White House under fire for unspent stimulus cash, and though contractors are working and hiring now based on payments to come, some are asking those payments to be cancelled. (Wall Street Journal) Fueled by a combination of stimulus money, bond funds and low bids, an almost unprecedented explosion in big-ticket projects is happening across the [...]

Census shows fewer Americans drove to work alone last year.  (New York Times) Americans are taking advantage of the “cash for clunkers” program to trade in their trucks and SUVs  (Detroit Free Press) Arlington (VA) has secured $1.5 million in stimulus funds to buy hybrid buses, upgrading from a diesel-powered fleet.  (Washington Business Journal) Southern [...]

AASHTO’s president says gas taxes need to go up. (Baltimore Sun) Protecting our climate and gaining more energy independence begins, and doesn’t end, with the climate bill making its way through Congress. (Reuters) The speed of spending federal stimulus dollars remains a contentious issue. (USA Today) Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar looks to [...]

In the aftermath of Washington DC’s Metro crash, Time magazine looks America’s aging transit systems. Members of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee argue against looking at immediate transportation reform. (Streetsblog) House Rep. Edward Markey sees the climate bill getting signed before 2010. (National Journal) Driving numbers could be low again for the summer [...]

Paratransit — which is used to provide critical transportation service for people with disabilities — faces severe funding challenges in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune) DC’s Metro tragedy makes clear the need for repair work on America’s aging rail system. (New York Times) Some city officials say the distribution of stimulus funds favors small towns and rural [...]

Elana Schor posted one of the earliest analyses of Oberstar’s transportation bill at Streetsblog DC, pointing out three words that appear quite often in the bill. T4 America gets a mention. (Streetsblog Capitol Hill) Along those lines, Jonathan Maus examines bike provisions and looks at another phrase of interest that pops up in the transportation [...]

By living closer to jobs and school, city dwellers cut down on carbon emissions. (Chicago Sun-Times) Health researchers note that obesity and climate change have many of the same roots — including an auto-dependent lifestyle. (Grist) The unpredictable nature of climate change could have dangerous effects on our transportation system. (ClimateBiz)

The Economist looks ahead at the transportation bill and talks to T4 America Campaign Director James Corless. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asks for an 18-month extension on the current transportation bill, as Rep. James Oberstar releases an outline of a new one. (Wall Street Journal) Streetsblog breaks down Oberstar’s outline. A new study shows that [...]

The U.S. House prepares to release the transportation bill in the coming weeks, but legislators have little consensus how to finance the next six years of projects. (Wall Street Journal) Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) looks to create “transit equity” in the new transportation authorization by adding more balance to the funding formulas for highways and [...]

The Baltimore Sun editorial board calls for a fresh start for our transportation system. Train executives see the link between climate change, energy, and transportation. (CNN) Zipcar founder Robin Chase speaks about ride sharing, transportation costs, and infrastructure. (Infrastructurist) A look at the worst cities for angry drivers. (Reuters)