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

By: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan, and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson

Building strong, resilient communities starts with having a great team. In 2009, President Obama challenged us to improve how our agencies work together to help communities around the country better meet their housing, transportation, and environmental goals, laying the groundwork for an economy that provides good jobs now and creates a strong foundation for long-term prosperity.

Americans have made it clear they are ready for a new vision for their communities – one that cleans up and reuses neglected brownfields for economic development, reduces traffic congestion, and provides affordable transportation and housing choices that have been missing during these tough times. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have forged a partnership to streamline resources, better collaborate with local stakeholders, and achieve superior results for communities. By coordinating federal investments and technical assistance, we are meeting economic, environmental, and community objectives with each dollar spent.

For three years our agencies have been coordinating their work through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities. The Partnership has funded 744 projects in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico with approximately $3.7 billion in assistance. And demand for Partnership assistance has been extraordinary -- as of April 2012, Partnership agencies have received more than 7,700 applications requesting almost $102 billion in funding.

These efforts are making a real difference in communities and neighborhoods. In Bridgeport, Connecticut, the Partnership agencies are working together to help meet sustainability goals. In 2010, Bridgeport received $11 million in TIGER multimodal transportation funding from DOT to upgrade roads around the East Side’s Steel Point Peninsula in preparation for redevelopment. These funds build on an EPA Environmental Justice Showcase Community Grant, which led to many improvements in Bridgeport’s distressed East End and East Side neighborhoods, including a new fishing pier and renewed access for residents who had been unable to get to the waterfront.

At the same time the Partnership has helped residents and neighborhoods in Bridgeport better connect to one another, it’s also helped Bridgeport connect to the broader regional economy.  Indeed, Bridgeport is also a partner in the New York-Connecticut Sustainable Communities Consortium, a large stakeholder group of city, county, and regional representatives that received a 2010 HUD Regional Planning Grant. As part of this grant, the consortium is studying whether Barnum Station, a proposed rail station in Bridgeport’s East End, can anchor the redevelopment of the city’s East Side, leading to new business investment, mixed-use, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing.

“The Partnership’s efforts have helped further a vision of the future of Bridgeport to become New England’s greenest city,” says Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “By the federal government coordinating resources and technical expertise, we have a chance of realizing a vision such as the Barnum Station project.”

But what makes the Partnership unique is that it allows communities to use these funds in ways that best fit their needs and visions – not what Washington thinks is best.

When we have an opportunity to advance our number one priority--safety--and honor our veterans at the same time, that's something to celebrate. And yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez had the pleasure of cutting the ribbon for a bridge that is safer than its predecessor and that continues to honor America's heroes.

Between Portland and South Portland,Maine, Veterans Memorial Bridge has connected people, goods, and communities since 1954. Recently, it has been carrying 22,000 vehicles a day over the Fore River. This flow of car and truck traffic is tremendously important to Maine because it links two significant population centers that have busy commercial and industrial districts and waterfronts.

However, in recent years, the 60-year-old bridge showed signs of structural deterioration. "We were just holding it together, waiting for the funding," said Maine Transportation Commissioner David Bernhardt.

Bridge opens to drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians; photo courtesy Shawn Patrick Ouellette, Portland Press Herald

The project is a striking example of what President Obama means when he talks about forging an America that’s built to last. The new, 1,600-foot bridge offers far more than an improvement in safety; it also features plazas at both ends and scenic overlooks. It includes a twelve-foot wide dedicated path for walkers and bicyclists that is separated from vehicle traffic. And, while the old crossing lasted six decades, the new structure is designed to handle a full century of use.

For the past two years, building a replacement for the existing bridge has also created more than 100 good jobs for the people of Maine.

By: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan

Americans want transportation choices.  And with the TIGER grant program, we’re committed to investing in innovative projects that deliver those options, whether it means taking public transportation, walking, or driving a car.

On Monday, DOT joined the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to announce a $14.9 million TIGER grant for the Main Street to Main Street Multimodal Connector, which will improve transportation links between downtown Memphis, Tennessee, and West Memphis, Arkansas.

The project, which was selected by a panel of DOT, HUD, and EPA officials, will develop a new bike trail using the historic Harahan Bridge that crosses the Mississippi River and make upgrades to the Main Street Trolley and Mall, the Central Amtrak Station, and Broadway Street.  When combined with HUD programs that are revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding the Aerotropolis and constructing a network of greenways around Shelby Farms, these investments ensure that local communities will have the housing and transportation options they need to attract businesses and create jobs.

This is just the latest example of the success of the Obama Administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities that includes DOT, HUD, and the Environmental Protection Agency.  By working across federal agencies, our partnership represents a new way of doing business for Federal, state and local governments alike--we are not telling communities what to do, but asking what we can do to help.

As Independence Day approaches, many Americans will gather to "Ooh" and "Ahh" at the sparkling explosions of traditional fireworks displays that light up the sky from coast to coast. We have so much to celebrate in this nation, and the bursts and booms of fireworks are a perfect way to demonstrate our pride and love of country.

