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

When an accident occurs on one of our nation’s transportation systems, every second counts. So with the help of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) program DOT is working to provide the best possible outcome for accident victims and the medical professionals who care for them on the scene.

Since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) was first created more than 40 years ago, the EMS program has played a key role in roadway safety.

"We know that our coordinated system of emergency medical services is reducing the tragic toll from traffic crashes on America's roadways," said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. "NHTSA is more committed than ever to ensuring our EMS systems are equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century."

As part of that commitment, NHTSA maintains EMS.gov, an online portal for EMS professionals across the country. And last Friday, to mark National Emergency Medical Services Week, NHTSA unveiled a significantly redesigned site. The new site makes it easier for the EMS community to access the latest professional news, training content, events, projects, and other essential safety information.

EMS.gov is a terrific resource for EMS professionals. And because the website helps America's first responders stay current on the latest approaches to care and safety, its benefits extend to all of us who might one day need that care.

If you operate a commercial bus service and you put your passengers' safety at risk, we will shut you down.

It's a simple message, and most bus companies get it. But for the past year, we've been investigating a network of operators who don't get it, and today we're making I-95 safer for everyone by taking 26 companies off the road.

At DOT, safety is our number one priority. I say it over and over again, but those words mean nothing unless we back them up with action--good rules and good enforcement.

Today, I'm proud to announce an important action that makes good on our safety promise to bus passengers. Starting yesterday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) shut down 26 bus companies that blatantly and repeatedly violated safety rules.

This is the single largest motor coach safety crackdown that DOT has ever undertaken. And now, a network of unsafe bus operators is off our highways. As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said, "This is a watershed day for bus safety and every passenger who expects and deserves to arrive safely at their destination."

A stirke force inspector check's a driver's hours-of-service

These operators—Apex Bus, I-95 Coach, and New Century Travel—used drivers who did not hold commercial licenses, and they drove buses that did not meet safety standards. They put passengers and other motorists at serious risk, and shutting them down could save lives.

That’s good news for passengers, and it's good news for the many bus companies that provide good service, use properly trained and licensed drivers, and take safety seriously.

Cross-posted courtesy StreetsBlog Capitol Hill

In my "On The Go," series, I only get time to answer a few questions. But--like the Streetsblog community--I never get tired of talking about transportation.

And because Streetsblog readers came through with so many good questions for the May installment of "On The Go," I'm happy to answer two more of those questions here.

Jesse asks: What role does the government (at any level - not just federal) have in changing the public's perception of the streets from a place that is the exclusive domain of cars to public space that should accommodate everyone's needs?

That's a terrific question, Jesse, because it covers a number of issues that are so important to the Streetsblog community. At the US DOT, we have said repeatedly that people on bicycles, people on foot, and people with disabilities are valued stakeholders in what happens with our roadways. At the federal level, we're providing leadership by making it clear that we support all modes of transportation.

Ready to ride with Rep. Earl Blumenauer

And we've put our actions behind those words with grants for complete streets initiatives, better sidewalks, and more bike infrastructure like bike-sharing programs, bike lanes, and off-road paths. The Federal Transit Administration has made it easier for commuters to access transit service by bicycle. The Federal Highway Administration's Non-motorized Transportation Pilot Program has demonstrated that Americans want to use their feet to get where they're going.

I'm proud of our record of active support for all who use our roads.

But if you also believe we should make room for everyone on America's streets, there's plenty that you can do. Municipal and county leaders need to know how strongly residents want to incorporate bicyclists and pedestrians into transportation planning. And governors and state legislators need to know as well. The Streetsblog community can certainly help by continuing to educate these leaders and the public about the value of investing in non-motorized transportation.

Each day, America's front-line responders arrive on the scene of potentially dangerous hazardous materials incidents. It's a tremendous responsibility and they do a terrific job. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. But we also have the responsibility to make sure our firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and law enforcement officers are prepared with the most current response information should they find themselves on the scene of a hazmat incident.

With the 2012 Emergency Response Guidebook, that's exactly what our Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has delivered.

Through safety standards, supported by inspections and enforcement, PHMSA's highest priority is to ensure the safe movement of hazardous materials to industry and consumers. As our family doctor always advised, prevention is the best medicine.

Preparedness and response are also good medicine. That's why we're releasing the 2012 edition of PHMSA's Emergency Response Guidebook, a comprehensive manual to help deal with hazardous materials during the critical first 30 minutes of an incident.

Emergency responders will use the newly revised guide to identify the specific hazardous materials involved in an incident and the risks associated with those materials. Then, responders can find a list of measures they should take to ensure their own safety and contain the incident as quickly and responsibly as possible.

As summer arrives, Americans are thinking about vacations, and they're thinking about getting outside and enjoying their neighborhoods. It's a terrific time to talk about passenger rail travel, about biking and walking, and about livable communities.

In the latest episode of "On the Go," that's exactly what I do.

Thanks to everyone at Streetsblog for sending in so many terrific questions. You can click on the video below to hear my answers on high speed rail, livable communities, and--the next frontier in automotive safety--vehicle to vehicle communications.

And now that you've watched the latest episode of "On The Go," it's time to start thinking about questions for the next installment.

So, if you've got transportation issues on your mind, please let me know right here, on my Facebook page, or using the #q4ray hashtag on Twitter.

Memorial Day is more than just an opportunity to hit the road for three days; it's an occasion to honor the sacrifice made by those who died serving their nation. 

