The Eno Center for Transportation > Articles > Week of December 17, 2018

Eno Transportation Weekly

Week of December 17, 2018

Appropriations, Federal funding, Federal governance, Governance

Partial Government Shutdown Inevitable As FY19 Funding Negotiations Continue

December 21, 2018 - The House and Senate have adjourned for the evening, and can't return until at least noon tomorrow, which will be twelve hours after large portions of the federal government – including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Homeland Security – run out of annual appropriations at midnight tonight.

Appropriations, Federal funding, Federal governance, Governance, Transit workforce

Shutdown Would Furlough 38 Percent of USDOT Employees

December 21, 2018 - The partial shutdown of the federal government that may take effect at midnight tonight would furlough 38 percent of U.S. Department of Transportation employees and force another 46 percent to work without the a guarantee of being paid. Just 14 percent of USDOT employees would continue to work and be paid as normal.

In This Issue

Appropriations, Federal funding, Federal governance, Governance

Emergency Appropriations Package Includes $2.7B for Transportation and Infrastructure

December 21, 2018 2018 has seen hurricanes, typhoons, massive wildfires, and a volcanic eruption affect communities in the United States. A package of emergency supplemental appropriations to address the consequences of these natural disasters was... Sorry - you don't have access to this item. Please log in below, or check out our membership options. Username [...]

By Jeff Davis

FASTLANE, Federal governance, Governance, State governance, Traffic safety, Trucking

FMCSA Issues Order Preempting California State Law on Trucker Meal/Rest Breaks

December 21, 2018 – At 5:15 p.m. today – the Friday before Christmas – the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it has determined that California’s state laws requiring minimum meal and rest breaks for truck drivers are preempted by federal hours-of-service laws. The determination by FMCSA came in response to petitions filed by [...]

By Jeff Davis

Automated vehicles, Federal governance, Governance

With AV START Dead for 2018, Supporters Look to Next Congress

December 21, 2018 – Legislators and advocates for federal automated vehicle legislation conceded this week that the clock had run out on the AV START Act but expressed optimism for the bill’s chances in the new Congress.

By Alexander Laska

Federal funding, Federal governance, Fuel tax, Governance, Rail, Railroads

Tax Package Passes House but Looks Dead in Senate

December 21, 2018 A $99.2 billion package of year-end tax reductions passed the House of Representatives last night by a party-line roll call vote of 220 to 183. But the legislation (text here) does not appear to be close to the votes needed for S... Sorry - you don't have access to this item. Please [...]

By Jeff Davis

FASTLANE, Federal funding, Federal governance, Freight, Governance, Highways

DOT Requests Applications for FY19 INFRA Grants

December 21, 2018 – The Department of Transportation today solicited applications for fiscal year 2019 grants under what is now called the INFRA surface transportation grant program created by the FAST Act (officially the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects program, but no one can pronounce NSFHP). Applications are due March 4, 2019 for what USDOT [...]

By Jeff Davis

Appropriations, Automated vehicles, Federal funding

USDOT Makes $60 Million Available for Automated Driving System Demonstration Projects

December 21, 2018 – USDOT announced late Friday it will make up to $60 million in federal grant funding available for demonstration projects that test the safe integration of automated driving systems (ADS) on U.S. roadways.

By Alexander Laska

Bicycle, Bridges, Federal funding, Federal governance, Governance, Highway Trust Fund, Highways, Pedestrian, Streets

2018 BUILD Grants Maintain Proportion of Projects With Active Transportation Elements

December 20, 2018 – Of the 91 BUILD grantee projects announced last week, 27 of the projects (30 percent) include some element relating to bicycles, pedestrians, or complete streets.

By Alice Grossman

Federal governance, Governance, State governance, Trucking

New Rule Allows States to Issue One-Year Commercial Learner’s Permits

December 21, 2018 – The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has published a new rule to allow State Driver Licensing Agencies to issue a commercial learner’s permit for one year, up from the current 180 days.

By Alexander Laska

Automated vehicles, connected vehicles, Federal governance, Governance, Traffic safety

NHTSA Announces Streamlined Process for Reviewing Motor Vehicle Safety Exemptions

December 20, 2018 – NHTSA issued a final rule Tuesday to streamline the process for considering automakers’ petitions for exemptions from federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and federal bumper rules, saying it will help make the review process faster as automated vehicle technologies continue to evolve.

By Alexander Laska