Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) will host a special event April 9 with a coalition of business and political leaders to highlight the urgent need for Congress to approve long-term funding critical for Hampton Roads’ transportation infrastructure.
Phase 1 of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is facing another delay after the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) stated that “the contractor has not yet met the contract requirements for substantial completion.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Credit Council has given preliminary approval on a nearly $1.9-billion federal loan for the Dulles Metrorail Silver Line Phase 2 project in Virginia.
The Metropolitan Council released two draft reports prepared by independent consultants to examine important issues that affect the proposed Southwest light-rail line serving the communities of Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie.
It is expected that U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) will introduce legislation on December 4 to fund U.S. transportation infrastructure in the nation now and into the future, reported the United Transportation Union.
The two bills will establish a series of pilot projects to further study the application of a vehicle-miles-traveled fee and establish a 15-cents-per-gallon increase to the federal gas tax.
“Increased vehicle-fuel efficiency allows for increased demands on our transportation system without contributing as much to its maintenance. An analysis by the Congressional Budget Office based on current driving patterns demonstrates the newest fuel economy standards for automobiles will result in a 21 percent reduction in Highway Trust Fund revenue by 2040,” Blumenauer said.
He pointed to already significant funding challenges and said that Congress has transferred $55 billion in general fund revenues to the Highway Trust Fund to avoid bankruptcy since 2009. When the current authorization expires, the Highway Trust Fund will require almost $15 billion a year in addition to existing gas tax receipts, merely to maintain 2009 funding levels.
“Our failure to adequately fund transportation infrastructure imposes huge costs on American citizens and businesses. Last year, congestion cost urban Americans $87.2 billion a year in time wasted sitting in traffic and higher transportation costs have pushed logistics costs to nearly 10 percent of our gross domestic product. A recent analysis by the American Society of Civil Engineers suggests that the cost of our declining transportation system could result in the loss of 876,000 jobs by 2020. Until we tie our transportation revenues to our transportation demands, this situation will worsen.”
The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission noted that a vehicle-miles-traveled charge is the “the most promising alternative revenue measure” to the existing gas tax, while the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission reported that “a charge for each mile driven . . . has emerged as the consensus choice for the future.” Both commissions found that this system was efficient at raising revenue.
A number of states, including Oregon, Nevada, Minnesota, Iowa, Texas and New York have tested pilot projects where they charged drivers for the number of miles they traveled rather than the fuel they consumed. The tests have proved convenient for drivers, demonstrated strong protections for personal privacy and have been easily administrable, he says.
To facilitate completion of the South Carolina Ports Authority (SPCA) inland port terminal in Greer, S.C., the board approved $2.7 million in funding to cover unforeseen weather and topography challenges from site construction. Previously, the board approved $41.2 million for the project as part of a $1.3-billion 10-year SCPA capital plan for new and existing port facilities.
Port of Duluth-Superior in Minnesota has been awarded a $10 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant to improve infrastructure. The funding will be used to rebuild and expand the general cargo dock at the port and connect it to existing road and rail infrastructure.
The Port of Baltimore, Port of Tucson and Port of Oswego have received $16.5 million in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants.
America needs fair and clear long-term policies that encourage continued investment in railroad infrastructure, technology and sustainability initiatives, Norfolk Southern CEO Wick Moorman told a federal panel.
Kansas City Southern (KCS) has released its monthly State of Safety report, noting a 50 percent reduction in grade crossing collisions through February 2013, as compared to the same timeframe last year.
The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association reached a major milestone by securing the 51st Senate co-sponsor of legislation to extend the Short Line Rehabilitation Tax Credit (45G). The legislation has now been sponsored by a majority of both houses of Congress.
The South Carolina Ports Authority is pursuing the development of an inland port in Greer, S. C., to improve the efficiency of international container movements between the Port of Charleston, the South Carolina Upstate and neighboring states.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s PATH rail system reported record ridership in 2011, with 76.6 million commuter trips made during the year, the highest
Las Vegas Railway Express, Inc. (“X” Train) received support from the state of Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) for the X Train as the viable short term conventional passenger rail project in the state of Nevada for the zero-five year time frame.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s PATH rail system reported record ridership in 2011, with 76.6 million commuter trips made during the year, the highest number since the agency took over operation of the system in 1962.
Despite an overall downward trend in transportation fatalities in the United States, estimates for 2010 released by the National Transportation Safety Board reveal a rise in several categories, including motorcycles, medium and heavy trucks, buses, rail and pipeline.
“Though the NTSB continues to advocate for changes to address human factors, equipment and infrastructure improvements to prevent crashes, we continue to see far too many deaths each year,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman.
The data indicate that overall transportation fatalities decreased to 34,925 in 2010 from 35,994 in 2009.
Rail fatalities increased from 742 to 813, with the majority at grade crossings, though deaths on light, heavy and commuter rail rose from 229 to 253.
The West Virginia Ports Authority has been awarded $12 million by the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct a long-planned intermodal terminal along Norfolk Southern’s Heartland Corridor near Prichard, W.Va.
The Georgia Ports Authority Board approved a $6.5 million, 6,000-foot extension of the Mason Intermodal Container Transfer Facility in Garden City, Ga. The initiative is designed to expand capacity, improve efficiencies and reduce costs for customers.
Canadian National and Coalspur Mines Limited signed a memorandum of understanding, under which they will develop a high-quality logistics supply chain to transport, export thermal coal from Coalspur’s Vista Coal Project near Hinton, Alta., to Western Canadian ports starting in 2015.
CN will transport Vista production to west coast ports including Ridley Terminals Inc., located at the Port of Prince Rupert, B.C. Coalspur recently signed a throughput agreement with RTI to export coal at the terminal.
CN and Coalspur will jointly design and build a rail siding at the Vista site capable of handling the loading of 175-car unit trains at a full capacity of gross weight on rail of 286,000 pounds per car.
The two parties expect to negotiate a definitive transportation agreement in 2012, following completion of Coalspur’s ongoing Bankable Feasibility Study on Vista.
Jean-Jacques Ruest, CN executive vice-president and chief marketing officer, said, "CN will work closely with Coalspur to build an efficient and effective logistics process for its export coal. CN has developed a comprehensive, end-to-end supply chain strategy to manage coal flows from mines to west coast terminals. This approach, coupled with strong customer collaboration, will help Coalspur maximize sales opportunities in global markets."
Gene Wusaty, managing director and chief executive officer of Coalspur, noted, "Rail is a critical link in connecting Vista’s coal to international markets and an agreement with North America’s most efficient rail carrier will help ensure a reliable and effective supply chain."
