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Minimal Transportation Cuts Included in Trump’s $15.4B Rescission Plan

While it may seem like hundreds of millions of transportation-related dollars are being targeted for cuts by the Trump administration as part of a $15.4 billion, 41-page rescission request made by the Office of Management and Budget on May 8, in reality, aims to "eliminate" monies that are unlikely to get fully spent. Under the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, the Trump administration seeks to formally zero-out allocated yet unspent funds from a varie

Senates Water Bill Sidesteps Streamlining Issue for Now

The America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 revealed by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on May 8 seeks to tackle a number of water-related infrastructure issues. But one thing it does not do is deal with streamlining the permitting process for dam, levee, water system, and port projects – a top-of-mind issue for the Trump administration and one supported by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Ranking member Tom Carpe

Congressmen Offer Outlook for Highway Trust Fund

The Highway Trust Fund in its current state is not sustainable and is now predicted to be depleted by spring of 2021, according to Congressional legislators and other experts who spoke at the Coalition for America's Gateways & Trade Corridors (CAGTC) 2018 annual meeting in Washington D.C. on May 16. As a result, they believe new highway funding mechanisms are needed – with some form of vehicle mileage tax the more promising of the options being discussed – as revenues from th

Ship Size, Port Depth Impacting U.S. Oil Prices

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently offered a unique look at a couple of factors impacting the recent surge in U.S. oil prices. In 2017, U.S. crude oil exports averaged 1.1 million barrels per day (b/d), and they’re up to 1.6 million b/d so far in 2018. These are significant increases from the less than 0.5 million b/d in 2016. This growth in oil exports happened despite the fact that U.S. Gulf Coast ports are unable to load Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).

ATA chief Spear makes the case for infrastructure bill and trade agreements in NASSTRAC keynote

In a wide-ranging opening keynote at last week’s National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council (NASSTRAC) annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear laid out a compelling case for what is working in trucking, what needs to be worked on, and what needs to happen in order to overcome a heightened state of acrimony in Washington, D.C. In a wide-ranging opening keynote at last week’s National Shippers Strategic Transpo

American cities now world’s most expensive places to build thanks to low productivity

Low productivity pushing up the cost of labor has been blamed for US cities being the most expensive places to build this year, while Singapore is leading the way on offsite manufacturing, keeping costs comparatively low. The US dominates this year’s league table, compiled by Dutch consulting engineer Arcadis, a striking change from last year when only one North American city made the top 10. San Francisco and New York placed first and second this year, and are joined in the

Charleston port needs feds to make good on harbor deepening money

There is no question that deepening federal navigation channels in Charleston Harbor to 52 feet is a sound public investment that will generate broad state and national benefits. But there is a question as to how reliable the federal government is as a partner in this $570 million investment for which it is responsible for covering about $270 million. Consider that the Panama Canal’s deeper and wider locks are open; bigger ships are here — and dominating global supply chain l

To deliver goods in an ever more congested metropolis, officials are turning to a freight-rail netwo

The New York & Atlantic Railway has had its brushes with Hollywood stardom over the years, including when one of its speeding locomotives sent the Jeep of actor Sam Worthington’s character into a cartwheeling wreck during a chase scene in the 2012 thriller Man on a Ledge. Now the railroad hopes to land a leading role in a real-life drama: delivering goods and materials into a jam-packed, hypersensitive city while reducing pollution in the process. More than 90% of those 277 m

Indiana Supreme Court to see case about railroad fines

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Supreme Court will consider the validity of a state law allowing local governments to fine railroads when a stopped train blocks a street for more than 10 minutes. The Interstate Commerce Commission Termination Act and the Federal Railroad Safety Act prohibit states from attempting to interfere with the safe operation of trains, the railway argued. The railway said it would have to run trains at higher speeds, operate shorter trains more freque

Top federal lawmaker urges FAA to study engine safety after fatal Southwest Airlines accident

WASHINGTON — A top federal lawmaker is urging the Federal Aviation Administration to study engine safety in the aftermath of last week's fatal accident on a Southwest Airlines flight. The call came a day before it was revealed that the engine's manufacturer was considering updated inspection guidelines in the weeks ahead of the accident that would have included the engine that failed on Southwest Flight 1380. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House transportation comm

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