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With 2012 right around the corner, we're sharing some of the top accomplishments from each of DOT's agencies this year.  Today, we look at the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA).

The Research and Innovative Technology Administration is unique among DOT agencies because its responsibilities extend beyond a single way of moving people or cargo. RITA coordinates DOT's research programs and helps bring advanced technologies into America's transportation system. The professionals at RITA also offer vital transportation statistics and analysis, and they are part of an important national effort to improve education and training in critical transportation-related fields.

2011 was an exciting year for this technical team. Here is a brief sample of highlights:

• The Intelligent Transportation Systems – Joint Program Office (ITS-JPO) launched the Connected Vehicle Safety Pilot.
  This initiative consists of six Driver Acceptance Clinics, where researchers can observe how drivers respond to vehicles equipped with special technologies that communicate with other vehicles and with roadway infrastructure like traffic signals. Connected vehicles can provide more information about road conditions and the behavior of other vehicles so drivers can make better safety decisions behind the wheel. The clinics take place at automotive tracks. But in August, RITA awarded a contract for the Safety Pilot Model Deployment of the same connected vehicle technology. This will include approximately 3,000 vehicles equipped with ITS technology operating on public roads under more typical driving conditions.


• RITA ran a new competition for the University Transportation Center (UTC) grant program. The fully competitive UTC program will make grants to eligible nonprofit institutions of higher learning selected to establish and operate University Transportation Centers. The UTCs are expected to pursue research, transportation workforce development, and technology transfers. Selections will be announced near the beginning of 2012.


• The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) expanded the collection of tarmac time data in August to include reports of three-hour tarmac times for all commercial flights at U.S. airports.
BTS now receives reports of three-hour tarmac times for all domestic and international flights, scheduled or charter. Previously BTS only received reports about scheduled flights operated by the large carriers that report on-time data. With the new data, managers of the aviation system will have more information about problem areas, and the DOT enforcement office will be able to take more effective action on behalf of consumers.

I think it's pretty clear from this brief sample of highlights that the folks at RITA are working hard to ensure that the nation's transportation research investments produce results for the American people.  Whether Americans of tomorrow are driving safer vehicles, arriving at their destinations with more reliable on-time rates, or enjoying the expertise of better trained transportation professionals, they'll be enjoying the fruits of RITA's labors.

My congratulations and thanks to everyone at RITA for a terrific 2011.

With 2012 right around the corner, we're sharing some of the top accomplishments from each of DOT's agencies this year. Today, we look at the St. Lawrence Seaway.

I’ve written many times before about how the St. Lawrence Seaway is a key part of our national transportation system, providing an important passageway for American exports out of the Great Lakes region.  And today, the Seaway officially closes for the winter season, ending a very successful and productive 2011 navigation year.

Now, don’t be fooled into thinking this seasonal closing means it's a slow time at the Seaway.  In fact, just the opposite is true: winter is a time for Seaway professionals to perform crucial infrastructure maintenance in preparation for next year. 

And while they’re gearing up for 2012, here are just a few accomplishments from this past year that our team at the Seaway can be proud of:

• Great Lakes Seaway System economic impact study completed.
  In October, a new study was released that found the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway navigation system supports over 225,000 jobs and generates billions of dollars in income and revenues annually in both the U.S. and Canada.  This comprehensive report, “The Economic Impacts of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System 2010,” illustrates what we’ve long known--that the St. Lawrence Seaway is crucial to the U.S. economy.


• Asset Renewal Program keeps investing in Seaway infrastructure.
  In 2011, DOT’s Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) continued modernizing and investing in the Seaway's infrastructure as part of its 10-year Asset Renewal Program.  Projects this year included upgrades to the electronic distribution equipment at both locks and rehabilitation of gates at the Eisenhower Lock.  These renewal efforts help ensure the future availability and reliability of this crucial economic channel. 


• Ballast Water Management Program continues protecting Great Lakes ecosystem.
  In 2011, the SLSDC continued its leadership role in protecting marine life in the Great Lakes through its successful ballast water management program.  In a new report issued this year by the SLSDC, the Canadian St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Ninth District, and Transport Canada, the Seaway’s inspection program was publicly credited as a key factor in preventing the establishment of any new aquatic invasive species in the Great Lakes since 2006--the longest such period of non-detection on record.

I hope the professionals working at the St. Lawrence Seaway are as proud of this past year’s accomplishments as I am.  I wish them a very productive winter maintenance period and look forward to the Seaway’s planned reopening in late March for what promises to be yet another safe and successful navigation year.

We're continuing to share some of the top accomplishments in 2011 from each of DOT's agencies.  Today, we look at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

The FHWA mission is to “improve mobility on our Nation's highways through national leadership, innovation, and program delivery.”  I’m pleased to say that the team at FHWA fulfilled their mission this year.  Their quick and effective response to natural disasters made a difference across the country and their innovative approach to program delivery helped advance many critical projects around the country.

