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

A new era in our Federal-aid highway program began last month when President Obama signed the new transportation bill into law. This bipartisan bill is going to strengthen our transportation system and grow our economy.  It’s going to put people to work doing the work America needs done – repairing our roads and bridges.

For our state and local partners, it provides two years of steady funding and the certainty they need to invest in critical road and bridge projects.

The new law also contains a number of provisions designed to shorten project delivery, provisions that complement – and in many cases mirror – the strategies our Federal Highway Administration has been championing through the Every Day Counts initiative.

Thanks to Every Day Counts, this bridge on I-15 in West Mesquite, Nevada, was assembled and slid into place in 56 hours.

The transportation community and Congress had long been concerned about the pace of project delivery and the need to deliver transportation benefits sooner while still protecting the environment.  Moving projects more quickly to construction is also critical to putting people to work faster.

But beyond a desire to accelerate projects, no one seemed to have a good plan for doing it. Then, in 2010, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez launched Every Day Counts. Since then, the FHWA has worked with our state, local and private sector partners to implement a number of strategies that are making a real difference.

From design-build to Safety Edge to prefabricated bridge elements, Every Day Counts has been a tremendous success in states across the nation.

A strong maritime industry is essential for a prosperous and safe America. Our merchant mariners ensure reliable transport of essential cargo and goods. And when duty calls, their vessels do not shy away from danger.

To train and prepare the next generation of merchant mariners the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, NY, combines an excellent academic program, a dedicated staff and faculty, and the best and brightest young students from across the nation.

And yesterday I had the privilege of presiding over the installation of the Academy's next Superintendent, Dr. James Helis.  It was an inspiring ceremony to participate in, with midshipmen lined up to greet their new leader. 

Dr. Helis (center) receiving the rank of Rear Admiral from his son Ian (left), who is a plebe candidate
at the Academy, and his son Corbin (right), who attended West Point.

This is an important moment for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, the dawn of a promising new era for this storied institution. We have already made headway modernizing Kings Point. We also have a new strategic plan that will help the Academy achieve even greater success in the future. And we have a keen, well-prepared Superintendent who can take that plan and put it into action.

Here in Washington, Union Station is the gateway to the city.  From this multimodal hub, locals and visitors alike are connected to our nation's capital and to the rest of the country by Metro, Amtrak, and local and interstate buses.  In fact, it was just a year ago that DOT helped improve safety and convenience for intercity bus passengers by consolidating pickups at Union Station.

But the station, which was designed in 1907, has struggled to keep pace with modern demands.  With over 100,000 daily rail and transit trips, the station is already operating beyond its current capacity.  And with projections showing that Amtrak and commuter rail ridership at the station could more than double in the next fifteen years alone, it's only set to get busier.

Deputy Secretary Porcari at the unveiling of the Union Station Master Plan.

That's why Deputy Secretary John Porcari joined Amtrak representatives and D.C. officials last week for the unveiling of a master plan that will transform Union Station into a 21st century transportation hub worthy of a 21st century city.

The Washington Union Station Master Plan was created by bringing together diverse stakeholders at the local and national level who were tasked with envisioning a facility that could accommodate three times as many passengers and twice as many trains while still preserving the station's historic architectural design.  The resulting plan lays the groundwork for a reimagined station that will increase capacity to accommodate future rail expansion, deliver the highest quality passenger experience, and help support local and regional economic growth.

Interior view of the proposed train shed at Union Station.

Friday, July 27, marked the 59th Anniversary of the Korean War Armistice, and at Arlington National Cemetery, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta commemorated the proud service of America's armed forces.

U.S. Army veteran Andres Vergara, 90, of Clearwater, Florida, salutes during the commemoration.

The Korean War was the first test of the United Nations’ resolve to stand against tyranny. The United States and 21 other nations joined South Korea in a remarkable display of solidarity to keep North Korea from sweeping down the Korean Peninsula. The Armistice signed in 1953--that remains in effect today--reminds us that we must remain ever vigilant.

Part of remaining vigilant is maintaining a well-equipped and well-trained U.S. Merchant Marine. During the Korean War, our merchant marine transported 75 percent of the men and women who served and 90 percent of our armed forces' supplies, including food and ammunition.

Merchant marine ships also helped nearly 100,000 refugees escape the oppression of North Korea in the Hungnam evacuation. And last Thursday, Maritime Administrator David Matsuda introduced to a group of Korean War veterans a documentary film, Ship Of Miracles, that tells the terrific story of the S.S. Meredith Victory, a merchant marine vessel that delivered a true Christmas Day miracle in 1950.

As I’ve mentioned before, DOT’s commitment to investing in our ports is a key part of President Obama’s initiative to double our national exports.

