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

Milton-Madison Bridge connects more than just two sides of the Ohio River

Earlier today, I helped break ground on the new Milton-Madison Bridge, which crosses the Ohio River and connects Indiana and Kentucky. 

It joins two towns. It joins two states. It reminds us that when Democrats and Republicans--like Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels--build bridges between one another, the American people benefit. And it ties together two ideas: economic recovery and infrastructure renewal.

Milton-Madison Bridge spanning the Ohio River between Kentucky and Indiana

Across America, the Recovery Act has financed 15,000 transportation projects like the Milton-Madison Bridge. It has restored tens of thousands of miles of long-neglected roadways, runways, railways, transitways, and waterways.

And through this investment--the largest public works program since the New Deal--the Recovery Act has helped spur 10 consecutive months of private sector job growth after 22 straight months of job losses. It has helped produce more than a million private sector jobs during 2010 and close to 3.5 million jobs overall. And it has helped bring the American economy back from the brink with a powerful ripple effect that is helping small businesses.

Through the Recovery Act, DOT delivers second chances to infrastructure, workers

I’ve talked a lot about the benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. And with $40.6 billion already obligated for more than 15,000 highway, road, transit, bridge and airport construction projects in 53 U.S. states and territories, the Department of Transportation is working hard to help deliver those benefits.

The Recovery Act is about second chances--second chances for aging infrastructure, second chances for cities, towns, counties and states with long-deferred projects, second chances for transportation companies, and second chances for workers looking to keep their jobs or get rehired.

That's true for several of the buses in the Town of Breckenridge, Colorado, one of which had sat idle for more than two years before being brought back to life. It's also true for the employees of American Transit Works in Lamar, Colorado, who helped get that bus and three others back in service.

Breckenridge #9209 awaits its ribbon-cutting. Photo courtesy Town of Breckenridge

American Transit Works already knew about second chances--it was created in 2006 by former Neoplan USA Corporation employees after that business--one of Lamar's biggest employers--closed its doors after 25 years. With its skilled workforce, ATW focused on structural rehabilitations, collision repairs, and major overhauls of transit buses.

But the Lamar area economy has been slow since Neoplan left in 2005. Nothing was happening; projects throughout the area were shelved due to economic decline. Eventually, ATW also was forced to lay off its seven employees and was about to shut down permanently.

Then things started to turn around. Thanks to a Recovery Act grant from the Federal Transit Administration, Breckenridge’s Free Ride System restarted a long-tabled project to refurbish four transit buses. ATW secured the contract and was able to get back to work immediately, rehiring its seven workers.

Port of Long Beach replacement bridge to offer safer, smoother access to global commerce

Last week, Greg Nadeau, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, joined representatives from the State of California and the Port of Long Beach to launch the $950 million Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement project. This bridge is a vital link between the Port and Los Angeles.

You see, the Port of Long Beach is the West Coast's 2nd busiest port, so the trucks coming and going over the Gerald Desmond Bridge carry more than 10 percent of our entire nation's waterborne cargo.

As the Port's Executive Director Richard Steinke said, ""This bridge has been the workhorse of the goods movement system."

Port of Long Beach's Gerald Desmond Bridge; all photos courtesy Doug Hecox, FHWA

Unfortunately, the 42-year-old bridge is deteriorating. With safety netting beneath its decks to keep debris from falling into the shipping channel, the bridge is no longer reliable enough to fulfill its function effectively.

The Gerald Desmond Bridge is a steel-and-concrete reminder of the connection between infrastructure and economic growth. The current bridge is only 155 feet high, too low to allow newer, taller cargo ships to pass safely beneath it.

The replacement will be 50 to 60 feet taller than the current bridge, making the shipping channel more accessible to today's cargo vessels, increasing the volume of imports and exports passing through the Port. And it will be wider to allow more trucks to carry more freight to and from the Port's ships. It will indeed be a "bridge to everywhere."

A section of the Gerald Desmond Bridge with safety netting to catch falling debris

Hudson, WI, Youth Court working to keep peers safe; Something we can all be thankful for

This week it is customary to give thanks for all that is going right in our lives, the people we appreciate, and the blessings we have been fortunate enough to receive. As I've noted recently, I am very thankful this year for the many grassroots volunteers stepping up all across America to end distracted driving in their communities.

Last week, I applauded the efforts of cartoonist Clyde Peterson in Texas--and today I want to cast the spotlight on the Hudson Youth Court in Wisconsin--which is spreading the word to their peers and helping to prevent life-threatening crashes.

Hudson Youth Court students Brooke Brokaw and Cally Ahlin with Police Chief Marty Jensen. Photo by Randy Hanson

The members of the Hudson Youth Court have launched a peer-to-peer Hang Up and Drive campaign asking their friends to pledge that they won't text or talk on the phone while driving. Their message is simple and clear:

"If you won't listen to your parents, please listen to us."

