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Archive of Transportation on Monday May 12, 2008
Governor drops builders from tax plan
Gov. Janet Napolitano agreed to take home builders off the financial hook for paying for new roads in exchange for a $100,000 donation to a campaign to persuade voters to boost their own taxes. Read More
Denver drivers learn how to boost fuel economy
Around 400 Denver residents, including the city's mayor, are part of an ongoing Read More
Volunteers sought for lawmakers' bike ride
The Department of Transportation's Delaware Bicycle Council is seeking volunteers for state lawmakers' annual ride Wednesday from Newark to Dover. Read More
Reprimanded DOT chief to help shape conduct policies
The Department of Transportation commissioner who is facing a written reprimand for her conduct will now guide the DOT board as it decides how to re-vamp department conduct and other policies. Read More
Iowa Supreme Court makes ruling in vehicle drug search case
The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled in a case that could make it easier for police to search cars for drugs. The ruling involves a case where a Polk County sheriff's deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding on a Des Moines street. Read More
Union -- IDOT has plenty of room
A major state employee union thinks the Illinois Department of Transportation has room in its headquarters building to house the Division of Traffic Safety that is now headed for southern Illinois. IDOT says the union is wrong. Two Springfield lawmakers said they?re thinking about making their own visit to the building to see who is correct. Read More
Embattled Blagojevich's agenda could take hit with Rezko verdict
While there is arguably no good time for a governor to have one of his political insiders on federal trial, the looming verdict in the case of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pal Tony Rezko likely couldn't come at a worse time. Read More
Metra adding trains to deal with rush-hour crunch
Metra riders who find themselves caught amid standing-room-only crowds on Union Pacific North line trains will get some relief this month when additional cars are added to rush-hour trains, officials said Friday. Read More
Federal funds may help start rail service
If Kansas decides to restore passenger rail service across much of the state, the federal government could pick up 80 percent of the startup costs, members of a grassroots organization pushing the plan said Friday. Read More
Ethics panel reprimands Fletcher administration official
The Executive Branch Ethics Commission yesterday reprimanded former Fletcher administration personnel official Robert H. Wilson Jr. for taking part in hirings and firings based on politics rather than merit. Read More
Donelon -- Phase in coverage increase
If lawmakers pass a bill raising the limits of mandatory vehicular insurance, they should phase it in over three years, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said Friday. Read More
Gas station owners see profit in alcohol sales
Record high oil prices haven't helped the bottom line of local gas stations, so many retailers have started selling something more profitable -- alcohol. Read More
Debate on river crossings resumes
State legislators plan to launch an effort today to keep plans for a new bridge between Detroit and Windsor in the public spotlight -- a scheme likely to shine equal light on the debate over the necessity of another crossing and a competing Ambassador Bridge expansion. Read More
Legislature's final push: 7 days, 7 questions
Minnesota lawmakers burst from the gate in February, quickly finalizing spending for transportation upgrades and a long-pushed ballot measure dedicating dollars to outdoors and arts programs. Read More
Was Ohio bridge scare a warning?
