House panel backs surface transportation reauthorization bill

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015 on Thursday. The bipartisan, multiyear surface transportation bill would reauthorize and reform federal transit, highway and highway safety programs. The bill is designed to strengthen U.S. surface transportation infrastructure. Read More »

House subcommittee discusses roadway and vehicle safety

The subcommittee of Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade recently held a hearing to discuss the best ways to improve roadway and vehicle safety throughout the U.S. “A car isn’t just how you get around when you are from Michigan,” Rep. Michael Burgess (R–TX), the chairman of the subcommittee, said. “It’s a neighbor’s job, it’s a fiber that connects our communities." Read More »

Indiana DOT to hold ribbon-cutting for I-65

Indiana’s first Major Moves 2020 project is almost finished, and officials will hold a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. Friday for the opening of Interstate 65. The last paving operations ended Thursday. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be in the Johnstone Supply Co. parking lot, which is nearby I-65. At the events, there will be engineers, INDOT officials, and contractors. Read More »

'5 to Drive' encourages safety with teen drivers

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is encouraging parents to discuss the “5 to Drive” rule system with their teens before they receive their drivers licenses. The "5 to Drive" campaign includes discussing five rules that are important to teen drivers. In 2013 alone, there were 2,839 teens between the ages of 15 and 19 who died because of driving irresponsibly. Read More »

Passenger airline employment data for August shows increase

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics published U.S. passenger airline employment data for the month of August 2015. According to the report, there were 3.3 percent more workers hired by U.S. scheduled passenger airlines in August. This is the 21st month in a row that the airlines increased full-time equivalent hiring compared to the same month the year before. Read More »

DOT publishes new report on freight transportation

The Federal Highway Administration and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, both branches of the United States Department of Transportation, published the “Freight Analysis Framework,” a report on the latest data from freight transportation. The report, the first product of its kind, is the most comprehensive publicly accessible data set pertaining to freight movement. Read More »

Michelin and ADTSEA roll out tire-safety training module

Michelin and the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association said Tuesday they are furthering a national awareness program designed to reduce preventable crashes involving teen drivers by publishing the first U.S. national tire-safety training module for driving instructors. The module sets the standard for tire-safety education materials. Read More »

Task force to look at registration requirements for drones

U.S. transportation officials said Monday they have developed a task force that will evaluate and create recommendations for the registration requirements of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly referred to as drones. The task force will include 25 to 30 experts from the manned and UAS aviation industries, the U.S. government and other representatives. Read More »

Sonoran Corridor in Arizona now included in highway bill

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) said Friday her efforts have resulted in the designation of a Sonoran Corridor in Tucson, Arizona, being included in long-term highway funding reauthorization legislation. The project would designate a highway that connects I-19 to I-10, located south of Tucson International Airport, as a “Highway Priority Corridor.” Read More »

3 U.S. senators oppose allowing larger trucks on highways

U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said they are opposed to a federal mandate that would enable big trucks to transport large loads on U.S. highways. The mandate allows trucks to carry double 33-foot trailers. The senators said they will join representatives from the Teamsters and the trucking industry at a news conference Wednesday. Read More »

Westbound I-96 lane in Michigan's Ingham County open

The Michigan Department of Transportation recently announced that the westbound lane of Interstate 96 at Williamston Road in Ingham County, Exit 117, is now open for motorists.The goal of the Michigan Department of Transportation is to provide motorists with the highest quality of integrated transportation services to benefit the economy and to improve the quality of life. Read More »

Air traffic data report shows rise for July

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a branch of the U.S. Department of Transportation, released air traffic data for the month of July 2015 on Friday. The report shows that U.S. airlines’ systemwide, which includes international and domestic flights, had a scheduled service load factor that increase to 84.2 percent in July 2015. The service load factor is the measurement used for airline capacity. Read More »

Southwest Airlines boosts international service from Houston

Southwest Airlines said Thursday it has developed new services for some of its daily international flights from Houston, Texas, including flights to six new destinations. Travelers going to Mexico, Costa Rica, Belize and other destinations can have access to a new five-gate concourse as well as new concessions and Federal Inspection Station for Customs and Border Protection. Read More »

Indiana wraps up chip sealing projects for 2015

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) said Friday that maintenance crews have finished all chip seal projects for the year 2015. The crews have maintained over 1,200 miles of state roads using a surface treatment designed to preserve the pavement. Throughout 2015, INDOT workers used over 17,000 tons of liquid asphalt and 86,000 tons of crushed stone for the new seal coat. Read More »

Public hearing slated for new bridge in Indiana’s Noble County

The Indiana Department of Transportation recently announced that it will hold a public hearing about a proposed bridge to take the Norfolk Southern Railroad over U.S. 6 in Brimfield, Indiana. The proposed bridge would be an estimated 100 feet west of the current bridge. The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Albion Municipal Building, 211 E. Park Drive, in Albion, Indiana. Read More »

Champions of Change in Transportation solving Beyond Traffic challenges

The U.S. Department of Transportation said its Beyond Traffic document about the challenges and trends facing the U.S. transportation infrastructure industry during the next 30 years has already resulted in innovations, thanks to the White House Champions of Change in Transportation. The White House Champions of Change in Transportation are striving to solve the challenges before they worsen. Read More »

MI's I-96 and U.S. 23 interchange project ahead of schedule

All eastbound Interstate 96 traffic in Michigan's Livingston County is now in its new configuration following recent lane closures. This weekend's lane closures at eastbound I-96 and U.S. 23 were needed so crews could change the eastbound traffic back onto the new lanes of the freeway. Westbound lane closures began Monday night in an effort to complete the traffic switch. Read More »

Alaska opens new Aleknagik Wood River Bridge

Alaska officials cut the ribbon to open the new Aleknagik Wood River Bridge to motorists on Oct. 13. The bridge increases transportation safety by connecting Dillingham to Aleknagik and helping link local residents to businesses, schools and the airport. The local community is spread along both sides of Aleknagik Lake. Residents had to use snow machines and boats to commute. Read More »

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