Says Brooke Brokaw, a member of the Youth Court:

"We just hope that the people who sign the pledges take it really seriously, and however many people want to sign it, we're thrilled. If that means 200 or 1000 or 10,000, each one is another person saying they're not going to text and drive and cause a crash."

DOT limits on tarmac delays eliminate stressful waits for fliers

As millions of Americans prepare to head home for the holidays, air travelers can be thankful for one less travel stress: lengthy tarmac delays.

Last year around this time, I announced landmark airline passenger protections to put an end to unreasonably long tarmac delays that had in some cases left travelers stranded without access to food, water, or working lavatories.

Since our rules establishing fundamental rights for airline passengers went into effect this past spring, lengthy tarmac delays have dropped to almost zero. We’ve also sought to expand consumer rights through a second proposed rulemaking that would require airlines to fully disclose fares and extra fees and provide better compensation for bumping passengers from oversold flights.

Anyone who has flown before knows the stress and uncertainty that can accompany air travel. By giving consumers more options, information, and most importantly, basic rights to fair treatment, we are trying to make air travel easier and more convenient for everyone.

Of course, our work to establish fundamental rights for airline passengers has--predictably--attracted criticism from some in the airline industry. These critics claim limits on tarmac delays are excessively disruptive and are causing more flight cancellations.

But, as DOT’s airline data show, our airline consumer protections have accomplished the goal of reducing extended airline delays without causing any tangible increase in flight cancellations.

Passenger protections seek to get this plane in the air or to a gate with less delay

FAA reminds parents: this holiday season, fly safely with your children; choose the right seat

As tens of millions of Americans take to the air this week and throughout the holiday season, the folks at the Federal Aviation Administration have a simple, but important, safety recommendation for parents flying with children:

Aboard the plane, the safest place for your child is in a child safety seat or device based on your child’s weight--not in your lap.

 
Fortunately, because many child safety seats are approved for both motor vehicle use and air travel, you can use the same safety seat in the car or taxi on the way to the airport, on the plane, and at your destination. Note that booster seats are an exception--while they do enhance safety in motor vehicles, they are not approved for use on airplanes.

If traveling safely with your children seems like a challenge, our FAA has prepared a terrific website to help you and your precious cargo get where you're going. On the site, you can find a brochure called "Childproof Your Flight: play it safe when flying with your child." I encourage you to print it and take it with you during your travels.

We want parents to make informed decisions about child safety when traveling by air this holiday season. Securing children in child safety seats aboard the aircraft is a smart way to keep your kids safe--it's the right thing to do.

But, whether you're driving or flying this holiday season and throughout the year, please remind your  loved ones to always buckle up.

 

DOT introduces small and disadvantaged businesses to essential tools and resources

Last week, our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) held two days of sessions to help small businesses compete more effectively for transportation contracts. This was a terrific opportunity for these businesses to learn about the tools and programs the Department of Transportation makes available to them.

And it was a great way for DOT to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week. We know that small businesses are the engines of job creation in the US, and we are working hard to support them.

Christopher Lu, Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary, delivered the keynote address. His message from the White House was clear: small businesses are a core component of President Obama's strategy for achieving sustainable growth and quality jobs.

White House Cabinet Secretary Christopher Lu delivers the keynote address while OSDBU Director Brandon Neal and I look on

On Wednesday, the theme was Partnering for Success, and the workshops focused on our Short Term Lending Program. Through participating lenders, this program provides small businesses short term financing at competitive rates for DOT or DOT funded contracts and subcontracts.

Without the loan guarantee this program provides, many small and disadvantaged business would not have enough financing to compete for work. And for an up-and-coming entrepreneur, access to capital can make a huge difference.

Faces of Distracted Driving: Margay Schee, 13 "A big part of me died with Margay"

At 13 years old, Frances "Margay" Schee lived every moment to the fullest. She was a gifted honors student, cheerleader, band member, and animal shelter volunteer.  And as she skateboarded and surfed near her Florida home, Margay dreamed of the day she'd become an airline pilot, criss-crossing the globe.

That day would never come.

Since the launch of our "Faces of Distracted Driving" series on Tuesday, thousands of people have shared Margay's story with someone they love.  I hope you'll do the same.

On September 23, 2008, a semi-truck slammed into the back of Margay's school bus while it was stopped on U.S. 301 in Citra, Florida.  The impact of the crash pushed the bus and truck more than 200 feet before both vehicles burst into flames.

Four passing motorists immediately stopped to help. They began pulling the driver and students from the wreckage.  But Margay was trapped under a seat, unable to move.  And as smoke and heat overwhelmed the volunteer rescuers, they were forced to abandon their efforts.  She burned to death in the fire.

The truck driver admitted he was fatigued and talking on his phone at the time of the accident.  He said he never even saw the school bus in front of him.

For the Schee family, the loss was unthinkable.  "A big part of me died with Margay," her mother Elissa said.  "It's just taking your world full of color and then... everything is gray.  I can't even say it's black and white.  It's just gray.  It's ugly."

