillion-dollar lease for the proposed terminal at Harbor Island near Port Aransas, the Corpus Christi Caller Times reported. Port officials in Corpus Christi and Wa

State Governments Issuing Legislation Aimed At Increasing Transportation Investments

A new 43-page report issued by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s Transportation Investment Advocacy Center indicates 37 states have introduced 185 bills aimed at boosting transportation investment in the first two months of 2019, with 21 of those states proposing to increase one or more types of fuel taxes. [Above photo by Arkansas DOT.] Of those 21 states, 10 included altering or creating a variable-rate tax that fluctuates based on external factors s

State DOTs Urge Retention Of Formula Funding, Grant Programs At Subcommittee Hearing

State department of transportation executives stressed at a March 13 House of Representatives Highways and Transit Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill that the current mix of formula funding and grants should be retained by Congress as legislators begin tackling surface transportation reauthorization efforts. “We urge that you retain the current highway and transit program framework [that] includes retaining the current Mass Transit Account within the Highway Trust Fund and

Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach post solid February volumes despite timing of Lunar New Year

While facing difficult annual comparisons due to the timing of the Lunar New Year, the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) and the Port of Long Beach (POLB) each posted solid February volumes, according to data respectively issued by the ports late last week. Total POLA January volumes, at 705,306 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) marked a 2.7% annual decline compared to the all-time February high and was off sequentially compared to January’s 852,440 TEU, which saw a strong boost fr

Dallas Transit Chief Calls for Federal Infrastructure Funding

Dallas Area Rapid Transit president Gary Thomas highlighted the need for Congress to pass a comprehensive federal infrastructure bill Monday, pointing to regional projects and their potential to reduce congestion. Dallas Area Rapid Transit president Gary Thomas on Monday urged Congress to deliver a far-reaching infrastructure bill, joining other public transit leaders in stressing the importance of funding billions of dollars in improvements. Speaking at news conference hoste

Montgomery County Commissioners Court continues opposition to high-speed rail

Montgomery County commissioners still oppose the Texas Central high-speed rail line. (Jules Rogers/Community Impact Newspaper) A resolution to oppose the Texas Central high-speed rail line was passed unanimously by Montgomery County Commissioners Court on March 19. “This request was brought to my office by [state Rep.]Steve Toth, [R-The Woodlands],” Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said. “We passed this resolution in some fashion twice before.” “We all know how we feel abo

With Strong Traffic, Panama Canal Bonds Get Upgrade

The Panama Canal is doing so well, it got its credit rating upgraded by Moody’s Investors Service. The credit-rating agency upgraded the 20-year $450 million bonds issued by the Panama Canal Authority to A1 from A2, with a stable outlook. The canal has had strong performance since its lock expansion’s mid-2016 kickoff, according to a news release from the Panama Canal Authority. The expansion added a new lane of traffic allowing for a larger number of ships and double the cap

Aviation Subcommittee hearing focuses on manufacturing, market shares and drone systems

The House Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing this week to discuss what the U.S. aviation system and infrastructure could be like in 2050. © Shutterstock Representatives of NASA, aviation and technology companies and pilots were present to testify. Each came with their own particular focus of vision, but all highlighted a future where technology continues to play an ever-increasing role and international competition the dictator of success. Aviation will help deliver this

The FAA's Relationship With Airlines And Manufacturers Is Under Scrutiny, Again

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates and oversees aviation in the United States. But it can also be a cozy relationship, as it works closely with airlines and manufacturers. ARI SHAPIRO, HOST: Today in Paris, French aviation authorities began examining the cockpit voice and flight data recorders of an Ethiopian Airlines jet. Analysts from the National Transportation Safety Board have joined them as they try to figure out why the Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed Sunday not lo

East Coast port deepening gets Trump budget priority

Two of the biggest container ports on the U.S. East Coast received top billing from President Trump’s 2020 budget plan that allows their harbor deepening projects to remain on schedule for completion within three years. The South Carolina Port Authority (SCPA) was budgeted for $138 million to continue deepening Charleston harbor to 52 feet. The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is budgeted to receive $130 million to continue dredging the Savannah harbor to 47 feet. The projects a

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