Passenger Transport Express - 07/02/2014 (Plain Text Version)NEWS HEADLINESObama to Congress: Highway Trust Fund Fix Essential
President Obama said July 1 that nearly 700,000 jobs are at risk if Congress does not replenish the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). The president said there are more than 100,000 active projects across the country where workers are modernizing our public transit systems, paving roads, and rebuilding bridges. "And soon, states may have to choose which projects to continue and which ones to put the brakes on because they're running out of money," said Obama, speaking at the Key Bridge that links Virginia and Washington, DC. The president called on Congress to make a long-term commitment to investing in America's infrastructure. Obama thanked DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, whom he said had helped craft the administration's plan to fund the HTF. (Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO) Foxx Sends Letters Warning of Highway Trust Fund Shortfall
Secretary Foxx sent letters to state DOTs and agencies outlining steps his department will have to take to manage the impending insolvency of the HTF. Both letters, which are updates of a letter Foxx sent to state officials June 19, outlined DOT's proposed plan while emphasizing the need for Congress to act to avoid such a shortfall. [return to top] MTA Metro-North Railroad Dedicates Grand Central Vestibule to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
MTA Metro-North Railroad officials dedicated Grand Central Terminal's restored main entry vestibule to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis on June 30 to honor the former first lady, who campaigned to save the terminal from destruction in the 1970s. Photo: Marc A. Hermann/MTA New York City Transit (From L to R: APTA to Hold Webinar on FTA's NPRM on Planning
APTA will host a webinar on July 17 at 3:00 p.m. EST to address FTA's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on planning. For the first time, FTA will require agencies and Metropolitan Planning Organizations to import safety, state of good repair, and transit agency management into the planning process, and require them to be performance-based. Sign up for the webinar here. [return to top] SAVE THE DATE
Registration is open for APTA's Transit Board Members & Board Support Seminar July 19-22 in Cleveland. This meeting, open only to board members and commissioners of APTA member transit systems and clerks of the board, offers sessions in such areas as the board member's role in workforce development, strategic planning, succession planning, working with the chief executive, safety oversight, advocacy, labor relations, and more. Sign up now! [return to top] IN THE MEDIA
A proposed streetcar in San Antonio, TX, is expected to bring $1.3 billion in economic benefits to the city. |