Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Secretary Ray LaHood assembled the first meeting of a newly created U.S. Department of Transportation Safety Council formed to deal with critical transportation safety issues facing the department's 10 operating administrations.
"Now is the time to identify and address the top safety issues that cut across our agencies," said Secretary LaHood. "The Council will take our commitment to safety, which is our highest priority, to the next level."
Before taking office, Secretary LaHood saw that many important safety initiatives were being followed in the department's agencies without a formal process for sharing data, best practices and strategies. Secretary LaHood created the Safety Council to serve that broad-based safety leadership role and assist break down organizational stovepipes, facilitating an even stronger safety culture.
The aim of the Safety Council is to further enhance the safety focus throughout all agencies of the department and improve the impact of the department's safety programs.
The Council, chaired by Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari, consists of the heads of the Department's 10 agencies: the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Maritime Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration and the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Deputy Secretary Porcari said the Council will be action oriented, data driven, emphasize open dialogue about common issues and grant a forum for fresh ideas and new perspectives.
"The Council will enhance the department's safety culture which should then resonate out into industry," said Deputy Secretary Porcari.
"Now is the time to identify and address the top safety issues that cut across our agencies," said Secretary LaHood. "The Council will take our commitment to safety, which is our highest priority, to the next level."
Before taking office, Secretary LaHood saw that many important safety initiatives were being followed in the department's agencies without a formal process for sharing data, best practices and strategies. Secretary LaHood created the Safety Council to serve that broad-based safety leadership role and assist break down organizational stovepipes, facilitating an even stronger safety culture.
The aim of the Safety Council is to further enhance the safety focus throughout all agencies of the department and improve the impact of the department's safety programs.
The Council, chaired by Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari, consists of the heads of the Department's 10 agencies: the Federal Aviation Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Maritime Administration, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Research and Innovative Technology Administration and the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Deputy Secretary Porcari said the Council will be action oriented, data driven, emphasize open dialogue about common issues and grant a forum for fresh ideas and new perspectives.
"The Council will enhance the department's safety culture which should then resonate out into industry," said Deputy Secretary Porcari.
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Vice President Joe Biden and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood challenged governors to think boldly when designing high-speed rail plans during a roundtable discussion at the White House today. The session was a unique opportunity for state leaders to share their ideas with the Obama Administration about the future of high-speed trains in America.
In April, President Obama released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high-speed rail. The plan identifies $13 billion in federal funds - $8 billion in the Recovery Act and $5 billion requested in the President's budget - to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future. Detailed guidance for up to the first $8 billion in federal grant applications will be announced later this month and the first round of grants are expected to be awarded as soon as late summer 2009.
In developing the high-speed rail program, Administration officials have sought extensive input from states, Congress, labor, industry, rail experts from countries with working high-speed rail networks, and other key stakeholders. Today's roundtable follows Secretary LaHood's recent fact-finding trip to several European countries where he met with transportation officials and rail operators and witnessed first-hand the operations of working high-speed rail systems. Other senior U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) officials recently hosted a series of seven regional workshops around the country.
"Everyone knows I'm a big believer in our nation's rail system - I've devoted a big part of my career doing what I can to support it - and I'm proud that this Administration is about to transform that system fundamentally," said Vice President Biden. "Thanks to an $8 billion investment from the Recovery Act, we're going to start building a high-speed rail system that will loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways, and make travel in this country leaner, meaner and a whole lot cleaner."
"America is ready to embrace a new level of passenger rail service that offers a safe, convenient, and sustainable way to travel from city to city, and region to region," said Secretary LaHood. "President Obama has handed us an extraordinary opportunity - and now it is up to all of us to seize the moment. With creative input and contributions from governors across the country, I believe we'll be able to do just that."
President Obama's vision for high-speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the U.S. Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high-speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.
In attendance for today's roundtable: Governors Pat Quinn, Illinois; Sonny Perdue, Georgia; Deval Patrick, Massachusetts; Jennifer Granholm, Michigan; Jay Nixon, Missouri; Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania; Tim Kaine, Virginia; and Jim Doyle, Wisconsin. In addition, state transportation officials from California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Rhode Island and West Virginia also attended the roundtable.
In April, President Obama released a strategic plan outlining his vision for high-speed rail. The plan identifies $13 billion in federal funds - $8 billion in the Recovery Act and $5 billion requested in the President's budget - to jump-start a potential world-class passenger rail system and sets the direction of transportation policy for the future. Detailed guidance for up to the first $8 billion in federal grant applications will be announced later this month and the first round of grants are expected to be awarded as soon as late summer 2009.
In developing the high-speed rail program, Administration officials have sought extensive input from states, Congress, labor, industry, rail experts from countries with working high-speed rail networks, and other key stakeholders. Today's roundtable follows Secretary LaHood's recent fact-finding trip to several European countries where he met with transportation officials and rail operators and witnessed first-hand the operations of working high-speed rail systems. Other senior U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) officials recently hosted a series of seven regional workshops around the country.
"Everyone knows I'm a big believer in our nation's rail system - I've devoted a big part of my career doing what I can to support it - and I'm proud that this Administration is about to transform that system fundamentally," said Vice President Biden. "Thanks to an $8 billion investment from the Recovery Act, we're going to start building a high-speed rail system that will loosen the congestion suffocating our highways and skyways, and make travel in this country leaner, meaner and a whole lot cleaner."
"America is ready to embrace a new level of passenger rail service that offers a safe, convenient, and sustainable way to travel from city to city, and region to region," said Secretary LaHood. "President Obama has handed us an extraordinary opportunity - and now it is up to all of us to seize the moment. With creative input and contributions from governors across the country, I believe we'll be able to do just that."
President Obama's vision for high-speed rail mirrors that of President Eisenhower, the father of the U.S. Interstate highway system, which revolutionized the way Americans traveled. Now, high-speed rail has the potential to reduce U.S. dependence on oil, lower harmful carbon emissions, foster new economic development and give travelers more choices when it comes to moving around the country.
In attendance for today's roundtable: Governors Pat Quinn, Illinois; Sonny Perdue, Georgia; Deval Patrick, Massachusetts; Jennifer Granholm, Michigan; Jay Nixon, Missouri; Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania; Tim Kaine, Virginia; and Jim Doyle, Wisconsin. In addition, state transportation officials from California, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Rhode Island and West Virginia also attended the roundtable.
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posted by Transportrankings
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