"On the Go with Ray LaHood"

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote here that I'd be taking your questions through Facebook, Twitter, and comments on this blog.  Today, I'm happy to present the video that resulted from your questions.

First, I want to say that I appreciate the fact that so many of you took the time to post your questions.  Reading them shows me what you care about in terms of transportation.  So, thank you for contributing to this useful exchange.

I also have to say that I enjoyed answering your questions.  Being able to communicate directly to you is an important opportunity, important enough that I want to continue taking your questions--and answering them.

 

So, we'll keep the lines open, you keep those questions coming, and I'll have another installment of "On The Go" in a few weeks.  Remember you can post your questions on the "Discussions" tab on my Facebook page, using the #q4ray hashtag on Twitter, or through the "Comments" feature on this blog.

Finally, to @lexalexander on Twitter, who asked, "Where are the jet packs; they said there'd be jet packs?" I can only say that I share your disappointment that the 21st century so far lacks a decent jet pack.  But it may be of some consolation that, at last year's Oshkosh AirVenture, I did see a flying car.

And if jet packs aren't just around the corner, there are plenty of innovations on their way to help get people and goods where they need to go.

Thanks for tuning in.

Comments

[Djvazquez]

VP Joe Biden has been taking trains for around 30 years which is one of the reasons why he is one of the chief supporters and spokesmen for High Speed Rail. Unfortunately the proposed route map for HSR at DOT's FastLane website will never accomplish the stated goals. I know the federal government relies on the state's support but initiating HSR by just building between 2 metropolitan areas is a gigantic waste of taxpayer money. The only people who benefit is the building industry and their supporters. If federal money is on the line they should lay out a continental grid-like routing plan of HSR and negotiate the cheapest per mile track construction rates like WalMart negotiates everything cheaper from manufacturers. Building elevated HSR between Tampa and Orlando is so exceedingly expensive, it's like building a bridge. Where in the more densely populated Japan and Europe is High Speed Rail built on elevated tracks?

[Donald Tisthammer]

I for one gave up on DC, have been trying for years to communicate with my representation and get nothing.

I've reproted crime when employed at the NE Dept of Forestry, representatives did eveyrthing possible to cover it up in an outdated FEPP prgram which outlived it's original concept of helping rural fire districts get on their feet? My boss was stealing state and fed tax dollars!

If NE Gov Mike Jokhanns would hve listened to me in 1998 at least one US soldier who died because they didn't have equipment might not have been sacrificed? Damn you people!

I've been trying for a year now to get with President Obama and the DOT, sent messages to you Ray LaHood and you passed them on?

I can show DC how to save billions of dollar in freight transportation but I can't sit here and wait for that special moment when you are ready for input.

You need to have an open door polciy, somebody willing to hear US taxpayers, not just when you open that narrow window and suddenly we missed it?

There is my email address, have President Obama or who ever get back with me and I'll show you how to use 21st century IT to bring the 1980s outdated model of freight transportation runbning over an infratsructure $2.2 trillion in disrepair into the 21st century,

Maybe FL will take you up on the billions for high speed rail they had to turn down due to the same busted state budgets WI is butchering the AFSCME union over?

I swear, no transportation bill in over 525 days and we wonder why states like FL can't afford highspeed rail and in the NE, NY they can't afford to connect either?

It would be appreciated by millions if you actually did something as Sec of the DOT beyond cheerleader for Tiger Grants.

Some of US come from a working class background, know bandaid fixes don't work, have a work ethic, and do the job right the first time saving billions.

I'm sure if I were a millionaire with money to contribute I would have had a lobbyist talking to President Obama last Feb and making billions at the expense of the US taxpayer today?

[Michael Anguelo]

Dear sirs:
For almost two years I had been sending an E-mail to most of the Florida and Miami Dade officers trying to give this revolutionary idea with respect the traffic lights accidents at traffic lights on majors avenues and street of cities big and small:

My idea is to freeze in RED the traffic lights at the intersections for a period of time of five SECONDS, doing this we give a window of five seconds to the drivers, so in any case if one driver takes the red light,the other driver is at stop, preventing what I see every day here in Miami terrible accident at the intersection, I had been in this situation twice, that's why I am pursuing this crusade. Making this idea a reality, we prevent about 95% of the tragic accidents in the intersections, with this five second in red at all direction, never two(2) vehicle will be crossing the intersection AT THE SAME TIME, at least one but not two, avoiding a tragic accident and fatal lost of lives.

Also I had been advising to synchronizing the traffic lights at the major streets and avenues, this action will save time, less pollution, more safety and money, to the drivers and alleviating the traffic flow, this is a win, win situation for all and a saving of fuel to the public and of course Money too.

Hear I am including an article by Department of Transportation related to intersections accidents
statistic.
Intersection Safety

In 2009, there were 33,808 fatalities on our Nation’s roadways. Of these, 7,043 (20.8% of total fatalities) were intersection or intersection related.
An intersection is a planned point of conflict in the roadway system. With different crossing and entering movements by both drivers and pedestrians, an intersection is one of the most complex traffic situations that motorists encounter. Dangers are compounded when we add the element of speeding motorists who disregard traffic controls. Despite improved intersection design and more sophisticated applications of traffic engineering measures, the annual toll of human loss due to motor vehicle crashes has not substantially changed in more than 25 years.
Intersection safety is a national, state and local priority. Intersections represent a disproportionate share of the safety problem. As a result, organizations such as the FHWA, NHTSA, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the American Automobile Association (AAA), and other private and public organizations are devoting resources to help reduce the problem.
Best regards. From Miami
Michael Anguelo
manguelo@bellsouth.net