Some of the Federal Highway Administration's 2011 accomplishments include:

• Responding to natural disasters.
  2011 saw many extreme weather disasters, from tornadoes in the South to hurricanes and tropical storms along the entire eastern seaboard. FHWA provided $28.5 million in quick release emergency relief funds to 11 states to help restore critical transportation links.


• Speeding up project delivery times through Every Day Counts (EDC).
  In 2011, FHWA continued to focus the nation’s highway community on doing things better, faster, and smarter. The Every Day Counts initiative has two basic pillars: working with the states, local governments, and private sector to shorten project delivery; and speeding deployment of proven technologies that help deliver projects sooner, enhance safety, and protect the environment. FHWA is happy to report that every state in America has now implemented at least three EDC strategies or technologies.


• Supporting major projects across America. 
  In 2011, FHWA advanced a number of key highway projects that had been stalled for one reason or another. Some examples include signing a record of decision (ROD) for the Alaska Way Viaduct in Seattle, celebrating the new congestion-reducing Newark Toll Plaza on I-95 Delaware, and breaking ground on the important I-269 project that will help connect communities in northern Mississippi to major shipping corridors.

Now, the list of major projects that FHWA helped move forward in 2011 is lengthy.  Suffice it to say, this agency has been working hard to pursue its mission throughout the year.  We know there is much more work to be done rebuilding America's roads and bridges, and FHWA is ready to do it in 2012.

Congratulations and thanks to Administrator Mendez and everyone at the Federal Highway Administration.

With 2012 right around the corner, we're sharing some of the top accomplishments from each of DOT's agencies in this year. Today, we look at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

As its name indicates, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's primary mission is safety, and this team covers a lot of different territory to achieve their mission of preventing crashes related to commercial trucks and buses. FMCSA works to meet its safety goals by developing and enforcing safety regulations, targeting high-risk carriers and drivers, improving commercial motor vehicle safety technologies, and increasing safety awareness for commercial and non-commercial drivers.

Administrator Anne Ferro watches an inspector at work on a motor coach

In 2011 the folks at FMCSA had a lot to be proud of. Here is a brief sample of highlights:

• FMCSA strengthens motorcoach safety.  FMCSA has moved aggressively this year to ensure that America's 750 million passengers on bus trips can be confident that every motorcoach they ride and every driver they meet is safe. The agency has stepped-up bus safety inspections nationwide. They've also provided new online tools like the Bus/Passenger Carrier website and the “Think Safety: Every Trip, Every Trip" safety checklist to help consumers choose a reliable carrier.  FMCSA has also requested that Congress provide even stronger tools for putting unsafe bus companies out of business.
  
• Final rule bans hand-held cell phone use for interstate commercial truck and bus drivers: Research shows that using a hand-held cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several risky steps beyond what is required for using a hands-free mobile phone, including searching and reaching for the phone.  Because of the size of their vehicles and the weight of the loads they carry, when drivers of large trucks and buses lose their focus for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly. So in November FMCSA announced a final rule prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. The new rule will save lives and prevent injuries by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.

• New U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking program launched.  The new program puts safety first and paves the way for Mexico to lift tariffs it imposed two years ago on more than $2 billion in American goods. By opening the door to long-haul trucking between the United States and our third largest trading partner--without compromising on safety--this program will create jobs and economic opportunities here at home. FMCSA met with lawmakers, safety advocates, industry representatives, and others to address a broad range of concerns, which they took into account to develop the new program. The final program also addressed recommendations from the more than 2,000 people who commented on the proposal.

The FMCSA team accomplished a lot in 2011, but I know that they won't rest in 2012. FMCSA will continue to push for the highest possible safety standards to protect bus passengers, and they will continue to work hard keeping commercial trucks operating safely on America's roadways.

My congratulations and thanks to Administrator Anne Ferro and everyone at FMCSA for a strong 2011.

With 2012 right around the corner, we're sharing some of the top accomplishments from each of DOT's agencies in this year.  Today, we look at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

At DOT, we don't just think about transportation safety on land, in the sky, or on the water.  We are also focused on making sure that the pipeline network across our country operates safely and that hazardous materials are transported with the greatest care. I’m very proud of PHMSA's safety accomplishments in 2011 – we still have more work to do, but we’ve made great progress.

With PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman, examining pipeline damage in Allentown, PA

This year, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration:

• Developed and implemented a Pipeline Safety Action plan.  DOT raised the bar on pipeline safety in 2011 by developing and rolling out a plan that calls on pipeline operators to conduct a review of their oil and gas pipelines to identify areas of high risk and accelerate critical repair and replacement work.  The plan also addressed other pipeline issues such as seam failures, risk assessments, and record keeping.