In keeping with that commitment, the Administration announced last week that it is expediting review of seven nationally and regionally significant infrastructure projects to help modernize and expand five major American ports –Jacksonville, Miami, Savannah, New York / New Jersey, and Charleston.

In March, the President issued an Executive Order to make the permitting and review process for infrastructure projects more efficient and effective. This will save time while generating good outcomes--like jobs and economic activity--for local communities.

As the President said, “Today’s commitment to move these port projects forward faster will help drive job growth and strengthen the economy.”

The seven projects in last week's announcement are the first in a set of 43 projects that will be expedited by the Executive Order, with additional projects to be announced in the coming weeks. Because they create jobs and keep goods moving freely and efficiently, these port projects will be crucial economic engines for the entire Eastern seaboard. In fact, with the widened Panama Canal opening in 2014 to much larger ships, preparing U.S. ports for these Post-Panamax vessels is absolutely essential to the economic activity our ports support.

One of the ways DOT is advancing President Obama's vision of an America built to last is by putting safety first. We are working around the clock to make sure that passengers have transportation options that are not only efficient and affordable, but--above all--safe.

That’s why yesterday, I was pleased to join Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff in Miami to highlight our new transit safety mission.

You see, for the first time, the new two-year transportation bill passed by Congress, MAP-21, gives the FTA the authority to require basic, common-sense safety standards across our nation’s transit systems.  It also provides $2.1 billion to rebuild and revitalize our nation’s aging bus and rail transit systems around the country.

Before MAP-21, transit riders depended on a patchwork of local and state safety rules that changed from one system to another. Because of this, safety standards vary widely. But, to maintain a safe and efficient network of transit systems, we need to make sure the highest safety standards are in place--across the nation.

The Obama Administration has been trying to close the transit safety gap since 2009. In December of that year I submitted to Congress a proposal to establish and enforce minimum federal safety standards for rail transit systems. And we've been fighting to secure this authority ever since.

Public transit is one of the safest ways to travel, and the FTA's new safety oversight authority will help ensure an even safer commute for the passengers who use our subways, streetcars, buses, and light rail systems to go about their daily lives

Small businesses employ more than half of our private sector workers, and during the past 17 years, small businesses have created 65 percent of the new jobs in this country. It's clear that America's economic health depends on the strength of its small businesses.

So today at DOT, our Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization is hosting a Small Business Day. The 300 small businesses attending will have the opportunity to meet with DOT Small Business Specialists, other federal OSDBU offices, and state and local transportation agency representatives. They will also learn about new developments in the DOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. And they can talk with more than 40 prime contractors to learn about potential procurement and partnership opportunities.

Deputy Secretary Porcari at Small Business Day.

Since President Obama came into office, DOT has worked very hard to make sure small businesses have a fair shot, and we have developed several initiatives to help small business owners achieve success, create jobs, and strengthen our economy:

• The Bonding Education Program gives small businesses expert guidance to help them qualify for the commercial financing they’ll need to win major infrastructure projects.
• DOT’s new Mentor-Protégé Pilot Program teams budding entrepreneurs with successful contractors who can show them the ropes.
• Our Short Term Lending Program helps small businesses gain access to short term working capital they need to complete transportation projects.
• And our Disadvantaged Business Enterprises task force is made up of leaders from across DOT, who meet regularly to ensure that this program is as effective as it can be.

While we need to continue to invest in the new transportation projects that will help our economy grow, we also need to make sure we protect, preserve, and rebuild the transportation system we already have. That is why President Obama has long advocated for making the cost-effective, job-creating investments we need to keep our public transportation safe and reliable.

That's also why the Federal Transit Administration's State Of Good Repair and Bus Livability grants announced yesterday are so important. The $787 million we awarded will go a long way toward helping transit agencies across the nation modernize and repair their buses and related facilities to bring these systems into a state of good repair. In nearly every state in the country, we're supporting good projects that will put men and women to work improving the public transportation systems so many people rely on to reach their jobs and schools every day.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff was in Hoboken, NJ, to announce that $73.4 million will help New Jersey Transit replace aging buses whose long service history--more than 500,000 miles per bus--is leading to significant maintenance costs and repair delays. The new Compressed Natural Gas and Hybrid Cruisers that NJ Transit purchases will not only be more reliable, but will also reduce emissions and save on fuel costs.

In Baltimore, I had the pleasure of announcing a $40 million State Of Good Repair grant to the Maryland Department of Transportation. MDOT will replace Baltimore's 65-year-old Kirk bus facility with new, environmentally sustainable facilities that will make it easier and more cost-effective to manage all the buses that serve Greater Baltimore. This project will create good local construction jobs in Northeast Baltimore, and it will help more than 350 local Maryland Transit Authority employees do an even better job maintaining a growing fleet of energy-efficient buses.

