May 21, 2008
Michael Replogle, Transportation Director for the Environmental Defense Fund, addressed the Washington Chapter. He outlined how advances in traffic management and smart growth could reduce Greenhouse Gases. View Notes Feb. 13, 2008
American Commuting Patterns and Travel Trends. Alan E. Pisarski, Author of Commuting in America III outlines his "top 10" factors that will influence commuting in the future. View Notes Sep. 19, 2007
Paul J. Wiedefeld, administrator of the Maryland Transit Administration, outlined funding and operational details of the MTA and identified key issues that the organization will face in coming years. View Notes Jun. 19, 2007
Alex Kummant, Amtrak president and CEO, outlined key issues facing the railroad and described steps that need to be taken to improve the passenger railroad. He noted that the Northeast Corridor accounts for 45 percent of Amtrak's ridership and 50 percent of revenue. Additional intercity corridors will be key growth areas for the passenger line, he said. View Notes May 23, 2007
Peter Pantuso, President of the American Bus Association addressed the TRF Washington, DC chapter. According to Mr. Pantuso, motorcoaches now carry 650 million passenger a year, the same number as commercial airlines. He discussed current problems for the bus industry and possible solutions to the problems. Pantuso maintains the bus industry has to focus on planning, connectivity, and intermodalism. View Notes Oct. 25, 2006
JayEtta Hecker, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues with the Government Accountability Office outlined highlights of the GAO's report on key freight rail issues. She said the federal government needs a national freight policy that creates a level playing field for all freight modes, and maximizes the return on public investments. View Notes Jul. 19, 2006
Frank Wilmer of the United Transportation Union outlined his organization's opposition to moves within the railroad industry to cut the number of crew members on trains from two to one. View Notes Jun. 28, 2006
Debbie Hersman, board member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) outlined the group's approach to transportation safety issues including its emphasis on aviation safety, the role of fatigue in heavy truck and rail accidents, and how technology may enhance safety in all modes of transportation. View Notes Mar. 15, 2006
William Vincent of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute, discussed the efficacy of bus rapid transit (BRT) at the March meeting of the Washington, D.C., chapter of TRF. He said that while BRT can deliver more transit service at a lower cost than rail transit, public perception and policy continue to hinder BRT development. View Notes Oct. 12, 2005
Robert Poole, Founder and Director of Transportation Studies with the Reason Foundation, presented the major findings of a recent Reason Foundation study, Resolving the Crisis in Air Traffic Control Funding. Poole outlined problems with current air traffic control and then detailed potential reforms including changes to the way the system is funded. View Notes Jun. 15, 2005
Peter Samuel argues that the proposed Inter-County Connector connecting I-270 to I-95 outside of Washington, D.C., could be privately financed by tolls. The Maryland toll authorities, he contends, never seriously considered making the ICC a fully toll-supported highway because they were afraid that full toll financing would lead to loss of control. View Notes May 25, 2005
In the face of proposed budget cuts, Amtrak president and CEO David Gunn, painted a bleak portrait of the passenger railroad's future during a presentation to the Washington Chapter of the TRF. View Notes Apr. 20, 2005
The president of the Dulles Rail Association and a representative from the Landowners Work Group for Economical Rapid Transit offer opposing views on a proposed extension of Washington D.C.'s Metro rail system. View Notes Mar. 23, 2005
The number of motor vehicles, drivers, and vehicle miles traveled are increasing much faster than roadway capacity. Surprisingly, the resulting increased highway congestion has been a non-issue in political campaigns. Ronald Utt, Heritage Foundation, examines the resulting trends. View Notes Feb. 23, 2005
Northern Virginia's HOV system is one of the most successful in the nation, but is becoming the victim of its own success. Dennis Morrison, district administrator for the Virginia Department of Transportation, outlined steps the state is taking to address the concerns. View Notes Jan. 11, 2005
Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. DOT, discussed reauthorization of the Surface Transportation Act, technology, research, air transportation and policy reform. View Notes Nov. 17, 2004
According to Chairman Roger Nober, 2004 was an active year for the Surface Transportation Board. The Board has reopened processes by holding voting conferences and making streaming audio of those conferences available on the Board's website. View Notes Oct. 13, 2004
A need for added capacity and the lack of capital to add that capacity are prompting the American railroad industry to become more receptive to public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure, according to Edward Hamberger of the Association of American Railroads. View Notes Jul. 14, 2004
Asa Hutchinson of the US Dept. of Homeland Security said his department is not satisfied with the current security system. Terrorists have the ability to adjust, so we have to keep innovating and improving. View Notes Jun. 16, 2004
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, director of the Congressional Budget Office, broke the bad news about congestion pricing for highways. The Federal budget deficit for FY 2004 will be $440 billion and that isn't the worst news. View Notes |
