NATIONAL NEWS

The Hill: Boxer: Jobs bill 'critical' to infrastructure projects
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/81741-boxer-jobs-bill-critical-to-infrastructure-projects
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on Wednesday called the stripped-down jobs bill that the Senate will consider next week "critical" to state and local infrastructure projects, and that she expects a bipartisan vote of approval.

DC Streetsblog: Road and Transit Groups Join Boxer to Push for Senate Jobs Bill
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/02/17/road-and-transit-groups-join-boxer-to-push-for-senate-jobs-bill/
...Despite support from road and transit interests, as well as bipartisan agreement on the need to keep the highway trust fund solvent, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is far from assured of winning 60 votes for his first jobs bill. If the initial measure can squeak through next week, Boxer said senators could soon take up a second jobs bill that includes more infrastructure spending -- potentially in line with the House's $37.3 billion in new investment.

ThomasNet.com: Rethinking Our Approach to Infrastructure
http://news.thomasnet.com/IMT/archives/2010/02/reconsidering-our-approach-to-infrastructure.html
...A coalition of political figures, engineers, manufacturers and other stakeholders is advocating for a National Infrastructure Bank (NIB) to resolve some of these issues. This bank would help bridge governmental and private sector infrastructure development efforts, as well as generating and managing investments for a nationwide infrastructure system.

STATE NEWS

Forbes: Best And Worst Cities For Commuters
http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/12/best-worst-commutes-lifestyle-mass-transit.html?boxes=lifestylechannellighttop
In these areas, urban sprawl and solo drivers are the difference between a hassle-free and a harrowing trek to work.

Baltimore Biz Journal: Report: High-Speed Rail to Trim Car, Airline Travel
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/02/15/daily11.html
President Barack Obama’s pledge of $8 billion for a new high-speed rail system in the U.S. could reduce car travel by 29 million trips and cut the need for about 500,000 airline flights each year, according to a report released Tuesday by two Maryland mass transit advocates.