We said yesterday that “we need a federal transportation system that works, not the same broken thing at twice the price.” It appears that the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the administration agrees pretty strongly with that sentiment. During a hearing today in front of the transportation panel of U.S. House Appropriations Committee, LaHood made a clear, concise point on linking more funding to accountability and performance measures.

News broke yesterday that the Obama administration is telling Senators that the Highway Trust Fund — that pays for the projects approved in the transportation bill — will go broke by August if an emergency infusion of at least $7 billion isn’t approved. The system is broke, but it’s also broken. We need a federal transportation system that works, not the same broken thing at twice the price.

With revenue for federal transportation falling fast, lawmakers face a major challenges in funding the next transportation bill. (The Hill) The New York Times reviews a new book on how cyclists are altering the landscape of American cities. Southern Florida’s Tri-Rail system faces major cuts and the possibility of being completely shut down by 2011. [...]