• Convened its first-ever Pipeline Emergency Response Forum.  To support the critical work of America's first responders, it is important that we develop improved strategies for responding to pipeline emergencies. So PHMSA invited to DOT the men and women who get the job done, day in and day out. Their input and the input of the forum's other participants--community leaders, pipeline safety regulators, pipeline industry representatives, and members of the public--will be invaluable as PHMSA develops policies and programs to keep our emergency responders safer, and the people they serve safer.


• Eliminated a backlog of hazardous materials approvals, permits, and petitions. 
  By cutting through red tape, PHMSA exceeded their inspection, permitting, and outreach goals.  This achievement is part of the Administration-wide customer service effort President Obama initiated earlier this year.


• Worked with Congress to pass safety legislation. 
  This year, the House and Senate passed a bill submitted by PHMSA that will give the agency stronger enforcement tools and increase civil penalties for pipeline operators who do not meet safety regulations.

Pipeline infrastructure is crucial to our way of life, with more than 2.5 million miles of gas and oil pipelines crisscrossing the country.  And with PHMSA on the job, we're making sure the American people know that the pipelines running under and through their communities and the trucks and trains carrying hazardous materials on our roads and rail are safe.

I congratulate and thank Administrator Quarterman and all of the employees at PHMSA for their hard work, and I look forward to a successful new year.

Our dedicated FAA team works hard all year long to ensure we have the best and safest aviation system in the world. And I’m pleased to say our air traffic controllers will have the opportunity to work with the world’s safest pilot very soon. Santa Claus has been flying accident-free for centuries, and today our FAA safety inspectors have cleared Santa One--the world’s only known reindeer-powered aircraft--to deliver presents to children around the world this year.

This year, Santa’s flight will be the safest and most successful one yet thanks to the NextGen technology used by North Pole International Airport. Rudolph’s red nose features gumdrop-enhanced avionics to make it ten times brighter and easier to track, even in the heavy snowfalls experienced at the Pole.  And air traffic control will keep Santa safely separated from other aircraft by having him fly at a cruising altitude of 50,000 feet.  That’s higher than commercial aircraft fly. They’ll also be tracking him using Candy Cane Satellite Surveillance-Broadcast, an enhancement of the FAA’s satellite-based system called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast.

One of the more elaborate flight plans filed this year

In addition to keeping Santa, the reindeer and his important cargo safe, these improvements will allow Santa to fly the fastest, most efficient route, and that benefits children around the world as well as the entire North Pole community. Santa’s reindeer will need to eat fewer carrots over the course of the night. Rudolph and his friends will have more time for reindeer games and more room in their stomachs for milk and cookies. Plus, they’ll be cutting down on their carbon hoofprint.

But you don’t need antlers or a red suit to realize that the improvements to Santa’s route will help him make more deliveries.  More deliveries means more gifts for children all around the world. Reports say that elf hiring has gone up 50% at his workshop due to the need for increased toy output.

Although the NORAD tracker can tell you Santa’s exact location, we don’t have a live video feed from inside the sleigh. But you should know Mrs. Claus has assured us that Santa will be well rested, will use his seat belt and will be keeping his phone out of reach and in a stocking during the trip.

Thank you, FAA inspectors, for making sure Santa’s good to go once again.  And thanks to the air traffic controllers who will guide the big guy and his cargo safely through our skies.  Children around the world are looking forward to news of another on-time, safe flight.

It's hard to believe another year has already come and gone at the Department of Transportation.  And I couldn't be prouder of everything our team achieved in 2011.  So in the coming days, I'll be looking back and sharing some of the top accomplishments from each of our agencies.  First up: the Federal Transit Administration.

Public transit provides more than 10 billion passenger trips each year.  In 2011, a year when high gas prices strained family budgets, Americans were looking for new transportation options, and--according to the American Public Transportation Association--transit ridership increased in each of the first three quarters.  In the third quarter alone, passengers took 56 million more bus, streetcar, and train trips than during the same quarter last year. 

To meet this growing demand, FTA stepped up to support cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions. 

As FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff says, “We're committed to putting people back to work building and repairing the transit systems our country needs to connect people with jobs, reduce congestion, and spur future economic growth in communities nationwide.”

Following the announcement of new federal funding for the Wayne Junction Station in Philadelphia, PA,
FTA Administrator Rogoff meets with local community advocates to discuss plans for the surrounding area.

Almost a year ago, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and I were in St. Louis learning about plans to reconnect the famous Gateway Arch and its beautiful park with the economic and cultural center of downtown St. Louis.  Today, I was happy to return to St. Louis--with Secretary Salazar, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, US Representative Lacy Clay, Mayor Francis Slay, and MoDOT Director Kevin Keith--to officially announce a $20 million TIGER grant to the Missouri Department of Transportation that will help make that reconnection happen.