President Barack Obama is reflected in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall as he delivers remarks during the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War commemoration ceremony. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

And yesterday, Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari joined President Obama and other distinguished participants in a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. Deputy Secretary Porcari was accompanied by the Maritime Administration's Director of Ship Operations Bill Cahill.

As a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy, Bill had a commission in the US Naval Reserve. In 1968, while serving as a merchant marine officer, he was called to active duty and served two tours in Vietnam.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari, Associate Maritime Administrator Kevin Tokarski, and Bill Cahill

Bill's USNR commission is common to all midshipmen at the US Merchant Marine Academy and to those at the state maritime academies. But even when they are not called to active duty, many of America's merchant mariners serve their nation through sealift operations that support our military overseas.

During the Vietnam War, 172 ships were activated from the National Reserve Defense Fleet and assigned to commercial shippers to support American military forces.

If you're one of the 34.8 million Americans expected to travel this Memorial Day weekend, we at DOT wish you and your family a very safe trip.

If you're driving--as are 93 percent of holiday travelers--please buckle up, drive sober, and turn off your cell phone. And if you're flying, please arrive at the airport early and protect your child with an appropriate safety seat.

Liftoff; photo courtesy SpaceX

One traveler whose Memorial Day journey will be one for the history books is the SpaceX Dragon. Launched atop a Falcon 9 booster rocket, this intrepid voyager is on its way to becoming the first American-made spacecraft to dock at the International Space Station since NASA's space shuttle fleet was retired last year.

The successful launch of the SpaceX Dragon capsule earlier this week marks a new era for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry, and the Federal Aviation Administration was launch-side to oversee the safety of this dramatic milestone.

The FAA met its responsibility to license, inspect, and monitor the SpaceX launch through its Office of Commercial Space Transportation.  The FAA has also licensed and is prepared to monitor the Dragon's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and the capsule's landing in the Pacific Ocean.

The space station's robot arm extends toward the Dragon capsule, the first connection of a private vehicle to the ISS.
Photo courtesy NASA

Sometime today, the unmanned Dragon capsule is expected to dock at the space station and deliver critical supplies to the station's crew. The Dragon will then take on cargo to be redelivered back to Earth. The success of this mission will help establish the commercial space transportation industry's resupply capabilities, a role once provided by the Space Shuttle program.

Connected vehicle technology offers tremendous promise for improving safety, so it’s encouraging to see that most drivers who have experienced this technology agree and want it in their cars.

If you were behind the wheel and considering changing lanes, you would want to know if a vehicle in your target lane was traveling in your blind spot. Armed with that information, you would avoid an ill-advised lane-change.

And, if you were traveling at speed on a busy highway, you'd also want to know if a car you couldn't see, two or three vehicles ahead, had slammed on its brakes unexpectedly. An early alert--one that signaled the rapidly changing situation before your own eyes could see it developing--would allow you to slow down at a safer rate and avoid trouble.

In both cases, the principle is simple: armed with more complete information, drivers can make safer decisions.

Drivers from six communities across the country agree. This week, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the results of Driver Acceptance Clinics where 688 drivers had the chance to test “vehicle-to-vehicle” communications.  The six-clinic program showed that an overwhelming majority of drivers would like to have the features included in their own vehicles. And most of these drivers believe the new technology will improve road safety.

At DOT, we know that transit strengthens communities, creates jobs and increases access to existing jobs, and improves the quality of daily life.

On Monday, Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff demonstrated our commitment to increasing transit options when he joined officials in Fort Collins, Colorado, to sign a $54.5 million funding agreement for the city's new MAX Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff in Fort Collins; photo courtesy Sam Wilson, The Colordaoan

MAX is expected to reduce commuting times and traffic congestion along College Avenue and is an excellent investment in the community's mobility and growth. The new line will help Colorado State University students, faculty, and staff get to class on time; make it easier for seniors to get to medical appointments; and revitalize the Mason Corridor by attracting commercial and residential development.

This BRT line will strengthen the city’s economy and support hard-working families who’d like to spend less of their household budget on transportation. But Fort Collins isn’t the only city that will soon see expanded transit options.

Administrator Rogoff in Portland; photo courtesy FTA

May is National Moving Month because, traditionally, it's the start of the busiest relocation season. Each year 37 million Americans move, and roughly two-thirds of those people--24 million--move during the three months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Moving can be an exciting time, but it can also be a challenge.

Finding a new home, packing up your belongings into boxes, and starting life in a new community make moving very stressful. The last thing you need to hear is that you are being overcharged or that your family's treasured possessions are being held hostage by the moving company. 

Fortunately, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is on the job protecting consumers from unscrupulous carriers. And today, the FMCSA is adding to its "Protect Your Move" toolkit a new "Consumer Checklist."

The checklist offers tips on the important steps consumers should take when hiring a moving company. That includes researching an interstate moving company’s consumer complaint history as well as the company's on-road safety performance records. 

As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro said, "Price isn’t the only factor one should consider when hiring a moving company. After going through the checklist, consumers should feel confident they know how to locate a company that is reliable, safe and responsible."

Last weekend, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) met in Traverse City, Michigan, and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was there to update them on a number of issues.

From safety to signs to the all-important reauthorization debate currently underway in the US Congress, Administrator Mendez covered all of the bases.

First, let me thank Administrator Mendez for his deep commitment to safety. Administrator Mendez understands as thoroughly as anyone at DOT that safety is our number one priority. And whenever he speaks publicly, he never fails to mention the importance of safe driving.