But fireworks are also dangerous, so we at DOT want to do everything we can to keep people safe.

To protect you and your family from dangerous fires, three teams at DOT are working hard to make sure Americans enjoy a safe Fourth of July.

The Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and Federal Aviation Administration have taken steps to alert the public to the dangers of buying and transporting fireworks.

In addition to a safety alert that covers the transport of consumer fireworks, PHMSA has also provided guidelines for getting these explosives home in your vehicle. These include:

• Never attempt to light a firework within your vehicle
• Do not smoke near fireworks
• Transport fireworks in a spark-proof container and place them in the trunk of your vehicle
• Keep fireworks out of direct sunlight

I’ve written before about our commitment to helping rural and tribal residents get where they need to go safely and reliably.  And when it came time to award our fourth round of TIGER grants, we honored that commitment.

Of the $500 million in TIGER 2012 funds available for grants, more than $120 million went to critical projects in rural areas. These projects will create jobs and give rural communities more transportation options.

One such project will create a new interchange in Gallatin County, Montana, which will shift traffic from local streets onto Interstate 90. This work will reduce congestion and delays, improve safety by removing at-grade rail crossings, and help maintain the local roads.  By improving the flow of goods and people, the project will also increase the region's economic competitiveness.

TIGER funds will also help Muskegon County, Michigan, purchase three compressed natural gas buses, extending transit to rural areas of the county that are currently not served.  This new service will provide essential access for residents to the many large employers located in rural and suburban areas in the county.

Three TIGER grants were also directed to tribal governments to create jobs and address critical transportation needs in Indian country.

When I talk to people about how we can improve America's transportation, one response I hear over and over again is "more choices." Some people want to be able to drive; some want to ride transit. Some people want to walk, and others want to ride their bicycles. For trips between cities, some want to drive while others will choose a bus, plane, or train.

We know that, "If you build it, they will come." But we also know that when you improve the connectivity between available options, even more people will hop on board. It’s like applying the convenience of one-stop-shopping to transportation.  And that's where the TIGER 2012 grants we announced last Friday will make a difference.

Victor Mendez announcing TIGER award in Houston; photo courtesy James Nielsen, Chronicle

When pedestrian and bicycle paths connect to transit stops, more people ride. When you repair the roads and add parking near stations, more people use those stations. And if passengers can step off an intercity train and ride transit to their local destination, they're more likely to travel by rail.

Whenever we create options for people to leave their cars behind for certain trips, we help people avoid the cost of refueling; we help reduce roadway congestion for those who choose to drive; and we help reduce greenhouse gas emissions for everyone.

In cities as far apart as San Francisco, Detroit, and Raleigh, that's exactly what TIGER will help communities achieve.

TECO Line Streetcar connects downtown Tampa to the University of South Florida's
new $30 million Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation

America has always been a country of innovators. From Mary I. Riggin, who invented the railway crossing gate, to Robert Goddard's multi-stage rocket, we're a nation that has always met transportation challenges with fresh thinking and new solutions. And that is exactly what community leaders have done in Goddard's home town of Worcester, MA, today.

On Monday I had the privilege of visiting Union Station in Worcester to see the progress they've made rehabilitating this important hub.

In 2010, the Federal Transit Administration awarded the Regional Transit Authority a $39 million grant, our second largest State Of Good Repair grant that year. And what I saw in Worcester convinced me that, by funding this work, the FTA made an excellent choice.

Union Station is the kind of public investment that makes sense.

The Worcester community has created an economic engine in the heart of the city using federal transportation dollars that attracted private investment. By building an outstanding transit center, they have sparked private investment and completely revitalized the surrounding neighborhoods.  A vibrant city square has replaced an old, dilapidated shopping center, and businesses in the Canal District are booming.

A thriving merchant marine is not a luxury--it's an absolute necessity for a strong national and economic security. So we've worked hard to restore the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, as one of our nation's great service academies.

There's no question that our students, faculty, and families are second to none, but there is still more work to be done. And to help us tackle this work and ensure that Kings Point continues along its path toward a strong future, I am pleased to appoint retired Colonel James Helis as the next Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Col. Helis is an accomplished leader with both a military and an academic background. He is a graduate of West Point who served our country for 30 years in the U.S. Army--including as an Army Ranger--and also earned a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. And since 2004, he has served as Chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College.

The rich history of service Col. Helis brings to Kings Point is a terrific complement to our goal of training and educating tomorrow's maritime leaders. And his experience in leadership development will be a great asset to the Academy.

I know that Col. Helis is ready to hit the ground running when he joins the Academy next month. When asked about his plans for Kings Point, he said finalizing the strategic plan would be his "first priority" and acknowledged the input of the faculty, students, alumni, and industry experts who contributed to the work so far, calling it "the roadmap we use as we move forward."

Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and I think that's a great way for James Helis to start his tenure at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and we hope you'll join us in wishing Col. Helis a hearty, "Welcome aboard."

