All posts from the month of July 2010
What does the FREIGHT Act really mean for our freight and ports?
July 23, 2010By Stephen Lee Davis
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| Port of Oakland originally uploaded by ingridtaylar |
There were a few questions bouncing around via Twitter and elsewhere about the new FREIGHT Act introduced yesterday by Senators Lautenberg, Murray and Cantwell. We issued a joint press release with a few other groups, but it’s worth spelling out in plain language some of the benefits of the bill.
For context, it’s worth understanding how freight transportation policy currently works now to understand how much of an improvement this bill would provide.
Today, there is no national freight program or specific national policy. There’s no dedicated federal transportation money that states, regions or ports can spend to improve throughput or operations at ports, intermodal facilities and freight corridors. And among the traditional federal transportation programs, freight rail projects in particular (much like passenger rail) aren’t eligible projects.
So if a port is congested or wants to expand, there’s little available federal money to spend directly on rail or any other mode. Your choices are highways or highways. When a state or port does spend to improve operations, there is no accountability to make sure they’re actually reducing port/freight congestion, moving freight faster, or reducing air pollution in surrounding communities — a significant issue of environmental justice.
Under this new bill, there would finally be a coordinated national policy for freight and ports across the country, and for the first time public health and air quality surrounding freight hubs and facilities become strong criteria for awarding dollars.
No matter what ports decide to spend money on to improve their operations, they’d have to consider air quality, greenhouse gas reductions, and noise and water pollution in the surrounding communities with future federal investments. On top of that, there would be a merit-based grant program for projects that do the best job of improving freight operations while using money most effectively and hitting the benchmarks laid out in the bill.
Benchmarks? The goals in the bill set a powerful framework for accountability, spelling out what they money should accomplish, so taxpayers can know that their money is being spent wisely.
- Reduce delays of goods and commodities entering into and out of intermodal connectors that serve international points of entry on an annual basis.
- Increase travel time reliability on major freight corridors that connect major population centers with freight generators and international gateways on an annual basis.
- Reduce by 10 percent the number of freight transportation-related fatalities by 2015.
- Reduce national freight transportation-related carbon dioxide levels by 40 percent by 2030.
- Reduce freight transportation-related air, water, and noise pollution and impacts on ecosystems and communities on an annual basis.
For example, a port in a coastal city in California would have to consider the impacts on the health of those communities surrounding the port. Would investing in more freight rail capacity ease congestion, lower overall emissions, and reduce local air pollution? These are the kinds of questions that would have to be answered.
“A truly multimodal national freight program that is accountable to measurable performance targets and benchmarks is something the U.S. has needed for a long time,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America in our press release.
“We applaud Senator Lautenberg for recognizing that our freight system can move our goods from coast to coast and power the economy while also being part of the solution for many of our most pressing problems: air quality, dangerous emissions, oil dependence, and congestion on our highways and interstates, to name just a few.”
Senators Lautenberg, Murray and Cantwell Introduce Legislation for New Freight Program
July 23, 2010By Transportation for America
The FREIGHT Act of 2010 is a major shift in national transportation policy to support economic growth with targeted investment in efficient, clean, multimodal infrastructure for the movement of goods
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), with co-sponsors Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), today introduced the Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act of 2010 (FREIGHT Act), a landmark bill, leading the charge to transform America’s transportation policy and investment by focusing on the freight network that enables goods and commodities to move about and reach their markets. The FREIGHT Act provides a visionary, comprehensive, systemic approach to infrastructure investment that addresses the nation’s commerce needs while providing a solid foundation that will also help our nation meet its energy, environmental and safety goals. The bill also calls for the creation of a new National Freight Infrastructure Grants initiative – a competitive, merit-based program with broad eligibility for multimodal freight investment designed to focus funds where they will provide the most public benefit.
“Poor planning and underinvestment in our transportation infrastructure has led to increased congestion at our ports, highways, airports, and railways, and increases the cost of doing business. If we want to help U.S. businesses succeed and create new jobs, we need a freight transportation system that works better and can grow with the changing needs of the global economy,” said Senator Lautenberg in his statement.
