Elana Schor
Recent Posts
Bloomberg and Dems Blast Congressional Plan to Let Guns on Amtrak
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Mayor Bloomberg teamed up with two Democratic members of Congress yesterday to blast the Senate for its vote in favor of forcing Amtrak to allow guns and ammunition in passengers’ checked baggage. Mayor Bloomberg, far left, with members of Congress at yesterday’s press conference. Photo: Epoch Times Bloomberg, Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Rep. Carolyn […]
Oberstar to Back 3-Month Delay in Transport Bill As Soon As Next Week
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House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is readying a proposal to extend current infrastructure law by three months — 15 months less than the delay preferred by the White House — and could introduce the legislation as soon as next week, his office said today. House transport committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) (Photo: Capitol […]
Klobuchar & Webb: Dems’ Unlikely Opponents of Bike-Ped Investment
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Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) attempt to curb federal investment in bicycle and pedestrian paths, as well as other "transportation enhancements," was defeated on the Senate floor today — but it managed to pick up two unlikely Democratic supporters in the process. A college-age Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), with her father. Photo: Klobuchar for Senate Sens. […]
New Investigation Finds 2,100 Transport Lobbyists Working the System
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Interest groups seeking to influence transportation policy-making have long flooded the capital with campaign cash and lobbyists — and their numbers are rising at an eye-popping rate. Nearly 1,800 interests are employing at least 2,100 transportation lobbyists to work the system in anticipation of the next federal infrastructure bill, according to a Center for Public […]
Planetizen Unveils Its Top 100 Urban Thinkers
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Jane Jacobs. Photo: BusinessWeek She may be experiencing an intellectual reconsideration in some corners, but Jane Jacobs is still a beloved figure for the urban planners and designers of Planetizen. After a month-long online poll that saw more than 14,000 votes cast, the site released its list of the "Top 100 Urban Thinkers" today — […]
Oberstar Stands Firm on Transportation Bill, Gets Industry Backup
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In case any doubts remained about his willingness to challenge the White House and the Senate on prompt passage of a long-term infrastructure bill, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar’s (D-MN) op-ed in the Politico Monday should clear them up: House transport committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN). Photo: Capitol Chatter Unfortunately, the administration and some […]
How Much Would Most People Pay For a Shorter Commute?
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Data: IBM’s CPI As Washington conventional wisdom has it, raising gas taxes or creating a vehicle miles traveled tax to pay for transportation is impossible during the current recession. After all, who would want to squeeze cash-strapped commuters during tough economic times? As it turns out, the public is very willing to pay for the […]
Compromise or Concession: Congress Faces Tough Transport Choices
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Health care and transportation funding are very different items on Congress’ to-do list, but the Washington Post’s assessment of the former issue fits the latter as well: Lawmakers return today from a month-long recess to find a political landscape that has barely shifted from the impasse of late July. Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH). Photo: UPI […]
Biden on Stimulus Aid to Cities: “We’re Trying … It’s Imperfect”
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Vice President Joe Biden acknowledged Thursday that the White House’s economic recovery push has created stumbling blocks for cities hoping to take advantage of the stimulus, but he defended the administration’s efforts to take a more holistic view of transportation, housing, and other urban concerns. Vice President Joe Biden. Photo: PolitiFact.com After a speech touting […]
Killing the Myth of the “More Shovel-Ready” Road Stimulus
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During debate over the White House’s $787 billion economic stimulus law, transit advocates watched as their projects were shortchanged and more "shovel-ready" road projects got the lion’s share of the transport pot — about $8.4 billion, compared with $26.5 billion for highways and bridges. Photo: DMI Blog But transit money is getting put to use […]
New Poll: Public Supports Congestion Tolling Over Gas Tax Hike by 2 to 1
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Graphic: HNTB The puzzle of how to pay for new federal investments in transportation is the single greatest stumbling block facing members of Congress — should a gas tax increase be combined with a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax? How about a national infrastructure bank that leverages private capital? A poll released today by the […]
Senator Dukakis? What Kennedy’s Loss Could Mean for Transport Policy
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As the nation mourns the loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA), a discussion has begun over how to fill his outsized shoes, both in Massachusetts’ Senate seat and atop the Senate health committee — two vacancies that could have notable consequences for transportation policy-making. Is rail booster Michael Dukakis headed for the U.S. Senate? (Photo: […]