- San Francisco Chronicle: Ontario to join California carbon market to fight global warming
- San Francisco Chronicle: Drought impact: Higher water rates on tap
- Oakland Tribune: Bay Area street paving scores released
- Marin Independent Journal: Marin officials approve new bus service agreement with Golden Gate Transit
- San Francisco Examiner: Bay Area roads no better no worse in 2014, report says
- CBS San Francisco: Small East Bay Fault Could Shut Down Refineries
POLITICO Morning Transportation for 4/14/2015
By JENNIFER SCHOLTES
SEN. NELSON PUSHES FOR FAA STRATEGY ON AIRPORT SECURITY: At this morning’s Senate Commerce hearing, ranking Democrat Bill Nelson plans to press FAA Administrator Michael Huerta about “security at 448 airports, because there’s only two that take care of the problem,” the Florida senator told MT. Nelson noted the data the Associated Press released this month on the frequency of airport perimeter breaches and pointed to security vulnerabilities at hubs like the Atlanta airport, where at least 150 firearms were allegedly smuggled on flights to New York last year by moving the guns through employee screening areas and then doing a handoff in the terminal. Since the AP data was divulged, some lawmakers have suggested the FAA disperse more Airport Improvement Program funding to ramp up security: http://politi.co/19YMRNA. Watch the hearing live, beginning at 9:30 a.m.: http://1.usa.gov/1DcrPsi.
A rundown of the AP’s perimeter breach investigation: http://bit.ly/1DC6PMQ. Details of the firearm smuggling charges being levied in New York: http://nyti.ms/1JYB4js.
PILOT DATABASE ADVOCATES RALLY AT COMMERCE HEARING: Family and friends of those who died in the 2009 Colgan Air crash in upstate New York plan to pack the audience at this morning’s Senate Commerce hearing on FAA reauthorization, as the group pushes for the agency to issue a long-delayed rule creating a pilot records database. Kevin Kuwik, who lost a loved one in the Cogan Air crash, tells MT that the group has begun to reach out to Nelson and Commerce Chairman John Thune, as well as Sens. Kelly Ayotte and Maria Cantwell, who run the panel’s aviation subcommittee, to bring attention to the issue while the lawmakers hash out an FAA reauthorization plan. “We know the next three weeks are going to be pretty much crunch time, so this is the time to cast some light on this,” Kuwik told us.
‘A clarion call’: Pro reports that the group, which identifies itself as Families of Continental Flight 3407, has said the recent Germanwings crash should “serve as a clarion call” for comprehensive pilot screening. Our Kathryn A. Wolfe explains: “The rule, which Congress ordered along with other safety measures that stemmed directly from concerns raised by the crash, was originally slated for publication this January, but according to the group has now been pushed to next April. The intent is to create a centralized database of pilot records from the FAA as well as airlines, which airlines would be required to review when hiring. The impetus for the rule came because the pilot in the 2009 crash had past performance issues that weren’t disclosed to his new employer when he was hired.” More from Pro: http://politico.pro/1IXXhf1.
HUERTA WEIGHS IN ON FAA REVAMP PLANS: Just as he advised House lawmakers last month, administrator Huerta is expected to warn the Senate Commerce Committee this morning to move cautiously to avoid unintended consequences in exploring options for shaking up the nation’s air traffic control system. The FAA chief is also likely to reiterate that revamping the FAA’s structure is a conversation agency officials are open to having, as long as an overhaul protects system safety, provides a roadmap for deploying future technologies, ensures long-term stability in planning for future facilities and breaks down barriers that prevent effective delivery of aeronautical services.
NextGen inquisition: Sen. Cantwell told MT that those on the aviation subcommittee want to hear from Huerta about progress in implementing the NextGen air traffic control system.
IT’S TUESDAY: Good morning and thanks for reading POLITICO’s Morning Transportation, your daily tipsheet on trains, planes, automobiles and ports.
MT is still reeling from all of last week’s festivities, so you think we could sit down for transportation now? Reach out: @jascholtes or jscholtes@politico.com.
“You only love me … for my Dodge Dart classic.” http://bit.ly/1cpCYgw
** Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) is an industry-wide image and education movement representing all areas of the professional truck driving industry. The industry contributes $682 billion in revenue every year to the nation’s economy. Seven million trucking professionals nationwide move food, fuel and critical cargo in manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and more. Learn more at truckingmovesamerica.com. **
@POLITICOKEVIN TRANSITIONS FROM TRANSPO: Our Kevin Robillard has been lured from the transportation beat to cover campaigns as the race to 2016 revs up, but his fantastically prolific Twitter feed is still worth a follow for those in the transpo world. A farewell from Kevin himself: “The two years I’ve spent covering transportation have been the most fulfilling of my career as a journalist. I owe that to the amazing sources, co-workers, editors and reporters I’ve had on this beat. I especially want to thank Adam Snider and Burgess Everett, the original transpo-bros who brought me on to the beat and taught me an infinite amount; Matt Daily, Bob King and Kathy Wolfe for providing excellent editing and guidance day-in and day-out; Heather Caygle for keeping me on my toes and entertained; and too many sources to name for their tips, help, explanations and cooperation. Please stay in touch. I’ll remain at krobillard at politico dot com and at PoliticoKevin.”