With transit ridership levels up in Chicago and around the country, access to affordable public transit that’s clean, safe, reliable, and desirable is more important than ever. So today, I was happy to join U.S. Senator Richard Durbin, Congressman Bobby Rush, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in announcing a $20 million TIGER grant that will modernize the 95th Street Terminal on Chicago’s South Side.

The 95th Street Terminal is an aging but extremely busy transit facility that serves more than five million rail and bus passengers every year, many of whom do not own cars and depend entirely on transit to get around. It's the current terminus of the Chicago Transit Authority's Red Line trains and more than a dozen CTA bus lines.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff at TIGER grant announcement in Chicago

Thanks to TIGER, the 43-year-old terminal will get a much-needed overhaul to improve accessibility for commuters, especially elderly riders and people with disabilities. Wider sidewalks, new bus platforms, and other improvements will make getting around the station easier and safer—and give the neighborhood a lift, too.

There’s no question that a grant like this is a big help to Chicago’s transit systems, which are among the oldest in the country.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel speaks at 95th Street Terminal TIGER announcement,
with US Rep. Bobby Rush (left), US Sen. Richard Durbin (center), and FTA Administrator Rogoff (right)

But Chicago’s backlog is only a fraction of the state-of-good-repair challenges facing transit systems in cities across the nation.

At the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the motto is, "Acta non verba." It means, "Actions, not words," and I've been thinking about it a lot since we announced our TIGER 2012 awards last Friday. Because, with these 47 projects, this Administration continues to take bold steps to keep America's economy moving.

Our economy can't grow if shipper can't goods to and from ports

In fact, nearly half of the projects selected for TIGER 2012 will directly improve the way we move freight across our nation.

Freight fuels our economy. So we need to do what we can to make sure American companies can ship goods over a safe and efficient transportation network. And from a railway in Oregon to a roadway in Maine, and from the Gulf port of Corpus Christi, Texas, to the inland port of Lewiston, Idaho, TIGER funding will do exactly that.

Today, the Obama Administration is letting a little more than the cat out of the bag; we're unleashing a TIGER.

At DOT, we know that America's transportation infrastructure is in need of attention. In some communities, the roadways need crucial repairs. In others, residents need ways to connect with transit networks. We also know that these repairs and new projects create good jobs for hard-working Americans.

And all it takes for cities, counties, states, and regions to get started is good planning...and good funding.

That's why I am so proud to announce our TIGER 2012 grant recipients.

In this fourth round of our TIGER program, DOT is investing a total of nearly $500 million in 47 projects in 34 states and the District of Columbia. Projects that improve safety, like repairing structurally deficient bridges in Arizona and Maine. Projects that help communities recover, like rebuilding after a devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Projects that give people choices, like developing intermodal facilities in Rochester, NY.  Projects that focus on our strengthening our maritime industry, like rehabilitating Tulsa's Port of Catoosa, one of the largest inland ports in the country.

But the one thing these 47 projects have in common is that they will create good jobs today and build a stronger economy tomorrow.

President Obama has asked that we serve our veterans as well as they’ve served us, and we at DOT are proud to answer the President’s challenge. That’s why today, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, we’re launching a web portal to help veterans find transportation jobs in the private sector. 

Our veterans have the skills and experience to help rebuild America, and we want to put them to work in the skies, on the roads, and throughout our transit systems.

At the Veterans Transportation Career Center, former members of the armed forces can enter their specific military work experience to see how it translates to jobs in the civilian working world. Job seekers can learn what training and certification are needed for civilian jobs, determine what career fits best with their background, and search for available jobs in their field.

This is a win for employers as well as veterans. It's also a win for all of us who use our nation's transportation system. More than half of America’s transportation workers eligible to retire in the next year alone. We need thousands of skilled workers, and veterans offer the right mix of preparation to step into those jobs.

As the Future of Aviation Advisory Committee made clear, some our most pressing needs are in aviation.

With airlines adding 25,000 new aircraft to the current 17,000 strong commercial fleet and the average age of a pilot in America at nearly 50, we'll need a new generation of pilots and mechanics to keep this industry strong. We're also going to need more than 1,000 new air traffic controllers each year for the coming years.

Many veterans already have the skills that would allow them to transition to this industry. So the new site will guide veterans to jobs in five categories:  aviation pilot, aviation maintenance technician, air traffic controller, commercial motor vehicle driver, and emergency medical services.

With Secretary Shinseki; photo courtesy USDOT

Ninety-five percent of our overseas trade moves by ship, making America’s marine transportation system a crucial part of our economy.

And yesterday, I was pleased to speak to the House of Representatives’ Port Opportunity, Renewal, Trade, and Security (PORTS) Caucus about the Obama Administration’s deep commitment to investing in our ports and marine highways to create jobs and keep American goods moving to markets.

Investing in our ports is a key part of supporting the President’s goal of doubling our national exports by the year 2015. That’s why the Administration has –for the first time ever– put maritime on equal footing with other transportation modes when it comes to project funding.

DOT has done its part to invest in ports through the Recovery Act and the TIGER discretionary grant program. Through three rounds of TIGER grants, we’ve awarded more than $276 million to 17 port projects across the country.

