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Archive of Transportation on Wednesday July 01, 2009
CA: EPA lets state get tougher on new vehicles
Federal officials on Tuesday cleared California to impose tough greenhouse gas limits on new motor vehicles that more than a dozen other states can follow immediately and that will form the basis of new nationwide rules in 2012. Read More
CA: Cracked streets in Santa Ana at stake in budget debate
SANTA ANA, Calif. – If you want to get a feel for what the state budget crisis could mean on the street, take a drive through Santa Ana. Read More
CA: EPA to let Calif. set own auto emissions limits
The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday granted California's request to set its own limits on greenhouse gases from autos -- a long-sought victory with limited impact now that the federal government has pledged to impose national limits. Read More
CO: Colorado spending stimulus cash on sprawl projects, or not
Taking up a question the Colorado Independent explored last spring, Washington D.C.-based Smart Growth America and Denver's CoPirg (Colorado Public Interest Research Group) report that Colorado is funneling too much stimulus money into new roads instead of mass transit construction, which is bad because new roads translate to sprawl and because mass transit construction is more economically stimulating, creating up to 31 percent more jobs. Read More
CO: As new laws kick in today, Colorado auto fees to rise
Starting today, Coloradans will pay more to register their vehicles. They'll face criminal charges if they possess someone else's passport, Social Security card or driver's license without that person's permission. And adults will be in big trouble if they're caught "sexting" to a child. Read More
CO: Coloradans feeling run over by new auto late fees
Loveland resident Mike Jones expected to pay $15 plus change when he registered his 24-year-old boat trailer last week, but he got hit with a $100 penalty for registering late. Read More
FL: Motorists fees taking big bumps
For Floridians already suffering from recession-pinched pocketbooks, add another dose of unwelcome news: Driving is getting a lot more expensive. Read More
GA: Georgia starts first stimulus-funded roadwork
The first shovel turned Tuesday on Georgia's share of $48 billion in federal economic stimulus money allocated to transportation improvements. Read More
IA: John Deere buyout offer draws 800 workers
Hundreds of salaried workers with the world's largest farm machinery maker are taking advantage of the company's voluntary separation program. The program was unveiled in April when Deere combined its agricultural division with the commercial and consumer equipment division. Read More
IN: State budget approved, signed into law
Indiana lawmakers departed the Capitol early Tuesday evening relieved they averted a state government shutdown with hours to spare, but few were happy with the two-year, $28.5 billion budget that Gov. Mitch Daniels promptly signed into law. Read More
IN: New batch of laws go into effect today
You'll have to keep your hands on the wheel and off your cell phone, BlackBerry, iPhone or whatever tech device you favor to keep in touch with your friends. Emergency calls remain OK. Read More
MA: Lawmakers vow to 'fast track' elderly driver legislation
Leading state lawmakers yesterday promised to "fast track'' legislation regulating older drivers, as yet another serious accident involving an elderly motorist underscored growing concern about the safety of Massachusetts roads. Read More
MI: Lear ready to slip into bankruptcy
Lear Corp. is poised to file for bankruptcy protection as early as today, while Visteon Corp., already in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, is asking a judge to cancel retiree benefits. Read More
NJ: N.J. gets OK to establish vehicle emission standards
New Jersey has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to establish greenhouse gas emissions standards for motor vehicles as part of a federal effort to prevent climate change, Gov. Jon Corzine announced Tuesday. Read More
NJ: Local agencies get $4,000 to target aggressive driving
The state is distributing $4,000 grants to 75 law enforcement agencies this month as part of a campaign to crack down on aggressive driving. Read More
NM: Feds allow New Mexico and 13 other states to reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency granted a waiver on Tuesday that allows California and 13 other states, including New Mexico, to create regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in new automobiles, according the governor's office late Tuesday afternoon. Read More
NV: Drivers test to cost $25 for first-timers
Teenagers and older people heading to the Department of Motor Vehicles to take driving tests better carry a little extra cash. Starting today, the DMV will charge $25 for the initial test for people applying for a permit to drive. Those who fail will have to pay $10 for a retest. Read More
OH: State to save in sign switch on truck speed
The Ohio Department of Transportation expects to have most signs advising of new truck speed limits on Ohio interstates posted by the end of today, but will save money by blanking out the truck limit on certain signs rather than replacing the signs. Read More
OK: Oklahoma House Speaker, AT&T announce CNG vehicles
TULSA, Okla.— AT&T is rolling out a fleet of at least 30 compressed natural gas vehicles this year in part because of tax incentives approved by the Oklahoma Legislature. Read More
OR: Kulongoski ready to fight for approved tax increases
Even though he didn't propose either of them to balance the state budget, Gov. Ted Kulongoski said Tuesday he'll campaign aggressively for the tax increases that lawmakers approved on corporations and higher-income households if opponents are successful in forcing a statewide vote on either. Read More
RI: EPA lets R.I., 13 other states impose tougher auto emission standards
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday granted California, Rhode Island and 12 other states the authority they had sought for years to impose automobile tailpipe emissions standards that are stricter than those promulgated by the federal government. Read More
TN: Tennessee drivers beware: Texting is a crime
Rachel Nichol says reading or sending cell phone text messages while driving isn't such a good idea — she's had five fender benders, including one in a fast food drive-through. Read More
TX: Perry insists on short special session agenda
Gov. Rick Perry is being pressed to add issues ranging from children's health care to voter identification to the agenda of the special session that begins Wednesday, but his answer is still no. Read More
TX: Senate could conclude business in two days
With a special legislative session scheduled to begin this morning — either a short one that Gov. Rick Perry wants or a longer one as some critics predict — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Tuesday predicted the Senate could get its business done in only two days. Read More
TX: Transportation leads agenda for session
The special legislative session that starts today includes measures to allow private companies to build more toll roads across the state — an idea opponents have dubbed "the largest tax increase in history." Read More
TX: All ready for the special session? Lawmakers introduce bills responsive to Perry's call
The Legislature meets tomorrow (Wednesday) to kick off the special session called last week by Gov. Rick Perry, and transportation will dominate the agenda. It could be a quick ride, or a bitter fight -- depending on how willing lawmakers are to push their differences down the road, until they return for the 2011 regular session. Read More
UT: Grieving family joins UDOT in urging motorists to tie down loads
MURRAY, Utah -- The driver may not know it, but he or she killed a woman and gave her family a new mission in life. Last December Meredith Deckard swerved on Interstate 15 in Ogden to miss a box that flew off the back of a pickup. Her Geo Prizm bounced off of a median rail and sideways into traffic, where a tractor-trailer struck it. Read More
VA: Texting ban, other new laws in effect today across Virginia
The following laws, passed by the Virginia General Assembly, go into effect July 1, 2009. Read More
VA: Prohibition on texting by drivers starts in Va.
Virginia drivers will face new restrictions today, when hundreds of laws take effect, including a ban on sending or reading text messages and e-mails. Read More
WA: WSDOT employee under investigation for overtime fraud
The State Patrol is investigating an employee with the state Department of Transportation after a payroll audit showed $67,000 in unearned overtime and compensation during the past two years. Read More
WA: Cell phone law a year old, but problems persist
A year ago, a top research official at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety made a prediction about Washington's law prohibiting drivers from using hand-held cell phones in most cases. Read More
WI: Doubts about Michigan offer to GM
Governor Doyle is questioning how Michigan beat out Wisconsin in a bid to have General Motors build a new line of small cars in Janesville. Read More |
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