Elissa has devoted herself to raising awareness about the dangers of cell phone use behind the wheel.  She believes sharing her story will help keep other families from suffering similar losses.

"I ask that people, if they feel the urge to pick up their phone while they're driving their vehicle, they'll think about Margay laying on the bottom of a school bus."

If you have a distracted driving experience you'd like to share, post a video on YouTube and email a link to faces@distraction.gov.

DOT signs 100th Open Skies agreement

Recently, we received fantastic news about our efforts to support our domestic airline industry. Colombia, negotiating with the Department’s Office of International Aviation, signed on to become our 100th Open-Skies partner.

Reaching 100 Open-Skies agreements is a major milestone in US aviation history. Travelers, shippers, airlines, and economies all over the world have benefited from the competitive pricing and more convenient service that Open Skies make possible.

Colombia--our most recent partner--is an important aviation market for the US. There are more than 200 flights back and forth each week, with 4-5 million passengers traveling between our two nations every year. And the country is not just a popular tourist destination. It’s an essential destination for many American businesses, serving as a traditional inroad into the rest of South America.

And this is just one example of our 100 valued Open Skies partners.

Setting the record straight on technological solutions to distracted driving

In this day and age, one inaccurate story can spread far and fast, so I want to set the record straight on the potential role of technology in preventing distracted driving.

A story in The Daily Caller this morning inaccurately characterized my response to a question I was asked on MSNBC earlier this week, specifically about whether I believed we should employ a specific technology that would block cell phone signals in cars to prevent drivers from talking or texting behind the wheel.

What I actually said was:

“There’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we’re looking at that. A number of [cell technology innovators] came to our Distracted Driving Summit here in Washington and presented their technology, and that’s one way. But you have to have good laws, you have to have good enforcement, and you have to have people take personal responsibility. That’s the bottom line.”

Again, personal responsibility – that’s the bottom line. When you get behind the wheel of a 5,000 pound automobile, you have a personal responsibility to drive that vehicle safely. That means, put away cell phones and other devices that take your focus off of the road.

CFC 2010 good news: DOT teams step up to meet need Better news: there's still time to make your pledge!

With Thanksgiving only a week away, I think it's safe to say that the holiday season has arrived. And all around me at the Department of Transportation, people are getting into the holiday spirit by opening their hearts to help others in need.

That's because this time of year is also CFC season, when federal employees pledge themselves and rally their coworkers to contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign.

Last month I  kicked-off our CFC campaign by pledging online to support Everybody Wins.

Everybody Wins is a wonderful literacy group that brings adults into the schools to read aloud to children, helping them unlock the mystery of the written word. As a former teacher, I believe improving literacy and sparking a child’s interest in reading at an early age is critical, and I have been a long-time supporter of the Everybody Wins program.

And the beauty of CFC—the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign—is that it enables people to support the charitable causes most important to them. Each year, CFC raises millions of dollars for literally thousands of different programs and causes.

All across the DOT, I have seen an outpouring of generosity this CFC season.  And I’m making a personal plea to everyone to participate. It doesn't matter how much you give. It only matters that you help out in any way that you can.

Last year, we raised nearly $1.7 million for charitable causes, shattering our $1.4 million goal. This year, as I wrote on this blog last month, "Our goal is bigger because the need is greater." We’re aiming for $1.5 million in contributions, and I hope for your support in reaching that goal.

With Everybody Wins!, everybody does win

Yesterday, as part of the Everybody Wins! DC Power Lunch Program, I had the distinct privilege and tremendous pleasure of reading Platt and Munk's "The Little Engine That Could" to students at Amidon-Bowen Elementary School.

Everybody Wins! began in 1991 with just five volunteers reading on their lunch hours in one school. Since then, it has grown into a national public-private partnership that provides structured, one-on-one mentoring to low-income youth in 16 states and Washington, DC.

Reading an old favorite, The Little Engine That Could

Look, reading is a hugely important skill that many of us take for granted. But when reading is a challenge, nearly every aspect of life becomes a challenge. You can't read signs. You can't read forms. You can't read news.

In my 13 years as a mentor with Everybody Wins! I saw firsthand the difference that reading aloud with children can make in their struggle to learn to read on their own. Many of you who have read to your children know what I'm talking about.

But not every child has a parent with the time or literacy skills to read aloud.

Thanks for the warm reception!

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez keynotes first Green Streets & Highways conference

One of the key questions on transportation planners' minds across America today is "How can we make our transportation more sustainable?"

The engineers, analysts, planners, architects, and policy makers gathered at the first Green Streets & Highways conference in Denver this week set themselves the important task of trying to answer that question with regard to America's roadways.

The conference was hosted in part by our Federal Highway Administration, and Administrator Victor Mendez set the tone with his keynote address.

