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

Back in the classroom; this time with Teach For America

You may know that I started professional life as a teacher. So yesterday it was a pleasure to spend an afternoon back in the classroom as part of Teach For America Week.

And the kids in Ms. Voskuil's 7th grade reading class at Hart Middle School were great. They were enthusiastic about their work, and they asked a lot of interesting questions. A lot.

Ms. Voskuil's advice had been to "get them rolling," and they sure did get rolling. These kids are thinking about a lot of things, way more than we give them credit for. They are interested in President Obama. They are interested in their government.

You can see they've got that curiosity just smoldering inside, and they just need a good spark, like Ms. Voskuil. You can tell they want to learn.

I talked with the class about the safety mission of our DOT. But my fundamental message was simple: learn to read and do basic math as well as you can. Because when I was a 7th grader I'm pretty sure I never imagined I'd be Secretary of Transportation. Most kids don't know where they'll end up or what jobs they'll be doing. Mastering basic skills allows them to be prepared to seize any opportunity that comes their way.

Look, we need to position our kids for success. America cannot afford to deny any of its kids educational opportunities. We've all heard the expression that "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link." Well, a world-class education is the way we strengthen young Americans and prepare them to achieve.

And I can assure you that Ms. Voskuil's class is on its way to achievement.

Washington State's Gail Land: "Knowing I could get my crew back to work was a great feeling"

I want to welcome Gail Land, division manager of Lakeside Industries in Monroe, Washington, to our Voices of the Recovery Act series.

Last summer, through Recovery Act funding, the Washington Department of Transportation was able to hire Gail's company to repave and enhance safety on a deteriorated 5-mile stretch of U.S. 2 between the towns of Monroe and Sultan.

Gail (on right) with a truck driver hired on the U.S. 2 project. The driver commutes 2.5 hours each way for this job.

Now this section of road had broken down so badly from years of use and harsh weather that WSDOT had it on a list of segments that need accelerated repair work. The proposed resurfacing would put an end to costly temporary repairs and restore the structural integrity of the highway well into the future. But, because of the recession, it had to be cut from the state budget.

Modest DOT budget tackles bold challenges

This morning, I appeared before the Senate Budget Committee to discuss President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget for DOT.

Now, our proposed budget is a modest one, but it promises to achieve way beyond that modesty.

Committee Chair Senator Conrad asked me to "hit the high points," for his Committee, and this is some of what I told them.

Our goals for 2011 align around three key priorities:

• Safety
• Livability & Environmental Sustainability
• Economic Competitiveness & a State of Good Repair

And I am confident that we can work toward these goals effectively without breaking the bank.

One year later, the verdict is in: stimulus is working

I want to talk about some good news I shared with the National Governors Association on Sunday.

And I don't mean good news for the Obama Administration; I mean good news for the American people, good news for the two million people who would not be working were it not for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the Recovery Act. I mentioned it here, but we were so busy announcing our TIGER grant awards that I didn't give it the attention it deserves.

Luckily, America's economists and news media stepped in. They have combed through the Recovery Act data, done their due diligence, and concluded--as I have--that the stimulus is working.

It is employing good people across the country who would otherwise be out of work. And it is getting our nation's infrastructure back into the condition it ought to be in.

And it shows that sometimes this great Federal government of ours--despite its critics--gets it right.

Real life offers no redo's--NOYS, NRSF pick distracted driving PSA contest winner

After our Distracted Driving Summit, I wrote last October about the Drive To Life PSA Challenge. 

Today the folks at the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) have picked their winner, Bethany Brown.

Now the Arizona 16-year old is planning a trip to New York where she will work side-by-side with a professional filmmaker to transform her concept into a real PSA.

Her 30-second spot, "Redo," will air on national television after its debut in May during National Youth Traffic Safety Month. And I can't wait to post it on our own www.distraction.gov.

DOT crafts sample bill for states; languagesupports efforts to ban texting while driving

For months now, I have championed efforts nationwide to reduce distracted driving. Today, we are releasing sample legislation to be used as a starting point for those state legislatures still looking to ban texting while driving.