Funding these projects is crucial because U.S. port facilities support 13.3 million jobs and account for $3.15 trillion in business activity in our economy.

On the heels of the stunning success of the unmanned SpaceX Dragon, the first commercial spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station, our efforts to ensure the safety of commercial space transportation have taken another step forward. Earlier this week, DOT's Federal Aviation Administration and NASA signed an agreement to coordinate standards for human commercial space travel.

The growing US commercial space industry needs a stable safety framework that avoids conflicting requirements and redundant regulations. Working together, the FAA and NASA will assure clear, consistent standards that allow the industry to thrive while still protecting the safety of astronauts and the public.

It's simple, really; the Obama Administration wants the business of launching American astronauts--and the many jobs that come with that activity--back in America.

As NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said, "We're fostering private sector innovation, in-sourcing work to American companies and encouraging the development of dynamic and cost-effective spaceflight capabilities built to last."

It's certainly no secret to readers of this blog that we at DOT are extremely proud of the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. And it was easy to see why as Maritime Administrator David Matsuda and I visited Kings Point yesterday to take part in the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2012.

The pomp and ritual of commencement are particularly well-suited to academies. The regiment of students in dress whites and precision formations, a well-drilled band, the manicured grounds, and--of course--the time-honored tossing of white caps high in the air.

The Academy's best quality, however, is its student body, and yesterday the graduating class demonstrated that to everyone on hand. The 219 men and women who received their diplomas yesterday embody the spirit of service to their country that has made America the resilient nation we are today.

As they begin their careers, one-fifth of the Class of 2012 will serve as active-duty military officers, and their classmates will join the U.S. Merchant Marine while also serving in the Naval Reserve. Regardless of how today's graduates choose to continue serving their country, I'm certain that these new leaders will serve our nation with honor and a commitment to excellence.

No one embodies that commitment to service and excellence more than the man who delivered yesterday's commencement address, Captain Mark Kelly (KP '86).

While making our roads safer is a top priority here at DOT, we know we can't do it alone. As National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland says, "We rely on the continued leadership of safety practitioners across the country to help tackle the most dangerous driving practices."

One of the most productive opportunities for our road safety partners to exchange information is the Lifesavers Conference held by the National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities. And this year's meeting--the group's 30th--was no exception.

Among the many topics conference panels covered, I'm particularly pleased that Lifesavers 2012 featured several sessions on Distracted Driving.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Chief Safety Officer (CSO) Jack Van Steenburg spoke at one of those workshops, "Enlisting Employers in the Effort to Stop Distracted Driving." CSO Van Steenburg discussed DOT's initiatives to help the nation's 500,000 trucking companies keep their drivers road-focused.

And Administrator David Strickland was at Lifesavers to announce NHTSA's Public Service Awards to 15 advocates and organizations.

Each year, NHTSA recognizes safety leaders from around the country for their outstanding contributions. With roadway deaths at historic lows, it's clear we're making real progress in improving safety for motorists.  And that success is thanks in no small part to the contributions made by this year's honorees. They exemplify the highest level of professionalism and dedication to saving lives every single day.

The United States and Canada share a strong bond. We are connected by geography and by history. And we are particularly connected by a robust trade relationship. In the Detroit area, what separates us is a river, and to bridge that river, I was happy to be in Windsor, Ontario, to witness the signing of an agreement for a New International Trade Crossing.

As everyone who has worked so hard to make this project happen knows, the new crossing will be much more than a road across the Detroit River. With jobs and economic growth, both of our countries will prosper from the new connection.

Every day, 8,000 trucks cross the Detroit border. But 99% of that traffic uses a single bridge, and that means significant delays. Independent estimates indicate that, without this new public bridge span, by 2030 delays in the Detroit-Windsor corridor will cost the U.S. and Canada $17.8 billion a year.

The new crossing will reduce that congestion and allow travelers and goods to move more freely between our two nations.  As Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said:

"The Detroit-Windsor crossing is the busiest on the border, but we're also a big bottleneck, so we're impeding progress. It's time for a new crossing. Trade demands it, and it's an opportunity for new jobs."

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder shakes hands with Canadian Transportation Secretary Minister Denis Lebel as
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and I look on. (Max Ortiz / The Detroit News)

It's clear that summer has arrived. Temperatures are climbing. Hours of daylight have increased. And, America's students are out of school. As a former teacher, I know that kids need a break from the rigors of school. But a vacation from school doesn't have to be a vacation from learning.

There are still plenty of opportunities for our students to challenge themselves.

Students looking for ways to apply their skills, exercise they're knowledge, and help their government solve important problems need look no further than Challenge.gov. This website makes it easy for Americans to get creative and get involved.