Sunday's remarks also included a discussion of recent changes to the regulations governing roadway signs, known in the highway field as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or MUTCD. To the delight of many AASHTO members and communities across the country, the FHWA recently eliminated 46 different deadlines for replacing traffic signs. State and local officials made it very clear that the best use of taxpayer dollars is to update these signs to the new standards when existing traffic signs wear out.

This is how we work at DOT. We listen. And as long as good safety and good stewardship are assured, we do our best to give states, counties, and municipalities the flexibility they need to do their jobs.

But we will not compromise on safety. As Administrator Mendez told AASHTO members, we did retain 12 deadlines for sign upgrades that are critical to public safety, for example STOP and YIELD signs at railroad crossings where there are no automatic gates or flashing lights.

From America’s earliest days, we have been a maritime nation.  Maritime trade was critical to our initial growth from a few isolated outposts into a thriving land, and shipbuilding was one of the first manufacturing industries in our original 13 colonies.

We are bordered by two oceans and connected by a vast network of inland waterways. So, we depend on our Merchant Mariners to support our economy and protect our nation. As Maritime Administrator David Matsuda said at today's festivities, "Mariners are the people who move American products throughout the world. Mariners are the people who shepherd American military personnel and equipment to where our country needs them most."

In peacetime, the men and women of the US maritime industry work on tugs and ships, in shipyards and at ports. Their hard work ensures delivery of goods around the country and exports to other nations—both essential parts of a strong economy. In fact, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles employ twice as many men and women as the Hollywood entertainment industry.

When called upon to support our nation’s military operations, America's mariners don't shy away from danger. During World War II, nearly 215,000 Merchant Mariners served our nation, and nearly 1 in 30 gave their lives in that effort. Kings Point was the only US service academy to lose students in the line of duty—142 of them. And our nation remains ever grateful for their sacrifice

Memorial wreath and bell in honor of absent merchant mariners. Photo credit Julie Fischer, DOT

In recent years, our merchant fleet has delivered essential resources to battlefields around the world.

And, during national and international emergencies, our Merchant Mariners are also on the scene, helping with rescues, recovery, and rebuilding.

With that strong, brave, and proud tradition at its foundation, President Obama understands that our shipping industry is a vital building block of an America built to last. Today more than ever, our marine transportation system is crucial to our economic well-being and security.

Photo credit Julie Fischer, DOT

From 2006 to 2010, seat belts saved the lives of more than 69,000 people in motor vehicle crashes. However, if all passenger vehicle occupants aged 5 and older in 2010 had worn seat belts, an estimated 3,341 more lives could have been saved.

More Americans than ever are connecting the dots. They understand that seat belts are a major factor in whether crash victims survive or perish, so they're doing the smart thing and buckling up. And in 2011, 84 percent of vehicle occupants used their seat belts.

That's a pretty good rate--well above 1994's 58 percent--but we can do better.

So, as the summer driving season gathers steam and Memorial Day Weekend approaches, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and its law enforcement agency partners across the country are launching their annual Click It Or Ticket mobilization effort.

Through the next two weeks, approximately 10,000 officers will be out in force making our roads safer by writing tickets to unbelted drivers.

The weather is getting warmer, Memorial day is getting closer, and graduation season has arrived once again. 

On Saturday the class of 2012 threw their hats in the air at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, just as they did two years ago when I delivered the commencement address at Loras.  But there is something special about the class of 2012; they are the first class to graduate into a more livable, sustainable Dubuque.

Just a few months after this year's graduating class entered college, the City Council of Dubuque adopted the Historic Millwork District Master Plan.  This innovative proposal laid out a plan to convert factories and mills that had lain vacant for decades into mixed income housing, workplaces, and entertainment centers. It brought together partners who set aside their differences and focused on their common interest, a revitalized Dubuque.

The Millwork District plan relied on a complete streets approach to transportation: making the district's streets accessible for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders. The plan also created hundreds of jobs and attracted thousands more as businesses--like IBM--relocated to the redesigned district.

Cutting the ribbon for the Mllwork Distrcit complete streets project, photo courtesy City of Dubuque

Just like those freshmen at Loras, Dubuque was full of ambition and ready to get to work.  And just as those freshmen grew into cap and gown clad graduating seniors, the city I saw last Friday was quite different from the city I saw in 2009 when I first toured the Millwork District.

Today is Bike To Work Day, and more than 1 million Americans nationwide are expected to make their commute by bicycle. Talking about bikes is a fitting way to wind down our blog posts for National Transportation Week because bicycling is an important part of the 21st century transportation mix.

Why does non-motorized transportation have a seat at the table?

Because people want to avoid the pinch they feel in their wallets at the gas pump. According to a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, bike trips in the US save riders more than $4.6 billion each year.

Because every mile walked or biked helps reduce tailpipe emissions. If American drivers were to make just one four-mile round trip each week with a bicycle instead of a car, they would save nearly 2 billion gallons of gas each year, and every eight miles walked or biked keeps 15 pounds of pollutants out of our air.

Because making it easier and safer for people to walk or bicycle is a matter of fairness. Many Americans cannot afford a car or are physically unable to drive. According to a recent Brookings Institute report, more than 10 percent of Americans not only don't own a car, but don't even have access to a car. In our cities, that number is even higher.

As National Transportation Week continues, and we take the time to appreciate the transportation that gets us safely where we need to go, we should also think about the future of transportation. How can we encourage America's students to consider transportation-related careers? How can we channel the creativity and analytical skills of students in STEM subjects--science, technology, engineering, and math--toward improving our transportation system?

