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

Relieving chokepoints and improving our transportation infrastructure for the future must be a national priority.

By 2050, the US will be home to 100 million more Americans--Americans who will all need to go to school, work, the doctor, and the grocery store.  Americans who will put an even greater strain on our highways, byways, and railways, slowing our ability to move the goods that drive our national economy. 

This growth will require our freight rail system to transport 4 billion more tons of freight annually than it does today.

That's the reason that Deputy Federal Railroad Administrator Karen Hedlund and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon broke ground yesterday for a new railroad bridge that will effectively eliminate one of the worst rail bottlenecks in the country.

The new Osage River Rail Bridge will carry more than 60 trains each day--both passenger and freight--on the Kansas City-St. Louis corridor.

This improved crossing will speed up travel for more than 600 Amtrak Missouri River Runner passengers who ride the route daily, creating faster, more convenient connections. It will also help get grains, raw materials, and finished products where they need to go more efficiently, providing a welcome boost to economic competitiveness for Missouri's farmers, manufacturers, and businesses.

As Deputy Administrator Hedlund said, "It’s simple. No economy can grow faster than its transportation network can carry it."

In addition to our laser-focused pursuit of safety, one of DOT's challenges is to help the transportation industry attract talented new professionals to its ranks.  That's why DOT has partnered with WTS in Transportation YOU, a program to promote education in the important areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and bring high school students together with professional mentors who introduce them to the world of transportation.

Look, to make our vision for a cutting-edge transportation network a reality, we need to tap the best and brightest minds of this generation.  And if we truly want the best and brightest, we must ensure that young women have all the tools and opportunities they need to succeed in transportation careers.

Today, I met with 17 promising young women and their mentors who were at DOT for the Transportation YOU DC Youth Summit for STEM. This flagship conference is the pinnacle of the Transportation YOU program, bringing together participants and mentors from across the country.

Participants are attending workshops, learning about educational opportunities, meeting with senior DOT and Administration officials, and even working on solutions to the real-world transportation challenge of accessibility.  The event is generously supported by staff from WTS and Clemson University.

It's no secret that DOT has been working hard to prevent distracted driving on America's roadways. But we've also been working hard to prevent operator distraction in other types of transportation, and that includes rail.

The demands on our nation's train operators and engineers are pretty intense. With the development of high-end technological innovations, the typical locomotive cab has grown increasingly complex since the years when the Rock Island Jet Rocket raced between Chicago and my hometown, Peoria.  And the advent of higher rail speeds means that operators must react faster than ever to whatever comes their way and pay closer attention to their controls and the tracks ahead.

Because we know that human factors are cited as a cause in one-third of all rail incidents, our pursuit of greater safety requires that we have a way of studying operator performance in the cab. Fortunately, through some terrific collaboration between the Federal Railroad Administration and the Research and Innovative Technology Administration's Volpe Center, we have been able to develop a solution to that challenge: the Cab Technology Integration Laboratory (CTIL).

The CTIL is a state-of-the-art, full-sized locomotive simulator that allows researchers to simulate a number of conditions and scenarios encountered during railroad operations. From these simulations we can identify safety problems and develop effective solutions.

Michael Jones of FRA puts the simulated locomotive through its paces

The journey from Key West to San Francisco takes about 6 hours by plane, or 3 days by car.  Jane Ward, Jeanie and Chelsea Ward-Waller, and Stephanie Palmer are completing the trek of more than 5,000 miles in a little less than 3 months--on their bicycles.

At the National Bike Summit last week, I had the pleasure of meeting Jane's husband and Jeanie and Chelsea's father, Stephen Waller.  Stephen told me about the inspiring journey that these four women embarked upon to support the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

Jeanie, an avid cyclist and triathlete, first came up with the idea to ride across the country. "I wanted to bike across the country for a cause that I really cared about," she says.

An environmental science teacher in West Virginia, Jeanie decided to take a semester off and make this dream a reality.  She planned a 5,500 mile route through 13 states and 20 major cities to raise $25,000 and create awareness for the League of American Bicyclists and Safe Routes to School.

Both Jeanie and Jane rode their bikes to school as children. "Active commuting, starting early in childhood can become a lifelong habit," Jane says. "Children who exercise on the way to school and during the school day, do better in school."

At DOT, our job is to help save lives by reducing serious crashes, injuries, and deaths in all modes of transportation.

For the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, that means focusing on the safety of America's buses and large trucks. The agency pursues this mission through research, education, regulation, and enforcement.

And its work has been effective. We have seen a 24 percent reduction in truck-related fatalities during the past 4 years, which is great progress that can be attributed to FMCSA, its safety partners, and the unsung heroes of the road--the nation's commercial motor vehicle drivers.

Last Friday, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro was at the Mid-America Trucking Show, re-introducing drivers to the agency and its commitment to road safety. Her message was simple: FMCSA is working hard to improve safety on America's roads, but we also need America's commercial drivers to do their part.

America’s roads and highways are the safest they’ve ever been, but the folks at FMCSA know we cannot rest when it comes to safety.  The path to reducing truck-related crashes is clear: raise the bar to enter the commercial motor vehicle industry; maintain high safety standards; and remove unsafe carriers, drivers, and trucks from operating.