Cross-posted courtesy of Transportation Nation

Last week Transportation Nation readers sent me a number of great questions to answer in my latest "On the Go" video. Today, I'd like to return the favor by answering one or two more questions right here on www.transportationnation.org.

Greg asked: "How can DOT give Americans more transit, walking, and biking options when the vast majority of the money will just be passed to state DOTs to buy more highways?"

Well, Greg, as I acknowledged in "On the Go," readers of Transportation Nation may not be happy with every part of the new transportation bill, MAP-21. But at DOT, we aren't about to stop moving American transportation forward.

The new bill actually increases the portion of funding going to transit. It broadens the New Starts program to include projects that expand capacity on existing transit lines, and that's a great opportunity for cities with legacy systems. It also provides a big bump to our transit State Of Good Repair program.

And, although highway formula funding is passed to the states, states can still use some of those funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects and other activities that improve air quality and relieve congestion. It's true that MAP-21 permits the states to redirect Transportation Alternatives funding for purposes other than active transportation, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will.

If accessibility advocates and biking and walking advocates make their voices heard in their state capitols and in their county and city councils, there's no reason to believe that the tremendous progress we've made in the last three years can't continue.

Tanya asked, "What's your favorite transit line? What city works the best?"

I don't know if Tanya is testing me here or not, but I've already been asked to pick my favorite Olympic sport, and I am not about to pick a favorite transit line or city and arouse the disappointment of every other community in America.

I will say that our nation's transit agencies are doing a great job of moving people where they need to go as safely and reliably as they can. Whether it's by bus, light rail, commuter rail, subway, paratransit, or streetcar, Americans are taking more than 10 billion transit rides each year. And the American Public Transportation Association recently reported that the first quarter of 2012 was the fifth consecutive quarter of ridership growth. As our economy continues to recover, those numbers are only going to increase even more. So my favorite transit line is any one that helps people get where they need to go.

I'm also pleased that MAP-21 gives the Federal Transit Administration a safety oversight role for the first time. We worked with Congress for more than two years to secure that authority, and I know the folks at FTA will hit the ground running in their new mission.

Okay, that's it from here. Thanks again to Transportation Nation and its readers. I appreciate your interest, and I encourage you to stay engaged.

As readers of this blog know, safety is DOT's number one priority, but we're also working hard to make sure that Americans have access to the transportation options they need to get where they're going. Today, we’re excited to announce a significant round of funding from the Federal Transit Administration that will achieve both of those important goals.

Through the FTA’s State of Good Repair and Bus Livability programs, we’re providing a total of $787 million dollars to support 255 different projects in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For the third year in a row, FTA is providing funds to help transit agencies around the country build, repair, and modernize their transit systems.

These are projects that will make a real difference in people’s lives. We’re replacing old buses with new technology that will reduce fuel and maintenance costs. And we’re improving access to transportation by renovating outdated facilities.

Each of these grants makes transit a safer, more efficient, and more reliable travel option.

As FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff said, “Since Day One, this Administration has been focused on addressing the maintenance backlog of our nation’s transit systems, and this is another down-payment on that effort."

Now is a great time to talk about our investments in America's transportation network. Congress has passed--and the President has signed--a new transportation bill. We recently selected 47 good projects for our fourth round of TIGER awards. And just yesterday, as part of his We Can't Wait initiative, President Obama announced that the Administration will expedite seven projects to upgrade five key ports.

Also yesterday, I spoke with members of the Northeast Corridor Commission (NECC) about the importance of this Administration's investments in high-speed passenger rail. My message to them was simple: High-speed rail is the next generation of transportation. And it has come to America.

The NECC meeting is the first time that we’ve had DOT, Amtrak and representatives from every state in the corridor at the same table, planning for the future of this region. This partnership represents our commitment to a unified vision for the Northeast Corridor—and that vision includes speed.

The Northeast Corridor is in a unique position for the growth of high speed rail. Home to one in seven Americans, the region is densely populated with an established rail market. It's an ideal candidate for further high-speed rail development.

Amtrak has already set the pace with upgrades and a bold willingness to push the envelope. And at DOT, we’re doing our part. We've made a down payment of more than $3 billion to make trains even faster in the Northeast Corridor and to improve service reliability and cut travel times. 

But our work in the Northeast Corridor is just the beginning.  As significant as the Northeast Corridor's rail improvements are--and they are significant--American high-speed rail is a vibrant effort that is moving forward from coast to coast.

