Transportation

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Citing an urgent need to create jobs, infuse the economy and address our crumbling infrastructure, Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., has written to President Barack Obama calling on his Administration to swiftly move forward with a long-term, comprehensive reauthorization of surface transportation and transit programs. The current authorization expired on September 30, 2009, and Congress has passed a temporary extension of the programs until December 18, 2009.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (November 10, 2009) Holiday travelers can save money and reduce their contribution to global warming at the same time, thanks to a handy green travel guide from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

UCS researchers calculated the amount of carbon dioxide—the chief heat-trapping gas that drives global warming—associated with travel in a variety of modes, including passenger cars, SUVs, planes, trains and buses. Since trip emissions also depend on the number of passengers traveling, UCS evaluated trip emissions for solo travelers, couples and families of four.    » read more »

Governor’s recent trip to Japan leads to investment, more than 100 new jobs in Kentucky

November 10, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Joined by officials from Hitachi Automotive Products (USA), Inc. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced the company will expand its Harrodsburg operation, adding a new advanced fuel system production line to the plant. Furthermore, the expansion could also result in an additional product line for hybrid electric products in the near future.    » read more »

Agreement Will Aid Region’s Riders During Tough Economic Time

CHICAGO – November 11, 2009. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced an agreement with the Chicago region’s major transit agencies that will prevent fare increases for the Chicago Transit Authority and Pace paratransit services in 2010 and 2011. The agreement was made between the State of Illinois, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

“Access to affordable and reliable public transportation is imperative for Chicago-area transit riders,” said Governor Quinn. “Today’s comprehensive agreement will stabilize public transit and will hold the line against any CTA fare increases for the next two years.”    » read more »

TORRANCE, Calif., November 11, 2009 - - Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. (TMS) announced today that it has joined U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WasteWise program. As the first national voluntary solid waste reduction program, WasteWise encourages organizations to reduce municipal solid waste through waste prevention, recycling and buying or manufacturing recycled products.

“The WasteWise program is a great opportunity to recognize the efforts of Toyota associates that contribute to our waste reduction and recycling efforts every day,” said Bob Wade, corporate manager of environmental, hazardous material and safety.    » read more »

10-Nov-2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) has asked U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood to investigate the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) practices regarding the Tri-State Oversight Committee’s monitoring of safety procedures.    » read more »

Says Future Traffic Snarls Will Devastate Residents and Local Businesses

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt today called for the formation of a task force to pull together all the various federal, state, local and regional government agencies to come up with a unified action plan to alleviate many of the traffic congestion problems associated with ongoing and future repairs to the Sagamore and Bourne bridges.    » read more »

Pier Analysis Completed, Rehabilitation Ruled Out As Viable Option

November 9, 2009 -- Montpelier, Vt. – New York Governor David A. Paterson and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas have received a report from their states’ respective transportation agencies which finds that it is not feasible to rehabilitate the Lake Champlain Bridge. Engineers have declared that the 80-year-old span is too unstable to be renovated, and recommend demolishing the bridge for the safety of motorists and boaters.    » read more »

Search for New CEO Underway

November 10, 2009 -- DETROIT – Nick Reilly, GM executive vice president and president, GM International Operations, will immediately assume responsibility for the operations of Opel/Vauxhall Europe while an external search for a new CEO commences, it was announced today.    » read more »

Shows Nearly 200 Models Available That Achieve 30mpg Or More On Highway

November 5, 2009 -- According to the recently released Department of Energy-Environmental Protection Agency Fuel Economy Guide, for 2010 there will be 193 models available that achieve fuel economy ratings of 30 miles per gallon or greater on the highway. This signifies a 47 percent increase over 2009 and further underscores automakers’ commitment to bringing cleaner, safer and more fuel efficient vehicles to consumers.    » read more »

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced financial results for the six months ended September 30, 2009.

On a consolidated basis, the net revenues for the first half of the fiscal year totaled 8.378 trillion yen, a decrease of 31.3 percent compared to the same period last fiscal year. Operating income decreased from 582.0 billion yen to a loss of 136.9 billion yen, while income before income taxes and equity in earnings of affiliated companies was a loss of 63.0 billion yen. Net income* decreased from 493.4 billion yen to a loss of 56.0 billion yen.
* Net income attributable to Toyota Motor Corporation    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- Shanghai – General Motors Company announced that the automaker and its joint ventures in China today surpassed 1.5 million units in sales for 2009. With a strong October, the GM China family continued its string of record monthly sales that began at the start of the year.

“This has been a year of records for GM in China,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “It is GM’s priority to put the customer at the center of everything we do. This is reflected in our vehicle design, engineering and production.”    » read more »

November 9, 2009 -- Flights operated by the nation’s largest airlines arrived on time at a higher rate this past September than in either September of last year or in August 2009, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 19 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 86.2 percent in September, higher than both September 2008’s 84.9 percent and August 2009’s 79.7 percent.    » read more »

CAMBRIDGE, MD -- November 5, 2009 – CSX today was recognized as the first transportation provider to join the Maryland Green Registry, a voluntary self-certification program that promotes and recognizes sustainable practices by organizations throughout the state.

The Maryland Green Registry includes organizations that complete a best practices profile covering environmental management and leadership, waste reduction, energy and water conservation, transportation, and green building design. The selection was announced by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley at a Maryland Chamber of Commerce Business Policy Dinner in Cambridge, Maryland.    » read more »

November 09, 2009 -- DES MOINES – Today, Iowa Governor Chet Culver issued a proclamation suspending the hours of service requirement for truck drivers delivering propane. The suspension of the rule will help bring propane into the state quicker, helping to ensure an adequate supply of fuel for farmers drying their crops after this year’s harvest.

“Iowa’s farmers are the best in the world,” said Governor Culver. “This proclamation will assist corn and soybean growers get these important commodities to market as quickly as possible.”    » read more »