Technology

Federal Regulators Propose New Lighting Rules for Driverless Cars

Vehicle makers without manually operated driving controls would gain design flexibility under a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposal that...

Transportation

Transportation Department Proposes Updated LNG Safety Regulations

The Transportation Department is proposing updated safety rules for operators of liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities, with public comments due Jan. 4,...

Legislation

Truck Driver Pilot Program Draws Few as Congress Weighs Its Future

A federal safe driver apprenticeship pilot for commercial drivers ages 18 to 20 drew only a fraction of its authorized participants before closing, leaving...

Lobbying Activity

ST Engineering Lobbying on Integrated Transportation Solutions

ST Engineering North America Inc. lists integrated transportation solutions as an issue in its latest lobbying filing, which names no bill; separately, H.R....

Law and Order

Airline Deregulation Act Preemption of State Law Faces Scrutiny

The Trump administration's deregulatory moves at the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) have sharpened a long-running legal question over how far the...

Government Operations

Government Shutdowns Threaten TSA Staffing and FAA Hiring

Recent government shutdowns have grown longer and more disruptive to civil aviation, according to a new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report. The...

Follow the Money

FTA's Proposed Transit Funding Formula Adds Demographic Bonuses

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has proposed adding birth and marriage rate bonuses to the formula that sets federal funding shares for transit...

Congress

Federal Gas Tax Suspension May Deepen Highway Fund Shortfall

A suspension of the federal gas tax would reduce revenues flowing into the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and could affect federal highway and transit spending...

Lobbying Activity

Transportation Builders Association Lobbies on Highway Trust Fund

American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), a trade group representing highway and transportation construction interests, filed a...

Lobbying Activity

Direct ChassisLink Spends $110K Lobbying on Chassis Regulation

Direct ChassisLink Inc. reported $110,214 in third-quarter federal lobbying expenditures focused on intermodal chassis regulation and policy, amid federal...

Energy

Federal Fuel Economy Rules Weakened by Zero Penalties, New Standards

The federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program now carries a $0 civil penalty for manufacturers violating fuel-economy standards, weakening a...

Politics

Diesel Export Ban Involves Transportation Policy Tradeoffs

With average highway diesel prices at $6.529 per gallon on Sept. 21, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a Congressional Research...

Transportation

Coast Guard Faces Gaps in Marine Firefighting Preparedness

Gaps in coordination, training, information sharing, and legal authority remain in the U.S. Coast Guard's marine firefighting efforts, according to a recent...

Politics

Fuel Standards Face Structural Changes as Penalties Drop to Zero

The federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, which sets minimum fuel efficiency targets for vehicles sold in the United States, is facing its...

Legislation

House Transportation Panel Advances Bills on Drones, Aviation Safety

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee advanced 10 bills in a markup session on September 15, all approved by voice vote. The package...

Government Operations

Air Traffic Control Modernization Faces Funding Gap

The Trump administration is seeking additional funding for its flagship aviation overhaul. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford acknowledged at a House hearing...

Congress

Committee Examined Coast Guard Readiness, Security Risks

The Coast Guard is developing NAVITA, a digital platform intended to streamline the mariner credentialing process, while the United States is investigating...