Category Archives: transportation

EPA Hydraulic Fracking Study Now Due in Late 2014

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA said in a “progress report” that the outlines for a study on hydraulic fracking, aka fracturing, are now complete. EPA emphasized though that it has not drawn conclusions about the potential impacts of controversial hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, which will be made in the final study. Continue reading

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Highway Deaths at Lowest Level in 60 years

“Even as we celebrate the progress we’ve made in recent years, we must remain focused on addressing the safety issues that are continuing to claim more than 30,000 lives each year,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, whose agency apparently did not eliminate any regulations during 2012 is spite of plunging highway deaths. Continue reading

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Transocean Pleads Guilty in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Criminal and Civil Fines Set at a Record $1.4 Billion by Department of Justice

Transocean Deepwater, the operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, will plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and pay a total of $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines for its conduct during the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Continue reading

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year from AutoInformed! Continue reading

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Santa One Cleared for Flight by FAA

AutoInformed salutes the real elves at the FAA, the hard working men and women who are our air traffic controllers. In spite of an FAA management bureaucracy that is often clueless and ineffective, these elves know how to move the aluminum or in this case a wooden sleigh without worrying about fine points of regulations while using demonstrably deficient equipment. Therefore, AutoInformed sends season’s greetings to some of the hardest working civil servants in the U.S. And to all a good night, err flight. Continue reading

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Food Fight over Ethanol as Special Interest Groups Trade Charges

Two special interest groups are sparing in public over the cost implications of a long-standing federal energy policy that mandates the use of ethanol and ever increasing amounts of bio-fuels in an attempt to free the United States from importing oil sold by terrorist supporting nations. In 2012 about 9% of all transportation fuel used will be from so-called renewable sources. Continue reading

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Melbourne Airport Caught Stealing from Taxpayers in NASA Scam

The misuse of NASA funding by two airport entities has resulted in millions of dollars of fines under the False Claims Act, which is used to look after taxpayer funded government grants. The Technological Research and Development Authority will pay $15 million to resolve allegations that it violated the Act in connection with grants from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the Department of Commerce, the Justice Department said Continue reading

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Toyota to Buy Cascade Corporation, a Leader in Materials Handling

Toyota Industries Corporation (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 6201) (“TICO”) and Cascade Corporation (NYSE: CASC) (“Cascade”) today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which TICO will acquire 100% of the shares of Cascade for $65 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at $759 million in the tender offer. The purchase price is a 23% percent premium over Cascade’s volume-weighted average share price for the last 60 days. No wonder, the buyout has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both TICO and Cascade. Continue reading

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Saab owner NEVS Opens Battery Plant in China

National Electric Vehicle Sweden is now making batteries in China for electric buses and cars through its wholly owned subsidiary State Power Group. The owner of the rights to the currently inactive Saab brand name says State Power Group (75%) owns the new entity, dubbed National Battery Technology, together with unnamed company management (25%). Continue reading

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Gibbs High Speed Amphibian Unveiled – Quadski, a $200 Million Bet on an Unknown Market. Faster Horse or an Incipient Model T?

“Most people wouldn’t be doing what we are doing,” says Alan Gibbs, “because you can’t research the market.” The entrepreneur and multi-multi millionaire Gibbs along with his engineering partner Neil Jenkins are placing a $200 million bet against unknown odds that their jointly-held private company can become a force in what they call the high speed amphibian market. It’s a new form of transportation according to proponents, but a trifle according to critics. Continue reading

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Water Absorbing Porous Asphalt Pavement Use Increases in 2012

Porous asphalt pavement has been around for years, but its strength and durability have been improved by the use of high-performance materials and better road engineering practices. As a result, more high profile projects are underway, including one planned in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. Continue reading

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Los Angeles Most Congested of any City in the U.S. and Canada

Los Angeles traffic remains the most congested of any city in the U.S. and Canada, according to a survey just released. Trip times in Los Angeles are 33% longer on average than when traffic in the city is flowing freely, and a whopping 74% longer during evening rush hour. Other congested cities include Vancouver 33%, San Francisco 29%, Montreal 28%, Toronto 27%, Washington 26%, Seattle 26%, New York 25%, Chicago 23% and Miami 22%. Continue reading

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NHTSA Says Chinese Counterfeit Air Bags are a Safety Problem

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – has published a consumer safety advisory to warn vehicle owners and repair shops about the dangers of counterfeit Chinese air bags. NHTSA said it has become “aware” of a problem involving the sale of counterfeit air bags for use as replacement parts in vehicles that have been involved in a crash. Continue reading

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U.S. Motorcycle Thefts Decrease to One Every 11 Minutes

The National Insurance Crime Bureau today said that motorcycle thefts were down 6% in 2011 from their 2010 total. This means 46,667 motorcycles reported stolen in 2011 compared with 49,791 in 2010. The theft rate, which sounds low, actually averages to one motorcycle theft every 11 minutes. Continue reading

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Brits Say Rising Car Travel Costs are More Important than a Pint

What is said to be the rising car travel costs is forcing changes in buying and drinking habits in Great Britain, if you can believe MoneySupermarket.com. One third of right-hand drive motorists could not live without their car as costs rise, says the web comparison-shopping site. Continue reading

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