US Department of Transportation

Texas gets High Speed Rail Grant
 
The Obama administration has ambitious plans to connect our country with high speed passenger rail.  Many other states and mega regions have been making plans for years and were recently awarded federal funds to further that planning and in some cases, start implementing.  Although Texas has not been laying the groundwork, the Texas Department of Transportation is forging ahead with plans to connect Houston and Dallas.  See this link for more info:  http://www.texasrailadvocates.org/viewIt.asp?ati=3&a=635

Metro Rapid

CapMetro getting $24M for ‘bus that looks like a train’

Austin Business Journal

The U.S. Department of Transportation is giving Austin $24 million next year to construct a “bus that looks like a train” and turns traffic lights green.

The dollars announced today with the department’s 2011 budget highlights is the second federal installment funding the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority‘s “MetroRapid” bus line. The local agency was approved for $13 million this fiscal year.

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[via Austin Business Journal]

US Department of Transportation

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 12:58pm CST

Feds ban texts by truckers, bus drivers

Austin Business Journal – by Mike Sunnucks

The U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday banned commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving.

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said violators could face fines of up to $2,750. He said the ban will help reduce accidents, citing studies that show drivers who are texting while driving 55 miles per hour have their eyes off the road for the length of a football field. Texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get in an accident than those not distracted while driving, according to DOT.

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[via Austin Business Journal]