I've said more than once that safety is DOT's number one priority, but when most people think of transportation safety, they often overlook the network of 2.5 million miles of pipeline criss-crossing the country.

So, if you're not part of the pipeline community, you probably haven't heard about the Leak Detection System workshop being hosted today by the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.  That's okay, because the people who do need to hear about it--the pipeline operators who keep your community safe--are participating in the workshop.

They will learn best practices from state and federal officials, pipeline operators, and other safety experts.

And for those pipeline operators who weren't able to send someone to Maryland for the event, PHMSA made it easy to join the workshop--through a free, publicly-available, full-service webcast.

The webcast offers online participants the ability to view speakers' slides, read captions of the presentations so they don't disturb their office-mates, and submit questions for discussion. Because it will be archived, it also remains available for anyone to review long after the workshop ends.

If producing the webcast makes the workshop accessible to 200 more participants--the number participating online as of earlier today--that means we're advancing pipeline safety in 200 more communities across America.

And I like the sound of that.

It's no secret that I have been a fan of the Hoover Dam Bypass since October 2010, when I helped dedicate the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, part of the bypass project.

At the dedication, I said that the bridge "reaffirms the powerful idea that Americans can still build great things not just in spite of enormous economic challenge, but as the means of overcoming it."

From left to right: Pat Natale, executive director ASCE; Hiro Onozaki, River Bridge Joint Venture;
David Zanetell, project manager FHWA; David Goodyear, engineer of record, T.Y. Lin Intl.;
William Dowd, project director, HDR Engineering; Andrew Herrmann, ASCE president.

Now, nearly 18 months later, the magnificent achievement of the bypass has been acknowledged by the American Society of Civil Engineers, which--in a ceremony last Thursday--awarded the Hoover Dam Bypass Project its “Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement” honor.

And no one could be prouder of our Federal Highway Administration for this top recognition than I am.  Led by Administrator Victor Mendez and David Zanetell, FHWA Project Manager for the Bypass, the agency worked hard to ensure that the outcome of this project would be as monumental as the landscape it inhabits between Nevada and Arizona.

Judging by the terrific reception the Hoover Dam Bypass has received--the "OCEA" award is not its first honor--I'd say they accomplished that goal.

In his Weekly Address, President Obama called on the House of Representatives to pass a bipartisan transportation bill that would repair crumbling roads and bridges and support construction jobs in communities all across America. According to a new report, 90 percent of these construction jobs are middle class jobs. The Senate passed the bill with the support of Democrats and Republicans because--if the bill stalls in Congress--then constructions sites will go idle, workers will have to go home, and our economy will take a hit.

WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Says House Must Pass Bipartisan Transportation Bill

Cross-posted from The White House.

Hello.  This week, I traveled across the country to talk about my all-of-the-above energy strategy for America – a strategy where we produce more oil and gas here at home, but also more biofuels and fuel-efficient cars; more solar power and wind power and other sources of clean, renewable energy. 

Now, you wouldn’t know it by listening to some of the folks running for office today, but producing more oil at home has been, and will continue to be, a key part of my energy strategy.  Under my Administration, we’re producing more oil than at any other time in the last eight years.  We’ve quadrupled the number of operating oil rigs to a record high.  And we’ve added enough oil and gas pipeline to circle the entire Earth and then some.  Those are the facts. 

But as I’ve been saying all week, even though America uses around 20 percent of the world’s oil, we only have around 2 percent of the world’s known oil reserves.  So even if we drilled everywhere, we’d still be relying on other countries for oil.

That’s why we’re pursuing an all-of-the-above strategy.  We’re producing more biofuels.  More fuel-efficient cars.  More solar power.  More wind power.  This week, I was in Boulder City, Nevada, where they’ve got the largest solar plant of its kind anywhere in the country.  That’s the future.  I was at Ohio State University, where they’ve developed the fastest electric car in the world.  That’s the future.  I don’t want to cede these clean energy industries to China or Germany or any other country.  I want to see solar panels and wind turbines and fuel-efficient cars manufactured right here in America, by American workers. 

Now, getting these clean energy industries to locate here requires us to maintain a national commitment to new research and development.  But it also requires us to build world-class transportation and communications networks, so that any company can move goods and sell products all around the world as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Spring brings renewal, and for state DOTs--and the men and women of the construction trades--this is the season to catch up on all of the important repairs and maintenance projects that winter weather prohibits. Ordinarily, this would also be a time to roll out upgrades and new projects that solve larger transportation challenges. 

But until Congress passes a transportation bill, our nation's highway departments and transit agencies face too much funding uncertainty to plan for tomorrow. That means that they can't commit to projects, which means that contractors, workers, and their families all pay the steep price of that uncertainty.

Passing a transportation plan is just one of the topics I discuss in the latest episode of "On The Go." You can tune in to learn how DOT is developing America's commercial waterways and what we're doing to make sure vehicle navigation systems don't encourage distracted driving.  And, if you're wondering how the Obama Administration is helping relieve the pain families are feeling at the gas pump, you'll find your answer in the new "On The Go."

Thanks to everyone who sent questions in this month; I can't tell you how much I enjoy this opportunity to hear what's on your mind and let you know what we're doing here at DOT to increase safety and keep America moving.