FEDS FIND LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN TRANSPO EXPENSES BETWEEN REGIONS: The federal agency that looks into national energy data has released a new analysis of household spending on gas and public transit, concluding that the average American family spends about $3,150 on travel expenses each year, with only about a $200 difference between areas that spend the most on transportation and those that spend the least. The Energy Information Administration found, though, that there is a much greater divide across income levels. Households making at least $95,000 per year spent just over $4,000 on gas in 2013, while those that made less than $18,000 spent about $1,200 to fuel up. Public transit expenses varied even more by income level, with households in the top income tier spending $1,400 on public transit in 2013 and those in the lowest-income bracket spending an average of $163. Families in the South tend to spend more money than those in any other region on gas each year, while those in the Northeast spend the most on public transit. Check out the stats: http://1.usa.gov/1H0LuOh
SPIFFY NEW METRO TRAIN MAKES FIRST RUN: A brand new, eight-car, 7000-series Metro train hits the tracks for the first time this morning to transport Blue Line riders more safely and luxuriously than the rest of WMATA’s aging railcars. The Washington Post reports that the train is “a peace offering of sorts to riders of that line who have had to endure cuts in service to accommodate the new Silver Line. Metro has 24 of the new cars at its training and maintenance facility in Hyattsville, Md., and spokesman Dan Stessel said those will be rolled out in coming weeks.” DOT has said the new railcars will replace all 300 of Metro’s nearly 40-year-old cars, fulfilling an NTSB recommendation following the 2009 crash at Fort Totten Station. More from the Post: http://wapo.st/1aW9pml. How the 7000-series is built: http://wapo.st/1HgNIcI.
BLUMENTHAL DENOUNCES COMMUTER RAIL MANAGEMENT: Sen. Richard Blumenthal is calling out officials running the Metro-North commuter line that runs through his home state of Connecticut after a transportation official said maintenance workers get little or no supervision and do not document their work on the line where a train struck an SUV in February, killing six people. “The latest report reveals years of improper oversight of switching and signaling systems, non-existent record keeping, and woefully lax management,” Blumenthal said in a written statement. “Safety and reliability require supervision systems that set priorities, assign crews to carry out the necessary work, and track the status of these jobs through modern technology. These systems should have been instituted long ago, and I demand that the railroad establish such common sense, safety measures immediately.” More from AP on the Metro-North audit: http://bit.ly/1H1Xnna
RAILROAD GROUP TRUMPETS NEW ACCIDENT DATA: The Association of American Railroads is touting new Federal Railroad Administration stats that show that train accidents declined by 7 percent in 2014, accidents caused by equipment dropped 6 percent, accidents caused by tracks declined 12 percent and accidents caused by people dropped 4 percent. http://bit.ly/1H1Tqif.
MT MAILBAG: Transportation safety advocates sent a letter Monday to appropriators at the helm of transportation subcommittees in both the House and Senate, urging the lawmakers to kick in the full $331 million the Obama administration has requested in fiscal 2016 funding for the National Highway Traffic Administration’s operations and research work, as well as 59 more fulltime employees. “Despite a nearly 25 percent reduction in the number of fatalities over the past 10 years, in 2013 there were 32,719 fatalities and 2.3 million injuries at a comprehensive cost of $871 billion in economic cost and societal harm to our nation,” the groups write. “The budget proposal to fund NHTSA’s O&R activities is a worthwhile and cost-effective investment.” To House lawmakers: http://politico.pro/1GEvSBq. To Senate spending leaders: http://politico.pro/1CIkHAa.
THE AUTOBAHN (SPEED READ):
— Too Risqué for New York City’s Subways? Some Ads Test Limits. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1CCB822
— Ramp Worker Trapped in Jet Baggage Hold Spurs Emergency Landing. Bloomberg Business: http://bloom.bg/1ap7BRu
— U.S. sets final dumping duties on transport containers from China. Reuters: http://reut.rs/1PFFMoV
— Airline passengers have more to complain about, report finds. AP: http://bit.ly/1PCSp4h
— Uber bill passes Maryland Senate, heads to House. The Washington Post: http://wapo.st/1IYVRRw
— GM ignition switch death claims rise to 84. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1JEDxOu
— Four reasons to remove traffic lights in the era of peak driving. CityLab: http://bit.ly/1FOSufI
— Struggling Chinese Car Maker’s Chief Vows to Overhaul Company. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1I7CDcg
— Federal officials devise scenario involving a train explosion to prepare officials for the worst. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1O8dCQ1
— China releases activists detained for weeks after planning protest against sexual harassment on public transportation. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1JECQVt
— Wingz raises $2M to book airport rides for people who plan ahead. The Wall Street Journal: http://on.wsj.com/1cqfpEh
THE COUNTDOWN: Highway and transit policy expires in 47 days. DOT appropriations run out and the FAA reauthorization expires in 169 days. The 2016 presidential election is in 575 days.
Tags: BART, tranpsortation