As readers of this blog know, DOT recently reviewed 828 good proposals seeking more than $14 billion in TIGER funding. From that strong pool of applicants, we selected--months ahead of schedule--46 projects in 33 different states for grants totaling $511 million.  Every project awarded a grant in this third round of TIGER solves a transportation problem for its community. And every project puts friends and neighbors back to work.

The Gateway Arch and the CIty of St. Louis; photo courtesy of Christian Gooden / Post-Dispatch

The City-Arch-River project in St. Louis is a perfect example of that.  The current roadway configuration presents a safety hazard to pedestrians and vehicles trying to access the Arch Grounds. The roadways also produce frustrating traffic conditions between the Arch Grounds and the Downtown Core. 

With the help of this TIGER grant, MoDOT will put men and women to work improving the roadway along the I-70 corridor in St. Louis.

Today, the Federal Aviation Administration is announcing a landmark achievement in aviation safety, a new rule that guarantees our commercial pilots the opportunity for proper rest before climbing into the cockpit.

One of my worst days in this job was February 12, 2009, when Colgan Air Flight 3407 crashed outside Buffalo. During the days and weeks that followed, I met with the families of the 49 passengers and crew on board. And I gave them my word that we would redouble our commitment to aviation safety.

Among other immediate steps, we issued a call to action in the aviation community.  We held dozens of safety forums in cities across the country.  The airlines took a number of actions on their own initiative.

And, in September 2010, we proposed a major new safety measure to deal with the longstanding challenge of pilot fatigue. Today, the regulations that developed from that proposal become the law of the land.

The new rule incorporates the latest fatigue science to set different requirements for pilot flight time, duty period, and rest based on the time of day pilots begin their first flight, the number of scheduled flight segments, and the number of time zones they cross.

Communities across America are still celebrating the new jobs and innovative solutions that DOT's third round of TIGER grants will support.  Today in Charlotte and New Orleans, DOT leaders will be on hand to help cheer two very different projects that demonstrate just how flexible this TIGER is.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari will visit the Port of New Orleans Louisiana Avenue terminal. This specialized complex is strategically located on the Mississippi River near six Class I rail lines and two interstate highways. The port was awarded a $16.7 million grant to help construct a freight rail terminal and other improvements as part of a $500 million expansion. The project will relocate an existing rail yard--with 4,000 feet of new track--inside a new 12-acre intermodal freight terminal. It also adds heavy-duty concrete to support safely storing and moving ultra-heavy cargo.

When completed, the project will reduce congestion, facilitate movement of marine and rail cargo, stimulate international commerce, and maintain an essential port asset in a state of good repair.  The upgrades will quadruple the terminal's capacity.

In addition to helping American communities move freight safely and more effectively, TIGER grants also support ways of helping people get where they're going.  Whether they're commuting to work, school or the grocery store, DOT wants to support communities in offering residents access to different transportation choices.

That's why Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff will be in Charlotte today to congratulate the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) on their proposal to expand capacity on their popular LYNX light rail network. Since opening in November 2007, the LYNX Blue Line has exceeded ridership projections and generated over $1.4 billion of new and planned economic development along the South Corridor.

The excitement about DOT's third round of TIGER funding continues this week in communities throughout the country. From Orangeburg to Oregon, folks are thrilled to know that--thanks to these federal grants--their friends and neighbors will soon be able to get back to work building solutions to local transportation problems.

In Orangeburg County, SC, $12.1 million announced by Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez will help pay for an upgrade of the U.S. Highway 301-Interstate 95 interchange in Santee. But this isn't just any interchange.  As Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said, "This will give us an opportunity here to keep pursuing the Global Logistics Triangle."

Strategically situated halfway between Columbia and Charleston, Orangeburg County offers easy access to I-95, South Carolina's capital, and the Port of Charleston.  In addition to the new interchange, the project also extend US 301 from the new interchange to a planned 1,300 acre intermodal freight hub and distribution center.

"It allows us to create a linkage between our Port of Charleston as well as Orangeburg County via road and rail," says Gregg Robinson of the Orangeburg County Development Commission. "It's about catching that activity, especially with the Panamax ships coming into Charleston."

Said Administrator Mendez, "Looking at the future benefits to the county in terms of jobs and economic development we thought it fit right in with the concept of why we have TIGER."

Across the country, DOT Assistant Secretary for Policy Polly Trottenberg helped Multnomah County, OR, celebrate the $17.7 million TIGER grant awarded to the Sellwood Bridge Project.

In the most recent episode of my "On the Go" video series, one questioner asked about what DOT was doing to improve transportation in rural communities.  I responded that one step we were about to take was to award nearly $143 million of our third round of TIGER grants to rural projects.  And yesterday, we made good on that promise--and then some--by announcing more than $150 million in TIGER discretionary awards to 16 rural and 4 tribal communities.