If you read my blog yesterday, then you already know about the Midwest's progress toward higher speed rail and the economic investment and jobs that work is generating.

And earlier in the week, Deputy Secretary John Porcari was in San Francisco as Governor Jerry Brown signed a funding bill that will set California's high-speed rail line in motion.

When we talk about high-speed passenger rail, there's a lot of excitement about the Northeast Corridor and California. But President Obama's vision for American high-speed rail encompasses several corridors across America, and the Midwest is doing a terrific job of staking its own claim as a passenger rail market built for speed.

On Tuesday, Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo was in Milwaukee, and his message was clear: The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative is not something we can afford to set aside for later.

Administrator Szabo and I have said many times that no economy can grow faster than its transportation network can carry it, and that applies to Milwaukee, Chicago, and the Midwest's 40 largest cities. The region’s highways are already the second-most congested in the country, costing more than $10 billion a year in lost economic productivity. And the population is expected to grow 30 percent by 2050.

As Administrator Szabo said, "We can act now, or we can be slowed down by population growth later. And right now, the most common-sense path forward is to optimize the most cost effective, least oil-reliant, and most environmentally-friendly mode of transportation –the Midwest’s rail network."

With a federal investment of more than $2.5 billion, this Administration is acting now. Earlier this year, for example, Amtrak introduced 110 miles-per-hour service on an 80-mile stretch between Porter, Indiana, and Kalamazoo, Michigan. These are now America’s fastest trains outside of the Northeast Corridor.

But those 80 miles are just the start.

With construction under way on road, bridge, transit, and other transportation projects all across the country, summer is always a busy here at DOT.  But with a new transportation bill, the fourth round of TIGER grants, and new safety oversight at the Federal Transit Administration, it's been an especially exciting time.

So, I've got a lot to talk about in the latest episode of my "On the Go" series. And I want to thank the readers at Transportation Nation who sent in so many great questions this month.

Click play below to hear about the new transportation bill, high-speed rail on the Northeast Corridor, and even the upcoming Summer Olympics!

Want to have your question answered?  You can:

• Post on my Facebook page,
• Tweet me using the #q4ray hashtag, or
• Leave a comment here on the blog.

Thanks for tuning in, and keep sending in your feedback.  You never know when you might find yourself featured in an upcoming episode of "On the Go."

This summer marks the fourth year of the government-wide Feds Feed Families program. This 40-agency effort supports food banks in the national capital region and around the country with donations from federal employees.

During the first three years, Feds Feed Families collected more than 8 million pounds of food, with last year's contributions alone totaling more than 5.7 million pounds. This year, the theme is "Beat your best," and at DOT that's exactly what we hope to do.

Although many Americans give generously to food banks during the fall and winter, there is also a strong need during the summer. In particular, food banks are often asked to fill the gap left by seasonal school closings.  Since many children receive free and reduced price meals at their schools, summer vacation adds to the challenges struggling families face.

Here in Washington, DC, the Capital Area Food Bank receives our federal donations and distributes them through their network of over 700 partner agencies. In DC alone, more than 70 percent of school-age children receive free or reduced price meals in their schools. In the larger national capital region, we're still talking about nearly 40 percent of local children. That's the need our federal employees are trying to meet.

And DOT is proud to be doing its part. Last year, the public servants of this Department contributed more than 54,000 pounds of food. This year, we've set our sights higher by 10 percent: 60,000 pounds.

I know we can achieve and surpass that target.

And one of the ways our volunteers try to raise awareness and participation is through the annual DOT Can Contest.

Since early April, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been working hard to protect our nation's most vulnerable passengers--young children--from the dangers of heatstroke.

Heatstroke is the leading cause of non-crash, vehicle related deaths for children under the age of 14, with at least 33 fatalities reported in 2011 alone. NHTSA's first-ever national campaign to prevent child heatstroke in cars seeks to save lives and spare America's families the heartache of a tragic loss.

As part of this nationwide effort, NHTSA Administrator David Strickland is in Raleigh, North Carolina today bringing this important safety campaign to the Wake Tech Public Safety Education campus, an innovative facility that trains fire and rescue personnel, EMS technicians, and others.

Safety is DOT's highest priority, and the safety of children is a special area of concern for this agency and this administration. So last year NHTSA intensified its involvement with a first-of-its-kind heatstroke roundtable and a series of town hall discussions in the states worst hit by heatstroke fatalities.

This year NHTSA is delivering on its promise to bring safety advocates, industry experts, and health and law enforcement professionals together for its public education campaign: "Where's baby? Look Before You Lock."

So far this summer, NHTSA has visited Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana to raise awareness of the threat heatstroke presents.

At DOT, we know that by making our infrastructure smarter and greener, we can give our environment a break while still keeping the public moving safely, growing our nation's economy, and reducing congestion.

