Capitol Agenda for the Week of June 7: Foxx and Friends
Long lines at airports, whether to privatize air traffic controllers, how to build smarter cities, the safety needs of commercial vehicles — these are among the topics Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is expected to hear from senators when he goes before the Commerce Committee on June 8.
Foxx by Kiyoshi Ota/Bloomberg NewsAfter senators press the secretary on the transportation issues du jour, discussion on DOT’s efforts to secure the swift movement of goods in rural America are likely to come up, aides told Transport Topics.
The Commerce hearing with Foxx is being advertised as a conversation about the implementation of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, of 2015. So an update on multimodal freight connectivity through the new FASTLANE grant program will be in order. Foxx has praised FASTLANE’s potential: “Our nation needs a strong multimodal freight system to both compete in the global economy and meet the needs of consumers and industry. … We now have an opportunity to fund high-impact projects that address key challenges affecting the movement of people and freight.”
There is $4.5 billion authorized for the program through 2020. For fiscal 2016, DOT is making $800 million available. Delaware is among the states vying for FASTLANE funds this year. The transportation peeps in the First State are looking to augment a freight corridor along Interstate 95. FASTLANE recipients will be announced this year.
THE WEEK AHEAD (all times EST):
June 7, 6 p.m.: The American Public Transportation Association hosts a seminar on "Transportation Priorities in Congress” with Senate Commerce staff members Patrick Fuchs and Allison Cullin.
June 8, 2:30 p.m.: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will testify before the Senate Commerce Committee regarding the implementation of the five-year FAST Act highway law. (watch live)
June 9, 10 a.m.: House Highways and Transit Subcommittee hosts experts for a roundtable on the FAST Act’s implementation. Attending will be David Schwietert, executive vice president of Federal and Government Relations and Public Policy, at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; and Joshua Schank, chief innovation officer at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
CLICK IT: If you’re a passenger in a truck, you gotta wear that seat belt starting Aug. 8, federal regulators were to announce June 7 in a final rule.
DRUGS: While more commercial motor vehicle drivers tested positive for marijuana in 2015 than any other drug screened in mandated pre-employment and random tests given by motor carriers, the rate of positive tests for amphetamines continues to climb at a rapid rate. That's according to new numbers reported by the Department of Transportation.
WHAT WE’RE READING:
For The Atlantic’s CityLab, Laura Bliss reminded us of the map we will need for those autonomous vehicles in our not-so-distant future. A futuristic map should come with a hoverboard.
FAVORITE QUOTE
“My enthusiasm to take leave from Stanford University, where I work as a professor of mechanical engineering, and join U.S. DOT was not because of the trendy title. It was instead because I saw a huge challenge and a chance to do my part to help meet it.”
— U.S. DOT’s chief innovation officer, Chris Gerdes, writing for the department’s “Fast Lane” blog June 1.
FAVORITE VIDEO
Enjoy a romantic perspective of road work behind the wheel of a truck, courtesy of Renegade Trucker on YouTube.
FAVORITE TWEET
A few days before his panel hosts Foxx for some FAST Act talk, Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune (R-S.D.) went for a fun run with the fam.
Beautiful SD morning. Hit the trail in Sioux Falls with my daughter and son in law. pic.twitter.com/8QSQ6tXhIf — Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) June 4, 2016
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