Administrator Mendez and I are proud of DOT's representation at this week's conference.  FHWA professionals numbered among the presenters and technical staff, and quite a few FHWA Division Administrators were in attendance. We believe it’s the largest showing by FHWA at any event of this kind.

So, can American roads be built to respect their surroundings and help sustain the planet? Administrator Mendez's answer was a confident "Yes."

"Faces of Distracted Driving" web video series tells the stories behind the statistics

Believe it or not, I wasn't always so outspoken about the dangers of distracted driving. Like a lot of folks, I just didn't give a lot of thought to it.

But that all changed as I met people from coast to coast who told me about the loved ones they lost in senseless crashes caused by texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. And it was their stories--of dreams shattered and lives cut short--that turned the fight to end distracted driving into my personal crusade.

These people have had a profound effect on me. And I think their stories will have a profound effect on you.

I'm proud to announce "Faces of Distracted Driving," a new online video series featuring people from across the country who have been injured or lost loved ones to distracted driving.  We're launching this today with three videos, and we'll add a new one every few weeks. 

We also invite others who would like to share their stories to post their own videos on YouTube and email a link to faces@distraction.gov.

Just last year, nearly 5,500 people were killed and 500,000 more were injured in distracted driving-related crashes.  But, these aren't statistics. They're children and parents, neighbors and friends.

There's 13-year-old Margay Schee, who boarded her school bus and never made it back home.

There's 58-year-old Julie Davis, who never got to meet her 14th grandchild.

And there's 16-year-old Ashley Johnson, whose dream of becoming a psychiatrist will never come true.

(From left to right) Margay Schee, Ashley Johnson, and Julie Davis.

These lives, and too many others like them, were cut short--not because of malice, but because of carelessness.  And the families they left behind understand the tragic consequences of distracted driving better than anyone.  They will all tell you the same thing: no text or phone call is worth the risk.

So, I hope you'll watch these videos. I hope you'll share them with the people you love. And I hope you'll think of these faces--of Margay, and Ashley, and Julie--when you get into your car and put your cell phone in the glove compartment.

O'Hare Modernization Program a leader in nationwide airport sustainability effort

Earlier today, I was happy to announce a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to support the design and construction of a new South Air Traffic Control Tower at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.

This new tower is just one of the exciting features in the O’Hare Modernization Program.

Now, you might have felt the frustration of waiting at a gate, sitting on the tarmac, or missing a connecting flight. Believe me, the people who use O'Hare--the world’s second busiest airport--have felt it too. And so have those using the hundreds of airports served by aircraft flying through O'Hare.

But, when completed, the new South Tower will not only make it significantly easier for O'Hare passengers to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip; it will also help bring the US aviation system into the 21st century.

 

And, as terrific as that development is, the fact that the O'Hare Modernization Program is proceeding with a careful eye on sustainability makes it even better.

Clyde Peterson and Swifty working to end distracted driving in Houston

The most recent census ranks Houston as the US city with the third-largest daily influx of commuters. Says Clyde Peterson, a retired editorial cartoonist for the Houston Chronicle, "403, 313 people head into our city every day, and I'd just like to make sure that fewer than 403,313 of those people are texting while driving. A lot fewer."

Clyde is one of those local heroes I had in mind when I blogged that, "the fight to end distracted driving is gaining grassroots momentum." He is a man on a mission.

"It started small," says Clyde. "I was working with a local school--Longfellow Elementary--just trying to get signs reminding drivers to not text because they were in a school zone. We don't ban texting while driving in Texas, but we do ban it in school zones. Parents were concerned because drivers were plowing by, completely oblivious to the kids."

Clyde asked the state for signage near Longfellow, but the state replied it was a municipal matter, and that the city could not place signs around one school zone without also placing them around all of the city's school zones.

But the Houston City Council rebuffed those efforts.

As Clyde tells it, "They said, 'We're just not gonna do it; we can't afford it.' I said, they're just gonna have to not do something else; we're trying to keep our kids alive."

The future of Midwest transportation looks a lot like the future of American transportation

At the Department of Transportation, we are working hard to help our recovering economy while we prepare our nation's infrastructure for the future. On Wednesday, I had the good fortune to speak about those twin challenges at a symposium--hosted by my alma mater, Bradley University--on the Future of Midwest Transportation.

It turns out that the transportation needs of the Midwest look a lot like those across the country: an efficient and sustainable network to move products like wheat and soy from growers to markets or  from factories to consumers. The people of the Midwest--like those elsewhere--need options to get to and from work or the grocery store or a medical center.

Everyone seems to agree that the infrastructure we have struggles to meet our current needs and cannot meet the future demand we anticipate. If you look at the Midwest and across America, you will see roads that are overburdened, bridges that have deteriorated, transit systems that need to be upgraded.

When you're stuck in traffic trying to get to work with no viable public transit option, you want to see those shortcomings addressed immediately--if not sooner. It's frustrating.

