Sixty-two U.S. urban areas are threatened by hazardous rail cargoes, but federal agencies still refuse to let many firefighters, governments, and citizens know the rail routes used to transport cargoes that could kill tens or hundreds of thousands.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's announcement that biking and walking would get equal priority in federal funding as automobiles has drawn praise from bikers and brickbats from the conservative National Association of Manufacturers.
The Alliance for Biking and Walking's second biennial report, while mainly a recitation of statistics, is a highly useful source of leads and context for transit-related stories.
President Obama announced Thursday that the Transportation Dept. is awarding $8 billion in economic stimulus funds to develop America's first nationwide program of high-speed intercity passenger rail service.
It may be worth covering an auto show near you this year, since greener cars of many stripes are drawing more attention by manufacturers, consumers, and regulators.
"The Obama administration is broadening the standards for how the U.S. government funds public transportation projects in order to disburse money quickly and improve the environment."
"China has begun operating what is, by several measures, the world's fastest rail line."
"Communities in cold climates around the USA are changing their approach to snow and ice removal from highways in an effort to reduce potential harm to wildlife and vegetation caused by road salt runoff."
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