One way to get our students thinking about transportation is to simply challenge them. So today, I'm delighted to announce a new competition to recognize students who create unique scientific and engineering innovations in aviation and aerospace.

The Secretary's “Recognizing Aviation and Aerospace Innovation in Science and Engineering” Award, called RAISE, is a new tool to motivate high school, college and university students to develop creative solutions to aviation and aerospace issues, and to share their results with the broader community.

This new challenge recognizes innovative scientific and engineering achievements that will have a significant impact on the future of aviation and aerospace. It was developed in response to recommendations by our Future of Aviation Advisory Committee.

As I've written previously, DOT is celebrating National Transportation Week by highlighting the many ways we're working to keep America's transportation network and the people who use it safe. And as the peak spring and summer travel season begins, DOT remains committed to pursuing highway safety.

That means ensuring that commercial buses traveling between states are well-maintained and operated by men and women who are alert and driving responsibly. If necessary, that also means removing from our roads any bus or driver that places passengers and other motorists at risk.

That’s why this week, DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), with the help of its state and local law enforcement partners, is conducting safety inspections of motorcoaches, tour buses, school buses, and other commercial passenger buses in 13 states along the East Coast and also in the District of Columbia.

This safety strikeforce is part of FMCSA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen passenger carrier safety nationwide.

As FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro put it, “Our goal is to make bus travel as safe as possible – every trip, every time.”

By US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and US Chief Technology Officer Todd Park,
cross-posted courtesy of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Safety is the number one priority at the US Department of Transportation (DOT), so National Transportation Week is the perfect time for DOT to help launch the Obama Administration's critical Safety Data Initiative--an historic effort to make government data relating to every aspect of safety, from transportation crime to consumer products much more accessible, and to stimulate the development of innovative apps and services fueled by those data.

We know that helping Americans gain access to practical information can help them make smarter, safer choices. So, coordinated by DOT, this new collaborative effort involving Federal agencies and members of the public aims to unleash Americans’ entrepreneurial spirit by encouraging participants to build a range of innovative digital tools and mobile applications to enhance public and product safety

To help kick off the Safety Data Initiative, today we are announcing two app challenges that take advantage of more than 700 open government datasets now available on safety.data.gov.

DOT has launched the Motorcoach Safety Data Student Challenge, which asks developers to use public performance data about interstate commercial bus companies found on safety.data.gov to help consumers make smart safety decisions about their bus travel.

And the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration wants your help in building tools to educate the public about safety in the workplace through its Worker Safety and Health Challenge. The goal is to develop apps that can reduce the number of work-related injuries, which affected more than 800,000 individuals in 2009 alone.

To mark National Transportation Week, we've been asking readers to think about safety. Whether it's traveling with children, making sure to approach rail crossings with caution, or buckling up every time you climb into a car or truck, safety often comes down to the choices we make.

Our safety also relies on other people's choices, and sometimes people act without thinking about the consequences of their actions, placing others in jeopardy. We saw this last Monday in the Faces of Distracted Driving video about 2-year-old Calli Ann Murray who was killed by a texting driver.

And we saw it 3,592 times in 2011, when people on the ground pointed lasers into the cockpit of an aircraft overhead.

That's right--in 2011 there were 3,592 reports of laser strikes on aircraft in America. That's up dramatically from 2,836 in 2010, and each one of those incidents threatens the safety of passengers and crew.

I understand that the laser pointers and other devices available to consumers are now more powerful and less expensive than ever. But I don't understand the decision to aim one at an aircraft full of people, potentially blinding the pilot and causing tragedy.

The law doesn't understand it either. That's why local, state and federal courts have sentenced laser violators to jail time, community service, probation and additional financial penalties for court costs and restitution.

As Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo wrote in this blog last Saturday, “if we continue strengthening passenger rail service, even more people will choose it.”

Under President Obama’s leadership, DOT is committed to continuing to do just that.

Yesterday, Administrator Szabo traveled to Maine, where he joined Maine DOT Commissioner David Bernhardt and local business leaders in celebrating the completion of new train station platforms in Brunswick and Freeport. These new platforms are the latest steps in the expansion of Amtrak’s Downeaster line.

The extended line will begin serving Brunswick and Freeport this fall, providing both cities with passenger rail service for the first time since 1959.

The Downeaster line expansion was funded by a $38.3 million High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program grant from the FRA, and in August 2010, this terrific project was the first of its kind to break ground.

The Downeaster is already a big hit with New Englanders – its record-breaking ridership in 2011 was up 8 percent from 2010, and the number of passengers the line carried last year--more than half a million--is more than double what it carried in 2005. And when the expansion opens this fall, ridership will only increase even more.

Every year as the weather gets warmer and the school year winds down, the summer travel season gathers steam. It's a promising time, but it's not all fun and games; it's also a time to think about safety. And the Federal Aviation Administration is doing just that.

To usher in the busy travel season--and to continue our National Transportation Week emphasis on safety--the FAA is redoubling its efforts to educate air travelers about flying safely with children.

As FAA Administrator Michael Huerta will tell you, there is one simple step that all parents, grandparents, and caregivers can take: "The safest place for a small child on an airplane is in an approved child safety seat, not on an adult’s lap."

Choosing and installing the right safety seat can seem challenging, so the FAA has developed a new website and online toolkit for air travelers. Because not all safety seats are suitable for use in an aircraft, the site offers information about FAA-approved safety devices for traveling with kids. It also features a video demonstrating how to install those devices for maximum safety.

It's really very simple. Our smallest children deserve the same protection as the rest of America's air travelers.