“The FREIGHT Act is a paradigm shift our CAGTC members have long advocated and represents a bold step toward ensuring our nation’s economic competitiveness in the 21st century,” said Mortimer Downey, CAGTC Chairman, Senior Advisor, Parsons Brinckerhoff and former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation. “For the first time ever, the bill establishes a comprehensive freight policy with outcome-based goals and creates a broad multimodal, competitive freight–specific program to provide the infrastructure necessary to move this country’s commerce and drive the economy.”
The FREIGHT Act of 2010 directs the Department of Transportation (USDOT) to develop and implement two institutional advances that will improve and coordinate policy within the federal government and the states. The first is a National Freight Transportation Strategic Plan to guide and inform goods movement infrastructure investments in future years. In addition, it calls for the creation of an Office of Freight Planning and Development, led by an Assistant Secretary for Freight Planning and Development. The bill instructs USDOT to develop baselines, tools and methods within two years to measure progress.
“A truly multimodal national freight program that is accountable to measurable performance targets and benchmarks is something the U.S. has needed for a long time,” said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. “We applaud Senator Lautenberg for recognizing that our freight system can move our goods from coast to coast and power the economy while also being part of the solution for many of our most pressing problems: air quality, dangerous emissions, oil dependence, and congestion on our highways and interstates, to name just a few.”
In developing the National Freight Transportation Policy, the FREIGHT Act also encourages concurrent improvements in air quality impacts, carbon emissions, energy use and public health and safety by establishing environmental goals to complement goals for reducing delays and improving travel time reliability on freight corridors, at gateways and heavy freight population centers. Similarly, the grant program sets criteria to prioritize projects that improve freight mobility and enhance economic growth, while incentivizing environmental improvements.
“Congress must modernize our outdated freight infrastructure to reduce its harmful environmental and public health impacts,” said Kathryn Phillips, a transportation expert with the Environmental Defense Fund. “This important bill provides a roadmap to target federal investment to create a cleaner, more reliable freight system for the 21st century.”
System performance is emphasized throughout the FREIGHT Act and projects will be judged on benefit-cost analysis. The significant overlap among public and private interests in the freight system is recognized through encouraged planning and cooperation with private sector interests, while the grant program leverages Federal investment by promoting non-Federal contributions to projects.
“The National Freight Infrastructure Investment Grants program proposed in this bill would be an important addition to the federal toolbox. It would help fund exactly the type of multi-modal, multi-jurisdictional, major transportation infrastructure projects that have historically been overlooked by the federal transportation investment process,” said Chuck Baker, CAGTC Member and President of the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association.
The Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors, Environmental Defense Fund and Transportation for America commend Senator Lautenberg and the other co-sponsors of this visionary and strategically important policy. The three organizations have agreed to work together in support of the FREIGHT Act and call upon all in the transportation community to join in support.
About CAGTC
The Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC) is a diverse coalition of more than 60 organizations dedicated to increasing federal investment in America’s intermodal freight infrastructure. In contrast to single mode interests, CAGTC’s main mission is to promote a seamless goods movement transportation system across all modes to enhance capacity and economic growth. www.tradecorridors.org Twitter. Facebook
About EDF
A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Twitter, Read our Way2Go blog, Website: www.edf.org/. Facebook.
About Transportation for America
Transportation for America is a growing, national coalition committed to creating a new national transportation program that will take America to the 21st Century by building a modernized infrastructure and healthy communities where people can live, work, and play. www.t4america.org
About National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association.