From bridge reconstruction between Richmond and Dresden, Maine, to road improvements in the Native Village of St. Michael's, Alaska, DOT is helping rural and tribal residents get where they need to go safer and more reliably.  And in each of those communities, building these projects will create jobs.

As U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack wrote on the USDA blog, "These investments will help boost economic development and make rural communities more attractive for businesses. By improving our bridges, transit, freight, and ports, we’ll support agriculture jobs and make trucking of goods faster and more efficient for our farmers and ranchers."

Snake Road bridge work, photo courtesy Ah-tah-thi-ki Seminole Museum

The project to upgrade Snake Road on the Big Cypress Reservation in south central Florida is a terrific example of a TIGER grant that will solve a critical safety problem. The existing road--a designated hurricane evacuation route--has two 10-foot lanes, with worn, unpaved shoulders.  The road's intermittent sidewalks are substandard. The project will expand the travel lanes to a more standard 14 feet and build a paved 16-foot median, a 5-foot sidewalk on the east side, and a 12-foot multi-use path on the west side.  It's easy to see how this $3.7 million grant will lead to a significant safety improvement for the Seminole tribe in the area.

The Snake Road ugrade is just one of four tribal community projects awarded grants in this round of TIGER discretionary funding.  That's a significant increase over our previous TIGER round when no tribal projects were awarded capital grants.

Earlier today, I announced on this blog that DOT had awarded our third round of TIGER program grants to 46 innovative projects.  And already, the response has been tremendous.

At City Halls in Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and on the phone with major and local media outlets across the country, folks seem excited about the benefits these projects will provide and the jobs they'll create.  I expect even more enthusiasm in Chicago shortly.

In the historic Philadelphia City Hall's Reception Room, I was happy to share with Mayor Michael Nutter and others the news of a $10 million grant for the city's IMPaCT project. This award will help pay for upgrades to 100 traffic lights and connect these controllers to the city’s traffic management system through fiber optic cable. The project includes technology to extend green lights for buses and trolleys when they need more time to get through an intersection. The money will also support upgrades to handicapped ramps and pedestrian countdown signals at crosswalks. 

When completed, this $32 million program will improve traffic flow for transit vehicles, synchronize signals to keep motorists moving, and increase safety for pedestrians and people with disabilities.  That sounds like a big win for all Philadelphians.

Across our nation are communities with transportation problems they need to solve. By helping these communities meet their challenges with good solutions, we can help secure America's economic future and put our friends and neighbors back to work.

So I’m tremendously pleased to announce that --months ahead of our Spring 2012 deadline--we are awarding our third round of TIGER grants to 46 terrific recipients. This means that communities can get started more quickly on these critical and beneficial projects.

When President Obama said, “We can’t wait,” to take action to put people back to work, DOT took that to heart. And, with the announcement of our third round of TIGER funding, we're making it clear: we didn’t wait.

As part of our response, we accelerated our application review process for TIGER III.  I am incredibly proud of the dedicated members of our DOT team who worked so hard to make this happen.

Interchange improvement may not sound glamorous, but it means greater safety and easier travel for commuters, more efficient shipping of parts and finished products for businesses, and construction workers back on the job.

On Friday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez saw this improvement taking place firsthand when he joined Delaware's congressional delegation and Delaware Secretary of Transportation Shailen Bhatt for a tour of the I-95/SR 1 Interchange Reconstruction Project, part of a multi-project solution to combat congestion along the increasingly busy Delaware Turnpike.

Within the next two years, the I-95/SR 1 Interchange Reconstruction is expected to bring major relief to the area’s worsening traffic congestion.  During that time, workers will build high-speed connecting ramps from both directions of SR 1 to both directions of I-95.

These ramps will allow commuters to hit I-95 at highway speed, which will reduce the backup on I-95 and SR 1 caused by traffic struggling to merge onto the fast-moving Interstate.  Relieving congestion at the interchange will bring huge relief to the more than 220,000 drivers who use it each day, and it will diminish the long traffic delays that often occur on weekends and holidays.

At this time of year, it's important to stop and say thanks.  And today, I'd like to thank all of you--my Fast Lane readers and everyone who follows me on Facebook and Twitter.

I started "On the Go" earlier this year as a way to show my appreciation to all of you who take a few minutes each day to learn about what we're doing, to ask a question, or to let me know how you think I'm doing.  There's no doubt that the passion you share for the roadways, runways, and railways in your communities inspires my work at DOT.

So with that, I bring you this month's supersized episode of "On the Go," where I answer your questions on highway and transit funding, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Amtrak, transportation programs for rural communities, and high-speed rail.

