infrastructure spending Archives - Maritime Shipping News

House hearing witnesses argue rail more relevant to economy than ever

12 March 2021

A photograph of a freight train passing through a field while a construction vehicle is in the field.

Against the backdrop of Congress’ plans to push through a major transportation infrastructure bill, witnesses testifying at a U.S. House hearing on Wednesday spoke about the need for public partners to invest in multimodal initiatives as a way to support the freight rail industry and its workers.

An example of public and private support for a multimodal project would be the rehabilitation of the Salmon Bay Bridge in Washington, according to Tom WIlliams, group vice president of consumer products...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/house-hearing-witnesses-argue-rail-more-relevant-to-economy-than-ever

Pete Buttigieg confirmed as DOT secretary

2 February 2021

The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly (86-13) on Tuesday to confirm Pete Buttigieg as U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary, a development industry watchers hope turns out to be the first step in getting an infrastructure package passed this year.

There will be pressure on Buttigieg to begin making progress on a handful of emerging transportation policy issues.

“He will have to think about issues of ensuring safety with new autonomous vehicle technologies,” Sen. Maria Cantwell,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/news-alert-pete-buttigieg-confirmed-as-dot-secretary

Election 2020: Road ahead for trucking infrastructure hinges on Nov. 3

26 October 2020

With odds “more likely than not,” according to political analysts, that the U.S. Senate will follow the political party of the presidential ticket in the wake of next week’s election, issues critical to the trucking industry face divergent paths depending on who wins the White House.

Highway infrastructure is at the top of that list.

“It’s not just about the election, it’s also about control of the Senate and the relative balance in the House,” Jeff Davis, senior fellow at the Eno Center for...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/road-ahead-for-trucking-infrastructure-hangs-in-balance-on-nov-3

Rail groups split on Democrats’ infrastructure bill

5 June 2020

A photograph on a train with a city landscape behind it.

A number of the railroad-related items listed in the 846-page, $500 billion infrastructure bill introduced by House Democrats this week could face some hot debate as it goes through Congress, judging by the reactions of rail trade groups and rail labor.

The bill, entitled Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America), is a five-year, $494 billion surface reauthorization bill unveiled on June 3 by the U.S. House and Transportation &...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rail-groups-split-on-democrats-infrastructure-bill