So, please start sending in your questions for the next episode, and I'll start working on answering them.

You can submit your questions for "On the Go" here, through Facebook, or on Twitter using the #q4ray hashtag.

The beginning of the spring season brings many great things, including baseball, biking, and barbeques.  And today, we at DOT are excited about another important spring tradition--the official opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway for its 2012 navigation season.

The Seaway, an essential gateway that moves cargo between North America and international markets, is vital to the health of the U.S. economy.  A recently published economic impact study found that more than 227,000 jobs and $34 billion in economic activity are supported by the movement of goods within the Great Lakes Seaway system.

Seaway professionals used the crucial maintenance period this winter to work on a number of important asset renewal projects, including dewatering and covering locks.

These projects are part of DOT’s Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) 10-year Asset Renewal Program, which represents the first comprehensive effort to repair and modernize the U.S. Seaway infrastructure.  Without such significant reinvestment in the Seaway, it would become increasingly difficult to keep our bi-national waterway open for business.

But strong economic activity isn’t the only indication that the Seaway system’s future is bright.  Several carriers have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in fleet renewal and are currently in the process of building new vessels designed to increase fuel efficiency, some of which will enter Seaway waters this navigation season.

[Left to right] Robert Bryson, Vice President, P&H Grain Group; Bruce Hodgson, Director of Market Development, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation; Captain Rob Dominaux; Collister (Terry) Johnson, Jr., Administrator, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, and Steve Fletcher, President of McKeil Marine Limited.

On July 2, 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe, and the U.S. Government began one of the most intensive searches for a missing person in history.  The U.S. Navy covered 150,000 square miles of open-ocean in 6-7 days, while the State Department coordinated with foreign governments involved in the search. 

However, the arduous search was called off on July 18^th of that year, and it seemed the truth about where the plane went down would be forever lost to the waves of the Pacific.

Until Tuesday, when Ric Gillespie, Executive Director of The International Group for Historic Airplane Recovery (TIGHAR), explained the new discovery, in a re-enhanced photo, of what appears to be the landing gear sticking out of the water along the coast of the island of Nikumaroro, now part of Kiribati.  The picture was taken a few months after Earhart’s disappearance, and the landing gear appears to be that of the type of plane that Earhart flew.

So this week, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and I joined historians, scientists and salvagers from The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery to reopen the search for Earhart's Lockheed Electra.

Advised by Titanic discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard and with the aid of the Kiribati Foreign Secretary Tessie Lambourne, these researchers are planning a 10 day mission, funded by private investors, to test these theories and see if they can find Earhart’s long-lost plane, and ultimately the remains of Earhart herself.

[JUMP]

Few mysteries have puzzled generations as much as the disappearance of history's most famous female aviator.

Earhart was a pioneer both for women and for the still young field of aviation. Her adventures are still an inspiration for girls and young women around the world who dream of becoming pilots or astronauts.  And it doesn't seem like a stretch to say that pioneers such as Earhart helped pave the way for the achievements of Secretary Clinton and Foreign Secretary Lambourne.

As Secretary Clinton remarked, “Earhart embodied the spirit of an America coming of age and increasingly confident, ready to lead in a quite uncertain and dangerous world.  When she took off on that historic journey, she carried the aspirations of our entire country with her.”

Ric Gillespie and the team at TIGHAR now carry the aspirations of those who want to see this 75-year-old mystery resolved. 

And one day soon, the world may finally know what became of the woman who helped pave what Wilbur Wright called, “the infinite highway of the air.”

This morning, I was proud to stand with Senators Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer, Ben Cardin, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Mark Begich to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to follow the Senate's lead and pass a bipartisan transportation bill.

The Senate's bill is a good bill. It's bipartisan; it's 100 percent paid for; and the House should follow the Senate's lead.

We’re right on the eve of the spring construction season, and we need to put our friends and neighbors to work solving America's transportation challenges. The economic ripples that would come from passing a bill like the Senate bill will put thousands of people to work.

It has been more than 900 days and 8 extensions since the nation's current transportation plan expired.  With the latest extension due to lapse on March 31, it's time for a bill – not another extension.

The Obama Administration knows it, and a bipartisan majority in the Senate knows it. 

It's time to do what's right and keep this country moving forward.

Today, The Hill is featuring a special set of Transportation opinions on this important topic from a range of contributors (including the one from me that begins below). I urge you to read these and decide for yourself what you think is best for America. Then, whether you agree with me or not, let your legislators know how you feel.  Take it from a former civics teacher: the right to participate is a tremendous part of what makes this country great.

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Do what’s right: Pass a bipartisan bill

Cross-posted courtesy of The Hill

Last Wednesday, the Senate passed a bipartisan surface transportation bill by a vote of 74-22. It is proof positive that when members of Congress set aside their political differences and focus on the common good, they can still solve tough problems for the American people.

Bicycles have played an important part in America’s story. After all, it was a pair of bike-mechanics – the Wright brothers – who applied their knowledge of bicycles to begin mankind’s journey into the heavens. It was bike manufacturers who helped invent the modern automobile. And it was the bicycle that gave new freedom to American women and girls.