And DOT is excited about the three challenges for students that we have open right now:

• Distracted Driving Design: Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens.  And young people are also among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel. That's why we’re inviting high school students to help spread the word on distracted driving by designing a profile icon that can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and other social networking sites. We’re looking for icons that send a clear message: cell phones and driving don’t mix.
• Motorcoach Safety Data: Choosing the right bus company for your travel is an important safety decision. Access to a carrier's safety record can make that decision easier. We challenge you to make our safety data accessible to more people so they can make better decisions.
• Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation: We're looking for students at high schools and universities, including graduate programs, to develop and share their own solutions to real-world aviation and aerospace issues. This is your chance to make a measurable impact on air travel.

So, if you know a student looking for a way to beat the heat that doesn't involve diving into a community swimming pool, please let them know that DOT and Challenge.gov have just the ticket. And if you're a student looking for a way to grow --independently from school-- take the plunge at Challenge.gov.

Whether our challenges test your engineering skills, your eye for visual design, or your ability to communicate, they all offer a chance to test yourself against real-world problems. And I promise that none of them will be on the final exam!

Just in time for the busy summer travel season, there's good news today for airline passengers: On-time performance is up, and baggage mishandling is down.

The nation’s largest airlines reported an on-time arrival rate of 86.3 percent in April. That's a 10.8 percentage point improvement from the same month last year and a 4.1 percentage point improvement from the previous month.

Airlines also logged a mishandled baggage rate of 2.63 reports for every 1,000 passengers. That's down from the April 2011 and March 2012. In fact, it's the lowest rate for any month since carriers first began reporting this data, nearly 25 years ago, in September 1987.

Even better, airlines reported no tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic or international flights in April.

I have said repeatedly that the Obama Administration believes consumers have the right to be treated fairly when they fly. And here at DOT, our Aviation Consumer Protection and Enforcement office has been working hard to help air travelers get the respectful treatment they deserve.

I'm proud of the work we've done; I'm happy to see this encouraging April airline report; and I wish everyone safe travels this summer.

The motorcoach owners and operators in the Pennsylvania Bus Association have in common a commitment to offer the highest level of safety in their operations, quality in their services, and consumer protection for their customers. The dedicated men and women of our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration share those important goals.

As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro told PBA members at their annual meeting yesterday in Erie, "FMCSA is eager to work with all of you to make Pennsylvania as safe as possible."

And the FMCSA has been doing exactly that. A recent one-year investigation into dangerous and illegal bus companies operating in violation of our basic safety standards resulted in an unprecedented shutdown of 26 companies that posed imminent hazards to the traveling public.

These cases came about through extensive information collected by FMCSA safety investigators and inspection data collected by state law enforcement partners--including Pennsylvania--during multiple bus safety strike forces and inspections over recent years.

Inspector checks a driver's hours-of-service logbook

Through the course of the investigations, our enforcement teams found multiple patterns of serious safety violations by three networks of enterprises that deliberately structured their operations to dodge federal laws. Each time we shut them down in the past, the three networks used loopholes to re-create themselves, or reincarnate. 

The 2012 navigation season on the St. Lawrence Seaway is less than three months old, but already our binational waterway is flexing its muscles with another increase in shipping volume. And to help the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation manage this growth, as well as the Seaway's valuable assets, we are pleased to welcome two new members--David McMillan and Wenona Singel--to the Seaway Advisory Board.

Swearing in David McMillan

David McMillan is a Senior Vice President at ALLETE, a Duluth-based energy provider. Wenona Singel is a law professor at Michigan State University in East Lansing and Associate Director of the university's Indigenous Law and Policy Center.

They join a Seaway that is off to a terrific start in 2012. Between March 22 and May 31 the Seaway handled 8.9 million metric tons of freight. That's up 3.7 percent from the same period a year ago. As Rebecca Spruill of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation said, “Seaway tonnage increases this year continue to nudge upward to 5 percent overall when compared to the same time frame last year. Double-digit figures were noted in coal and iron ore, and general cargo is up almost 7 percent.”

Wenona Singel and family with Deputy Secretary John Porcari (far left) and
Seaway Acting Administrator Craig Middlebrook (far right)

This increase in activity is great news for the miners, farmers, and manufacturers of the Seaway region, and it builds on the 2.7 percent annual growth the Seaway achieved in 2011.

My heartfelt congratulations to the Seaway community for its strong start and to David McMillan and Wenona Singel as they join the waterway's Advisory Board.

Maersk Illinois traverses the Great Lakes Seaway System

Through three rounds of funding, DOT’s TIGER program has rewarded communities that come together to solve problems by promoting innovative, multi-modal transportation projects that provide significant economic and environmental benefits to metropolitan areas, regions, and the nation.

Yesterday, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez saw the community excitement for one of these projects firsthand when he helped break ground on a section of the Northwest Arkansas Razorback Regional Greenway.

The Razorback Greenway is a bicycle and pedestrian network that will link the cities of Bentonville, Rogers, Lowell, Springdale, Johnson, and Fayetteville. It will connect three major hospitals, 23 schools, Northwest Arkansas Community College, the University of Arkansas, and several corporate headquarters.

As Administrator Mendez said, “We put a lot of focus on moving people in a safe and efficient manner. And when you bring bicycle and pedestrian pathways to a community, it’s going to connect people to places."