As I’ve mentioned many times before on this blog, transportation investments build the strong foundation we need for continued economic growth in America.  One example of this is Salt Lake City’s TRAX light rail transit service, one of the most visionary public transportation systems in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions of the country.

This morning, DOT helped TRAX continue to grow when Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff signed a grant agreement supporting a light rail extension between Salt Lake City and the suburb of Draper.

The Draper Light Rail Project is a 3.8-mile extension of the Utah Transit Authority’s current TRAX service to Sandy and is the final project in the seven-year, seventy-mile FrontLines effort to significantly expand transit options in Salt Lake City.  The Draper extension includes three new stations with park-and-ride-facilities, will run parallel to the heavily traveled Interstate 15 corridor, and make it easier for suburban residents to commute to jobs in Salt Lake City.

When completed, Salt Lake City’s transit network will connect dozens of communities along the fast-growing Wasatch Front. It will also boost economic development, adding good jobs to the 3,100 constructed-related jobs the project will require.

The last leg of this effort means that roughly 70,000 commuters traveling from communities like Sandy and Draper will have convenient access to downtown jobs without sitting in I-15 traffic.

The holiday season is a time for sharing with family and friends.  But, it's also a time for sharing with those in need.  Whether it's food, winter clothing, or money, many Americans choose this season for giving to others. Others choose to give something we all feel is in short supply: time.  And on Saturday, I was privileged to see the work of generous volunteers who devote their time, energy, and creativity every year to the United Airlines Fantasy Flight.

With the Fantasy Flight, which began 20 years ago at the Washington area's Dulles International Airport, participants in the United Employee Volunteer Program help bring a little holiday magic to seriously ill boys and girls from Children's Hospice International.

The children and their families boarded a Boeing 777 from gate D-7 and took off for the brief flight to Santa's workshop.  The "workshop"--an entire wing of the terminal--was completely decked out in holiday decorations and featured a host of volunteers in costume, carolers from a local high school, firefighters, fairy tale princesses, members of the military, local sports mascots, lots of elves, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

The boys and girls joined in different activities and ate delicious treats (President Obama insisted I bring M&Ms from the White House), but all of the hubbub of the workshop was nothing compared with the kids' wide-eyed excitement when the real guest of honor, Santa Claus, arrived.

Today, our Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is hosting its first ever Pipeline Emergency Response Forum, and DOT is honored to welcome America's first responders.  We are a stronger, safer, more secure nation for their efforts, and this is an important opportunity to share ideas about improving their ability to keep people, property, and the environment safe following a pipeline failure.

Our emergency responders are usually the first people on the scene when an accident occurs, and it is vital that they have the information they need about the pipelines in their communities. To support their critical work, it is important that we develop improved strategies for responding to pipeline emergencies.

And we can't develop stronger emergency response plans without hearing from the men and women with boots on the ground, getting the job done, day in and day out. We’re counting on their input as we develop policies and programs to keep them safer, and the people they serve safer. Participants at today's forum will also include community leaders, pipeline safety regulators, pipeline industry representatives, and members of the public. 

PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman kicked things off this morning by highlighting the importance of involving the fire service community in key decisions related to pipeline safety.  So we also announced that we're selecting two senior members of the fire service community to serve on PHMSA’s technical pipeline safety advisory committees.

Earlier this week, I talked about the Air Carrier Access Act, and how vital it is for all Americans to have equal access to air transportation. But we’re not just making sure airlines and airports are focusing on equality; we’re also practicing what we preach in our own offices. The Federal Highway Administration has taken this message to heart, and today they hosted the FHWA National Civil Rights Symposium.

Participants in today's symposium looked at our internal practices to see what we can do with our public- and private-sector partners to address some of the many civil rights issues relating to transportation.

Now, it might be easy to remember Rosa Parks or the Air Carrier Access Act and think we've done all we need to do on civil rights and transportation. But our panels and speakers today reminded us that the challenges are not that simple.

America’s 2010 traffic safety numbers are in. And National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland and I are pleased to report that, last year, roadway fatalities and injuries fell to their lowest rates ever – and to their lowest numbers since 1949.

But if someone you know was among the 32,885 people killed on our roadways last year, you know that even one death is too many.  Whatever progress these numbers indicate, they also tell us that we have more work to do to continue to protect Americans on our roadways.

This record-breaking decline occurred even as Americans drove nearly 3 trillion miles last year.  It’s a tribute to the tireless advocacy of our safety agencies and partner organizations over decades. And it’s the result of three important factors:

• Cars are safer – as crash avoidance and crash worthiness technologies continue to improve;
• Roads are safer – with safer intersections, better signs and lighting, improved pavement technologies, and more effective crash barriers;
• Drivers are safer – buckling their seatbelts at record rates and choosing not to get behind the wheel after drinking.

