Ed Wytkind, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, criticizes former President George W. Bush for neglecting to invest money in the transportation industry. Wytkind praises the Obama administration for doing so (0:40).
Vice President Joe Biden says a 21st century transportation system will create new jobs, help the environment, and stem new technologies. (0:19)
Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Shaun Donovan, explained the need for a housing and transportation affordability index, allowing consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing a house, thus leading to an active and productive marketplace. (0:29)
By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service
To mark Earth Day, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi introduced a plan to paint green the marble columns of the Capitol with energy efficiency and environmental initiatives. She calls it the “Green the Capitol Initiative.”
Pelosi’s plan involves 15 distinct steps to conserve energy and reduce waste, and is aimed specifically at congressional offices. Among Pelosi’s 15 measures are the use of compact florescent light bulbs, recycling used office items, and conserving electricity by powering off lights and computers while not in use. Additionally, Speaker Pelosi is encouraging the use of public transportation and the conservation of basic office supplies.
“The Capitol, which has always served as a beacon of freedom, is now a shining example of sustainability.” Pelosi said. She continued that the House has reduced its carbon emissions by 72 percent recently. She continued that if all Congressional offices adopt this plan, it will result in a savings of $1 million in energy costs and will cut energy consumption in the Capitol by nearly 10 percent.
Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oreg.), who Pelosi called “the main instigator” of the green plan, believes that Congress is setting a good example for the rest of the country. He said, “If we model the behavior we want the rest of America to follow, it has a profound effect.”
Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) said that one of the first things he did when coming into Congress was institute a recycling program in his offices. He grinned at the savings
“Just during the transition from the 110th to 111th Congress, Congress saved over 60,000 pounds of paper. Lujan joked with the Speaker, “I was going to bring an example of that, but I couldn’t forklift it in, just to give an example of what we’ve truly saved.”
Pelosi called it the moral responsibility of Congress. Her office is encouraging all members to adopt these “green” plans. “I think most members of the Congress are doing some of this,” but she could not give exact numbers on who has implemented all of these recommendations. “The Speakers office is doing all of this,” Pelosi said proudly of the recommendations.
President Bush describes some of the ways transportation in the U.S. is “safer, cleaner, and more effective.” (1:15)
President Bush said that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has had an “impressive record” on providing safety to air travelers during his presidency. He called the last seven years of air travel the “safest ever.”
In a speech at the DOT today, Bush singled out Transportation Secretary Mary Peters, saying she has done a “fabulous job” and calling her “a strong leader.” He praised her response to the bridge collapse on Aug. 1, 2007 of Highway I-35 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. According to Bush, Peters led “a swift and effective federal response” to the bridge collapse, and stated that the bridge was reopened “months ahead of schedule.”
The President also declared that this December the government will open military air space to civilian air craft in areas of the East Coast, Midwest, Southwest, and the West Coast. He also said that this holiday season, the government, in an attempt to protect consumers, will increase regulations on airlines. He claimed there would be higher compensation assured to consumers who lost bags on flights, and tougher penalties for airlines that do not reveal hidden fees.
According to Bush, the administration has “taken steps to address the source of most flight delays and cancellations across the country, and that would be the heavy air traffic around New York City.” He said they have accomplished this because they have “improved our traffic control.”
Bush said that it is important to be innovative in improving air travel over the coming years. He said the energy bill he signed last year “will save fuel and cut greenhouse gas emissions by specifying a national fuel economy standard of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.”
Bush advocated that the private sector be the leader in providing advancement. He felt that the government should “provide incentives” to “develop new technologies, invest in our infrastructure, and help make our transportation system worthy of the 21st century.”
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) held a discussion on the effects of climate change on Gulf Coast transportation and the New York City water supply. Michael Savonis, the air quality team leader of the Federal Highway Administration, said that those working in transportation are frequently conservative because of the billions of dollars involved, so considerations of investing in climate change preparation are tentative. But, as transportation infrastructure ages, climate change must be considered in building new roads, bridges, railways, and ports. The effects of climate change in the Gulf Coast area include a rise in average temperature between two and four degrees and a 50 percent increase in days with temperatures over 90 degrees. He said that as a result more than 2400 miles of roadways in the Gulf Coast area are at risk of permanent flooding as well as 75 percent of freight and non-freight port facilities. Because of the increase in heat, asphalt wears faster, train rails buckle more, and aircraft performance decreases. (more…)
At the State Summit on Innovative Transportation Funding and Financing, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters says that the need for federal government authorization for transportation initiatives on the state level is “ridiculous.” She says that she will propose a new program to remove federal restrictions regarding transportation. She adds that federal programs should focus on “things that are truly in the federal interest.”(1:04)
Virginia governor Tim Kaine and Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters spoke at the State Summit on Innovative Transportation Funding and Financing. (more…)
Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) says that the U.S. is going to have to use crude oil for as long as four decades as the transition in transportation occurs to accomodate new fuels. (0:40)