And that commitment to better air quality is not limited to transit and bicycling; it also includes the important work we do on America's roadways.

Today, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez spoke about FHWA’s commitment to providing more sustainable transportation options at the American Council on Renewable Energy’s (ACORE) first ever Transportation and Renewable Energy Industry Forum. And he had plenty to talk about.

For example, the Every Day Counts initiative gives states tools and new technologies for accelerating project construction, so people can see the benefits of new projects sooner. The sooner we can help relieve congestion, the sooner the emissions associated with traffic jams can be eliminated.

One of our biggest success stories for reducing congestion is a technology called Adaptive Signal Control. This approach adjusts traffic signals to actual conditions, instead of having them run on pre-set schedules. By some estimates, national deployment of this technology could cut traffic delays by up to 40 percent, cut fuel consumption by 10 percent for an annual savings of 17 billion gallons, and cut emissions by 22 percent.

In addition, FHWA is also encouraging states to use a technology called Warm Mix Asphalt, which can be placed on the road at lower temperatures than more traditional “hot mix.” What difference does that make? It significantly reduces the amount of energy needed to complete a paving project. 

One of the most promising provisions in MAP-21, the new transportation bill, is that--for the first time--transit passengers in America will travel on a system protected by robust federal safety oversight. This means that when you board a light rail, commuter rail, subway, or bus you will be able to ride with confidence.

At DOT, we have been fighting for this safety measure since 2009, when I first submitted to Congress a proposal to establish and enforce minimum federal safety standards for rail transit systems.

Deputy Secretary John Porcari

We've been working hard every day to ensure the safety of America's airways, roadways, and railways. But the missing piece of our safety efforts has been the authority to regulate safety on the nation’s public transportation systems.

MAP-21 puts the missing piece of that safety puzzle into place. And yesterday, Deputy Secretary John Porcari celebrated our new responsibility at a transit maintenance facility in Hyattsville, Maryland:

“Safety is our highest priority. This legislation takes a long overdue step that will provide Americans with the confidence that the buses, subways, streetcar, and light rail systems they ride every day are the safest in the world.”

View more videos at: http://nbcwashington.com.

An America built to last has to include an efficient and safe network of pipelines that connects communities with the energy they need. 

That’s why DOT has pledged to work with pipeline operators who step up to modernize their pipelines by helping to cut bureaucratic red tape and get shovels in the ground faster. That means jobs for American workers and safer, more efficient pipelines for American communities.

NiSource, Inc. answered the challenge, and last Thursday, Deputy Secretary John Porcari and PHMSA Administrator Cynthia Quarterman traveled to Columbus, Ohio, to see firsthand the work that’s being done. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, who has championed this important work at the local level, was also on hand.

NiSource is investing more than $4 billion dollars to replace 1,000 miles of pipeline--using steel made right here in America.

Spread over six states, this project will not only modernize pipelines in communities across the region; NiSource estimates that it will also add an estimated 8,000 jobs in a region that needs them.

When we can help travelers make easier connections, that's a transportation win. And when we can help customers get to the businesses and services they use more easily, that's an economic win. I'm happy to say that in Normal, Illinois, the terrific new Uptown Station does both.

On Saturday, I joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Normal Mayor Chris Koos, and Amtrak Chairman Tom Carper to dedicate the new center that will serve as a true transportation hub for the city of Normal and an economic engine for the central Illinois region.

When Americans travel, we don't always get to our destination in the same way. Sometimes we drive; sometimes we ride a bus or bicycle; sometimes we fly or walk. And sometimes we combine modes, like by riding a train between cities then taking transit locally to complete our trip.

And when that happens, it's a lot easier if we can make our connections in a single, central hub. Uptown Station does exactly that by gathering inter-city buses, Amtrak rail, transit, and taxis along the primary leg of a major inter-city bicycle and pedestrian trail. The new center--less than four miles from the Central Illinois Regional Airport--also features plenty of parking.

When Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation funding the second phase of Illinois Jobs Now!, I was happy to join him to mark this milestone in state transportation programs.

Illinois Jobs Now! is a bold step forward for a state that understands the safety benefits and economic value of improving transportation infrastructure. And, as the title of the program indicates, Illinois knows that laying the foundation for tomorrow's economy means putting men and women back to work today.

With Governor Quinn; photo courtesy Rich Hein, Sun-Times

From rail to roads to transit, the bill Governor Quinn signed on Tuesday authorizes Illinois to invest $1.6 billion in good projects that create more than 18,000 jobs improving safety and speeding up the flow of goods and people across the Prairie State.