Yesterday, on the 70^th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, we remembered the brave men and women who fought for our country in World War II.  It was a war fought in the air, on land, and at sea.  And it was during this time of turmoil, in 1943, that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy opened its permanent location at Kings Point: to train midshipmen for brave service to our great nation.

In its almost 70 years as an institution, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has consistently provided our nation with well-trained, dedicated Merchant Marines.  So it was with great pleasure that I learned that—upon its midpoint review of the Academy—the Middle States Commission on Higher Education reaffirmed Kings Point accreditation without follow-up.

The path toward reaccreditation is not easy, and the Academy’s Reaccreditation Committee deserves our thanks as well as our congratulations for a job well done. 

In 2006, the academy was reaccredited for this 10 year period with a few recommendations to be met for this year's mid-period review.  For example, the Academy was asked to improve its approach to assessing how effectively it met academic and institutional goals. The Commission also recommended more effective long-term planning.

The Academy has taken significant steps forward since then.  After the Obama Administration took office in 2009, we pledged to provide the school with the tools and resources its students needed.  As I said in the blog that year, “This school attracts first-rate students who give a hundred and ten percent every day-–and if America deserves first-rate mariners, those who answer the call to sea duty deserve first-rate facilities to prepare them for service.”

At the Department of Transportation, we are committed to improving access for everyone to our transportation systems, and ensuring that all passengers receive the respect they deserve before, during and after their trips.  One of the most effective tools for pursuing these goals is the Air Carrier Access Act, the landmark law that prohibits discrimination in air travel on the basis of disability.

Last month, representatives of the aviation industry, advocates for persons with disabilities, and current and former government officials gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the ACAA. This celebration was hosted jointly by the DOT, the Air Transport Association and the National Council on Disability.

The Air Carrier Access Act, enacted in 1986 and signed into law by President Reagan, is one of the most significant civil rights triumphs in our nation’s history.

Just 25 years ago, passengers with disabilities frequently suffered degrading and discriminatory treatment from airlines. Individuals were often required to travel with a companion--regardless of their physical ability--and too often carriers failed to provide even basic assistance, such as providing wheelchairs in a timely manner. In addition, policies often varied from airline to airline or even between flights on the same carrier.

Today, thanks to this act, air travelers can be assured of fair and equal treatment regardless of disability. DOT’s rule implementing the ACAA, issued in 1990, sets out specific requirements to ensure equal access to air transportation.

I went to Capitol Hill this morning because I wanted to share with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee the good news about American high-speed rail.

Since 1991, Presidents and Congressmen--Republicans as well as Democrats--have had an American high-speed rail network on their agenda, in good economic times and bad.  What's changed today is that we have a President and Vice President who are backing up their words with actions.  We're not just writing reports and filing them away; we're hiring workers, we're laying track, and we're building stations.

And it's a good thing, too. Because, by 2050, America will be home to 100 million additional people, and our highways and airports simply won't be able to handle that growth.  And if we can't handle that growth, our economy will be stalled by chokepoints and bottlenecks across the country.

So we're working hard to bring President Obama's vision of high-speed rail to life.

We’re designing an integrated network with trains moving at different high-end speeds, based on the needs of local communities. Where it makes sense, we’re building state-of-the-art, high-speed lines, on par with anything in Europe or Asia, where they've been doing this for years. And feeding into this true high-speed core will be regional service – faster than the best trains we have today.

Finally, we’re building-out our emerging corridors.  This is happening already in states like Maine, and entrepreneurs are already opening shop along these new local lines.

Because of this Administration's willingness to act on high-speed rail, we've got American workers on rail jobsites in 32 different states and the District of Columbia.  At the same time, we're supporting jobs in American manufacturing plants and American suppliers.  From tracks to ties, to train sets, to construction materials for new stations, this important system is being built by American hands.

When my wife Kathy and I went to New York City this past weekend, we did a lot of the things visitors do. For example, since I'm interested in all things transportation, we toured The High Line--a terrific public park built on the remains of elevated freight rail tracks on the West Side. 

But nothing affected us as deeply as the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.

All photos courtesy Amy Dreher, National September 11 Memorial and Museum

The 9/11 Memorial occupies approximately half of the 16-acre site of the former World Trade Center, and it is magnificent.  With a host of trees and the serenity of the Glade, the contemplative setting stands in stark relief to the busy activity of Lower Manhattan. The beautiful museum building, with its haunting artifacts and oral histories, offers even more opportunity to consider what happened that day.

But, for me, the most affecting aspect of the 9/11 Memorial is the pair of enormous waterfalls and the one-acre square reflecting pools they surround.  These two squares are set within the footprints of the original twin towers and ringed with the names of the thousands who lost their lives in the attacks of September 11.  These names remind us that what we think of as a national event had profound consequences for individuals, families, and communities.