And, if you're unemployed, you're also frustrated, but what you want above all is a good job.

So, on the one hand we have jobs that need to be done: revitalizing our transportation infrastructure for the 21st century. And on the other hand, we have people who need jobs.

Well, in the Midwest and across America, the Obama Administration has been matching the people who need jobs with the jobs that need doing. Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we have more than 14,000 transportation projects currently under way. We're repairing tens of thousands of miles of roadways, runways, railways, and transitways, and--more importantly--employing tens of thousands of Americans.

DOT honors America's veterans in many ways

Veteran's Day offers our nation a way to say, "Thank you," to the brave men and women who have stepped up to serve America under the most dangerous conditions. Just as our veterans have honored us with their service, we pause in our day-to-day routines to remember all that our servicemen and women have done to honor their sacrifice.

So earlier today, Deputy Secretary John Porcari represented the Department of Transportation at the groundbreaking of the American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial. This is the first permanent public tribute to more than three million living disabled American veterans and the countless others who have died, and I am thankful that Deputy Secretary Porcari could represent us.

Rendering of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial.

And tomorrow, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda will lay a wreath at the World War II Memorial. Merchant mariners played a vital support role in that war, carrying supplies and troops through hostile waters around the globe. More than 6,000 mariners lost their lives.

Currently, more than 85% of the supplies and equipment for the conflict in Afghanistan and the ongoing work in Iraq are carried aboard ships crewed by civilian mariners. And every cadet at the US Merchant Marine Academy joins the US Naval Reserve, ready to pitch in wherever duty calls. We at DOT are very proud of the service merchant mariners provide.

Now, an annual celebration of America's veterans is important; their service in defense of freedom and democracy must never be forgotten. But at DOT we also believe that honoring veterans is a responsibility we should fulfill every day.

Voices of the Recovery Act: Jennifer Miller & Jose Lecona "I want to come to work every day because this is a good job"

When FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez visited Oklahoma late last month, work was already well under way on the I-244/Inner Dispersal Loop (IDL) rehabilitation in Tulsa.  But, as he found out, this Recovery Act project is doing a lot more than just improving how residents get around.

In our latest "Voices of the Recovery Act" video, two local construction workers--Jennifer Miller and Jose Lecona--share how they're taking advantage of new career opportunities and providing for their families because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"I want to come to work every day because this is a good job," Jennifer Miller told us.  "Being a woman, it's a huge opportunity to be able to do this kind of work.  It's very empowering to be able to come out here and to be able to try new things."

For Jose Lecona, who has been working on the IDL since construction began in the summer of 2009, the Recovery Act helped him get more hours and gain greater stability.  

"I've been able to keep insurance for my family, which is a big thing for me," he said.  "Before, I had to struggle."

FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez meets with Jose Lecona and Jennifer Miller on the IDL project site in Tulsa, OK.

New Yorkers' high-speed rail Facebook campaign hits all the right notes

If you've visited my Facebook page lately, then you've probably seen the explosion of notes from people urging Department of Transportation support for high-speed rail in New York State.

I don't know who started it, but the Facebook campaign sure got my attention!

And I appreciate that many of the Facebook posts provided very good reasons for developing a high-speed rail network in New York State. Post after post echoed entrepreneur Monica Johns, who said a clean, reliable, and fast link to New York City will be a tremendous boost to businesses across the state.

The people of New York, like those in many other states, recognize the value high-speed rail offers.

They know that saying "No" to high speed rail is saying "No" to jobs, "No" to revitalized manufacturing, and "No" to economic development.

And what's worse, it means saying "No" to American workers at a time when they sorely need those jobs.

As President Obama has said, there is no economic news better than hearing the two words, "You're hired."

Well, an American high-speed rail network will be an engine of job creation. We worked hard to secure commitments from over 30 foreign rail manufacturers to expand or move their base of operations to the United States. That’s because we want them to reopen shuttered manufacturing plants and put skilled workers back on the job.

Ignition Interlock Summit helps states in the fight against drunk driving

Last year, 10,839 people died because of alcohol-related car crashes.

Although this number declined 7.4 percent from 2008 to 2009, none of these deaths ever should have happened. And even a single death due to drunk driving is one too many.

This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Centers for Disease Control met with members of the Governors Highway Safety Association for a National Ignition Interlock Summit. This was a full-day work session to help state safety professionals figure out how to get a handle on drunk driving.

This crash was 100% preventable

Impaired driving is involved in 32 percent of all crashes on American roads. But an ignition interlock system that blocks a convicted drunk driver's vehicle from starting when that driver is impaired can prevent many of those crashes and save lives.

Conference seeks better health and wellnessfor commercial drivers

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the average life expectancy for a commercial truck driver is only 61 years, a startling 16 years lower than the national average. We need to do more to keep drivers healthy so they can do their critically important job safely.

