Transportation

Statewide freight summit attracted many federal and state officials to discuss a long-term vision for freight in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, MD (September 14, 2009) – Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley today announced the release of Maryland’s first Statewide Freight Plan. The Plan was unveiled at the Maryland Department of Transportation’s second Statewide Freight Summit at the BWI Airport Hilton.    » read more »

DOT Commission approves $34 million in I-JOBS Bridge projects; $1.6 million in RISE grant funding through I-JOBS

September 15, 2009 -- AMES – Iowa Governor Culver announced today that the Iowa Transportation Commission has added $34 million in bridge projects to the state’s Transportation Improvement Program, a direct result of the Culver/Judge Administration’s I-JOBS initiative.    » read more »

No Gasoline or Tailpipe Pollution in Reaching Milestone

2009-09-11 -- DETROIT, September 11 - The Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell electric vehicles today passed 1 million miles of gasoline and tailpipe pollution-free driving by homemakers, accountants, computer game designers and others using the vehicles every day in real-world conditions.

More than 50,000 gallons of gasoline have been saved so far in the fuel cell Equinox, more than 100 of which are part of the largest consumer fuel cell demonstration fleet in the world. The fuel cell electric Equinox runs on electricity created by an on-board fuel cell stack. The only emissions are wisps of water vapor.    » read more »

August 31, 2009 -- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Federal Transit Administration last week achieved a crucial milestone: it beat the September 1st deadline to provide all states and local communities 50 percent of their Recovery Act transit formula dollars.

In fact, FTA provided nearly 90 percent of its $7.5 billion transit stimulus money to states and local communities. FTA is managing an additional $900 million in discretionary funds for New Starts projects, the Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction and Tribal Transit programs and oversight for a total of $8.4 billion.    » read more »

DOT’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization to Create New Bond Fee Reimbursement Program

August 31, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced $20 million in recovery funds to create the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Bonding Assistance Program, an initiative that will help small and disadvantaged businesses better compete for work on transportation projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).    » read more »

August 28, 2009 -- WICHITA, Kan. – U.S. Transportation Deputy Secretary John D. Porcari today kicked off construction of the I-135 Interchange, the first highway project in Wichita with construction costs fully funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“The reconstruction of the I-135 interchange here in Wichita is a great example of a stimulus project that’s going to leave a lasting impression,” Deputy Secretary Porcari said. “This project is going to relieve a chronic bottleneck and open the door to new commercial and retail development.”    » read more »

Cash for Clunkers Wraps up with Nearly 700,000 car sales and increased fuel efficiency

August 26, 2009 -- The CARS program came to a close Tuesday night with nearly 700,000 clunkers taken off the roads, replaced by far more fuel efficient vehicles. Rebate applications worth $2.877 billion were submitted by the 8 p.m. deadline, under the $3 billion provided by Congress to run the program.

Cars made in America topped the most-purchased list, from the Ford Focus to the Toyota Corolla to the Honda Civic.    » read more »

Projects will create jobs, limit pollution, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil

August 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced the selection of 25 cost-share projects under the Clean Cities program that will be funded with nearly $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

These projects will speed the transformation of the nation’s vehicle fleet, putting more than 9,000 alternative fuel and energy efficient vehicles on the road, and establishing 542 refueling locations across the country. The Department of Energy also estimates they will help displace approximately 38 million gallons of petroleum per year.    » read more »

August 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Automakers have now successfully implemented a voluntary agreement under which new cars and light trucks are engineered to be more compatible in front- and side-impact crashes. Since launching the agreement, manufacturers have been quickly increasing the percentage of vehicles with the compatibility engineering, and as of September 1, 2009, 100 percent of each participating manufacturers’ applicable vehicles will be made in a way that improves crash compatibility.    » read more »

In August, Ford is on track to post its highest monthly F-Series and Escape sales of 2009 following strong sales for both vehicles in July

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 27, 2009 – Ford Motor Company today announced it is adding third production shifts at its Dearborn Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant’s sport utility line to help meet strong demand for Ford F-150 pickups and Escape utility vehicles.

In August, Ford expects to post its first monthly year-over-year sales increase for F-Series trucks since October 2006, as well as another record-setting sales month for Escape.    » read more »

8/31/2009 -- Raleigh -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that 21 contracts totaling $50.8 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including eight projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts were awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to the lowest respective bidder, as required by state law. A list of the projects is attached.

“These projects are putting people to work, making critical improvements to our roads and bridges, and helping the local economies in communities across the state,” said Gov. Perdue    » read more »

Grants Support Job Creation; Help to Reduce Petroleum Use and Greenhouse Gases

August 31, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced the award of two U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grants totaling more than $28 million for alternative fuel projects. The funds, available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will assist school districts, local governments, public universities, and private businesses in purchasing clean fuel and alternative fuel vehicles and associated infrastructure.    » read more »

Expansion brings 240 new jobs to North Alabama

August 21, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley today commented on news that Toyota plans to expand its Huntsville engine production facility, investing an additional $147 million and adding at least 240 new jobs. The expansion will bring total investment at Toyota’s Alabama plant to $637 million and the total number of jobs to more than 1000.

Governor Riley made the following statement:    » read more »

ERLANGER, Ky. (August 21, 2009) -- Toyota will add capacity at its engine plant in Huntsville, Ala., to increase North American production of four-cylinder engines. The expansion will allow Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Alabama (TMMAL) to produce 216,000 four-cylinder engines annually. Production will begin by summer 2011.

The plant currently builds both V8 and V6 engines. The expansion will bring its annual engine capacity to 577,000.

At least 240 new employees will be hired, raising total employment at TMMAL to more than 1,000. New investment will be $147 million, bringing the total to $637 million.    » read more »

Company adds 60,000 cars and trucks to production schedule

2009-08-18 -- Detroit – General Motors is increasing production at several North America assembly plants in response to increased sales. The company will add shifts, overtime and reinstate forecasted down weeks at select facilities. As a result, GM will add about 60,000 vehicles in the third and mainly the fourth quarter production forecast, ensuring a wide selection of high-quality, fuel efficient cars, crossovers and trucks for customers.    » read more »