I don't think I've ever seen a more remarkable reminder of loss.  It's impossible to stand before these pools without thinking of the two 110-story towers that once stood in that same plaza and the lives forever marked by the towers' destruction.

The designers and planners of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum got this one right. I commend them for honoring the lives of those who died and capturing the seriousness of what happened on 9/11 in such a compelling way, and I urge you to visit this important site.

Children run through the Glade

Every 16 minutes, someone is killed on America’s highways. In 2009, there were a total of 33,808 fatalities, down from 37,423 in 2008. While this decline is an improvement, even one traffic death or injury is one too many.

Deficiencies in the roadway environment contribute to roughly one-third of traffic deaths.  Because we can and we must make our highways safer, DOT’s Federal Highway Administration and the Roadway Safety Foundation have teamed up to award agencies across the country who demonstrate excellence in roadway design, operations, and planning that leads to improved safety.

Last month, Deputy Secretary John Porcari recognized nine exemplary highway projects and programs as winners of these biennial National Roadway Safety Awards, and he noted two honorable mentions. It was a great opportunity to show our appreciation to those who work each and every day to make our nation’s roadways safer. 

This year’s honorees include:

• Minnesota DOT’s Micro Surfacing to Reduce Wet Weather Crash Rates Program
• Mississippi DOT’s Cable Median Barrier Safety Initiative
• Jones/Linn County (Iowa) Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Overlay With Safety Edge^SM
• Florida DOT’s Making Roadways Safer for Motorcycles Program
• Utah DOT’s Evaluation of Moveable Barriers in Construction Work Zones Program
• Travelers Marketing’s Safety Patrol Sponsor-Partnership (Maryland, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Georgia, New York and Kansas)
• California DOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program Application and Evaluation Tool for Local Roadways
• New Mexico Department of Public Safety’s Smart Roadside Inspection Program
• Minnesota DOT’s County Roads Safety Plans Program/Wright County’s (Minnesota) Roadway Safety Program (joint award).

There were two honorable mentions:

• Texas DOT’s FM-1960 Median Improvements Program
• New Jersey Local Technical Assistance Program’s Work Zone Safety Education Program.

To honor American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage month, the White House has been holding listening and briefing sessions with tribal leaders this week leading up to a Tribal Nations Conference today at the Department of the Interior.  As part of this effort, we're proud to announce $15 million in grants to American Indian and Alaska Native governments for public transit investments that help provide access to employment centers.

As our country makes its way through the economic crisis, America's tribal communities have endured an unemployment rate consistently above the national average.  And the Obama Administration is committed to addressing that.  By supporting public transportation, we're helping to create and sustain crucial connections to jobs, training, and other essential services.

The FTA carefully reviewed 116 applications adding up to more than $41.6 million in requests for these grants.  From these, they selected 67 projects in 25 different states including:

• $500,000 to the Nez Perce tribe in Idaho to continue providing service between rural communities and Lewiston with three fixed routes and an on‐demand service. This service allows residents access to health care, employment, education, and other needs.

• $475,000 to the Navajo Transit system in Arizona to expand their service, as well as improve connections to area economic centers Flagstaff, AZ, and Gallup and Farmington, NM.

• $328,085 to Alaska's Gulkana Village Council to maintain Soaring Eagle Transit, the area's only public transportation.  Soaring Eagle service provides transportation among local rural communities, with limited service to Anchorage, Valdez and Palmer.

These grants will help support much needed mobility for the tribes in these regions. Thanks to the Obama Administration, critical service that otherwise might have fallen by the wayside will continue and even expand.

As FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said, “We’re committed to ensuring that every American Indian or Alaskan native who needs a ride to earn a paycheck, attend school, see the doctor, or buy groceries has that opportunity.”

A full list of these important grants can be found here.

“Safety is our number one priority.”

I’ve said this many times over the past two and a half years, both on this blog and in person. And while I might sound like a broken record, it is absolutely true that, at DOT, we do think about the safety of the American people every day.

However, it’s hard to keep the American people safe if we don’t also practice what we preach. So our DOT Safety Council and Safety Culture Action Team have been working hard to keep our own house in order and make DOT a leader in safe workplace practices. They've identified several steps we can take to strengthen our existing safety culture, and we are going to pursue those.

First, we are making it crystal clear that safety is a key corporate value in DOT work culture. That's why, last month, I signed an internal safety policy.

Kassy Kerfoot was on her way to a friend's house on December 29, 2009.  She was driving on a busy, five-lane highway when she lost control of her car and hit two oncoming vehicles.  She died five hours later.

At the time of the crash, Kassy, 18, was texting with a friend.

"We had talked about it and talked about it so many times," says Kassy's mother, Liz Catherman. "She never thought something like this would happen to her.  [She thought] she was good enough at texting, and she was fast at it, so nothing could happen."

Liz Catherman shares her story in our latest Faces of Distracted Driving video.