Calli Ann Murray wasn't Al Andres' first grandchild, but she was something special.  To hear him tell it, even her name held a significant meaning.

"The name itself, C-A-L-L-I:  C-A stood for Chinese American, L for created in love, and L-I was her mother Ling's maiden name," Al said. "She was just a joy to be with and enjoyed life so much."

One of 2-year-old Calli's favorite places to visit was Sunrise Park, just a block and a half from her home in Rohnert Park, California.  But on December 1, 2010, a trip to this beloved playground ended in tragedy.

Calli and her mother Ling were heading home from the park after an hour of playtime when they reached an intersection.  As they began to cross hand-in-hand, a young driver texting on her cell phone barreled down the street. 

With her attention on her phone instead of the road, the driver struck Calli and Ling with her car.

When you're preparing to get behind the wheel, do you have a favorite road song selected? When booking travel reservations, do you look for flights on a certain kind of aircraft? Got a favorite train station or transit stop? If you answered “Yes” to any of those questions, then this is your lucky week.

Today is the start of National Transportation Week, an opportunity to celebrate the many modes of transportation we all use to get where we’re going.

We rely on transportation every day, but if you’re looking for a way to celebrate transportation this week, check out the many DOT Facebook and Twitter accounts.

All this week, transportation fans can test their wits on transportation trivia questions or share their favorite transportation moments in American culture.

Our social media accounts will post different interactive transportation-related features each day.  Looking for a way to share your love for all things transportation this week? Look no further than the list below:

• Federal Aviation Administration
      https://www.facebook.com/FAA
      https://twitter.com/#!/FAANews
• Federal Highway Administration
      https://www.facebook.com/pages/Federal-Highway-Administration/175380479155058
• Federal Railroad Administration
      https://www.facebook.com/USDOTFRA
      https://twitter.com/#!/USDOTFRA
• Federal Transit Administration
      https://twitter.com/#!/FTA_DOT
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
      https://www.facebook.com/NHTSA
      https://twitter.com/#!/NHTSAgov
• Research and Innovative Technology Administration
      https://www.facebook.com/DOTRITA
      https://twitter.com/#!/RITA_DOT

A lot of folks don't think about the roads that they drive along, the rails they ride along, or the runways they land on.  But these rails, roads, and runways carry groceries and medical supplies, books and clothing--not to mention passengers--to every corner of our nation. So during this 50th anniversary of National Transportation Week, we're celebrating the critical arteries that keep America moving safely and efficiently.

National Transportation Week evolved through the hard work of Charlotte Jones Woods, who saw the need to educate students about the importance of transportation. As the educational chair of the Women's Transportation Club of Houston (WTCOH) in 1952, she was tasked with giving out a transportation-related scholarship of $500, a scholarship for which no one applied. 

But Mrs. Woods was not discouraged by this lack of interest.  She simply made it her mission to educate Texans about the many opportunities in transportation by dedicating one week a year to it.

In 1962, Congress and President John F. Kennedy recognized the potential value of the Women's Transportation Club's annual event and instituted a National Transportation Week to be held every year in May.

How is DOT marking this special week? By talking about our number one priority. During the next few days, we'll highlight our commitment to ensuring the safety of America’s transportation systems, a commitment we pursue all 52 weeks of the year.

We don't usually post a blog on the weekend, but today is National Train Day, commemorating the May 1869 driving of the golden spike that completed the nation's first transcontinental railroad. To mark this special occasion, let's hear what Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo said at a National Train Day celebration earlier today in Chicago.

First, let me say a hearty "Happy National Train Day!" to everyone involved in US rail and to all the fans of our nation's railroads. 

Rail is thriving in the 21st century. Last year, for example, Amtrak carried more than 30 million passengers, setting its eighth ridership record in nine years.  And, judging by the first half of this fiscal year, it looks like they’re on pace to set another record.

If you've been reading the Secretary's blog, then you also know how hard Amtrak has worked to upgrade its tracks and equipment to improve its service. All of those new passengers are riding passenger rail because they're looking for a transportation option that is safe, reliable, affordable, and convenient. And that's what Amtrak provides.

Flying in an airplane or driving on the highway –that’s transportation. But riding the rails –that’s how you travel.

For the past three years I’ve had the honor of informing the public about DOT’s historic investments in passenger rail. And it seems fitting today to reiterate President Obama’s message that strengthening passenger rail is vital to America’s economic future.

Earlier this week, on Teacher Appreciation Day, I tweeted my thanks to Dr. Kenneth Kolb of Bradley University. Sometimes, however, 140 characters isn't enough. As National Teacher Appreciation Week winds down, I want to emphasize the importance of America's excellent teachers.

Now, many people know that my first job after graduating from college was teaching, so I appreciate the work our nation's educators do each day. But, although I taught social studies and have spent much of my career in government, it might surprise you to learn that Bradley's Dr. Kolb was not my Poli-Sci or Econ professor; he taught me Chemistry.

Dr. Kolb did more than teach Chemistry; semester after semester, he taught students the value of science. And when you take students in a required course and get them excited about pursuing careers in science and technology, that's an important contribution.

Across the country, there are thousands of teachers like Dr. Kolb who are getting America's students excited about pursuing coursework and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics--or STEM. And now more than ever, we need those inspired students. We need them in many different fields, including transportation.

America needs new transportation ideas, and that requires students who know a thing or two about STEM.  To draw up the plans that incorporate those innovative ideas, we need students who know a thing or two about STEM. And, to transform those plans into reality, we need, yes, students who know a thing or two about STEM.

