NATIONAL NEWS

DC Streetsblog: Former U.S. DOT Chief on the Worst-Case Scenario: 4 Years of Extensions
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/04/19/former-u-s-dot-chief/
To a certain extent, hope springs eternal in federal transportation circles. Even as state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations operate under the latest in a series of extensions of the 2005 law that governs road, transit, and bike-ped spending, few are willing to envision a future in which new legislation doesn't pass by next year.

Transport Politic: Is the U.S. Ready for a Sustained High-Speed Rail Funding Source?
http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2010/04/19/is-the-u-s-ready-for-a-sustained-high-speed-rail-funding-source/
The government has yet to identify a source of long-term funds for its highway and transit programs, let alone a new high-speed rail scheme. If it did, though, would it know where to direct the funds?

T4America: Ralllies across the country call attention to national transit funding crisis, as riders begin to join forces
http://t4america.org/pressers/2010/04/20/ralllies-across-the-country-call-attention-to-national-transit-funding-crisis-as-riders-begin-to-join-forces/
Riders who rely on public transportation and transit workers across the country today launched a series of actions over several days to rally support for emergency funding to prevent draconian service cuts, layoffs and fare hikes in more than 150 systems nationwide.

DC Streetsblog: Obama Energy Aide: ‘We Probably Saw Peak Demand for Gas … in 2007′
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/04/19/obama-energy-aide-we-probably-saw-peak-demand-for-gas-in-2007/
The decline in American driving that began at the start of the recession, fueled by record-high gas prices, came to an end late last year. But the Obama administration believes that its transport and energy policies have ushered in a long-term shift, "changing the fuel mix in ways that will drive down gasoline demand," according to a senior adviser to Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

STATE NEWS

Washington Business Journal: Public, private groups to review Virginia Department of Transportation work
http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/04/19/daily8.html
A number of public and private groups are reviewing the Virginia Department of Transportation’s performance, looking for ways to save money and streamline operations.
Four studies, worth roughly $500,000, will move forward in the coming months.

Orlando Sentinel: Key road projects delayed, dropped -- but rail on track
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/os-roads-no-money-sunrail-20100419,0,665787.story
Dwindling state tax dollars are postponing or scrapping nearly $119 million worth of road improvements in Central Florida, including extra lanes to a stretch of traffic-clogged Interstate 4 through downtown Orlando.
But the planned $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train remains on schedule. "My orders are the same: Keep moving forward on the project," said Todd Hammerle, who manages SunRail for the Florida Department of Transportation. That's good news for backers of mass transit, but not so great to those who rely on their cars and trucks to get around.

Crain’s Chicago Business: Illinois Toll Highway Authority needs $2 billion to fix I-90. Will drivers accept a toll hike by scandal-tarred agency?
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=33270
Too many road repairs that can't wait. Not enough money to pay for them. And, oh yeah, everyone thinks you're corrupt. That pretty well sums up the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the agency responsible for 286 miles of roadway that crisscross 12 northern counties between the Indiana and Wisconsin borders. Faced with up to $4 billion in critical repairs on the I-90 tollway and $7 billion in debt already on the books, agency leaders are quietly considering what they previously declared unacceptable: raising tolls on passenger cars using the system's electronic I-Pass lanes.

Savannah Morning News: Ports Poised to Lead Economic Recovery
http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2010-04-18/ports-poised-lead-economic-recovery
Economist: 'Once Savannah gets its deeper water, this port will have everything it needs to come booming out of the recession'

AP: Red X's mark Atlanta start to transit cut protests
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042002116.html
Transit workers are putting giant red X's on Atlanta area buses and trains as part of a multi-city protest against funding cuts to mass transportation.