The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association is the national trade association organized to serve the needs of railroad contractors, suppliers, and the entire railroad and rail transit construction industry. www.nrcma.org
Today’s Headlines – 7/23/10
July 23, 2010By Transportation for America
New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg introduced legislation to create a national freight policy. (Star-Ledger)
The recession has forced many into work much farther from their homes, a new wave of supercommuters. (MSNBC)
Some American airports could become hubs for other transit options. (USA Today)
Los Angeles is celebrating 20 years of Metro rail. (LA Times)
And, BART officials in the San Francisco Bay Area approved a funding plan to connect to the Oakland Airport. (Chronicle)
Today’s Headlines – 7/22/10
July 22, 2010By Transportation for America
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa may be a little too sympathetic to the cab driver who cut him off on his bike. (Streetsblog)
A new report from the Federal Transit Administration outlines the new for reinvestment in buses, subways and light rail. (Hill)
Ed Rendell, governor of Pennsylvania, continues to make the case for attacking outdated infrastructure in his state and throughout the country. (Inquirer)
Delaying needed repairs has long-term and often hidden costs. (Infrastructurist)
And, America’s suburbs need a plan to accommodate an aging population. (TNR)
Today’s Headlines – 7/21/10
July 21, 2010By Transportation for America
Senate Democrats will soon decide whether and how to proceed with climate legislation. (Politico)
Many Chinese cities are adding bus-only lanes to new roads. (NY Times)
As funding has dried up, many local governments are turning asphalt roads back into gravel. (WSJ)
And, President Obama ordered federal workplaces to cut emissions by seeking greener commutes for employees. (WP)
Today’s Headlines – 7/20/10
July 20, 2010By Transportation for America
The oil well cap in the Gulf remains steady for now. (USA Today)
New York City is looking to make its streets friendlier for older residents. (NY Times)
Fares hikes on New York’s MTA are hitting higher-income riders, once a rarity on the city’s subways. (WSJ)
Cato’s Randal O’Toole again railed against subsidized transit without mentioning subsidized roads. (Yglesias)
And, a new proposal for nationwide broadband access may run into roadblocks over implementation and net neutrality. (Atlantic)
Today’s Headlines – 7/19/10
July 19, 2010By Transportation for America
Chicago’s planning agency released its “Go to 2040″ plan. (NY Times)
A bipartisan duo of elected officials called for expanded infrastructure investment. (Politico)
Secretary Ray LaHood emphasized transportation’s role in public health, and linked to T4 America’s coverage of last week’s Keeping Kids Moving event. (DOT Blog)
Rising congestion on the DC Metro system has also fueled anger at “seat hogs.” (WP)
And, a change in leadership in the Texas Senate could shift transportation policy for the better. (Statesman)
Oil leak is capped, oil addiction still remains
July 16, 2010By Stephen Lee Davis
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| Write to your senators today to tell them to support a climate and energy package that includes clean transportation options and reduces our dependency on dirty oil. |
Exxon Valdez. Love Canal. Cuyahoga River.
These are just a few examples of high-profile environmental disasters that resulted in the swift enactment of landmark environmental laws.
We face a similar choice today.
Today’s news brings great hope that the leak in the Gulf of Mexico is finally capped. But our work is far from done. We still haven’t addressed the root cause behind the spill – the fact that our transportation system consumes 70% of the oil we use, driving us to riskier measures to obtain more oil.
In response to this disaster, leaders in the Senate are hoping to quickly move energy and climate legislation before the upcoming August recess. The bill they construct could be the beginning of the end of our oil dependency, or it could be yet another missed opportunity.
Will we respond to the crisis in the Gulf by starting to free ourselves from oil and finding ways to use less? Or will we resign ourselves to continued dependency and the inevitable risk of future oil spills resulting from that dependency?
This week, Majority Leader Sen. Harry Reid met with key Senate committee leaders to deliver the message that a climate package is past due, and President Obama had a meeting with key senators to discuss the same issue. Sen. Reid plans to bring a bill to the floor in July before the August recess – we have to act now to make sure senators hear our priorities.
It’s time to kick our addiction to oil and we simply can’t do it unless clean transportation is part of the solution. Just a few hours ago, T4 America sent a letter of support to Senator Merkley and 3 other Senators who released a bill yesterday for inclusion in the climate package that would actually address how much oil gets consumed for transportation and put us on a path to use less oil.
That bill, the Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act (S.3601), would help address our dependence on oil by providing Americans with cleaner transportation options. How can we even attempt to solve the climate or energy crises without making substantial steps to use less oil for transportation?