When the Interstate 90 bridge over Ohio's Grand River buckled and nearly collapsed 12 years ago, painters under the deck scrambled for stable ground and highway officials ordered a shutdown that lasted through five months of repairs. Read More
Missouri gets 'D' in cycling
Despite all that, Missouri lags behind the rest of the nation when it comes to cycling and walking as a means of commuting. Read More
National 'Click It or Ticket' campaign aims to get drivers to buckle up
"Buckling up only takes seconds, but these seconds could save your life in a traffic crash," the Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety said in a news release announcing the start of "an aggressive national 'Click It or Ticket' program to crack down on unbelted drivers and save lives." Read More
Airport parkway bill may be considered
The fate of a bill expected to be considered in an upcoming special legislative session could mean the difference between having a road connecting downtown Jackson to the city's international airport in four years or in 15, state transportation officials say. Read More
Shiloh project hits bumps in the road
Despite an $18 million shortfall, the Montana Department of Transportation says the Shiloh Road project is on schedule and construction should begin next year. Read More
Turnpike tolls seem certain to rise in'09
For months, Gov. Jon Corzine and lawmakers have pitched increases in New Jersey Turnpike tolls to pay for big road projects and slice the state debt. Read More
As gas prices increase, so do Jersey carpools
Phil Gutierrez is used to traveling to work the way nearly three-quarters of all New Jersey commuters do -- in his car by himself. But when the cost of gasoline nudged above $3 a gallon, he was willing to try something different to save a few bucks. He began looking for a carpool. Read More
Paterson and Schumer in Skaneateles
SKANEATELES, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson and Sen. Chuck Schumer are in town to announce a solution to truck traffic in the area. Read More
Petition calls for gas tax holiday
Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco hopes to collect the names of thousands of irate customers to pressure Assembly Democrats to lower gas taxes this summer. Read More
Oklahoma school districts' concerns rise with fuel prices
Superintendent Jim McCharen would like to hire 10 new teachers for his Choctaw-Nicoma Park Public School District to keep pace with a growing student population and keep class sizes down. Read More
State adds bridge to lawsuit
ROGUE RIVER, Ore. -- Another bridge has been added to the racketeering lawsuit the state attorney general?s office filed against Ross Bros. & Co. Read More
Cooler asphalt to get PennDOT road test
Pennsylvania is testing a method of paving that could extend the life of roads and cut maintenance costs. Read More
Turnpike lease would produce windfall, study finds
Leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike would generate far more money than following the state's current transportation funding plan, a new study shows. Read More
Full-time vehicles for state workers cost $15.6 million
Pennsylvania taxpayers pay more than $15 million a year to maintain, service, insure and fuel about 3,650 vehicles used full time by state employees, a newspaper reported. Read More
Conservative think tank's 'bid' touts turnpike lease
The Commonwealth Foundation, a Harrisburg-based conservative think tank, has announced that "The first bid is in!" to lease the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It represented that the "bid" emanated from the turnpike itself and amounted to "only $5.3 billion a year." Read More
Texarcana - Two-license-plate requirement a crime-fighting tool
For years, Texas has required two license plates on each auto ? one on the front and one on the back. But why? Read More
Texas state historical markers disappearing
LA VERNIA, Texas - A steel bridge nearly the length of a football field has weathered floods, the South Texas heat and a century's worth of traffic to survive as a rare engineering marvel of its era and to earn recognition as a Texas and national historic landmark. Read More
Ice cream sellers under scrutiny
Rapid City is among the latest in a growing number of communities across the nation moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Read More
Kaine will seek millions for roads
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will propose boosting the titling tax on car sales and car registration fees statewide for road upkeep. Read More
Kaine - raise car fees
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's plan to close Virginia's $1 billion transportation funding gap will include a $10 increase in vehicle registration fees, and an increase in the state's auto titling tax from 3 percent to 4 percent. Read More
Governor to propose tax increases to fix roads
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today will propose an $860 million package of tax increases to pay for improvements to transportation. Read More
State finalizes summer road projects
Hot asphalt, shiny culverts and sturdy new bridge decks are coming to a town near you as the Agency of Transportation kicks off its summer construction season. Read More
AAA -- Average gallon of gas in Washington $3.80
The AAA auto club says the average price of a gallon of gas in Washington is a record $3.80. Read More
Med Flight helicopter crash kills all 3 on crew
A Med Flight helicopter from the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison had taken off from La Crosse and turned toward home late Saturday when authorities lost contact with the aircraft less than six minutes into the flight. Read More
State reviewing procedures in response to scathing report on snowstorm response
Nearly three months after the release of a scathing report criticizing the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for its handling of the historic Feb. 6 snowstorm and resulting Interstate backup, the DOT is reviewing its procedures but has taken few concrete steps to address concerns in the report. Read More
Med Flight loss highlights risk to health-care workers
More than 75 doctors, nurses, pilots and patients have died in medical helicopter crashes across the country in the past decade as the workers risk their lives to transport patients in need of medical care. Read More
Air medical teams take quick action
For the doctors and nurses on air medical teams, the helicopters used to transport critically injured and ill patients often become simply the room where they work. Read More
State studies I-80 trucker tolls
In a push to secure new highway funding sources, state transportation officials are exploring whether commercial truckers should be required to pay tolls to use Interstate 80. Read More
Coaxing tourists
So far, extreme gas prices don't seem to have affected tourism in the state or in the Capital City. Read More
Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008) When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More |
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