This project has been a goal of regional planners and residents of Northwest Arkansas for more than two decades. But funding the innovative project was challenging. In 2010, the 16-mile section of the 36-mile, multi-use greenway competed successfully for support from our second round of TIGER.

In this era of high partisanship and low ratings, it's easy to grow disillusioned with government. But I have plenty of reasons to maintain high hopes for the institution of the United States Congress. And that hope was affirmed earlier today when I met with the 2012 Congressional Summer Interns.

With every constituent phone call they answer or letter they open, the enthusiastic young men and women I spoke with this morning do the heavy lifting for our nation's legislators. They are not only witnessing the inner-workings of Congress, but helping connect the American people with their government. And they are doing this for little or no pay. 

It can be humbling, but that's what it means to serve. And--whether it pays a salary or not--it serves as a valuable, lifelong lesson.

When I was 16 years old, President John F. Kennedy encouraged all Americans to, "ask not what your country can do for you-- ask what you can do for your country." 

Those words were an inspiration to me at the time, and they continue to inspire generations of Americans to enter public service.  Whether its the 2.8 million members of the millennial generation who have joined the military since 9/11, the young Teach for America members working in America's most impoverished communities, or the 80,000 AmeriCorps volunteers engaged in service projects across the country, our newest generation of young adults is no exception.

Now, as I said to another group of young people at a college commencement about a year ago, "It's important to remember that American politics has never been for participants who are faint of heart. But what’s astounding –what seems so unlikely– is not only that we’ve made our messy form of democracy work, but that we’ve made it work so well."

A week ago on this blog, I wrote about a ship leaving Milwaukee with a cargo of American-manufactured heavy equipment--the first time since the 1980s that a US-Flag vessel left Milwaukee loaded with exports. As Secretary of Transportation, I focused on the ship. But today, I want to focus instead on the export goods traveling on those vessels and how American manufacturing continues to drive our recovering economy.

American manufacturers know how to create jobs--they added workers in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

And at places like Navistar International, where I visited yesterday, the work those men and women do has been essential in our progress toward President Obama’s goal of doubling our exports, and it’s essential to revving our economic engine.

At Navistar with FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro

It's also essential to making our economy smarter.

For example, Navistar builds commercial trucks and buses. But the company's leadership understands that the diesel we use to fuel those vehicles and move our goods is getting more difficult to produce and more expensive to buy.

So Navistar engineers were among the first in the U.S. to design an electric hybrid truck. And by 2009, Navistar-built hybrids had driven more than 5 million real-world miles.

Navistar's eStar medium duty all-electric truck

They didn't stop there. Navistar has also introduced a Class 7-8 truck with an Emission Solutions 7.6-liter compressed natural gas engine. And in February, Navistar announced it will offer its Class 7-8 trucks equipped with a Cummins-Westport ISL-G compressed natural gas engine.

The members of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials are gathering in Baltimore this week, and it's difficult to imagine a more appropriate setting for US Deputy Secretary of Transportation John Porcari.

After all, Deputy Secretary Porcari came to DOT after serving as Secretary of Transportation for the State of Maryland under two different governors. So, when he addressed NASTO 2012 today, he had a pretty good idea of what it's like to sit where his audience was sitting. He understands like few others the important responsibilities of operating a state's roads, transit, ports, and airports.

He also understands how investing in transportation systems today will yield future economic benefit and growth. And, under the Obama Administration, we’ve made great strides for transportation systems around the country.

One area we’re particularly proud of is rail.

At DOT, we never stop working hard to improve American transportation. And this weekend Administrator Rogoff joined U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, Ames, IA, Mayor Ann Campbell, and Iowa State University President Steven Leath at a ribbon-cutting for the Ames Intermodal Facility.

The new $9.2 million transportation hub will bring together car parking and transit access, private and public transportation providers, and the ISU and Ames communities. We're also happy to celebrate the completion of one of our first TIGER projects.

Ames Intermodal Facility awaits its public debut

Funded in part by the initial round of Recovery Act TIGER grants in 2009, the new hub is a perfect example of what DOT's competitive TIGER program continues to achieve. The facility connects bus terminals for major lines, bicycling facilities, and 384 parking spaces all under one roof in the commercial district bordering the ISU campus.

CyRide, the Ames transit agency, already provides more than 5.8 million transit rides every year. Adding nearly 400 new parking spaces will allow greater transit access to even more Ames residents, ISU students and faculty, and area visitors to CyRide, helping to cement this city’s reputation as one of the best places to live in America.

FTA Administrator Rogoff, US Sen. Tom Harkin, and Ames Mayor Ann Campbell share a pair of scissors in the center of Saturday's ribbon-cutting.

Whether it's creating better transit options for commuters or paving the way for waterborne cargo, DOT has been working hard to keep American transportation firing on all cylinders. That mission also includes improving our nation's highways, and one highway that got a big boost from the Federal Highway Administration this week is Washington State Route 99 in Seattle.