Click through to read the full letter to the four Senators from T4 America
(Continue Reading)
Today’s Headlines – 7/16/10
July 16, 2010By Transportation for America
Obama administration efforts to reverse decades of unsustainable development are far from easy. (Prospect)
Tom Vanderbilt presents readers’ best ideas for making city transportation more efficient. (Slate)
Congress is encouraging more federal workers to telecommute, potentially reducing traffic gridlock in the DC metro area. (AP)
Sidewalks are glorious – and New Jersey could use a few more of them, a columnist laments. (North Jersey)
And, a key Michigan newspaper encouraged the legislature to approve Complete Streets legislation. (Grand Rapids Press)
Helping kids get active and healthy by “keeping them moving”
July 15, 2010By Sean Barry
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| Toks Nashville Originally uploaded by Transportation for America |
| Adetokunbo Omishakin, the Director of Healthy Living Initiatives for the City of Nashville, Tennessee, explained the barriers facing children and parents he met in parts of E. Nashville who want to walk or bike outside — but find their neighborhoods not only lacking sidewalks or bike lanes, but often facing crime that can keep them indoors. |
A healthier transportation system for America’s kids requires change in federal policy. But change will remain out of our grasp absent a sense of urgency from the everyday people on the ground.
The need for a meeting point between policymakers in Washington and citizens in their neighborhoods was evident in today’s roundtable on childhood obesity, titled “Keeping Kids Moving,” sponsored by Transportation for America, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity, The Convergence Partnership and PolicyLink.
We’re facing an epidemic of childhood obesity and poor health, and as a few people pointed out, this could very well be a generation of children who live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents if we don’t act now to change things.
The shape and structure of streets, sidewalks and the ability to safely use them has an enormous impact on whether children become overweight or obese. Kids get more physical activity and lead healthier lives when they can bike and walk to school, play in local parks and reach recreational opportunities with ease. Among American children between the ages of 10 and 17, 32 percent are overweight or obese, and many are at risk for more serious conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Obesity rates are disproportionately high among low-income and minority children.
In search of a solution, many routes invariably lead to transportation policy.
During the panel, several federal officials stressed the need for partnerships that cross departments and jurisdictions, with Roy Kienitz, undersecretary for policy at the Department of Transportation quipping, “transportation is too important to be left to transportation professionals.” Kienitz also emphasized the need for Americans to speak up and utilize the democratic process, noting that “the distance between the top [at DOT] and that sidewalk on your street is vast.”
Chip Johnson, mayor of Hernando, Mississippi, knows just how much of a difference one repair can make. As part of a broader push to repair his town’s streets, Johnson oversaw the pouring of concrete for a new sidewalk right outside his office window. On the old, cracked sidewalk, Johnson used to see a handful of pedestrians every morning, but he saw dozens more walking by once the improvements were completed.
“People want to exercise,” said Johnson, a Republican first elected mayor in 2005, adding that it’s up to officials like him to provide them the chance to do it.
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| keepkidsmoving2 Originally uploaded by Transportation for America |
While people like Undersecretary Kienitz, Special Assistant to the President Martha Coven and others are moving the levers where they can in Washington, local officials like Johnson are stepping up and refusing to wait, behavior encouraged by the federal officials who were present.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean didn’t wait for Washington. He made safe and accessible streets for all users a top priority and hired a director of healthy living initiatives — Adetonkunbo Omishakin, also a panel participant — to help make it happen in Nashville. Child wellness advocate Julia Lopez, herself a teenager, didn’t wait either. Along with being an instigator of change on the ground around her home of southern California, she has traveled the country to bring a youth perspective to the obesity challenge, calling on elected officials to step up and help make healthy transportation the norm, not the exception.
It’s clear that these advocates on the ground and policymakers at the top can meet in the middle to make real change, but it will take continued pressure on Congress from both ends to get the job done.
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- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
February 7, 2012 - T4 coalition announces opposition to House energy and transportation bill
February 6, 2012 - House committee ignores broad opposition, decimates transit funding anyway
February 3, 2012 - Massive letter opposing House leadership attack on transit sent to Capitol Hill
February 3, 2012 - House leadership making unprecedented assault on public transit
February 2, 2012
- Oppose House bill that slashes public transit funding, falls short on repair and axes bike & pedestrian safety
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