Through much of that history--132 years--the League of American Bicyclists has been advocating for the interests of the biking public. This week, nearly a thousand Bike League members have come to Washington, DC, for the National Bike Summit. The theme for this year is "Save Cycling," and it's an important task.

This is a thrilling time for bicycling in America – there are now 57 million cyclists on the road, and we are truly building a transportation system that makes it easier, safer, and more convenient to ride your bike.

Between 2000 and 2008, bicycle commuting increased by 43 percent nationwide. Cities like Portland, Minneapolis, and Chicago – leaders in the effort to create bicycle facilities – saw increases greater than 100 percent.

At the Department of Transportation, we're happy to support innovative policies to give more Americans the option to embrace cycling, and we’re working to end prejudices that treat riding and walking differently from other forms of transportation.

Today marks the first day of spring, which means folks around the country will be taking advantage of the longer days and warmer weather by biking around town, gardening, and landscaping around their homes. 

But, when you plan this year's garden, please make sure to include a call to 8-1-1 before you do any digging.

DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) works to ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of America’s pipeline system. And one of the most important ways PHMSA protects the integrity of our pipelines is by reminding Americans to call 8-1-1, the nationwide hotline number, before their shovels hit the dirt.

How important is this safety issue?  Excavation is the number one cause of serious pipeline accidents, with one-third of all pipeline accidents caused by accidental digging.

Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before you dig will not only help protect your family and your neighbors from injuries – it will also prevent damages to utilities, service disruptions, and potential fines and repair costs.

8-1-1 is for everyone – homeowners, gardeners, professional excavators, anyone who plans to dig.  And whether you’re planting a small shrub or digging deep for a new pool, every job requires a call.

Calling 8-1-1 is toll-free and hassle-free. After you call, someone will come out and mark your lines so you’ll know what's below – and be able to dig safely.  Paint and flags mark pipeline locations, and their colors indicate what materials run through the pipelines buried below ground.

It’s simple – the more we know about pipelines, the safer we are. 

In addition to calling 8-1-1 before you dig, you can also visit your state pipeline profile on PHMSA.dot.gov to learn about the many miles of pipeline in your state, view inspection reports, and much, much more.

If you’re planning even the smallest digging project, please make the right call, to 8-1-1, before you dig.

It is a great pleasure to announce that DOT is putting a terrific commercial bus safety tool in the hands of the people who can use it best: passengers.

The SaferBus App delivers the latest bus safety information from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Safety Measurement System to your iPhone or iPad so before buying a bus ticket or while you're waiting to board, you can review the safety record of the bus line you're considering.

The app is free and very simple to use. Just type in the bus company’s name or US DOT registration number, and a set of icons on your screen will indicate whether that company has crossed a safety threshold in any of five important categories.  Drill down with one quick tap, and you can learn more about a company's safety record in each of our Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories (BASICS), including:

• Unsafe Driving — Operating in a dangerous or careless manner. Example violations: speeding, reckless driving, improper lane change, and inattention.
• Fatigued Driving (Hours-of-Service) — Operating by drivers who are ill, fatigued, or in non-compliance with the Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations. Example violations: exceeding HOS, maintaining an incomplete or inaccurate logbook, and operating while ill or fatigued.
• Driver Fitness — Operating by drivers who are unfit to operate due to lack of training, experience, or medical qualifications. Example violations: failing to have a valid and appropriate commercial driver's license and being medically unqualified to operate.
• Controlled Substances and Alcohol — Operating by drivers who are impaired due to alcohol, illegal drugs, and misuse of prescription or over-the-counter medications. Example violations: use or possession of controlled substances or alcohol.
• Vehicle Maintenance — Failure to properly maintain a commercial motor vehicle. Example violations: brakes, lights, and other mechanical defects, and failure to make required repairs.

It's a pleasure to be able to remind readers that the new Pennsylvania law against texting while driving in the Keystone State took effect on March 8.

But, as the AAA clubs of Pennsylvania know, a law can only be effective when people know about it.  That's why, beginning this week, the organization is posting the message "DNT TXT N DRV—It's the Law" on approximately 60 billboards across Pennsylvania.

In its new campaign, AAA is not going it alone. Both Lamar Advertising and Clear Channel Outdoor are donating billboard space for this important safety message.

Making roadways safer for drivers and pedestrians is a critical part of making a community more livable. And, when improving safety also makes it easier for people to shop at local stores and access local businesses, the benefits start multiplying: jobs, economic development, community vitality, and more.

We call it, "Safety Plus," and that's what the recently completed work on the southeast end of America's Main Street--Pennsylvania Avenue here in Washington, DC--is all about. As Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said, "Safe and reliable roads and sidewalks are key to supporting commerce and the people who live in the community."

Last week, Administrator Mendez and DC Mayor Vincent Gray cut the ribbon on the improved Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and the atmosphere was truly celebratory.

This section of Pennsylvania Avenue is home to historic neighborhoods, deep-rooted communities, and commercial centers with local businesses. The project, supported by the FHWA with $19.5 million in Recovery Act funding, reconstructed nearly two miles of Pennsylvania Avenue from 27th Street SE, to Southern Avenue, the DC/Maryland boundary. New sidewalks on both sides of the avenue boost pedestrian safety, and new street lighting improves visibility for motorists. Additional upgrades include landscaped medians that provide better traffic management and offer pedestrians a safer refuge to stand in when crossing this active avenue.

