NATIONAL NEWS

Fleet Owner: Industry Groups Decry Non-highway Earmarking
http://fleetowner.com/management/news/industry-groups-non-highway-earmarking-0301
Several industry groups are publicly condemning what they claim is the Obama administration’s effort to earmark an ever larger share of highway funds for non-highway projects. They are particularly livid over the administration’s proposal to take $200 million in highway taxes normally distributed to the states and re-direct them into a new  Livable Communities program  unveiled by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) in January.

Stateline: The Not-so-Fast Track for High-Speed Rail
http://www.stateline.org/live/details/story?contentId=463426
...Indeed, many of the projects going forward nationally have seemingly modest goals. The feds designated $31 million for Missouri to use on construction projects – such as expanding bridges and improving road crossings – between St. Louis and Kansas City. The objective? Improve the on-time arrival rate to 85 percent, compared to 16 percent today.  “We’re not out to make an Asian- or European-style system right out of the box,” says Kulat, the FRA spokesman.

DC Streetsblog: Transportation Filibuster Update: Bunning Won’t Yield to Fellow GOPer
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/03/02/transportation-filibuster-update-bunning-wont-yield-to-fellow-goper/
Federal infrastructure funding and many U.S. DOT workers remain in limbo today as Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY) continues his one-man filibuster of legislation extending the 2005 transport law, turning himself into a Democratic target and a poster child for Washington gridlock.  Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) took to the floor of Congress' upper chamber this morning to seek Bunning's consent for a restoration of federal transport law and a one-month extension of unemployment benefits, but the cantankerous Kentuckian would not yield -- even to a fellow Republican.

STATE NEWS

DOT Blog: States meet Recovery Act deadline, obligating 100% of highway stimulus funds
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/03/states-beat-recovery-act-deadline.html
Yesterday, Vice President Biden and I went to Clermont, Florida, to mark a historic milestone: In advance of the ambitious deadline set by Congress, all 50 states have obligated 100% of their Recovery Act highway funds.

Inquirer: Christie's transit nominee opposes gas-tax hike
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/85934427.html
James Simpson, Gov. Christie's nominee for New Jersey transportation commissioner, told legislators yesterday that he would not support a gas-tax increase to rescue the nearly bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund.

Seattle Times: A new public health-care option — smarter transportation planning
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011226980_guest02ayers.html
...How we best do this within the scope of health-care reform requires rigorous policy, psychology and marketing synergies. However, we also need to step outside that frame to realize the prescription we need centers on the nexus of land-use and transportation planning. We need a new kind of public option — one that allows us to live the healthy lifestyles we aspire to by designing our region with health in mind. We all want to live, work and play in safe places with easy access to transportation options, parks and open spaces and the markets, schools and amenities we all use.

Hartford Courant: Report Labels Connecticut Bridges, Highways Substandard
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-transportation-report0302.artmar01,0,24430.story
A new report says that a significant number of Connecticut's highways and bridges are in substandard condition, a finding that Bristol state Rep. Frank Nicastro called "scary."  But Transportation Commissioner Joseph Marie countered that Connecticut actually is in better shape than other New England states, and said that even the bridges that a federal agency ranks as "deficient" aren't actually dangerous.