Look, texting while driving, like talking on cell phones while driving, is a deadly epidemic. It's that simple, and the language we're providing today is another powerful tool to combat this serious threat.

As new NHTSA Administrator David Strickland put it, "Our top priority is safety, and we are determined to help the states eradicate this dangerous practice."

One reason this new language should prove effective is that we worked with a variety of safety organizations to get it right. We also have the support of both the wireless and automobile industries.

This partnership should make it easier for the 31 states that have not already banned texting behind the wheel to get their acts together and get on board.

We're not talking about something abstract here; we're talking about people. In 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted or inattentive driver, and more than half a million were injured.

So we're talking about a basic governmental function of states: protecting their citizens' lives.

The Truth about State Farm, Toyota and NHTSA

There's been a lot written recently about the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's responsiveness to information provided by State Farm on the issue of Toyota vehicle safety--much of it factually incorrect or incomplete.

Today’s Detroit News has it right, however.

The News reports that NHTSA officials were already looking into complaints of unintended acceleration in certain Toyota vehicles in December of 2003 before State Farm supplied any information on that topic to the safety agency in February of 2004.

Internal documents show NHTSA had begun looking into complaints about unintended acceleration
in Toyota vehicles before State Farm supplied information on that topic.

While insurance data is a useful source of supplemental information in identifying auto defect trends, the primary sources are consumer complaints, early warning reporting from manufacturers, technical service bulletins provided by manufacturers to car dealers and foreign recalls on vehicles that are similar to vehicles sold in the U.S.

State Farm’s information was useful, but agency officials were already aware of the trend in unintended acceleration complaints and were taking steps to open an investigation.

MTV's The Buried Life knocks on my door

I may seem like the last guy to be blogging about a show on MTV. A year ago, I may have seemed like the last guy to be blogging at all.

But I've got enough children and grandchildren to know my way around today's TV landscape.

So, last year when the four fellows from MTV's The Buried Life showed up on my doorstep in pursuit of #95 on their list of dreams, I welcomed them into my office to see how I could help.

Here's a preview of what happened:

Apparently I wasn't the only public servant they tapped. The Washington Post reports, "They managed to get a surprising amount of on-camera help in Washington officialdom."

Did the guys ever hit the basketball court with President Obama? Find out Monday night at 10!

TIGER offers gratifying ride for mobility advocates

This morning I blogged about the freight world's positive response to our Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery grant awards.

Now I want to share some examples of how the passenger mobility community from east to west has embraced TIGER:

• The Washington, DC, area will receive nearly $59 million for improvements in Maryland, Virginia and the District, including bus shelters, dedicated bus lanes, a transitway, rapid bus service, and a crucial bust transit center. David Alpert, a blogger at Greater Greater Washington writes that these funds, "mean some long-awaited and exciting improvements will be going forward."

• Dallas, TX, and nearby Oak Cliff  were awarded $23 million for a new streetcar line. This starter loop is an important part of a larger streetcar plan. As Dallas City Councilwoman Linda Koop tells the Dallas Morning News, "It's a different paradigm in transportation now; you've got to have sustainable communities." It sounds like she's been reading this blog.

• Kansas City's Green Impact Zone, was granted $27 million to fix broken sidewalks, repave roads, and add better-coordinated traffic signals. This zone is a 150-block area in urban core of Kansas City, MO, that has been devastated by high rates of poverty, unemployment, crime, and high concentrations of vacant and abandoned properties. Describing the Troost Avenue improvements, the Kansas City Star's editorial board writes, "This is a tremendous investment to support redevelopment in Kansas City’s urban core." And redevelopment leads to jobs.

• The Yadkin River Crossing in North Carolina will receive $10 million for reconstruction. News 14 Carolina reports, "That's good news for those who drive Interstate 85" between the cities of Greensboro and Charlotte." And, since I-85 is a major route from Richmond to Atlanta, it's good news for a lot of Americans.