It's no wonder that community leaders are so excited about the renewed Pennsylvania Avenue.

3 years ago, single-mom Ali Holden's life was on the move.  Her son was preparing for his freshman year of high school as well as playing football and lacrosse.  And, pursuing a lifelong dream, Ali was applying to get her PhD in Marine Biology to study sharks.  But it all came to a screeching halt on April 27, 2009, when Ali was involved in a 3-car pile-up caused by a distracted driver.

Ali Holden, the subject of our newest Faces of Distracted Driving video, was lucky enough to survive the crash, but she paid a steep price.

"I was instantly in pain, and I instantly had pressure in my head," she says. "And I remember thinking to myself, 'My eyes are going to pop out of my head.'"

The multiple physical injuries were coupled with a devastating brain injury that required years of therapy and changed Ali's life forever.  She couldn't smell or taste right; she couldn't make memories; and she often couldn't even recognize her own son.

I’ve written before about the great work done by Everybody Wins!, a wonderful literacy organization that brings adults into schools to read aloud to children, teaching them the joy of the written word.

As a former teacher, and as a public servant, I know that improving literacy and sparking children’s interest in reading at an early age are vital to their futures.  So much of the information available to us--as citizens, as students, as job-seekers, and as leaders--requires the ability to read.

Reading an old favorite, The Little Engine That Could at an Everybody Wins! event

And last night, I was excited to have the opportunity to honor the great work of Everybody Wins! in pursuit of that important literacy mission when I attended its 17th Annual Gala Celebration.

In my 13 years as a mentor with Everybody Wins!, I saw firsthand the difference that reading aloud with children can make in their struggle to learn to read on their own.  The experience was incredibly rewarding, and I was proud to see the students’ literacy skills improve from week to week, and year to year.

So imagine my surprise when, last night, I was reunited with one of the students I worked with in the program 15 years ago, Ashley Walton.  I read to Ashley as part of the program while she was in the first through third grades, and now she's a college graduate.

Yesterday, in Kings Point, NY, warm weather signaled the oncoming spring. And in Hague's Basin, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy midshipmen welcomed spring's approach on the waterfront.

I was happy to be there with them to celebrate the renewal that spring promises, and to take part in a town hall meeting with academy students, faculty, and staff.  Renewal was much on all of our minds.

Acting Superintendent Dr. Shashi Kumar and I take questions after the town hall meeting; photo USMMA

A quick search of past blog posts will tell you that I am a big fan of DOT's service academy. Providing a top-notch education to America's merchant mariners is critical for our economy as well as for national security, and the academy remains one of my top priorities.

And that's exactly what I told the faculty, staff, and midshipmen at Kings Point during our town hall. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy is home to first-class students.  It provides a first-class education.  And since 2009, we’ve been working tirelessly to ensure that those students have first-class facilities to match.

As part of our commitment, DOT is investing more than $50 million to repair Mallory Pier, fix the campus electrical grid, and renovate Delano Hall, among other critical projects.

At yesterday's town hall; photo USMMA

Those of us at DOT are always concerned about how to leave our children and grandchildren a better American transportation network.  One of the most essential ingredients of tomorrow's transportation system is a well-trained younger generation of engineers.  And as the engineers who trained my generation are starting to retire, we must think about who we are leaving to solve the transportation challenges of the coming years. 

Who will find more sustainable options for building roadways, railways and runways?  And who will find new ways to measure safety, or design devices to enhance it?  In essence, who are the engineers of tomorrow?

For me, these questions were answered last Thursday in the Pryzbyla Center of Catholic University, where approximately 350 high school students gathered as part of Engineers Day 2012.

DOT's Engineers Day was established to encourage young people to consider a career in Engineering and to pursue courses in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  As Christopher Stone, President of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), illustrated in a rousing game of Jeopardy during his remarks, engineering describes everything from Aerospace Engineering to Ocean Engineering.  It covers Agricultural, Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, and, of course, Transportation Engineers. 

All engineering fields require the same thing: innovative individuals who are willing to work hard.  As I said in my remarks last Thursday, innovation--like sports--is a game for young people.  And America's young engineers have been great at harnessing their creativity and producing new solutions to old challenges.

We know that gas prices are rising again, as they did last year.  And we know that families across the country are feeling the pinch.  While there is no silver bullet to solve this challenge immediately, there are a lot of things we can do to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and provide Americans with affordable transportation to their jobs and schools.

And, as President Obama said yesterday, we're not limiting ourselves to just one of those strategies; to ease Americans' pain at the pump, we're using "an all-of-the-above approach."

Talking with reporters about Obama Administration steps to ease the pain of gas prices

For example, this Administration has put in place the first-ever fuel economy standards for heavy-duty trucks. We also proposed the toughest fuel economy standards for passenger vehicles in U.S. history, requiring an average performance equivalent of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Over time, these new standards will save consumers more than $8,000 per vehicle in lower fuel costs.

We're also helping Americans save money at the pump by offering folks other choices for getting where they need to go.  The Federal Transit Administration has been a robust champion of these choices, supporting transit upgrades, new capital transit investments, and transit planning in communities across the country.  And, as we learned yesterday, in 2011 Americans took 10.4 billion rides on buses, ferries, commuter rail, subways, light rail, and streetcars.