On Wednesday, FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez joined Gov. Christine Gregoire and Washington DOT Secretary Paula Hammond for an exciting groundbreaking of what will soon become--at 57.5 feet in diameter--the world's largest tunnel.

The SR 99 tunnel will replace the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a double-decker bridge that is a main route for traffic through Seattle and for commercial vehicles to the busy Port of Seattle. More than 100,000 vehicles cross the viaduct each day, but the crossing is nearly 60 years old and was damaged in a 2001 earthquake.

Because the tunnel will separate local traffic from through traffic, it will reduce congestion and serve as a valuable bypass for people and goods. And because it was designed to withstand a major earthquake, the tunnel will improve safety in this heavily-traveled corridor. So, instead of merely replacing an existing structure, we're making sure to improve upon it; this is a perfect example of President Obama's vision of an America that's "built to last."

The complex project will also create a host of construction jobs right now and sustain tens of thousand of port-related jobs in the years to come.

To help curb the deadly epidemic of distracted driving, we're taking an approach that has proven effective in reducing drunk driving and increasing seat belt use: good education, good laws, and good enforcement.

This morning, I wrote about our new Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving, which includes information to educate drivers and help advocates pass state laws that make their roads safer. We also announced $2.4 million in federal support for California and Delaware to help strengthen enforcement efforts in those states.

Pilot programs in both states will examine whether increased police enforcement coupled with advertising and news coverage can significantly reduce distracted driving. We're committing $1.5 million for an initiative in California's Sacramento Valley and $900,000 for a statewide effort in Delaware. Both projects are expected to be underway this fall.

As NHTSA Administrator David Strickland said, “We know from the success of Click It or Ticket and other safety programs that combining good laws with effective enforcement and a strong public education campaign change unsafe driving behavior. Now, along with two great state partners, we’re using this proven formula to help tackle distracted driving.”

Today, we take a big step forward in our fight against the deadly epidemic of distracted driving. With the release of our Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving, DOT is putting critical safety information into the hands of those who can make the biggest difference.

Parents, teens, driving instructors, automakers, and safety advocates can all use the new blueprint to take this important effort to the next level.

While we’ve made progress in the past three years by raising awareness about this risky behavior, the simple fact is people are continuing to be killed and injured. In 2010, at least 3,092 people were killed on our nation's roads in distraction-affected crashes. That's approximately one in every ten fatalities, and we can put an end to it.

Helping persuade people to take personal responsibility for putting down that cell phone has been an effective first step. Our "Faces of Distracted Driving" video series has made that clear with painful testimony of the tragic costs of distraction and an impassioned plea that "Safe driving starts with you."

I know many of you have made a big change and no longer make calls or read text messages while driving. You're not only driving distraction-free, but you're also demonstrating safe behavior for the young drivers and soon-to-be drivers who ride with you.

But we need everyone to do their part, whether it’s helping pass strong laws, educate our youngest and most vulnerable drivers, or starting your own campaign to end distracted driving. And that's where our new Blueprint comes in.

Last week, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shut down a record 26 bus companies that posed imminent hazards to the traveling public. But let's be clear: safety is not a one-time event. Day in and day out, bus and truck inspectors are on the job to ensure the safety of everyone on our roadways.

To highlight our safety efforts, FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro attended the launch of Roadcheck 2012 yesterday in Landover, MD.

During the three days of Roadcheck, the FMCSA, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), and their safety partners dispatch 10,000 federal, state, and local inspectors to more than 1,500 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to conduct comprehensive North American Standard Level I Inspections.

As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said on Tuesday, "We have put action behind our words.  We will not tolerate unsafe drivers and carriers that endanger the public."

The CVSA and FMCSA have teamed up for 25 years to support the world’s largest targeted inspection and enforcement effort aimed at strengthening commercial vehicle and driver safety.

Last week, Congress passed--and President Obama signed--legislation reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. This extends the bank's lending authority through 2014 and increases the bank’s credit limits.

This legislation levels the playing field for thousands of American businesses, giving them the tools they need to sell more of their products and services overseas. That's important for the President's initiative to double American exports.

And, for America’s manufacturers and our merchant mariners, it means good jobs.

P&H heavy equipment awaits loading onto the Maersk Illinois at the Port of Milwaukee; photo: Maersk

Our Maritime Administration has strongly supported the Ex-Im Bank because exports supported by the bank add to the cargo volume that has been a bright spot for the US-Flag merchant fleet. And one need only look to the Port of Milwaukee for proof of that connection.

Last Friday, for the first time since the 1980s, a ship flying the American flag left Milwaukee with cargo bound for international export.

To a child, the warm weather that summer brings means a host of great things –trips to the beach, longer days, and ice cream cones.  But it can also mean potential dangers, such as being left in an overheated car.

That’s why yesterday, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland traveled to San Antonio, Texas, where he joined Texas Department of Transportation officials, safety advocates, health professionals, and families who have suffered heatstroke tragedies to discuss ways to prevent child deaths and injuries in hot cars.

