Government
Transport Topics government and regulatory coverage keeps managers of a highly-regulated industry aware of the policy decisions that can shape their businesses. Covering both the legislative and regulatory aspects of policy-making, at both the state and national levels, the news in this category includes looks at infrastructure, hours of service, emissions rules, funding measures, leadership appointments, and more. Readers can follow what’s happening in Congress, at the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, and in state and local governments.
212 House Members Call for Fix to Highway Trust Fund
In less than two weeks, three dozen House lawmakers have signed a letter urging tax policy authorizers to guarantee the sustainability of the Highway Trust Fund, bringing the total of signatories to 212, according to the office of Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.).
VIDEO: The Impact of Trump Administration Policies on the Trucking Industry
Trucking regulations and the Trump administration’s infrastructure funding plan were among the topics Transport Topics congressional correspondent Eugene Mulero discussed on C-SPAN.
May 31, 2017Analysis: The US Has Forgotten How to Do Infrastructure
The nation once built things fast and cheaply. Now experts are puzzled why costs are higher and projects take longer than in other countries.
Trucking Industry Disputes Revenue Projections for Rhode Island’s Truck-Only Tolling
Rhode Island House Republican minority leader Patricia Morgan and trucking industry leaders are disputing state Department of Transportation revenue projections for the truck-only tolling RhodeWorks program slated to be in place in 2018.
Idaho Receives Federal Emergency Funds to Fix Flood-Damaged Roads
Idaho transportation officials will receive $1.25 million from the Federal Highway Administration to assist in the repair of roads and bridges damaged by recent floods, the federal transportation agency announced this month.
May 30, 2017Consumer Confidence Eases on Economic, Jobs Expectations
Americans this month became less upbeat about the outlook for jobs and business after sentiment reached a 16-year high two months ago in anticipation that Washington lawmakers would help recharge the economy, according to data from the New York-based Conference Board released May 30.
Trudeau Treads Carefully With Trump as NAFTA Clock Ticks
Justin Trudeau really didn’t want to talk about Donald Trump. After three days together at a pair of meetings in Europe, the Canadian prime minister spent a press conference bobbing, weaving and ducking questions from reporters about his U.S. counterpart.
Rail Shippers Group Backs Two for STB, Pushes For Reciprocal Switching
A group of two dozen industrial shippers wrote to President Donald Trump to suggest that he should appoint Patrick Fuchs to the Surface Transportation Board and remove the “acting” title for Chairwoman Ann Begeman.
May 30, 2017Budget Would Spread Tolls
Additional tolls throughout the country and encouraging states to raise revenue to pay for highway projects were key proposals in President Donald Trump’s long-awaited infrastructure plan, detailed in a fiscal 2018 budget request for federal agencies that was released last week.
Editorial: A Start to Budgeting, Not the End
The infrastructure section of President Donald Trump’s budget proposal is highly problematic in that it probably would lead to a sharp increase in tolled highways and bridges, but for now, we are hopeful that this is just an opening-round statement and not the final word on spending and taxes for fiscal 2018.
May 29, 2017