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

USMMA Commencement: looking back, forward with the Class of 2013

The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Class of 2013 began their time at Kings Point in the summer of 2009. Earlier that year, I began my time at the U.S. Department of Transportation. And although I have not traveled the world by sea as they have, in many ways we have journeyed together these past four years.

We all came to Kings Point for the first time in 2009. I was still a new secretary—getting to know the families and faculty that make the Academy strong. The men and women of the Class of 2013 were fresh plebe candidates—getting used to their military haircuts and embarking on their journey to leadership.

So it was a particularly great pleasure to attend yesterday's Academy commencement, celebrate the achievements of these 201 fine men and women, and wish them well as they begin their careers as maritime leaders.

More than 2,000 people gathered for this momentous event including Superintendent RADM James Helis; Deputy Superintendent Capt. Susan Dunlap; commencement speaker Gen. William Fraser, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command; parents, friends, and other family members; and, of course, the graduates themselves--all of whom know that a strong maritime industry is essential for a prosperous and safe America. 

Guest blogger RITA Dep. Administrator Greg Winfree: Ride To Work Day an opportunity for improving safety

Today marks the 21^st Annual Ride to Work Day—when tens of thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts across the U.S. ride their motorcycles to work in a show of mutual support and solidarity. Originally created by Motorcycle Consumer News columnist Bob Carpenter in 1992, the event has served as a way to promote motorcycles and rider safety; combining the ride with numerous activities around the country, including charitable events.

Ride to Work Day is not just something I enjoy talking about, but something I enjoy participating in, too. I count myself as one of the millions of motorcycle riders and enthusiasts found in every city and community in the United States. This is a great opportunity to not just raise awareness about motorcycles, but to also focus on improving safety.

Greg Winfree, Deputy Administrator of Research and Innovative Technology Administration

Though motorcycle riders only make up a fraction of a percent of all vehicle miles traveled each year, motorcycle crashes account for a staggering 14 percent of all crash-related fatalities according to a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2011, 4,612 motorcycle riders or passengers were lost on America’s roads and highways—with another 81,000 suffering injuries. It's clear that riders are much more at risk for suffering a severe or fatal injury than those in automobiles and other fully-enclosed motor vehicles.

Motorcycles offer a variety of benefits, but they are inherently more vulnerable. So a combination of situational awareness by motorcycle riders, those in other vehicles on the road, and safety practices (like always wearing a helmet) can go a long way toward reducing fatalities.

Moreover, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, its modal partners and industry are advancing new technology which offers some very promising safety benefits and capabilities for motorcycle riders.

Partnership for Sustainable Communities marks 4th anniversary with web-streaming Twitter Town Hall

By Bob Perciasepe, Maurice Jones, and John Porcari

June 16, 2013 marks the four-year anniversary of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities, a collaboration of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since 2009, our three federal agencies have been working together to help communities build stronger regional economies, improve their housing and transportation options, and protect the environment.

As President Obama said when the Partnership launched in 2009, “By working together, [the agencies] can make sure that when it comes to development—housing, transportation, energy efficiency—these things aren't mutually exclusive; they go hand in hand.”

Our collaboration helps communities plan the housing, transportation and economic development they need as infrastructure for economic growth, helping them attract businesses and improve quality of life for residents.

The Partnership is a one-stop shop for communities to access federal resources that can help them become more economically and environmentally sustainable.  To date, the Partnership has provided more than $4 billion in funding for projects in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Chicago celebrates Bike To Work Week with a preview of new Divvy bike share

A little fun fact about Bike To Work Week is that it differs from community to community. In Sonoma, California it was the second week in May; in Washington, DC, it was the third week in May. Well, in Chicago, it's this week, and the week's events culminated this morning in a Bike To Work Rally that I was happy to be a part of.

Chicago will soon join more than 20 American cities that benefit from a bike share program with its very own Divvy Bike Sharing System. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein plan to have 75 bike share stations up and running by the end of this month, with as many as 400 operational by the end of the year.

With New York, Chicago, and a dozen more cities --places like Tampa, Phoenix, and Fort Worth-- expected to open bike shares by the end of this year, it's safe to say that 2013 is, indeed, the year of the bike share.

Take a look around you. Bicycles are once again a fixture in America's communities. Whether we're talking about sharrows, separated bike lanes, or trails and paths distinct from roadways, bicycle-friendly infrastructure is part of a mainstream approach to transportation and community planning.

You can call it Complete Streets; you can call it Smart Growth; you can call it whatever you want. Here at DOT, we call it common sense, and it's just one part of our efforts to support livable communities with the full menu of transportation options Americans have said they want.

And since day one, President Obama and this Department have made that a priority. We have worked hard to make sure that--wherever you're going and however you're getting there--you can travel safely.