The meeting was part of NHTSA’s first-ever national campaign to spread the word about the harmful and potentially lethal effects of leaving children in hot vehicles. NHTSA is alerting parents and caregivers across the country with the simple message: “Where’s baby?  Look before you lock.”

It was important to discuss this important issue in Texas, since it consistently ranks among the states hardest hit by heatstroke fatalities.  Statewide, at least 80 children have lost their lives to vehicular heatstroke since 1998, with most deaths occurring among children ages 3 and younger.

Cindy Quinn shares her story in San Antonio while NHTSA Administrator David Strickland (rt) looks on

Although National Bike Month has come to a close, there's good news for bicyclists and motorists in six cities today: the Green Lane Project from Bikes Belong is underway. And last week in Chicago, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was on hand for the official launch.

What exactly are green lanes? They are next-generation bike lanes carefully separated from vehicle lanes by a buffer of curbs, thin posts, attractive planters, or even parked cars.

Bikes Belong has selected six cities as pilots for the Green Lane Project. By working together and sharing resources and best practices, these cities hope to develop world-class bike networks on busy city streets. Bikes Belong will provide them with strategic and technical assistance and will work to share the lessons learned with other communities interested in supporting bicycling as a means of transportation.

DOT and the Federal Highway Administration like traffic-separated lanes because they increase safety. And bicycle infrastructure is much less expensive to build and maintain than either transit or roadways, so communities get a bigger bang for their buck.

The FHWA has been working to revamp some of its guidelines to make these projects easier to develop. As Administrator Mendez said, "The work of cities like Chicago and the other Green Lane Project communities will help us improve our future design recommendations."

 
FHWA Administrator Mendez speaks at Green Lane Project launch

Bicyclists also like green lanes because they do protect riders from motor vehicles and make them feel safe. For novices, they are more inviting than regular bike lanes. That means that adding green lanes can increase the number of people using pedal power to get where they're going. In fact, in Washington, DC, since traffic-separated lanes were installed down Pennsylvania Avenue and up 15th Street, bicycling on those roads has tripled.

But, perhaps the most interesting thing about green lanes is that they also help motorists.

While summer won’t officially be here for a few more weeks, millions of Americans have already taken to the roads for vacations, picnics, baseball games and other warm-weather destinations. And at DOT, we’re working hard to make sure they arrive at their destinations safely.

From May 21 until this past weekend, approximately 10,000 police officers were out in force across America, making our roads safer as part of DOT’s annual “Click It or Ticket” campaign. I can't thank them enough for their participation in this important effort.

Columbus Police Department Motor Squad check motorists and passengers for seat belt use.
Photo credit: Robin Trimarchi, Ledger-Enquirer

Click It or Ticket is the most successful seat belt enforcement campaign ever, and it has really helped increase seat belt use. In fact, 84 percent of Americans are now buckling up when they get in the car.

While more than three million seat belt citations have been issued during the annual crackdowns over the past five years, the campaign is not about writing tickets. It’s about saving lives.

This morning, the American Public Transportation Association reported another quarter of remarkable growth in transit ridership. During the first three months of 2012, Americans took nearly 2.7 billion trips on public transit. That's an increase of five percent over last year's first quarter, and it's the fifth consecutive quarterly increase in ridership across the nation.

Several cities--among them Tampa, Charlotte, Ann Arbor, and Columbus--saw record numbers of riders during the first three months of 2012.  And it is no coincidence that, in recent years, these cities successfully competed for grants from the Federal Transit Administration, received transit funding from the Recovery Act, or both.

More than 60 percent of transit trips are work trips. As APTA President and CEO Michael Melaniphy said, “As we look for positive signs that the economy is recovering, it’s great to see record ridership at public transit systems throughout the country. People are commuting to their new jobs using public transportation.”

I have said repeatedly that--when the demand is there and the planning is effective--if you build it, they will come. And these cities are proof positive, offering their commuters the transit options that fit them best.

However, the growth in ridership also means America's transit systems face a significant challenge. Even if transit ridership increased at only 3.5 percent, that would require a doubling of capacity in a mere 20 years.

Fortunately, the Obama Administration is helping the nation's transit agencies meet that challenge.

Last weekend, one of America’s great transportation achievements, the Golden Gate Bridge, turned 75. Thousands turned out for observances throughout San Francisco honoring one of the world’s most iconic bridges.

Photo courtesy Lance Iversen, SF Chronicle

However, had the fierce opposition to the proposed crossing been more effective, this national icon might never have been built, hundreds of construction workers would never have been employed, and tens of thousands of vehicles and their passengers each day would not have a direct crossing into one of America’s signature cities.

Until the Bridge’s opening in 1937, ferry service was the only means of crossing between San Francisco and Marin County. At their peak, boats carried more than 40 million passengers across the bay each year. But as more and more cars hit America’s streets in the 1920s, the ferries were overwhelmed with traffic. The Bay Area needed a 20th century solution.

Alexandra Hvistendahl, a fifth grade student at Rancho Elementary, was a first place
winner in the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society's Golden Gate Bridge art contest.