U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has designated the Northeast Corridor a federally-recognized high-speed rail corridor, clearing the way for these states and Amtrak to apply for federal high-speed rail grant funding. Specifically, this recognition will allow the Northeast Corridor to apply for Florida’s recently rejected $2.4 billion in high-speed rail funding. As CivSource [...]
Ohio may cut more funding identified for major transportation projects. According to new reports that emerged late yesterday, Ohio Governor John Kasich is likely to nix a large streetcar project in Cincinnati. A piece in the Cincinnati Enquirer indicates that Mayor Mark Mallory was told by the Governor that he intends to cancel funding for [...]
Washington will get $590 million in federal funds to improve the Amtrak Cascades rail corridor from Portland to Seattle. Washington was originally awarded the money in early 2010, however, a new agreement was reached yesterday between the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that commits FRA to allocate 2009 [...]
Last Wednesday, Florida Governor Rick Scott turned down nearly $2 billion in federal grants for high speed rail. The Governor cited potential cost overruns and paying down deficits as reasons for his rejection – a decision which made national news and added to the debate on budget and infrastructure issues. The declaration also led Transportation [...]
In an announcement Wednesday, Florida Governor Rick Scott said that he would be returning federal funds for a planned high-speed rail project from Tampa to Orlando. Gov. Scott joins newly-elected governors in Ohio and Wisconsin who have also pledged to kill federal rail projects.
The federal Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration is looking for a few good pilot programs that could help address the nation’s $60+ billion congestion problem. The application deadline for a $10.5 million grant from the Department of Transportation for Value Pricing Pilot (VPP) programs has been extend by two weeks, an announcement [...]
The Governor of Virginia and Norfolk Southern Railway Company have signed an agreement that will work towards returning passenger rail service back to the city of Norfolk for the first time since 1977. This addition will create a round-trip link between Norfolk, Richmond and Washington D.C., passengers will also have the option to continue as [...]
In an announcement last week, officials from IBM and the Cape Cod Commission launched the first phase of an initiative to help manage the area’s physical infrastructure and natural resources through real-time data-sharing and advanced analytics.
An independent audit of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently found multiple issues with the agency’s maintenance, project development and fiscal management practices. In an announcement Tuesday, Governor Bob McDonnell approved an action plan submitted by the agency that includes better use of information technologies and performance measurement. The VDOT action plan is response [...]
According to a statement issued yesterday by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, reported plans to end a high-speed rail project between Milwaukee and Madison will result in millions of rescinded and wasted funds, as well as hundreds of jobs lost in the state. Gov. Doyle’s statements come following public declarations by Governor-elect Scott Walker to end [...]