That's why, this morning, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne Ferro kicked off the first-ever International Conference on Commercial Driver Health and Wellness. The conference brings together motor carriers, academic researchers, and state transportation officials to better understand the challenges of driver health and wellness and to determine how we can meet those challenges.

Irregular schedules, long hours of work, poor diet and nutrition, and the stress of driving in heavy traffic and bad weather are challenges for drivers seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Studies show that 50 percent of commercial drivers are overweight or obese compared to only 33 percent of the general adult population. Obesity leads to hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and other health problems.

We also know that 54 percent of commercial drivers smoke cigarettes and only 8 percent exercise. Among the general adult population, only 21 percent smoke, and 49 percent exercise regularly.

At the conference: Albert Alvarez (FMCSA), Eric Wood (Univ. of Utah), Administrator Ferro, Richard Pain (Transportation Research Board), Rick Ash (independent owner-operator and Chair of the Trucking Solutions Group)

We understand that better driver health leads to greater safety behind the wheel. Carriers are concerned about reducing absenteeism, injury, and sickness among their drivers. And drivers simply want to live healthier lives.

So improving the health of drivers is a win all around.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland joins global road safety leaders at World Automotive Summit

Each year 1.3 million people die on the world's roads, and nearly 50 million are injured.

That's why the United Nations is launching the Decade of Action on Road Safety in May 2011. But the US is not waiting; last week National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland was a featured speaker at the World Automotive Summit.

The annual summit offers an opportunity to exchange information and share best practices so the global community can take advantage of lessons learned in one country or advances made in another.

Administrator Strickland explained that in the US, NHTSA uses a wide range of programs to address behavioral and vehicle-related causes of highway crashes. I'm proud to say that the foundation of those programs is good data, sound science, and careful engineering.

And one of the data trends Administrator Strickland shared with the global summit is a rise in driver distraction as a cause of crashes in the US. From 2005 to 2008 distraction-related fatalities as a proportion of all traffic fatalities jumped from 10 percent to 16 percent. And in 2009 distraction was a factor in 20 percent of all crashes that resulted in injury.

To reduce these crashes and the terrible costs they impose on families and communities, NHTSA is borrowing from our experience with seat belt use and drunk driving.

As Administrator Strickland told the summit, "Ultimately a similar combination of strategies worked to curb drunk driving and increase seat belt use. And we see it beginning to have some effect on distracted driving."

Local efforts help community understand the dangers of distracted driving

You may recall that, in a previous blog post, author Jack Torry spoke about how in 1965 a garage in his hometown publicly displayed two vehicles from a deadly drunk-driving crash. Passing those crumpled cars instilled in Torry and his community a deep understanding of the dangers of drinking and driving.

Now, in New Canaan, Connecticut, a garage has put another mangled vehicle on display. This one was destroyed in a crash that may have been caused--not by drunk driving, but by distracted driving.

Courtesy Eva Levine

The red VW Jetta, now barely recognizable, was being driven by a 19-year-old woman. When she entered Interstate 95, she struck another vehicle, causing her car to spin out and hit the median, where it was hit by a tractor trailer. The young driver was killed in the accident.

 Posted in front of the car's remnants at AC Auto Body is a "No-Cell-Phones" sign, an effective message to all who pass the grim display.

And it is grim indeed. Garage owner Anthony Ceraso says, "In my 35 years of doing this, this is the worst I've seen."

DOT award recipients show leadership, dedication in service to America

At yesterday's Secretary Awards ceremony, we honored some of the people who make the U.S. Department of Transportation one of the best places to work in government. 

These individuals were selected for their tremendous leadership and dedication in serving the Department and the American people.

With Dolores Macias, middle, and FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro

One of our first award recipients yesterday was Dolores Macias.  She received an Excellence Award for her work in the Idaho branch of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Under Dolores's leadership, her division dramatically increased the number of safety compliance reviews performed.  Thanks in large part to their efforts, commercial vehicle crashes in Idaho have dropped three years in a row.

Another honoree, Timothy McQuaid from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Region 4 offices in Chicago, received an Excellence Award for his role in uncovering the widespread failure of a Class 1 railroad to maintain their fleet of equipment up to federal standards. Because of his efforts, the railroad committed to upgrading their inspection and oversight processes, improving safety on our nation's freight corridors.

With Deputy Secretary John Porcari, congratulating Andrew Alexander on his service abroad

We also honored a number of our employees who have devoted their talent and experience to U.S. missions overseas.  In 2003, the Operation Enduring Freedom-Operation Iraqi Freedom Service Award was created to recognize U.S. Military Reservists and civilian employees who are called to defend our country abroad. 

This year, we honored eleven DOT employees who have served and continue to serve our nation in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East: Julie Abraham, Andrew Alexander, David DeCarme, Dan Diggins, James Eric Ferron, Alan Hendry, Darrell Hood, David Maynard, William Norris, Daniel Nguyen, and Jerome Steber. 