• San Francisco, CA, is set to receive $46 million to help replace Doyle Drive. Now, one of the bridges to be replaced in this project is rated as the worst in California for structural sufficiency. I am proud that this project will improve an important commuter route for both highway and transit riders in an environmentally enhanced way and within the existing footprint. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom notes that the project "will rebuild a critical and seismically vulnerable regional transportation link and boost our local economy.” That sounds like enhancing safety to me.

TIGER launch earns warm reception from freight shippers

Yesterday, the Obama Administration rolled out $1.5 billion in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery discretionary grant awards.

Now, I know transportation planners and interested citizens across the country were waiting to see the projects on our TIGER award list. The competition for grants was intense, the selection process rigorous.

And the response has been tremendous. From the media, from economists, from stakeholders, from folks on Twitter and Facebook and right here on this blog.

One of the reports that I was particularly happy to read came from the freight shipping corner. 

Of all the support I've read for the TIGER projects, Larry "Butch" Brown, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, really captured the big picture:

"These investments will unclog bottlenecks that delay freight shipments, reconstruct ports and improve rail lines--producing long-term economic benefits well beyond the initial construction work."

You know, although passengers and commuters have human faces, we need to remember that trade depends upon the safe, smooth, and efficient delivery of goods. Our groceries depend upon it as well. And jobs depend on it.

This DOT understands that.

On Recovery Act's anniversary, a TIGER roars across America

Just twelve months ago, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, investing in infrastructure upgrades that have helped keep tens of thousands of American workers employed during a period of economic distress as well as created new jobs.

Today we are excited to announce TIGER discretionary grants of $1.5 billion to more than 50 projects from Maine to Hawaii, from Alaska to South Carolina.

DOT's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery discretionary grant program is a crucial part of the Recovery Act. We're trying to help build high-priority innovative transportation projects that were difficult to fund through traditional programs--projects that create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and help develop livable communities.

Were there a lot of projects out there that fit such criteria? You bet there were. In fact, DOT received more than 1,400 applications seeking more than $60 billion in support. Now that is an overwhelming number of interesting and useful projects that testifies to the vitality of American transportation planning.

I think the range of project awards bears that out. From freight rail to streetcars, from roadways to waterways to bikeways, we are affirming the truly multi-modal nature of American transportation.

DOT and Open Gov, let's talk transparency

The Obama Administration's Open Government Initiative emphasizes transparency, participation, and collaboration. We'll get to the latter two in coming weeks, but today I want to talk about how you can help DOT work toward better transparency.

The Memo from the President announcing his initiative states that:

"Transparency promotes accountability and provides information for citizens about what their Government is doing.  Information maintained by the Federal Government is a national asset. My Administration will take appropriate action, consistent with law and policy, to disclose information rapidly in forms that the public can readily find and use."

Now, as a former Congressman who worked in the House to keep agencies trim, I am absolutely on-board with the idea of better accountability. And I also appreciate the notion that information is a national asset, that it belongs to the American people.

So I am 100% ready to move DOT toward the "appropriate action" the President has called for.

And right now, as we formulate our Open Gov Strategic Plan in full public view, we are collecting ideas from the public about how to do just that.

Bloomington-Normal a model for livability planning

Last week, I was glad to have a chance to talk about livability with the McLean County, Illinois, Chamber of Commerce.

It's a great part of the country because community leaders in the twin cities of Bloomington-Normal think about livability. They incorporate it into their decisions. They get it.

And, as we come out of this recession, McLean County and its communities will be ready to take advantage of the new opportunities that come their way.

With Bloomington Mayor Steve Stockton and US Rep. Debbie Halvorson

I think it’s fair to say that this Administration's work is helping the twin cities achieve that readiness through a balanced variety of transportation options.

• More than $1 billion for high-speed, inter-city passenger rail service between Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City, including a stop in Normal.
• More than $1.4 million for the Route 66 bikeway in Bloomington.
• $2.5 million to the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System for a new bus facility.
• Over $20 million to McLean County to rebuild and repair roads and bridges.

