Updated every weekday as available
Daily Progress, March 8, 2010
"A dozen transit improvement projects in Virginia — including in Charlottesville — will share $12.7 million in stimulus funding.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the grants Friday.
In Charlottesville, Charlottesville Area Transit will receive $3.7 million to purchase four hybrid buses, operating assistance, shelters, amenities and miscellaneous equipment.
"
Daily Progress, March 8, 2010
"Virginia’s future is on rails.
``Whether you like rail or not, it is the future,‘’ said Thelma Drake, the new director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. ``It’s all about mobility and how you serve the maximum number of people.‘’
The state suffered a setback in the recent announcement of federal stimulus grants for high-speed passenger-rail projects across the nation. Virginia sought $1.8 billion but got just $75 million for its top rail initiative.
But state and local officials were undaunted in their efforts to improve rail service between Washington and Richmond, and on into the rest of the state.
"
Washington Post, March 5, 2010
"A federal investigation has identified pervasive flaws in rail safety at Metro and severe inadequacies in the agency responsible for oversight. Findings released Thursday call for widespread changes in how the nation’s second-busiest subway system is supervised and managed.
"
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star, February 25, 2010
"A limited group of hybrid owners will likely have another year to use carpool lanes on Interstate 95 at rush hour, regardless of the number of people inside the car.
Both houses of the Virginia General Assembly have passed a bill extending the exemption for clean special fuel vehicles in High Occupancy Vehicle lanes.
"
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Updated every week as available
Washington Post, March 5, 2010
"A federal investigation has identified pervasive flaws in rail safety at Metro and severe inadequacies in the agency responsible for oversight. Findings released Thursday call for widespread changes in how the nation’s second-busiest subway system is supervised and managed.
"
Daily Progress, March 8, 2010
"Virginia’s future is on rails.
``Whether you like rail or not, it is the future,‘’ said Thelma Drake, the new director of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. ``It’s all about mobility and how you serve the maximum number of people.‘’
The state suffered a setback in the recent announcement of federal stimulus grants for high-speed passenger-rail projects across the nation. Virginia sought $1.8 billion but got just $75 million for its top rail initiative.
But state and local officials were undaunted in their efforts to improve rail service between Washington and Richmond, and on into the rest of the state.
"
Leesburg Today, February 18, 2010
"Instead of voting on whether staff should evaluate a new location for the planned Rt. 606 Metro station, the Board of Supervisors decided Wednesday the issue needed more vetting and sent the item to a March 2 committee-of-the-whole work session.
"
Loudoun Independent, February 3, 2010
"Virginia’s General Assembly House Transportation Subcommittee voted unanimously to send House Bill 277, which potentially would create plans for a Western Bypass Corridor, to the full House Transportation Committee with a recommendation that it be referred to the House Appropriations Committee due to potential costs... Called the Western Bypass, the road would be a portion of a so-called Outer Beltway, which was first proposed in the 1950s and would encircle Washington D.C., possibly cutting through numerous existing communities, including in Loudoun."
Roanoke Times, February 9, 2010
"Virginia could eliminate about one in three trucks from Interstate 81 with extensive --and expensive -- rail improvements, a consultant says.
Given the high cost and logistical barriers to such a plan, however, the consultant endorses a more modest approach that will shift fewer trucks -- perhaps one in seven -- much to the disappointment of some railroad supporters.
"
Washington Post, January 29, 2010
"President Obama doled out $8 billion in federal stimulus money Thursday to build and improve rail lines in 31 states, helping fund high-speed service between Richmond and Washington and replacement of a 19th-century tunnel through Baltimore. "
Charlottesville Tomorrow, February 2, 2010
"At their meeting on Wednesday, January 27, 2010, the MPO Policy Board heard details regarding a new transportation planning tool, elected new officers, and passed two resolutions related to finding new sources of transportation funding."
Washington Post, January 15, 2010
"Despite making transportation a top priority during last year’s campaign, Gov.-elect Robert F. McDonnell (R) said Thursday that he will not propose a fix during this year’s legislative session.
"There are only so many things the General Assembly and I can do well in a short period of time," McDonnell said in an interview. "I don’t think that there are enough hours in the day for the General Assembly to evaluate that plan and for me to build the consensus to get it passed." "
Washington Post, January 15, 2010
"Prince George’s County Council members are accusing officials overseeing construction of the Intercounty Connector of penalizing the county by canceling or changing more of its environmental projects than those in Montgomery County.
"
Washington Post, January 17, 2010
"On Jan. 3, I devoted the column to several reviews of 2009’s transportation developments. Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth and David Alpert of Greater Greater Washington, an online forum for discussion of transportation issues, sent in their own best and worst list, offering a different take. "
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