One project that will achieve both of those essential goals is CREATE, a first-of-its-kind partnership among the U.S. Department of Transportation, Illinois, Chicago, Metra commuter rail, Amtrak, and our nation’s freight railroads.

CREATE identified 78 critically needed rail and road improvements in Northeast Illinois. Work in this area will alleviate choke points and delays where freight and passenger rail lines intersect. It will also expand rail capacity in the region.

One of 78 CREATE projects

One of the challenges for ships on the St. Lawrence Seaway is navigating the waterway's changing water levels. And because the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Seaway system supports so many jobs and businesses, we want to eliminate any threat to safe navigation or unnecessary limit to cargo weight.

Now, the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) has announced a new tool that allows Seaway mariners to manage that challenge.

The Draft Information System is an innovative on-board technology that provides real-time information on actual and projected distance between the lowest point of a vessel--its keel--and the Seaway bottom. The system's more precise clearance measurements and the information it provides on nearby depths will give ships transiting the Seaway a greater ability to change course or take other actions for more effective navigation. This will both reduce the potential for vessel groundings and allow ships to carry more cargo by taking better advantage of water levels, bottom depth, and other changing Seaway conditions.

This is an important improvement not only in maritime safety, but also in Seaway productivity.

Currently, the Great Lakes / Seaway system helps support more than 225,000 jobs resulting in $14.1 billion in personal income each year. It also makes possible annual business revenues of $34 billion and carries more than 322 million metric tons of cargo.

As impressive as those 2010 results are, we know we can do even better by increasing the productive navigability of this binational waterway. And that's exactly what the DIS technology will do.

Click here to see a map of vessels currently on the Seaway

This week, the 8th World Congress on High Speed Rail is meeting, and--for the first time ever--it's meeting in the United States. Why now? Because the world's rail manufacturers and operators know that this is an exciting moment to spotlight the progress of high speed rail and improved passenger rail in regions throughout the nation.

Around the world, high-speed rail is not a pipe dream of the distant future. It’s happening right now, and it’s been happening for decades. And thanks to President Obama’s vision, high speed rail is coming to America.

With the country's population expected to increase dramatically in the next 50 years, and our roadways and airways already congested, making it easier and faster to travel between cities is not something we can afford to set aside for later.

Now is the time to put people back to work building a modern transportation network—one that makes our economy strong and gives Americans the options they need. High-speed and higher performing passenger rail are critical to getting the job done.

And DOT is working hard right now to make it happen.

Already, 32 states and the District of Columbia are at work building President Obama’s bold vision for 21st century rail. Our partners are moving forward with 153 high-speed and higher performing passenger rail projects.  This year alone, 45 projects representing nearly $3 billion in federal investment are scheduled to be underway or complete. In fact, 2012 marks the busiest rail construction season to date.

I’ve written before about how veterans have the right skills and training for successful careers in transportation as a result of their service. And at DOT, helping our veterans find work strengthening America’s transportation system is a commitment we are proud to fulfill.

That’s why yesterday, I was proud to join Association of American Railroads (AAR) President and CEO Ed Hamberger and Joining Forces Executive Director Brad Cooper to announce that 500 companies and organizations from America's railroad industry will hire more than 5,000 veterans in 2012.

Participants in this outstanding initiative include freight, inter-city passenger, and commuter railroads, as well as rail supply companies represented by AAR, and I thank them for their commitment to America's heroes.

Hiring experienced military men and women into the railroad industry is not a new practice. For nearly two centuries, rail manufacturers and operators have recognized that our veterans bring a wealth of skills that translate from military service to successful railroad careers.  In fact, 25 percent of the industry’s current workforce has military service.

Yesterday’s renewed commitment from AAR and its members builds on the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative to recognize, honor, and support veterans and military families during their service to our country and throughout their lives.

On May 22, 2011, a catastrophic tornado ripped through the streets of Joplin, Missouri. 161 lives were lost. 7,000 homes were destroyed. And a devastated community was forced to band together and start rebuilding.

But the people of Joplin were not alone. Emergency responders, supplies, and donations poured into the city from across the state--and across the country. President Obama visited the site to comfort the grieving and pledge his Administration's support.

And in the weeks that followed, the Federal Highway Administration stepped up with more than $3 million in emergency relief funds to reimburse Missouri for repairing roads and bridges, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded a $350,000 grant to establish a Habitat for Humanity program to help replenish the city's housing.

A year later, the everyday rhythms of life have returned to Joplin. But much work remains to fully rebuild the city. And yesterday, I traveled to Missouri to remind the people of Joplin that DOT is still their partner in recovery.