One transportation professional who understands the need to encourage young people to pursue education and work in STEM fields is Captain Mark Kelly. You may recall Captain Kelly as the astronaut who piloted two Space Shuttle missions and commanded another two, including Endeavour's final mission in 2011, just four months after his wife, US Representative Gabby Giffords, was severely injured in an assassination attempt.

Captain Kelly began his academic work at the US Merchant Marine Academy, graduating in 1986 with a BS in Marine Engineering. After a career as a Naval aviator--including flying 39 combat missions in Operation Desert Storm--and before becoming a Shuttle pilot, he also earned a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

Summer is coming, and even if you haven't given it much thought, America's youngest drivers have. 

Across the nation, teens are counting the days until summer break; they're ready for beach trips, more free time, and summer jobs. We just want to make sure they're also ready for safe summer driving.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, summer is the deadliest time of year for teen drivers and their passengers. Seven of the top 10 deadliest days of the year occur between the Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays. An average of 422 teens die in traffic crashes each month during the summer compared to a monthly average of 363 teen deaths during the non-summer months.

That's why, every year, the National Organizations for Youth Safety recognize May as Global Youth Traffic Safety Month.

National Train Day is a few days away, but there's plenty for rail fans and commuters to celebrate today. DOT, Amtrak, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have announced the award of a key contract to begin Phase 1 construction at New York's Moynihan Station.

This facility, sure to become one of America's great train stations, is being built from what was the James Farley U.S. Post Office, which readers may know from its famous inscription:

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."

What could be more appropriate for the eventual home of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, whose trains are already the swiftest in the nation?

I've written before about the excitement of Walk To School days and about National Bike Month. Well, today those two come together in the first-ever National Bike to School Day.

The event is coordinated by the Federal Highway Administration's National Center for Safe Routes to School, and they've done a terrific job because--although it's just the first year--more than 700 schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia are participating.  As Safe Routes director Lauren Marchetti said, "We knew there was support for a spring bike to school day. We couldn’t be more pleased with how many communities and families are coming together to promote biking to school on this one day."

Takoma Park, MD, Safe Routes coordinator Lucy Neher shows students from Piney Branch Elementary the proper way to adjust your bike helmet.

I couldn't agree more. At a time when our kids need more physical activity and we need to reduce vehicle emissions, walking and biking to school help put us on the path to a healthier future.

And when you see the "bike trains" and "walking school buses" as neighborhood kids and parents come together on the way to and from school, it's also clear that walking and biking to school strengthens communities.

That's why the National Center for Safe Routes to School is so important. Through the Center's efforts, more than 12,000 school communities have worked to make bicycling and walking to school safer and more appealing.

NHTSA Administrator David Strickland keeps Washington, DC, kids focused on safety.

Here in Washington, DC, at a multi-school gathering in Lincoln Park, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland reminded a crowd of kids, parents, teachers--and bikes of all shapes and sizes--that despite all of the terrific benefits of biking, the day's most important lesson is safety.

At DOT we are constantly looking for new ways to tell people about safe driving practices. Speeches, videos, and blog posts all play their part in relaying our message of safety, but some of the most effective messages come from outside the department -- from the creative imaginations of children.

Yesterday FMCSA, in conjunction with NHTSA and the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Belt Partnership, announced the winners of the 2012 Annual "Be Ready. Be Buckled." poster contest.

The annual contest is open to children in grades K-6 with relatives in the truck and bus industries. It's a great way for the kids to learn about highway safety. It’s also a great opportunity for them to make a big difference by reminding their friends and family members in the commercial driving industry to buckle up--every trip, every time.

In the two categories--kindergarten through second grade and third through sixth grade--we received a number of terrific entries. 

Sophia Chen, a second grader from Edison, New Jersey, is the grand prize winner of the younger category for the poster above.

In the older category, fifth grader Richard He from Parsippany, New Jersey, won with his entry below.

Yesterday, DOT helped launch a national dialogue on strengthening transportation choices for America’s military veterans, wounded warriors, and their families. This online conversation, “Strengthening Transportation Choices So We Can Serve Those Who Have Served Their Country,” is open until June 8, and we invite those interested in helping veterans and service members to participate by visiting veteransdialogue.ideascale.com.

The benefits Americans enjoy today wouldn't be possible without the courageous service of our nation's veterans. So when they return home, we must turn our sincere appreciation of the men and women who bravely protect and defend the United States of America into action. We must help them and their families find meaningful work, a good education, and quality medical care—none of which is possible without access to reliable, affordable transportation.

That's why the Federal Coordinating Council on Access and Mobility and the Department of Defense are sponsoring this first-ever online exchange of ideas about the transportation options veterans need and how we can help make those options available to our returning heroes and their families.

Managed by Easter Seals Project ACTION, this dialogue is open to:

• Veterans, service members, and their families
• Military and veteran service organizations
• Transportation providers (public and private)
• Human service providers
• State, city, and county officials delivering services and outreach to veterans
• County offices of Veterans Affairs
• VA hospitals
• Employers
• Colleges and universities

As Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff said, “We are thrilled to support a national conversation that will, for the first time, enable veterans and service members to engage in a frank and creative exchange about their transportation needs with a wide range of organizations that can ultimately deliver solutions.”

Just a couple of weeks ago, we all marveled as the space shuttle Discovery circled the Washington, DC, region before arriving at the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. There, the shuttle will be celebrated by millions of visitors for the technological milestones it set and for the important service it provided.

Today, the DC area was visited by another winged celebrity, the 787 Dreamliner, which landed for the first time at Reagan National Airport.