In some communities, we've helped make it easier to take some trips on foot or on a bicycle.  Believe it or not, increasing the share of short trips that are not taken by car can make a huge difference in your gas tank.

Last month, we issued proposed guidelines for automakers to limit the distraction risk for in-vehicle electronic systems. But before those guidelines take their final form, we've invited the public to weigh in and let us know what they think. This process will ensure that we hear a number of different perspectives, and today the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration held the first of three public hearings on this important safety issue.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland and Associate NHTSA Administrator for Applied Research John Maddox listened to several different panelists offering their assessment of the proposed guidelines and their ideas for an effective approach to reducing driver distraction.

In fact, the need to reduce driver distraction was never questioned by the experts at this morning's hearing, and that's good news.  Slowly but surely, Americans have come to realize the dangers distracted driving poses on our roadways.

Unfortunately, consumers want increasingly sophisticated communications features in their vehicles, and automakers want to meet that demand.  So our task is to make sure that the modern vehicle is a zone of safety where drivers can stay connected as safely as possible.

America's public transit systems are more than just a way to get from one place to another.  From coast to coast, more than 10 billion times a year, our transit networks help us get home to our families, connect us with opportunities like work and school, and strengthen our communities.

Our nation's transit riders know this, and so does the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), an organization of transit agencies working to ensure that public transportation is available and accessible for all Americans in communities across the country.  And as gas prices rise, providing affordable, efficient transportation alternatives to Americans is more important than ever.

That’s why, this week, APTA members and I are on the same page as they have come to Washington, DC, to talk with their Members of Congress about the need to pass a good, long-term transportation plan.

And they brought with them persuasive evidence: 2011 ridership numbers.  Last year, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on transit systems across the country, which is 235 million more rides on public buses, trains, and other transit vehicles than in 2010. It's the second highest ridership since 1957 and the sixth year in a row that ridership surpassed 10 billion.

No matter where we live, access to jobs, groceries, health care, education, and other destinations is important to all of us.  And when policymakers think about how people in small towns and rural communities get around, it's all too easy to imagine that everyone is able to travel in cars on smooth, uncrowded roads. But rural communities and small towns have higher concentrations of older adults and low-income citizens, two populations that are less likely to own cars or drive. 

If we limit their transportation options to personal automobiles, we risk isolating vulnerable Americans from the community--and from the economy.

That's why the Federal Transit Administration makes sure that communities of all shapes and sizes have access to critical programs like the Bus and Bus Facilities initiative, State of Good Repair grants, and Alternatives Analysis.  Today, from South Carolina to South Dakota and Arkansas to Wisconsin, these programs are making a big difference.

In South Carolina, the Waccamaw Regional Transportation Authority serves a region covering the Myrtle Beach tourism employment opportunities as well as the several colleges and medical centers inland in the cities of Conway and Georgetown. The transit agency also provides service to employment centers like International Paper and Georgetown Steel and the Conway-Horry County Airport.  A State of Good Repair grant for $144,000 in bus equipment will help this growing region maintain its current fleet and the expected needs of its future planned fleet.

And in South Dakota, a $116,000 grant from the State of Good Repair program wil help the city of Sioux Falls purchase a 30-foot paratransit bus to provide crucial service to those who are physically unable to access the city's regular, ADA-compatible buses. During the next two decades, the population of Sioux Falls is expected to nearly double; at the same time, its population will likely age.  That combination leaves Sioux Area Metro needing to ensure that its shared-ride, curb-to-curb paratransit service vehicles are reliable and ready for action.

One of our country’s most vital transportation systems remains virtually invisible and unknown to many Americans: the network of 2.5 million miles of pipelines that criss-cross the nation beneath our communities.  Because those pipelines carry a tremendous load and perform a very important service, they must be protected from digging and drilling.

The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) understands the importance of safe digging and drilling, and yesterday, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator Cynthia Quarterman spoke at the annual CGA Excavation Safety conference, where she thanked Alliance members for being at the forefront of pipeline safety.

As we mark the fifth anniversary of the nationwide hotline number, 8-1-1, it is encouraging to know that--thanks to safety education efforts by PHMSA and CGA--we've seen a steady drop in the number of pipeline incidents causing death or injury.  From 2007 to 2011, excavation pipeline incidents declined steadily as a percentage of all pipeline incidents, from 15.6 percent to 10.8 percent.

While this is good news, our work is not done.  With many new pipeline projects in the works, it is more important than ever to call 8-1-1 before starting a project that involves excavation.

Today marks the start of an event I've looked forward to for some time, the Federal Aviation Administration's 37th Annual Forecast Conference.

For two days, aircraft and airport operators, manufacturers, and others will discuss aviation's role in the global economy.  Aviation operations in a global economy present unique challenges, and participants will talk about how they are working to ensure aviation can meet these challenges now and into the future.

I am always happy to meet with people who are concerned about safety, and our aviation leaders have an unwavering dedication to the safety of America's airspace.  Together, we've pursued a simple objective: Making sure passengers can get where they’re going--safely, on time, and with the respect they deserve.