These remarkable men and women have gone above and beyond--not only aiding our country, but using their expertise to improve the daily lives of people living abroad.

Secretary Awards honor DOT's finest--and the best is still ahead of us

This afternoon, we held the 43rd annual Secretary Awards ceremony at DOT Headquarters.  It's our opportunity to honor the men and women across the country who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the U.S. Department of Transportation and its many programs a success.

Secretary LaHood and other DOT officials honor this year's award recipients. 

Over the last year, these are the folks who have been at the forefront of the Recovery Act, getting dollars out the door to rebuild roads and bridges while putting people back to work. 

They're the ones helping to plan a national high-speed rail network that will transform the way Americans travel. 

And they're the people who are implementing landmark safety regulations that make air travel safer and give consumers new protections when they fly.

I'm tremendously proud of everything the professionals at DOT have accomplished this year.  And I know our best days are still ahead of us. 

Secretary LaHood presents Toya Henry with a Team Award for the DOT Media Center.

As President Obama and Congress work together to pursue new infrastructure initiatives that will rebuild 150,000 miles of roadway, lay and maintain 4,000 miles of railway, and restore 150 miles of runways, our team is ready to handle the responsibility. 

You know, on my way into the office each morning, the first thing I see is a plaque from the Partnership for Public Service.  It recognizes the U.S. Department of Transportation as one of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government" in 2010. 

Secretary LaHood and Jill Zuckman give Todd Solomon an Excellence Award for his work with new media.

That's a testament to the men and women we're honoring today, as well as the thousands of other DOT workers who demonstrate excellence every day through their service.

So let me take this opportunity to offer a hearty congratulations to all of this year's award recipients, and a sincere thank you to everyone at the Department here in Washington and across the country.  By working together, I know we'll continue achieving great things.

TIGER II program a versatile tool in the DOT kit

The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure "a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system that meets our vital national interests and enhances the quality of life of the American people." Our recent TIGER II awards demonstrate how effectively a single discretionary grant program can help achieve all of those goals.

From Idaho to Nebraska to Delaware, DOT is supporting communities as they seek to strengthen their local economies and create jobs; reduce gridlock; and provide safe, affordable and sustainable transportation choices.

In Idaho, for example, the Moscow Intermodal project --awarded $1.5 million to cover about half of its projected costs--will build a 6,800 square foot transit facility. This new terminal will have parking for 34 transit vehicles and 10 buses, and it will serve as a hub connecting Moscow Valley Transit, the University of Idaho’s Vandal Shuttle, and intercity bus service from Northwest Trailways and Wheatland Express. Because transit in the area is provided by many sources, the facility will also offer access for taxis, vanpools and carpools. And it will expand pedestrian and bicyclist accessibility and feature a trailhead link to the popular 1.5 mile Paradise Path connecting the University and downtown Moscow.

When completed, this center will really be a seamless, one-stop concept for public and private transportation in the community. The activity expected in and around the new facility will also generate economic development in the area. Not to mention the many jobs its construction will create.

Reading sparks imagination, promise in students at Glen Oak Community Learning Center

For my work as a Congressman and now as Transportation Secretary, I have to spend a lot of time in Washington.  But nothing makes me happier than to be back home in Peoria, Illinois.

Monday was a special treat because I got to meet the kindergarten and first grade classes at the Glen Oak Community Learning Center, a new school that's just a few blocks away from where I grew up.

Miss Kenney, one of the first grade teachers there, invited me to look at their state-of-the-art facility and read a few stories to the kids.  And, as a former teacher who is always excited to get back into the classroom, I was happy to accept.

What a reception I got!  There were over 200 students in attendance, and the question they all wanted to ask was "Do you really work for President Obama?"  After assuring them that I did, we got down to business and read two books: "Old Bear," by Kevin Henkes, and "The Wonderful Book," by Leonid Gore.

According to Miss Kenney, who has taught in the school district for over 20 years, reading is a fundamental part of everything they do at Glen Oak--especially for their youngest students.

"It's such a wonderful age. In kindergarten, they're just learning to make their sounds and put words together.  And by first grade, they're already starting to master the basics," she said.  "It's like seeing a light bulb go off in their heads. As they start reading and understanding, they just gain confidence and self-esteem right before your eyes."

Fight to end distracted driving gains grassroots momentum

Although I continue to read articles about car crashes caused by texting or talking on a cell phone while driving, I am cheered this morning by other articles that tell me the fight against distracted driving has become a grassroots movement around the country.

Earlier this week, for example, the town of Daphne, Alabama, banned texting behind the wheel. That ban was set in motion by a local man who started a foundation, "Alive at 25," after the death of a Daphne teen at the hands of a distracted driver.

But, the groundswell in Daphne did not end there. The final push to pass the ordinance came from Jasmine Lee, Alabama's "Junior Teen Queen," who testified before the City Council in August, asking that Daphne ban texting.

