At Senate lunch, talk of DOT role in climate and energy

Lunch yesterday with Senators Boxer, Kerry, and Whitehouse. On the menu?  DOT's role in the effort to reduce dependence on oil, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and mitigate our impact on climate change. We were joined by Governors Gregoire and Ritter--two leaders whose states are way out in front on this issue.

What is DOT's role in this challenge?  First, it's pretty clear that transportation is a major source of oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, so we need to take the lead in any solution to climate and energy problems.

Here's what the Obama Administration's DOT has been doing to make things better:

• Achieving greater fuel economy--which we are working toward with EPA;
• Reducing total vehicles miles traveled--which we are working toward with both EPA and HUD;
• Developing high-speed rail, a convenient, energy-efficient choice for inter-city travel;
• Modernizing air traffic control through NextGen, which improves aircraft efficiency both in the air and on the ground;
• Improving roadways--through the stimulus--to reduce the waste of traffic congestion;
• Exploring alternative aviation fuels and emissions technologies; and
• Helping public transit agencies--through Recovery Act moneys--purchase more clean-fuel vehicles.

Our top priorities at the Department of Transportation-–after safety-–include finding new ways to help our communities become more livable, more sustainable, and less dependent on private vehicles for mobility.

Look, Americans are tired of high gas prices, tired of sitting in traffic, and tired of long commutes.

And, on the commercial side, congestion costs trucking and freight rail operators billions of dollars in wasted fuel and productivity every year. So, it’s not only the environment that’s at stake here, but also our ability to compete globally using our transportation assets efficiently.

It’s our responsibility to work with Congress and other stakeholders to ensure that DOT invests in transportation systems that not only reduce our pollution and dependence on fossil fuels, but also drive economic growth and provide the mobility our citizens need and deserve in the 21st century.

As proud as I am about what we've already done, I am even more excited about what we can do down the line.

Comments

[Carl Williams]

One area not mentioned in the Secretary's Obama Administration priorities is the use of the marine highway to reduce the numnber of trucks on the roads ... thereby reducing the impacts on environment. Is this still a priority?

[Andrew]

Two things I can think of
1) set up roadside viewing areas where people can observe wind turbines, solar panels or geothermal power being generated. Then publicize where they are so that we can travel there and check them out.
2) small business is still going to need pickup trucks. Find a way to create a full size pickup truck that can carry a large load and yet when its empty, not in 4 wheel drive and not pulling a trailer gets higher mpg. Downsizing doesn't work because the downsized vehicles cant pull as big a load or carry the 4 by 8 sheets of plywood or carry the extra employees to the job site. And downsized vehicles cant carry big people because the cabs are to cramped. You have to have options open for people who cant get in the little vehicles.

[Allan Thomas]

Dear Ray,

Sounds like you folks had a nice lunch. I hope that while you had the Senators together you reminded them that the transportation sector produces one third of U.S. emissions.
So why is clean transportation only getting one percent of funding in the climate bill?

Do they support CLEAN-TEA?

And you had a couple governors with you too. I wish you'd invite my Governor, Hailey Barbour sometime. We need someone down here to take the helm on transportation and HSP, and he has experience, I think he was on the Amtrak board. Invite Charlie Crist too. I'd love to see HSR from New Orleans to Jacksonville.

I read in Newsweek that there is eleven designated HSP corridors. The Gulf Coast Corridor being one. The Gulf Coast corridor is slated for completion by 2050.

The Southern High Speed Rail Commission has already been working on HSP down here for 10 years.

Does that mean 40 more years of good sustainable planning jobs for the Gulf Coast Corridor?

We need good sustainable transportation jobs for the future now.

Keep up the good work Ray, you're off to a good start.

[Michael E. Bailey]

I am glad that the new Administration has a strong commitment to energy conservation as well as economic development in and for the transpohrtation industry. I have seen the work your sister agency--EPA--is doing to reduce the use and pollution impacts of diesel fuel. and the grants being made to truck and construction equipment fleets to improve energy effiecency and reduce pollution. Did you know that Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway has just developed and is testing an all hydrogen cell powered rail yard switcher with several other partners. The only exhaust will be natural water vapor. This engine will start field testing soon in the Los Angeles train yards. Is there any chance of doing research for a hydrogen powered mainline locomotive that would do away with deisel fuel altogether? Thank you. Michael E. Bailey.

[Richard L Wright]

Mr Sec - I hope you will use your good office to promote rail-passenger service via Amtrak nationwide. We seriously need an alternative to air travel. Specifically I would ask you to support the reinstatement of service between New Orleans and Orlando. This is a glaring gap in the national Amtrak system making it extremely difficult to cross the southern U.S. without a circuitous route. This gap leaves many of us without reasonable Amtrak connections. The connectivity of Amtrak's national system is critical to it's success. I must drive 200 miles to New Orleans in order to access Amtrak, and this is an unacceptable situation. We need and deserve Amtrak service. Your efforts in support of Amtrak would be greatly appreciated.