Photo courtesy www.arlnow.com

And, just as the Discovery once did, the Dreamliner 787 ushers in the future, having already won the Collier Trophy awarded by the National Aeronautic Association in recognition of the greatest achievement in Aeronautics or Astronautics in America.

The 787 is a medium-size, commercial airplane and is the world's first major airliner to use composite materials for most of its construction. That construction--plus advanced engine technology--means the Dreamliner will be 20 percent more fuel-efficient than existing aircraft of comparable size and service.

It will also produce less noise and incorporate many capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration's NextGen air transportation system.

As FAA Administrator Michael Huerta said, "The Dreamliner is an incredible technological achievement—one that sets a new standard for innovation on many levels."

But what really makes the 787 so special is what it says about America. This plane reflects decades of creativity, innovation and hard work. It’s a tribute to our technical know-how. Most of all, it continues our tradition of dreaming big dreams and building great things.

One of history’s greatest military strategists, Napoleon Bonaparte, once famously said that an army marches on its stomach, referring to critical role supplies play in determining success on the battlefield.  Much has changed since then, but that statement remains as true as ever, as soldiers rely on supply chains to provide critical access to food, boots, equipment, and ammunition.  During World War II, for example, the US shipped a total of 132,119,533 tons of cargo to the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.

Since 1950, the role of supplying our troops has been managed by the Maritime Administration, a part of the Department of Transportation.  Their Ready Reserve Force (RRF), Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement (VISA) and Maritime Security Program (MSP) give the Defense Department reliable access to commercial sealift and other vessels needed to equip US forces in times of war and other emergencies. These three sealift readiness programs guarantee that our military gets the support it needs to meet America's security requirements.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, the US Merchant Marine was called upon once again to transport cargo to support America's military.  And commercial carriers and their crews got the job done, transporting more than 31 million tons of cargo to sustain these two operations.

And now, they're bringing it home.

Today, the Ocean Crescent, a lift-on/lift-off heavy vessel operated by Patriot Shipping LLC will return to Beaumont, TX, marking the return of the final Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle from Iraq.

The Ocean Crescent and its crew have provided valuable support to American forces in Iraq. And now that this task is over, this commercial vessel and its crew will return their attention to another important mission: carrying the increasing volume of American goods expected under President Obama's National Export Initiative.

Today is a big day for public transit and energy innovation in Western Massachusetts as Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff joins Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Congressmen John Olver and James McGovern for the opening of the John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield.

This is no ordinary bus depot. It's what we call an intermodal hub because it was designed to offer people access to several different options and connections for getting where they need to go--all in one place.

The center will serve as bus terminal for the Franklin Regional Transit Authority as well as the region's inter-city bus service. In addition, it will be served by all private transit providers serving the region and all regional paratransit service for riders with disabilities.  Taxi and bicycle access have also been incorporated into the state-of-the-art center.

And, when upgrades on Amtrak's Vermonter line are complete and inter-city rail service once again connects Greenfield with the rest of New England, the Olver Center will also feature a passenger rail platform.

The new center is built in the heart of downtown Greenfield. It returns the idle site of a former auto dealership to productive use and supports the region's economic development goals.

From tracks and cross ties to rail cars and new stations, DOT is committed to making sure that America’s revived inter-city passenger rail network gets built with American hands.

And this morning, at the Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Forum in Kansas City, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo spoke about the importance of bringing rail equipment manufacturers and suppliers together so we can make these parts in America, too--helping support even more American jobs.

The forum was held by the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a Department of Commerce partnership with DOT to help develop a robust domestic supply base to support our nation’s transportation infrastructure. It was a terrific opportunity to connect manufacturers of passenger rail and locomotives with potential suppliers so we can foster an all-American rail supply chain that produces quality goods and puts our friends and neighbors back to work.

It follows on the heels of our recent announcement inviting manufacturers across the country to submit bids to produce the first American-made, standardized passenger rail cars.

FRA Administrator Szabo at the Kansas City MEP Forum

While America waits for Congress to pass a comprehensive, long-term transportation plan, DOT and the Federal Highway Administration continue to help communities stretch the value of scarce local and state resources with our Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program.

The TIFIA program provides credit assistance in the form of direct loans, loan guarantees, and standby lines of credit to finance transportation projects of national and regional significance. States and local governments use the TIFIA assistance to get even more bang for their buck, leveraging the initial funds to secure access to capital markets, flexible repayment terms, and lower interest rates. Each dollar of Federal funds can provide up to $10 in TIFIA credit assistance and leverage $30 in transportation infrastructure investment.

And last week, DOT invited five projects to apply for valuable TIFIA support:

• Port of Long Beach, CA, Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement adding capacity to the congested main link between the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, which combine to form the largest port complex in the United States, accommodating 40 percent of the nation’s containerized cargo.
• Riverside County, CA, SR 91 Improvements to extend two tolled Express Lanes and construct one general purpose lane on an eight-mile segment where more than 280,000 vehicles per day use SR-91, and traffic volume is expected to increase by 50 percent by 2035.
• Colorado, US 36 Managed Lanes and Bus Rapid Transit to address the needs of the Denver metropolitan region, manage traffic capacity, and provide congestion-free, multimodal travel alternatives.
• Tarrant County, TX, Interstate 35W Improvements including managed toll lanes and upgrades to existing lanes and frontage roads expected to support new investment and private sector growth in Fort Worth.
• Northern Virginia, Interstate 95 Lane Development, an HOV-to-HOT lanes project designed to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions in northern Virginia on the I-95 corridor, where travelers now experience significant daily delays

These projects were selected from 26 letters of interest seeking more than $13 billion in assistance.