One thing that has changed since last year's conference is that Congress has finally passed a long-term FAA bill that keeps our aviation system operating through  September 2015.  The certainty this legislation allows is a welcome relief to everyone in the aviation industry, and that will lend a very different tone to this year's conference.

We have a significant opportunity right now to build an aviation system that helps us succeed today, one that will be a fine legacy to leave to the next generation of passengers and aviation leaders.

The first three rounds of DOT's TIGER grants have funded high-impact transportation projects in all 50 states, in Puerto Rico, and right here in Washington, DC.  Across the country, this competitive program is fostering beneficial and innovative solutions that:

• Contribute to long-term economic competitiveness,
• Upgrade the safety and quality of existing transportation infrastructure and facilities,
• Increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and
• Improve the quality of life in communities through better transportation choices and connections.

And one project that demonstrates all four of these key elements is the Kansas City, Missouri, Green Impact Zone awarded $50 million in 2010 from our initial TIGER grants.

The Green Impact Zone is a 150-block area in urban core of Kansas City that has been devastated over the years by high rates of poverty, unemployment, crime, and high concentrations of vacant and abandoned properties. Local and regional leaders have come together to jump-start the zone's economic recovery by upgrading its infrastructure. 

Last month, President Obama submitted a budget proposal calling for greater investment in projects that strengthen our infrastructure and create jobs. And one state that is achieving both of those goals is North Carolina, where a trio of high-priority projects is underway to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion along the Charlotte area's major east-west commercial route.

The projects will complete the Charlotte Outer Loop and feature the state's first turbine-style interchange and a pair of double-crossover--or diverging diamond--interchanges designed to reduce risky left turns among drivers and cut traffic jams by as much as 60 percent. In addition, according to estimates by the North Carolina DOT, using these innovative interchange designs will save taxpayers more than $50 million.

Administrator Mendez (middle) with Project Manager Barry Moose (left) and NCDOT Secretary Gene Conti (right)

These projects will also save area drivers something even more valuable: time.  One of the three projects, widening seven miles of I-85, will reduce congestion at one of North Carolina's worst bottlenecks. Used by 118,000 drivers each day, this section of I-85 is prone to traffic delays that, during rush hour, can last more than 60 minutes.  That's no good for commuters and no good for the truck drivers hauling loads to markets.

To ensure that America's kids travel to and from school safely, DOT’s Federal Highway Administration supports the National Center for Safe Routes to School. This terrific program works to create safe settings and fun programs that encourage children to walk or bicycle to school.

Each year, the National Center for Safe Routes to School usually recognizes one Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program in the country for outstanding achievement in promoting safe walking and bicycling to school.  But this year – a first in the history of the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award – two schools will receive this national honor: Heatherwood Elementary School in Boulder, Colorado, and Omro Middle School in Omro, Wisconsin.

As Lauren Marchetti, director of the National Center, said, “Both of this year’s award recipients are being recognized for developing and implementing successful programs unique to their individual school’s needs.”

A rural highway near the school entrance prevented many students from walking or biking to Heatherwood Elementary School.  But thanks to funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation to build a crosswalk across the highway, paired with tremendous support for the program from parents and faculty, the school’s SRTS efforts and activities have resulted in a tremendous increase in the number of students who regularly walk or bicycle to school.  In just three years, Heatherwood Elementary's walkers and bicyclists jumped from 12 percent to more than 43 percent of the school.

In January, President Obama urged us to forge an America built to last.  A surprising amount of the heavy lifting we need to make that happen takes place at the county level. 

In 49 of our nation's 50 states, counties maintain the roads and bridges that connect us to each other, to our jobs and schools, and to the businesses and services we use each day.  Many U.S. counties operate public transit systems.  And when Americans need better transportation services--whether that involves roads that are safe and smooth or improved bus frequency--the counties hear about it first.

So, when I met this morning with the legislative conference of the National Association of Counties, we had a lot to talk about.

Americans count on their county governments to build and maintain the arteries that keep people and goods moving safely and effectively.  And county governments look to state and federal support to help them do that important job.  But, when the nation lacks a long-term transportation plan, our counties can't rely on that support.  In fact, with our eighth extension of the Highway Trust Fund set to expire at the end of the month, America's counties are struggling to plan effectively beyond March 31.

That's why the folks I spoke with this morning agree with me--and with President Obama--that we need Congress to pass a good, long-term transportation bill that puts people back to work rebuilding our roadways, railways, runways, and transit systems.

Lassen County, in northern California, provides critical bus service for residents.

When the Mississippi Delta Railroad needed a loan--$56,000--for grain loading equipment to help it compete more effectively, DOT's Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program was there. And when the Great Lakes Central Railroad needed more substantial financing--$17 million--it was able to leverage the same RRIF program.  Whether large or small, the RRIF program offers America's railroads a boost for needed capital improvements.

Last month, the Kansas City Southern Railway Company used a RRIF loan of $54.6 million to purchase 30 new General Electric locomotives.  These diesel-electric locomotives, built in Erie, Pennsylvania, will help Kansas City Southern meet increasing demand for its freight rail services. They are also more energy-efficient and produce significantly less carbon emissions than the locomotives currently in use.