So, whether you walk, bike, drive, ship goods, or take transit, Bloomington-Normal planners are thinking about improving your mobility. That's livability.

One year later, Recovery Act shows transportation works

Next Wednesday, February 17, marks the one-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Also coming soon is the announcement of our discretionary TIGER grants.

 

With those two events in mind, I was happy to see a new report from the state trenches, "Projects and Paychecks, A One-Year Report on State Transportation Successes Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act."

The report reminds us that transportation stimulus, which amounts to less than 7% of Recovery Act spending, has created "tens of thousands of jobs and billions in paychecks to American workers."

 

And, if you want to get a sense of who those workers are, I urge you to visit what I think is the best part of the website supporting the report, its Faces of Recovery page.

There, you'll find the compelling stories of the real people who have found real jobs through the stimulus. People who held onto their jobs or went back to work. People who were able to continue making their mortgage payments. People who were able to maintain health insurance coverage for their families.

That is recovery.

DOT a leader in Open Gov

On December 8, 2009, President Obama issued the directive for his Open Government Initiative (OGI).

This initiative lays out the Administration's view of what transparent, collaborative, and participatory government will look like when it's pushed out to the departments--like DOT--that make up our federal government and touch the lives of citizens.

Since that day, DOT has been a leader in implementing the OGI.

For example, we developed our /open page in plain view, first publishing, well in advance of the President's deadline, the shell of our web page. Since then we've been adding--in full site of the public--our different pieces. This is consistent with what the Sunlight Foundation calls an iterative process:

"Sometimes the best thing to do is act, and to make improvements as necessary. That should be the spirit in which the Administration’s Open Government Initiative is being undertaken, and it should be judged on similar terms."

On our /open page we have posted our approach to open government planning and implementation for all to see. That includes our internal milestones so everyone with web access can monitor our progress and hold our feet to the fire.

It also includes public access to our OpenDOT Citizen Engagement Tool, where anyone can propose ideas about DOT's approach to the OGI and others can comment on those ideas or vote them up or down.

Now, I'm excited about this tool because it allows the public to shape our approach. You can tell us what kind of data you want to see published. You can propose what kind of applications developers outside DOT should create with our data. You can show us opportunities for public participation in DOT's mission.

Hybrid tug a potential game-changer for nation's ports

One marine transportation company that is out in front on the twin issues of energy usage and environmental sustainability for the nation's ports is Seattle's Saltchuk Resources.

Hybrid tug Carolyn Dorothy, "the Ford Escape of tugboats," works the Port of Long Beach, CA, quietly, cleanly, and powerfully.

Kicking-off the first-ever National Port Summit, Acting Maritime Administrator David Matsuda declared yesterday that "aging infrastructure, declining budgets, growing environmental sustainability and the changing outlook of international trade" are key issues affecting the nation's ports.

David advised that the nation's ports, working with MARAD, "should develop a strategy to move goods efficiently, with respect to transportation costs, delivery times, and energy usage."

Well, the folks at Saltchuk may have already cracked a couple of those challenges.

Saltchuk's  Foss Maritime Company has developed a hybrid tugboat that uses an efficient combination of batteries, generators, and main diesel engines. The Hybrid Tug is both powerful and green, significantly reducing emissions compared with conventional tugs.

This is a potentially game-changing development for our nation's ports.

Toyota recall warrants clarity, prudence

The Toyota recall situation is very serious. When safety is involved, it is crucial that consumers get their information from authoritative sources. In the current situation, NHTSA is one of those high-value sources.

As a recent Christian Science Monitor editorial reminds its readers:

It's worth noting that it was US safety officials who pushed a reluctant Toyota to finally recall and stop selling millions of vehicles with a potential accelerator problem.

The most important thing I can do right now is be crystal clear to readers about this:

• Both DOT and Toyota take these recalls very seriously and are taking aggressive action to remedy the safety issues identified.
• NHTSA has issued a consumer advisory for certain models of Toyota, Lexus and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. If you own one of those manufacturers' vehicles, please consult the advisory at the link above.
• Two separate issues have been identified.  One concerns pedal entrapment and floor mats, the other a sticky accelerator pedal. While both safety issues are serious, I want to stress that they are unlikely.