[WS]

Dear Ray,

Re: Executive Order 12898

[OST Docket No. OST-95-141 (50125)] 1997

Morning,

Here in Durham, NC we (community) are fighting a road widening state project that is to be constructed in what I call a 'neighborhood in transition.' The community majority wants the monies allocated for the widening which will spur economic growth and handle congestion. However, the two issues we face are: (1)convincing state and city officials to follow "Complete Streets" approach, and (2) following federal guidelines regarding road construction and loss of a vital community service-a grocery store. The store that is threatened by the widening is in fact itself an environmental justice problem as it sells rotten foods, is very unhealthy, not community-focused, and sells alcohol. It appears that the state is just 'checking' off the federal guidelines to keep the store and construct a 4-lane highway with median (horrible for pedestrians), instead of really focusing on the community, pedestrian, aesthetic quality, and our need as a low-income community to have access to healthy and affordable foods in a new market that could be established with mitigation construction costs. There is an elementary school in close proximity, no economic development along the major road, traffic, and air pollution. The community wants to use transportation-the widening, if done correctly, to spur economic development, which it should, and have a safe place to walk, work, live, and play! There needs to be a quality control measure from the federal government imposed onto state DOT regulations to make sure environmental justice is the ultimate goal-not just building new roads and allowing the same sub-standard conditions. How can you help us make our case? I am an urban designer and also live in the community. We believe in the livability principles and want them implemented in our neighborhood.

Respectfully,
WS

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=224100358]

Is the Department of Transportation providing any assistance (logistical, financial, etc) to the people and government of Japan, and if so, how can its employees participate?

[Richard Wilson]

Why is THE DOT funding Mexican Trucks for EOBR's. American company's and Drivers cannot afford the additional cost without a way to generate additional revenue. New proposed regulations will cost carriers additional costs to full fill the requirements with no additional revenue. Fuel costs are skyrocketing, We need our transportation infrastructure at this time of economic unrest to be stable not over burdened to the point of failure. 2nd, Why are ALL commercial Vehicles under the new proposed Regulations requiring EOBR's? I do not see the reason for the additional cost to transportation support type of operations requiring EOBR's on F350 pickups or small delivery vehicles that do not generate revenue, but supply our economy with services.

[Murray Bodin]

I've written before about making road lines uniform throughout the US. Here in the New York Metropolitan area the New York State Thruway has adopted the best available road markings.

But some jurisdictions are resisting. Can you require that all states follow the FHWA Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices? A driver needs consistent information. Wherever one drives in the US.

Poor road lines and unclear signs are really a "distraction" that can be avoided. How can one convince our local DOTs to follow the rules?

I think this opportunity for us out here who are never "officially" heard is great! Thanks for this opportunity to say how I feel.

[Dave McCann]

Regarding the Philadelphia International Airport Capacity Enhancement Program:

Mr. Secretary,

Our citizens group recently submitted a petition to you regarding the above matter. Our petition clearly draws attention to how the CEP for PHL is a short-sighted political priority (among other flaws, supported with evidence). These short-sighted projects have been denounced by you and President Obama.

Did you receive our petition and have a chance to read it? Please sir, we need your assistance and ask that you stand by your words of October 11, 2010. Are you going to help our community? We are counting on you.

Thank you,

Dave McCann (RAAED President) Residents Against Airport Expansion in Delaware County www.delcoraaed.org

[Richard T Smith]

Two things.

1. Why can't I find an E-Mail address fort Ray LaHood???????????

2. That FAA sleeping man in the tower, FIRE HIM NOW.

[Ryan Haseman]

Mr. Secretary,

Almost every day in the news there is some kind of story about distracted driving, with texting while driving heading most of those stories. It seems to me that one of the largest problems with texting while driving is the inability to efficiently enforce the laws against it. You once said something along the lines of there isn’t enough police officers to catch everyone on their phone texting while driving. I would agree it would be impossible to catch even a quarter of the texts that go out by drivers, with current methods. If there was a way to efficiently catch people texting while driving, would that be a technology that you would be interested in? Right now the only thing that is being done, other than making laws that are difficult to enforce, is we are urging people to “Put it Down”. Put it Down is a good message much like the message “Over the Limit, Under Arrest”, which is an affective program. The difference between these is we found better ways to enforce drunken driving, which I believe was the driving force to drunken driving decreasing. If there was software that could have a mobile phone, of a person texting while driving, tell authorities every time they were texting while driving, would that be a technology you and the government would be interested in? If you would be interested in something like that e-mail me back.

[Joseph Albanese]

Re: Rest Time for Air Traffic Controllers

From previous experience in the aviation business, rest times need to include travel time to and from the place of rest, meals, clean up time plus the time allotted for sleep. Eight or nine hours between shifts will probably not offer enough time for rest.

We had pilots that contractually had to sleep in the city centers which meant up to 2.5 hours of rest time was taken up by travel time.

[Marvin Jaffe]

Dear Sec. LaHood,
I listened to your comments about sleeping air traffic controllers on CNN today. It was reassuring, though I suspect this has been going on for a long time.

However, I would like to comment on your speaking style. You do great on youtube and this blog when you are relaxed and rehearsed.
Have you ever listened to yourself when you are in a one-on-one interview situation?
You sal, "Look-it" a lot. Sometimes you even double up with "Look-it, look-it". You need to get a speech coach to help you break this habit. Your style interferes with your message.
Marvin J.