The Real World Design Challenge team of six students from Baldwin High School in Baldwin, KS, was selected last month as the national winner of the annual Real World Design Challenge, sponsored by our Federal Aviation Administration.

The Baldwin students won for designing a light sport aircraft that maximizes fuel efficiency even as it enhances performance.

From left, freshman Quint Heinecke and juniors Abby Clem, Austin Kraus, Kaitlyn Barnes, Mackenzie Johnson and
Carrie Deitz; photo courtesy Elvyn Jones, Baldwin City News

The awards were presented April 21 at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Students from Commonwealth Connections Academy in Pennsylvania earned second place honors, and third place went to Rancho High School from Las Vegas.

The winning aircraft was designed by Team Baldwin to accommodate two team members for a flight from Kitty Hawk, NC, to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, at a minimum cruising altitude of 1,000 feet. The team's choice of coordinates was not random: Kitty Hawk is, of course, the site of Orville and Wilbur Wright's historic first flight in 1903, and Dayton is the site of the brothers' bicycle shop, home base for their earliest explorations in aviation.

For today's aviation pioneers from Baldwin, this is the second first-place victory in three years. The team won the national championship in 2010 and placed third in 2011. And I suspect we'll see more innovative design work from the school next year.

You don't have to have a Ph.D. to know that effective planning requires a reasonable amount of certainty. And on Monday, when I was talking to students at Western Illinois University about the need for a clearer picture of the future so transportation planners can design solutions, I saw a lot of heads nodding up and down.

Photo courtesy Western Illinois University

For the transportation community, this is the season. Relief from winter weather has arrived, and under normal circumstances, orange barrels and work zone signs begin popping up on road construction sites across the country. 

Our friends and neighbors who work in construction are hard at it, improving America's transportation infrastructure so commuters can get to jobs and school more safely and effectively; so the goods that travel our nation's roads, rails, and waterways can get to markets; so the economy we've worked so hard to restore during the last few years can continue to grow.

But those transportation improvement projects--the ones that make our daily travel easier and that prepare America for a strong economic future--they require planning. And, as the audience at Western Illinois University seemed to understand, transportation planning at the local and state level requires some idea of a long-term national plan.

Two of the greatest leaders that the western part of Illinois claims--Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan--understood this. President Lincoln, whose attention was dominated by the need to hold our Union together, still worked with Congress to get construction started on the Transcontinental Railroad. And 30 years ago, President Reagan, a Republican, worked with a Democratic Congress to ensure a record level of funding for public transit.

Photo courtesy of Western Illinois University

That's the kind of vision we are fortunate enough to have today in the White House, a President who understands exactly how important our transportation system is to the lives we live each day and to the economy that is once again the envy of the world.

And that's the kind of vision we need from Congress. We need comprehensive, long-term transportation legislation. As we head into another busy construction season, our local partners need certainty from the federal government to decide if they can invest in a new road or rail line.

April and National Safe Digging Month may be over, but safety is a year-round responsibility. And since we all depend on underground utility pipelines to carry out daily activities, avoiding accidentally hitting and damaging them by calling 8-1-1 toll-free is everyone’s business.

"811" is the national, toll-free telephone number that should be used by anyone prior to digging. Calling 8-1-1 prompts local utilities companies to send someone to mark locations of underground pipelines and other utilities so they can be avoided during construction, landscaping, and other projects. Everyone from professional excavators to people working and gardening in their backyards should make the call.

For five years, DOT has been sending this safety message: Know what’s below. Call 811 before you dig. Today, our Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is taking another step to get that important message out by launching a new Public Service Announcement (PSA).

Called "Avoid a Grimm situation," the new PSA wraps the 8-1-1 message in an engaging and entertaining package.

We’ve published English and Spanish-language videos on our YouTube page, and PHMSA has made them available for download.

I encourage everyone—the media, state and local governments, pipeline operators, emergency responders and concerned citizens—to view and share these announcements.

It's the first day of May, and that signals the beginning of National Bike Month.

Of course, when I was a kid, every month was bike month. Your bike was how you went everywhere. In those days, we didn't call ourselves bicyclists; we just rode our bikes. But somewhere along the way, things changed among kids as well as adults, and the percentage of Americans bicycling as a form of transportation declined.

Ready to ride with Rep. Earl Blumenauer

Today, I'm happy to be part of a DOT that recognizes the value of bicycling as a transportation option, and I'm proud of the people working hard to make sure that riding a bike is a safe and convenient way to get where you're going or just get some exercise.

Our Federal Highway Administration, for example, just released a report on its Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, a four-year effort required by Congress to construct a network of sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and pedestrian and bicycle trails connecting directly with schools, residences, businesses, recreation areas, transit centers, and other community activity centers. FHWA launched the program in four communities--Columbia, MO; Marin County, CA; Minneapolis, MN; and Sheboygan County, WI--and it has proven to be a great success:

• Over four years, people in these four communities alone walked or bicycled an estimated 32 million miles they would have otherwise driven;
• The communities saw an average increase of 49 percent in the number of bicyclists and a 22 percent increase in the number of pedestrians;
• The percentage of trips taken by bike instead of car increased 36 percent, and those taken on foot increased 14 percent;
• While each pilot community experienced increases in bicycling and walking, fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes held steady or decreased in all of the communities; and
• The pilot communities saved an estimated 7,701 tons of CO₂ in 2010.