What should owners of vehicles covered by the recalls do?

• Follow the specific guidance provided by NHTSA and Toyota. You do not need to stop driving potentially affected vehicles unless you detect a problem. But if you are experiencing problems, stop driving and immediately contact your dealer.
• When you receive a remedy notice, please contact your local dealer and get your vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
• Consumer safety complaints are an important source of information for NHTSA; if you notice safety problems, please let us know at the link above.

Regarding pedal stickiness:

• Pay attention to your gas pedal. If it is harder to depress than normal, or if it is slower to return, this may be a precursor to a sticky pedal.  If you detect either of these conditions, please park the vehicle and contact the dealer immediately.
• To make sure dealers have the labor and resources to implement the remedy for either situation, owners of a recalled vehicle that is not exhibiting symptoms of pedal stickiness should wait until you receive a remedy notice before going to the dealer.

Regarding pedal entrapment:

• If a pedal becomes stuck while driving, put your car in neutral, bring it to a stop and call the dealer.
• Pedal entrapment occurs when a pedal becomes trapped by an out of place or unsecured floor mat.
• This is easy to prevent, and I encourage you to take this action: remove all floor mats on the driver’s side of the vehicle or ensure that the mats are properly secured. Check to make sure any mats are properly secured after a car wash, servicing, or other activity during which they might have been moved.  Do not ever stack mats on top of each other.

2010 Prius braking investigation launched.

I also want readers to know that NHTSA announced today it is opening a formal investigation of the 2010 Toyota Prius to look into allegations of momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump.

On the Prius braking issue, our Office of Defects Investigation has received 124 reports from consumers, including  four alleging that crashes occurred. Investigators have spoken with consumers and conducted pre-investigatory field work.

• Owners of 2010 model Prius vehicles should contact your dealer if you notice changes in your braking performance.

I hope this helps all drivers of affected vehicles figure out an approach to these recalls and the 2010 Prius braking investigation. This is a serious situation, and we are taking it seriously. 

DOT tackles big priorities with modest budget proposal

Today, I travel to Capitol Hill to discuss the role of DOT in the Administration's proposed budget.

I have traveled to more than 30 states and 65 cities in the last year, and I’ve seen firsthand how much Americans depend on a safe, modern, and reliable transportation system to move about; ship and receive goods; and access jobs, health care, and other essential services.

President Obama’s budget request for DOT totals $79 billion--that's a $2 billion increase over this year's levels. These resources will support our top transportation goals:

• Safety on the roads and rails and in the air
• Making communities livable and sustainable
• Modernizing our infrastructure

As the Wall Street Journal noted, it's a relatively modest increase. We think it's enough, though our goals for the year are anything but modest.

For example, within that modest increase is funding for several specific priorities that we're really excited about, some of which will be new next this year:

• Federal Transit Administration transit safety oversight program
• National Infrastructure Innovation and Finance Fund
• Grant program to encourage state distracted driving laws

Other specific priorities currently ongoing include:

• NextGen air traffic control system modernization
• High-speed rail development
• Partnership for Sustainable Communities
• Long-Run Solutions for Surface Transportation Finance and for Improving Program Performance

Federal Aviation Administration sets high bar for safety

Since 2003, more than 73 million planes have flown safely in the United States. The low aviation accident rate is evidence of the FAA's diligence when it comes to enforcing safety rules and regulations.

Anonymous anecdotes about warning lights that actually did their job aside, USA Today's cover article today understates the Federal Aviation Administration's vigilant oversight of airplane safety.

The FAA's top priority is to ensure passengers reach their destinations safely, and everyone who reads this blog knows that.

• If an aircraft is found to be unsafe to fly, the FAA does not hesitate to keep it on the ground.
• When maintenance standards are violated, the FAA levies fines and increases scrutiny of any carrier that is out of compliance.

FAA inspectors are out everyday looking for trends and potential safety violations before they become larger problems. Inspectors review airline safety systems, including quality assurance programs and other reported data.

As FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said:

“Our inspectors are hard at work every day across the country looking for any safety issues at airlines. When we find an apparent violation of our safety rules we conduct an investigation, pursue civil penalties when necessary and require the airline to correct the problems.”

Contrary to the assertion in USA Today, we are not allowing flights to leave the ground in "unsafe condition."

DOT employees, please help us create an even better workplace

Even if you're a federal government employee, you may not know that OPM sponsors the Federal Human Capital Survey. This survey measures employees' perceptions of workforce conditions and management practices.

These practices affect employee engagement, satisfaction, commitment, and--ultimately--retention.

Now, we like retention. It's certainly better than the alternative, and it means that we're doing things right.  We owe nothing less to DOT workers; we owe nothing less to the American people.

So, this survey is important, and I hope the DOT community takes it as seriously as I do and responds honestly (and thoughtfully, please).

The 2010 survey is being called the "Employee Viewpoint Survey." This is a more accurate--and much friendlier--name. I hope that friendliness will translate into greater DOT participation. Because that's the result I really care about.

America shouts a collective "Yes" for high-speed rail

Last week we announced the Obama Administration's high-speed and inter-city passenger rail grants. The media has gone through the awards and regional rail plans for using those awards productively, and I am pleased by the enthusiastic and positive response from all over the U.S.

America has embraced high-speed rail.

Over the past few days, I’ve heard transportation experts around the country collectively exhaling after waiting nearly a year to see how we evaluated the various proposals. State leaders are excited about what this means for their economic future. And the public is thrilled to see the U.S. move full speed ahead toward a 21st century transportation infrastructure that will rival systems in Europe and Asia.

"YES," they seemed to all affirm as they finally stopped holding their breath. "It's HERE."

"Yes," said Eugene Conti, head of North Carolina's Department of Transportation and Petra Todorovich, director of America 2050. Said Conti:

"This historic day is the culmination of more than a decade of work by state DOTs across the country. States stand ready to plan, build, and deliver. These projects represent the building blocks of our national intercity rail system. They will create good jobs and reinvigorate domestic manufacturing in the U.S."

"Yes," said Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Jay Nixon of Missouri and Jim Doyle of Wisconsin and governors of other states that had submitted plans demonstrating substantial planning and state financial support. "You really can't underestimate how extraordinary this moment is," said Nixon. "This is a transformative step."

"Yes," said state Reps. Terri Austin of Indiana and Connie Pillich of Ohio and other legislators of those states who had bravely committed themselves to voting in favor of a new day for passenger rail in this country. Rep. Pillich focused on economic development: “Sharonville will see fantastic growth as the first stop in the Cincinnati area. It will become the gateway to Cincinnati.”

"Yes," said downtown-to-downtown business travelers whose in-transit time can be spent more productively in the seat of a train than behind the wheel of a car. "You can’t just look at the time alone," said Ken Prendergast of All Aboard Ohio, "because people are more relaxed and can be more productive on a train.”

"Yes," said Phineas Baxterall of US PIRG and Howard Learner of the Environmental Law and Policy Center and other environmental advocates who want to see anticipated growth in automobile carbon emissions curbed by keeping cars off the road. As the editorial board at the San Francisco Chronicle put it:

"A high-speed rail system for a growing state with already overstressed transportation systems and a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions that are threatening the health of the planet for our children and grandchildren certainly qualifies as a sound long-term investment."

"Yes," said entrepreneurs like Doc Dockery of Lakeland, Florida, who see opportunities for economic development around increasingly active downtown stations and along proposed new corridors. "This is a great day," said the 76-year old businessman who has championed rail efforts in Florida for many years.

"Yes," said the Dallas Morning News--even though Texas was awarded a relatively small grant.

But there was one surprisingly ill-informed “No.”

I was disappointed to see the Washington Post’s editorial yesterday, which pointed to a low-value project that did NOT receive ANY funding! And also to a project they like--the Northeast Corridor--that they claim was given short-shrift.