NATIONAL NEWS

Huffington Post: Building a Smart Transportation System Means Jobs and Clean Air (Villaraigosa oped)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/antonio-villaraigosa/building-a-smart-transpor_b_472488.html
...I testified to the readiness of our 12 measure R-funded projects, and to the need for federal assistance so we can finish them in 10 years, not 30. This week I will travel to Washington DC to continue building support for sustainable transit, jobs, and the environment with a series of meetings about my 30-10 plan to accelerate the construction of all 12 Measure R transit projects from 30 years to 10 years. We are building momentum, and I believe that our message is being heard.

DC Velocity: U.S. Chamber launches first-ever project to measure transport performance
http://www.dcvelocity.com/articles/20100223chamber_of_commerce_to_measure_transport_performance/
Study by nation's biggest business trade group to quantify performance of nation's infrastructure and analyze impact on U.S. economy.

National Journal: Should TIGER Grants be the Model for a New Surface Transportation Law?
http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2010/02/should-tiger-grants-be-the-mod.php
...Should an expanded version of TIGER discretionary grants be included in the surface transportation reauthorization bill? Should the TIGER program be the basis for replacing or reworking certain existing programs (like Projects of National and Regional Significance) when the surface transportation law is reauthorized? Or could it serve as a model for restructuring the entire law's approach to how the federal government invests in our nation's infrastructure?

STATE NEWS

Courier Journal: Transportation secretary Ray LaHood says bridges project could get new federal grants
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100222/NEWS02/2220337/Transportation+secretary+Ray+LaHood+says+bridges+project+could+get+new+federal+grants
The Ohio River Bridges Project may be able to tap a new $600million round of federal transportation grants and other programs, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Louisville and Southern Indiana leaders on Monday.