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

Forging a strong future for rail in Sacramento

In the “Weld and Bogie shop” at the Siemens manufacturing plant in Sacramento, thousands of pieces of steel are welded together to form a “car shell,” or skeleton of a rail car.  Thousands of individual pieces go in; one cohesive structure comes out.  Elements are then added to this structure until it leaves the factory as a fully formed vehicle ready to ride the rails. 

Yesterday I saw firsthand how these trains are made and met with some of Siemens’ employees in Sacramento. I could not have been more impressed.

Since the 1980s, Siemens has been employing workers in Sacramento to build our nation's light rail vehicles.  In the years since Siemens began this line, American communities have increased the number of light rail systems five-fold thanks to federal, state, and local investments in public transit.  More than three million people now ride light rail each day, and the plant employs 800 men and women.

Recently, Siemens has begun supporting our next rail revolution by constructing electric locomotives and streetcars. In late 2010, through DOT's investment in high-speed and intercity passenger rail, the company won a contract to supply Amtrak with 70 locomotives to run in the busy Northeast and Keystone corridors.  They have added 200 new manufacturing jobs in Sacramento alone and are creating additional jobs around the country.

At Siemens, and across America, we are not only investing in state-of-the-art transportation that will be our legacy for generations to come, but we are investing in American workers right now. 

 

And what I saw at Siemens is rippling out to rail suppliers from coast to coast thanks to the Obama Administration's rail investments.  Businesses are bringing jobs back home to America to build our rail future.  In fact, 30 different rail companies from around the world have pledged that--if selected for high-speed rail contracts--they will hire American workers and expand their bases of operation in the United States. 

Guest Bloggers Aneesh Chopra, John Porcari, Michael Huerta: Partnering to Modernize our Nation’s Air Transportation System

Cross-posted from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

On January 31st, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched a new, online dashboard that provides increased transparency into a vital component of NextGen's modernization of our Nation’s air transportation system infrastructure. 

Referred to as Performance Based Navigation (PBN), using highly efficient flight routes takes advantage of GPS satellites and advanced equipment that is already installed on most commercial airliners.  The new dashboard on the NextGen website features PBN data accompanied by video depictions and an interactive map highlighting the benefits of using PBN and new flight paths around the country.

And while we're committed to highlighting the benefits of NextGen through the web, we're also engaging with our aviation industry partners.  In fall 2011, we convened a roundtable discussion with chief executives from Alaska Airlines, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, and US Airways, where we heard their ideas on accelerating the benefits of a modernized air traffic system.

The leaders were clear: immediate benefits could be gained by implementing fuel-efficient, satellite-based air traffic control procedures and using these procedures to reduce delays, energy consumption, and emissions while expanding air traffic capacity.  We agree – these NextGen procedures will provide broad benefits to our Nation, our economy, the traveling public and local communities.  

As a result, we are continuing to champion a series of actions to raise the priority; increase the transparency and accountability; streamline the deployment; and foster increased use of these new flight paths.

Second round of grants seeks to increase Veterans' access to opportunities

One of my favorite moments in President Obama's State of the Union address did not explicitly talk about transportation.  Rather, it was the President's declaration that, "As our veterans come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us.  That includes giving them the care and the benefits they have earned."

I couldn't agree more.  And I am proud that the Federal Transit Administration has been able to play a role in welcoming home America's veterans and ensuring they have access to the opportunities this nation offers.

November 2011, announcing the first VTCLI grants at the Duval Cty. Veterans Memorial Wall in Jacksonville

The Veterans Transportation and Community Living grants we announced in November 2011 provided $34.6 million for 55 projects in 32 states and Guam.  These grants are helping communities launch “one-call, one-click” transportation resource centers across the country.  These centers will offer veterans and others comprehensive information on local transportation options and other community services, with just a single phone call or click of the mouse.

It was a good start, but, as I said last November, DOT's efforts to support the brave men and women who have defended our freedom don't just rev up when Veterans Day approaches.  Bringing more transportation choices and better job access to a very special group of Americans—our military heroes, veterans, wounded warriors, and their families—is a year-round priority. 

And yesterday, FTA made good on that commitment by announcing another round of Veterans Transportation and Community Living grants.

America's commercial vehicles help deliver distracted driving message

It's no secret that I am serious about our fight to end distracted driving.  For three years, DOT has been actively working to make our roads safer by getting drivers to focus on one task and one task only: driving. 

Throughout that time, we've been fortunate to have terrific safety partners to help us deliver the message that one text or call could wreck it all.  And I'm happy to add the Commercial Vehicle Training Association (CVTA) to the roster of organizations and companies supporting our work.

Last month, a semi from Smith & Solomon, a commercial driving school, pulled up in front of DOT headquarters here in Washington, DC.  Driver John Diab, the CVTA Vice Chair and Smith & Solomon's Chief Operating Officer, was greeted by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne Ferro, Deputy Administrator Bill Bronrott, and CVTA Executive Director Mike O'Connell. 

An hour later, Diab's truck was festooned with large decals bearing our signature message.

The "One Text or Call Could Wreck it All" decals were designed to be large so they would be easy to see wherever the truck goes.  And, with the support of the CVTA, we hope trucks all over America will soon be carrying this important safety message.

FMCSA Deputy Administrator Bill Bronrott, driver John Diab, and FMCSA Administrator

As Administrator Ferro said, "It is powerful to have the trucking industry behind us, enhancing our campaign against distracted driving, because as traveling billboards, those trucks are so visible to other drivers across the country."