Many railroads that received RRIF loans in the past would not have been able to make the investments without our help.  And, more than just helping America's railroads, this kind of investment in our transportation systems sends out economic ripples by creating manufacturing jobs and improving the flow of goods for businesses shipping freight.    The 2010 loan agreement with Denver’s Union Station has boosted economic development by attracting private markets to invest in an urban renewal venture that might not have taken off without RRIF support.

As Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph C. Szabo said, "The RRIF program is a model of how we can leverage federal dollars to stimulate private investment and grow the economy.”

Rendering of Union Station in Denver

March 4-10 is National Consumer Protection Week, a coordinated campaign hosted by the Federal Trade Commission and more than 30 partners including federal agencies, consumer groups and national advocacy organizations. The campaign focuses attention on the importance of consumer information and knowing your rights in the marketplace.

There's a great website available at NCPW.gov, where you can easily find resources on a wide variety of topics from safe internet banking to avoiding health fraud scams.

And here at DOT, we've got a set of transportation-specific online resources to help inform consumers of their rights and provide them with the tools to exercise those rights.  Airconsumer.dot.gov, safercar.gov, and protectyourmove.gov are just three of DOT's consumer protection sites available 24/7 to help Americans stay safe, avoid scams, and arm themselves with information.

DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement protects the interests of the flying public.  Whether it's pursuing more transparent fare advertising, improving passenger treatment during tarmac delays, or ensuring respect for civil rights, if you're thinking about traveling by air, you should visit airconsumer.dot.gov to see what you should expect from the moment you begin making your online reservations through picking up your luggage from the baggage carousel when you return.

One of the true joys of being the Secretary of Transportation is the opportunity to see firsthand how much America's communities appreciate the value of good transportation projects. 

I get the chance to share in the excitement of a new streetcar that will boost economic development in Atlanta, to see firsthand the promise of a high speed rail line that will whisk passengers from one downtown to another in California, and to see the renewal of roads and bridges across the country that allow commuters to get where they're going smoothly and safely.

Sherman Minton Bridge, photo courtesy Matt Stone, Courier-Journal

One community that appreciates the value of a good bridge is the area surrounding Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana.  Since last September, area residents have endured the shutdown of the Sherman Minton Bridge, a major artery spanning the Ohio River to connect the two towns.

Now, thanks to the dedication of hard-working men and women, supported by the leadership of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, that bridge has reopened for use.

The Sherman Minton Bridge reopened a full 13 days ahead of target--and months ahead of some projections--because the crew of Louisville's Hall Contracting did their jobs diligently for 162 days straight until they could remove the barricades and detours to readmit vehicles.

For students thinking about possible careers, transportation offers a wide range of opportunities.  We've got roads, rails, and runways to build; safe and sustainable technologies to develop; and trains, buses, and trucks to drive.  But to seize those opportunities, tomorrow's transportation leaders need to prepare themselves as students today--and that means pursuing coursework in science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM).

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda was in Baltimore yesterday discussing the importance of maritime transportation opportunities and the necessary STEM preparation with Baltimore- and Washington, D.C.-area high school students.  And his "classroom" was the federal merchant ship, the Cape Washington, based in Baltimore harbor.

The Cape Washington moored in Baltimore

The Cape Washington is part of the Maritime Administration’s “Ready Reserve Force.”  The ships in this force are maintained in a constant state of readiness and remain “on call” to support America’s military forces or deliver humanitarian aid.  The Cape Washington is a roll-on/roll-off vessel designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, military trucks, tanks, and helicopters, which can be easily driven on or off the ship for transport.  Its cargo holds have the capacity to store the equivalent of 64 C-5 aircraft loads or 4,000 automobiles, and its engines are powerful enough to deliver the goods.

The students toured the ship’s bridge, engine room, decks, and cargo holds to learn about the maritime industry, which has played such a critical role in Baltimore's history.  The good news for the students aboard the Cape Washington is that shipping continues to play an important role in American transportation.

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda with students aboard the Cape Washington

Yesterday on Twitter, I noticed a number of people posting that February 29th, #LeapDay, was a day to do something out of the ordinary. It should come as no surprise to regular readers of this blog that when given an extra day, I would choose to spend it in a classroom, and yesterday, I enjoyed the opportunity to speak at Brown University as part of the Noah Krieger '93 lecture series.

Photo by Frank Mullin/Brown University

I relish the opportunity to speak on college campuses. Sometimes, we don't give young people enough credit. But Noah Krieger, for whom this lecture series was named, was a bright Brown Graduate who believed in positive social change; though his life was cut short just after graduation, he made a contribution to his community that is still felt today.  And being surrounded by our future doctors, teachers, engineers, and, of course, public servants in a lecture hall like Salomon 101 gives me a sense of hope.

John F. Kennedy gave my generation a call to action with the words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” This generation has responded to that call, maybe even more than mine did; they are driven to service.  Before they graduate, many of them have already done quite a lot to make the world a better place--building community projects in developing countries, starting non-profit organizations that are now thriving, working in food banks. 

Despite their commitment to community service, it’s hard to blame today’s young people for hesitating when it comes to public service.  Based on the news they read today, who would want to subject themselves to such partisanship and incivility?  So, my advice to the students at Brown was to respond to today's political climate a little differently: "You see what's going on in Washington. America needs you."