I joined Joplin Mayor Melodee Colbert-Kean to announce a $12 million TIGER grant that will construct two highway overpasses above the Kansas City Southern Railway line in Joplin. The project, which is just one of the 47 grants awarded in our latest round of TIGER funding, will help the city's transportation systems recover by improving safety and eliminating delays at the rail crossing.

And, in a community that experienced a jump in unemployment following the tornado, this investment will continue Joplin and Jasper County's recovery by creating jobs and laying down a strong foundation for future economic growth.

President Obama in Joplin following last year's tornado, photo courtesy Kansas City Star

For the past three and a half years, the Obama Administration has remained committed to investing in our maritime ports in order to modernize their infrastructure, keep goods moving freely and efficiently, and create jobs. In fact, for the first time in decades, this President has put maritime transportation on an equal footing with other ways of moving the goods that fuel our economy.

And DOT has demonstrated this commitment through all four rounds of our TIGER program with more than $339 million in grants to support 24 port projects.

One such project is the Port of Oakland, which I had the opportunity to visit with California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday. A $15 million TIGER grant from DOT will help boost rail access and capacity at this leading trade gateway.

That money will go toward laying 6,000 feet of new arrival track, improving access to the port’s new Joint Intermodal Terminal, and building a new manifest yard capable of handling 100 to 150 rail cars each day.

The port is also one of the nation’s designated Strategic Ports, a critical link in supporting our military forces overseas.

Simply put, we are dramatically improving the port to reduce costly freight delays and improve our ability to move goods from train to ship and ship to train.

At the Port of Oakland, photo credit Megan Farmer, San Francisco Chronicle

Every year, commercial aviation contributes $1.3 trillion in total economic activity and accounts for more than five percent of our nation's economic output. It also supports more than 10 million jobs. It is an important engine for economic growth, and at DOT we're doing what we can to ensure that the aviation engine is firing on all cylinders.

That's why I was happy to join Federal Aviation (FAA) Acting Administrator Michael Huerta, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, and San Francisco International Airport Director John Martin in breaking ground on that airport's exciting new air traffic control tower.

I promise you, the new facility at San Francisco International will not be your grandfather's control tower.

This project will put 400 construction workers on the job building a tower that will be more than 30 feet taller than its predecessor and offer an unobstructed, 360-degree view of the airport's operations. It will offer nearly 25 percent more space for air traffic controllers managing San Francisco's busy airspace. And, designed to withstand a magnitude 8.0 earthquake, it will be seismically sturdier than the current tower.

The most advanced development the new tower adds will be the state-of-the-art NextGen air traffic control technology inside. As Acting FAA Administrator Huerta said, “As we modernize the airspace system through NextGen satellite technology, we also have to modernize our facilities."

This will make a safe airfield even safer, and it will also allow the airport to handle takeoffs and landings more efficiently. "What this means for travelers," said Acting Administrator Huerta, "is you are more likely to get to your destination with less delay.”

Moving cement at SFO, photo courtesy San Francisco Sentinel

Friday's vote by the California legislature to move forward with high-speed rail is terrific news for the people of California.  I congratulate the Legislature on taking this action, which will create thousands of jobs and strengthen the California economy.  And I am grateful for the leadership of Governor Jerry Brown, Senate President pro Tem Darrell Steinberg,  House Speaker John Pérez, California High Speed Rail Authority Chair Dan Richards, and the Authority's CEO Jeff Morales.

In the next 20 years, California expects more than 7 million additional residents. But, as the state's residents know all too well, the highways between California cities are already congested, and short-haul takeoff and landing slots at Golden State airports are at a premium.

No economy--whether local, state, or national--can grow faster than its transportation network allows. And a transportation network that stalls the movement of goods and people can cause businesses and markets to relocate elsewhere, bringing widespread economic suffering within a community or state.

That's why California High Speed Rail remains such an important priority for the state's business, labor, and transportation communities.

Californians know they need a new option for inter-city travel, and they know that option is high-speed rail. As the San Francisco Chronicle said, "It is a needed and essential part of the state's future."

The Governor knows it; California’s mayors know it. And now, the State Legislature has signaled that they know it, too.

Last Friday afternoon, President Obama signed legislation that will put thousands of construction workers on jobsites across the country and supports our commitment to restoring America's infrastructure.

This transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21), will sustain our Highway Trust Fund and provide states and communities with two years of steady funding to build needed roads, bridges, and transit systems. It also builds on DOT's efforts to improve safety across all forms of transportation and to make progress on transportation alternatives.

Signing the bill; photo courtesy Molly Riley, EPA

It's a good, bipartisan bill that will strengthen America's transportation system and grow our economy. As the President said:

"The construction industry, for example, was hit brutally hard when the housing bubble burst. So it's not enough to just keep construction workers on the job doing projects that were already underway. For months I've been calling on Congress to take half the money we're no longer spending on war and use it to do some nation-building here at home."

