Tag Archives: dot

Biden-Harris Administration – 157 More Infrastructure Grants

The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said today it will award $245.9 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG). under the. The $245.9 million includes 153 grants in 37 states to modernize airport infrastructure, improve runway safety, and create jobs to build a better America. This trumps the trend during the last decade where political talk without funding delayed the ability to modernize technology and infrastructure that support the airspace. Continue reading

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Mandatory Compensation for Delayed Airline Passengers

The US. Department of Transportation (DOT) today announced plans to launch new rule-making that is aimed at requiring airlines to provide compensation and cover expenses for amenities such as meals, hotels, and rebooking when airlines are responsible for stranding passengers. … Continue reading

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US January Aviation Fuel Use Recovering

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released US  airlines’ January 2023 fuel cost and consumption numbers. US scheduled service airlines used 1.413 billion gallons of fuel, 4.0% less fuel than in December 2022 (1.471 billion gallons), but only -0.7% less than in pre-pandemic January 2019 as the economy remains resilient. Continue reading

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Infected – November 2022 US Aviation Fuel Consumption Down

The Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today released U.S. airlines’ November fuel cost and consumption numbers show US scheduled service airlines used 1.398 billion gallons of fuel, 2.5% less fuel than in October 2022 (1.434 billion gallons) and 3.2% less than in pre-pandemic November 2019. Continue reading

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US Airlines Add Jobs for 18th Consecutive Month of Growth

Scheduled US passenger airlines added 3398 full-time equivalents* in October for 18th consecutive month of job growth, the USDOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics said today as the Biden Administration economic recovery continued. Continue reading

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An Idea Whose Time has Come – Smart Infrastructure

The SMART Grants Program  – the latest example of how government can effect change for its people – comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden on 15 November 2021. The Infrastructure law – almost universally opposed by the Republican party, whose members are still trying to overturn the last election while endorsing political violence – will offer up to $100 million in grants annually over the next five years. It will fund projects that use data and technology to solve real-world challenges facing communities today, the Administration said in a release. Continue reading

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IIHS: Federal Rule On Truck Under-Ride Inadequate

The US DOT Safe System approach works by building and reinforcing multiple layers of protection to both prevent crashes from happening and minimize the harm caused to those involved when crashes do occur. This is a change from a conventional safety approach because it focuses on both human mistakes And human vulnerability. In theory, it designs a system with many redundancies in place to protect everyone.  Continue reading

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Safety Performance of Advanced Vehicle Technologies Murky

The set of crashes, which automakers and operators reported to NHTSA from the time the SGO was issued last June, are clearly important. They provide NHTSA with direct information about crashes that occur with vehicles that have various levels of automated driving systems deployed at least 30 seconds before a crash occurred. Continue reading

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US Scheduled Airline Passengers Up Under Biden

During 2019, the last full calendar year before the onset of COVID-19 and the botched Trump Administration non- or anti-response, domestic flights accounted for 88% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 12%. During 2021, domestic flights accounted for 91% of all passengers, and international flights accounted for 9%. Continue reading

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NHTSA Taking Steps to Allow States to Set Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Zero-Emissions Vehicle Mandates

The proposed action would establish a clean slate, enabling the Department to further the Administration’s fuel economy, equity, and climate change priorities — which include reversing unnecessary and potentially unlawful efforts to prevent state action. It is a repudiation of the anti-environmental polices of the disgraced previous Administration that was voted out last November.  Continue reading

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Non-Independence Day as EPA Prepares to Scuttle CAFE

Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice on the Mid-Term Evaluation (MTE) of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for the Model Years (MY) 2022- 2025 and indicated intent to place it in the Federal Register. This potential shift or softening of CAFE extensive and serious implications for all automotive industry participants. Continue reading

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Luck o’ the Irish is a Sober DD

The traditions of St. Patrick’s Day, such as corned beef and cabbage and shamrocks, accompany the tradition of drinking Irish beer and/or whiskey. These days prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and illegal drugs may cause impairment alone or in combination with each other and/or with alcohol. Continue reading

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Lies and Deflections Worth Noting on Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico from Bureaucrats Doing Nothing to help U.S. Citizens

“We are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency, and the bureaucracy,” San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said Friday at a news conference. She highlighted donations from companies and others, including 200,000 pounds of food donated by Goya, as a contrast to federal help. Continue reading

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EPA Keeps 54.5 MPG Fuel Economy Rules in Place

Automakers are squealing about the just announced EPA plan to keep 54.5 mpg fuel economy regulations in place after a detailed technical analysis of the industries progress thus far. The agency’s rule still must be finalized after a 30-day comment period that would close before Donald Trump’s inauguration. Continue reading

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Controversial Federal Guidelines for Autonomous Vehicles Out

The primary focus of the policy is on highly automated vehicles, or those in which the vehicle can take full control of driving in at least some circumstances. Portions of the policy also apply to lower levels of automation, including some of the driver-assistance systems already being deployed by automakers today. Continue reading

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