Capitol Hill Transportation News
Congressional push to end federal funding for Minnesota transportation projects – Three major rail projects in Minnesota could soon find themselves off the tracks as there’s a push underway in Congress to halt federal funding. The Minnesota Republican Congressional Delegation is behind the effort, sending a joint letter urging Congress to rethink how it funds projects.
U.S. Department of Transportation News
U.S. Department of Transportation Advances Key Drone Rules – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy submitted two proposed rules to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Specifically, he submitted Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations (BVLOS) and restricted Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operations at a fixed site facility.
Trump administration agrees to end use of race, gender in highway, transit contracts – The Trump administration said on Wednesday it has agreed to end the U.S. Transportation Department’s consideration of race or gender when awarding billions of dollars in federal highway and transit project funding set aside for disadvantaged small businesses.
DOT issues dozens of deregulatory notices – This week, the DOT announced more than 50 proposals or final rules aimed at streamlining the Code of Federal Regulations. The actions made by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the Federal Highway Administration, and the National Traffic Safety Administration target “redundant” rules.
Other Federal Mobility News
Department of Transportation announces first-of-its-kind agreement with Connecticut DOT – U.S. Deputy Transportation Secretary Steven G. Bradbury joined state officials in Connecticut to announce a first-of-its-kind programmatic agreement establishing a unified federal review process and delegating authority to the state to accelerate the review of individual transportation projects that may affect historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
U.S. Department of Transportation allocates over $400 million for N.C. Helene road repairs – The U.S. Department of Transportation announced more than $400 million in funding to repair Helene damaged roads and bridges. The funding’s purpose is to accelerate Helene repairs related to federally funded roads, highways, and bridges, including the I-40 repairs in the Pigeon River Gorge.
DOT Awards $9.2 Million to North Dakota Department of Transportation – The Department of Transportation awarded two grants to the North Dakota Department of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program. The ER Program supplements state and local resources to help pay for substantial expenses resulting from extraordinary conditions.