Many people are going to go to work as a result of this, building roads and bridges. As Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley noted, in that state alone, more than 10,000 men and women will be on the job thanks to the projects this legislation will support.

Now, of course, we have more hard work ahead of us. We look forward to putting this bill to work quickly and effectively in communities across the nation.

On July 5th, the day after our nation's birthday, 274 bright young men and women began the process of giving our nation the greatest gift any citizen can offer: service.

Every year on the first day of the United States Merchant Marine Academy's INDOC, new plebes complete their registration, are issued their uniforms, receive their first military haircuts, and learn the rudiments of standing in formation. In so doing, these young men and women take the first steps toward becoming Kings Point midshipmen and eventually joining the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Addressing the candidates' first formation

Our merchant mariners play a vital role in our nation's well-being. In peace times, they are a key link in the import and export of U.S. goods and act as transportation leaders.  But these dedicated service men and women are also prepared to defend our country whenever duty calls. In fact, those who make it through their plebe summer will be sworn into the U.S. Naval Reserve on Acceptance Day, and those who graduate will either work in the maritime industry for five years and serve eight years in the U.S. Naval Reserve or serve five years on active-duty in any branch of the armed forces.

Yesterday, under sweltering conditions, the midshipmen who will lead the new students through the summer brought a little heat of their own to the first day of INDOC 2012.

Bringing the heat to INDOC 2012

At DOT, our safety efforts--including our work to end distracted driving--are based on good data and sound science. Collecting accurate and consistent information about crashes is essential to that mission.

Better information from crashes like this one can help us improve road safety for everyone

When all of the states collect the same basic data about crashes, researchers get a much more useful state-by-state and nationwide picture of driver behavior and vehicle safety. And that helps us design more effective safety programs.

One important tool for improving the accuracy and consistency of data for all types of motor vehicle crashes is the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (MMUCC) Guideline, a voluntary set of standards that helps the states decide what information to collect at the scene of a crash. And on Monday, the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) released the 4th edition of the MMUCC, developed with funding from our National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A driver's blood alcohol content is one piece of important information we didn't always collect.

The updated criteria will encourage states to collect more information about distracted driving and other safety threats.

As NHTSA Administrator Strickland said, “Increasing our understanding of the dangers that continue to threaten drivers and passengers traveling on our roadways is essential to improving traffic safety.  The new guidelines will serve as a useful tool for gathering more accurate and consistent crash data on emerging safety issues, including distracted driving.”

When we talk about public transportation, it's all too easy to picture big city subways and wide avenues with bus stops on each block. But for much of our country, transit service can actually be quite different. It means rural service with isolated bus stops or transit vans available by appointment.

No matter how transit looks in your community, DOT wants to make sure you can ride it where you need to go.

So, if you're a veteran who needs reliable access to medical services, a job, or school, we're working to get you there. If you live in a remote town in the mountains and commute miles to work over a narrow, winding road, we're working to get you there. And if you live outside a small town with infrequent county bus service to the nearest grocery store, we're working to get you there, too.

FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff (center) was in Lee County, Florida, to announce VTCLI grants

The unemployment rate for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is more than 12 percent, more than four percentage points above the national average. Yet these same veterans have the skills and real life experience that we need to help rebuild America. Why not remove some of the barriers that stand in the way of their success, including the ability to get to a worksite or job training center?

So yesterday, our Federal Transit Administration took another step forward in transit services for America's heroes with $29 million in grants to improve access to local transportation for veterans and their families, wounded warriors and other military personnel. FTA's Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative supports local governments and transit agencies that want to make it easier for veterans and others to access and schedule rides on available buses, vans, taxis and other transportation systems.

From transit resource centers to smartphone apps, VTCLI grants will help connect veterans and military families with the jobs and training opportunities they deserve and the medical care and other services they need. President Obama has asked that we serve our veterans as well as they’ve served us. Connecting these men and women to services and opportunities is the least we can do.

More than 1000 days ago, the law that guided federal investments in transportation expired. Congress extended that law several times while legislators discussed and debated what would replace it. I'm happy to say that last Friday, 373 Members of the House of Representatives and 74 Senators voted in favor of a new law that will fund federal surface transportation policy through September 2014.

This is a good bill that will create jobs, strengthen our transportation system, and grow our economy.

Transportation moves our economy, so legislation that keeps America's transportation network operating safely and reliably is a national priority. And it's no secret that I have pressed steadily for our legislators to set aside politics and pass a bipartisan bill that puts America first.

So, it is welcome news that Congress has done that.