Said Lee:

"There have been deaths in Daphne and other towns nearby from texting behind the wheel. I know some of my friends text and drive, and I’ve even been in the car while this was happening. I ask them to please stop. I wanted to protect teens and adults. It’s just as dangerous as driving drunk, and that’s a very scary thought. So I went to the City Council."

Did I mention that Jasmine is only 15 years old, not even old enough to drive? What a terrific example of safety and civic leadership she is setting for her peers.

Utah DOT team more than meets its challenges

I really can’t say enough good things about the men and women who keep the Department of Transportation engine firing on all pistons. These professionals are among the best, and--when I have the opportunity to visit a DOT field office--it is a privilege to meet them and see the work they do.

Last week, while in Utah, I met several men and women who work for DOT on highways, trucks, and aviation. The pride they feel about their work was evident as they shared stories of their recent accomplishments.

Meeting some of the crew at the FHWA and FMCSA Utah Divisions

FAA VALE grant will help reduce emissions, noise at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Last Thursday, Federal Aviaion Administrator Randy Babbitt traveled to Seattle to award the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport a Voluntary Airport Low Emissions (VALE) grant for $18.3 million.

The grant, the largest of the FAA's VALE awards, supports installation of a pre-conditioned air plant that will make Sea-Tac one of the nation's few airports with a single, centralized system that covers the entire airport. The new system will allow aircraft at the gates to shut off auxiliary power and connect to the airport's cleaner central heating and cooling supply.

FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt, middle, gets briefed on the system and its VALE-supported replacement.

The project will reduce aircraft emissions at Sea-Tac by more than 50,000 metric tons of CO2. That's the equivalent of taking 8,700 cars off the road, and I think the residents of Seattle and Tacoma will appreciate that reduction. It will also save airlines up to five million gallons of fuel and $10 million in fuel costs per year.

"We've shown this can make a tremendous impact on our environmental footprint, one of our key goals," said Mark Reis, Sea-Tac Airport Managing Director. "The positive effects also include reduced noise from aircraft while they are parked at the gates."

Even better, the project is expected to create 120 jobs.

With the Voluntary Airport Low Emissions program, the FAA seeks to reduce airport ground emissions through low emission vehicles, refueling and recharging stations, gate electrification, and other airport air quality improvements like the new Sea-Tac pre-conditioned air plant. Since 2005, FAA has awarded 40 grants totalling $83 million.

Guest blogger MARAD Administrator David Matsuda: California's Green Trade Corridor to open marine highways, reduce road congestion

Reducing congestion and greenhouse emissions is a priority for everyone at the U.S. Department of Transportation.  At the Maritime Administration, we're doing our part by supporting the development of marine highways, which move cargo and passenger traffic from roadways to waterways.

Last week, I attended a groundbreaking for the California Green Trade Corridor, a marine highway project that will move goods from Stockton and West Sacramento to Oakland.  Because freight traveling through the state is moved almost exclusively by truck or rail, the new waterway system will create transportation alternatives and reduce congestion and air emissions.

MARAD Administrator David Matsuda (fourth from left) with port officials at the Green Trade Corridor groundbreaking in Stockton.

Thanks to the Recovery Act, the $30 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) project will:

• Construct a cargo staging area and purchase two cranes and a barge to support service at the Port of Stockton;
• Build a distribution center and purchase a crane in West Sacramento where freight, mostly agriculture from California’s Central Valley, can be re-packed into larger containers for transport on water; and
• Install power stations in the Port of Oakland, which will allow operators to shut down a ship's engines while in port, reducing air emissions.

The California Green Trade Corridor is part of America's Marine Highway program.  Nationwide, 18 rivers and coastal routes have been identified to participate.

Everyone at MARAD and DOT is encouraged by the steps we're taking to make marine highways a reality in the U.S.  There's no doubt that California--and the rest of the country--will benefit from these investments in our transportation system.

Walk Friendly Communities encourages towns and cities to support safer walking environments

In an interview with Grist last week, I talked about livable communities. And one of the central features of livability is that you can get where you need or want to go without having to get into your car. For many reasons--the hassle of congested roadways, the need to reduce carbon emissions, the desire for better health--that's what Americans have said they want.

Making a community safer for walking is one way to improve livability. And a new program called Walk Friendly Communities encourages towns and cities across the country to make safer walking environments a high priority.

The Walk Friendly Communities program will recognize communities that are working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access, and comfort. It is sponsored by DOT’s Federal Highway Administration along with the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and FedEx. 

As FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez said, "Walk Friendly Communities will show how cities and towns across the country are creatively improving walkability and demonstrating leadership in addressing pedestrian safety concerns."

Walking is one way of improving health through increased physical activity. But increasing the opportunities for people to walk in your community also offers other benefits.

How can Walk Friendly Communities help? The program offers a comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate community walkability and pedestrian safety. Questions in the online survey cover a community's efforts in engineering, education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, and planning. The program will accept applications until December 15, 2010.