New York Times takes an in-depth look at California’s complex plan for high-speed rail… …And talks to DOT Secretary Ray LaHood about helping Americans drive less and creating livable communities. Domestic and international flights dropped by 9.1 percent from March 2008 to March 2009. (Streetsblog SF) Officials in Los Angeles County consider implementing congestion pricing [...]

In our previous post breaking down the T4 America Blueprint, we discussed our national objective of creating an energy efficient transportation system that boosts our economy and helps our nation use less oil. Today, we’re going to look at this issue from a slightly different angle, by explaining just how we plan to achieve this goal — and measure our success — through strong, accountable reforms. It may seem obvious that our federal transportation program should encourage less fuel use. Unfortunately, our existing policies do the exact opposite.

Download our fact sheet on freight (.PDF) The safe and efficient movement of goods across the United States is an absolutely critical aspect of our national economy. While discussions about building a modern transportation network often focus on the need to provide people with better options, an equally important ingredient for broad-based reform is the [...]

The White House agrees to sign a bill intended to improve rail safety — a response to the tragic September 12 crash in California — which also includes more than $12 billion in funding for Amtrak. (Los Angeles Times — Steve Hymon)

The White House plans on approving a bill to provide Amtrak with $13 billion over the next five years, helping the company accommodate the country’s soaring demand for rail travel. (Wall Street Journal — Christopher Conkey)

High gas prices and rising ridership put Amtrak in a favorable position, but Newsweek asserts that getting America’s rail network up to speed might be a “tall order.” (Newsweek — Daniel Stone)