Search Results

Waterway User Charges: Background and analysis of alternatives
This report is a background analysis of the waterway user charges
An Urban Transit Finance Primer
This report documents the history of transit systems in the United States and discusses ways to lessen the financial strain of maintaining them.
Federal research and demonstrations in new transit technology: The Morgantown ,west Virginia Project
This report presents the Federal research and demonstrations in new transit technology between the west Virginia University and Morgantown ,west Virginia.
Settling Transportation Labor Disputes: Present Procedures, and Changes proposed by the Nixon Administration
This report addresses settling transport labor disputes, present procedures, and changes proposed by the Nixon administration.
The Railway Fireman Manning Dispute: History and Issues, 1959-1970
This report addresses the railway fireman manning dispute: its history and issues spanning from 1959 to 1970.
Collision Avoidance Technologies
This report is about collision avoidance technologies.
Congressional Proposals Dealing With National Emergency Strikes
This report describes how national emergency strikes have been dealt with under the Labor Management Relations Act (Taft-Hartley Act) and the Railway Labor Act. The report also describes bills being put into the House and the Senate that deal with strikes, and information about each.
Federal Participation in Highway Construction, 1800-1970 A Brief Summary
This report is a brief summary of the Federal government's participation in highway construction during 1800-11970.
Pipeline Safety: Overdue Statutory Mandates
This report discusses the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) failure to fulfill key mandates of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-90) and the PIPES Act of 2016 (P.L. 114-183).
Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress
This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Coast Guard's programs for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs). The Coast Guard's proposed FY2019 budget requests a total of $705 million in acquisition funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs.
"Duck Boat" Accident Highlights Gap in Regulation
This report discusses recent accidents involving amphibious passenger vehicles (APVs), commonly known as "duck boats." The report highlights a gap in the regulation of APVs and provides recommendations made by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to improve safety.
Positive Train Control (PTC): Overview and Policy Issues
This report discusses positive train control (PTC) systems which is a safety system that monitors train speed in relation to speed limits and automatically slow and speed up if they detect a speed violating track rules.
Trespassing: The Leading Cause of Rail-Related Fatalities
This report discusses trespassing on railroad property and tracks and how it is the leading cause of train accident fatalities. Statistics on rail related fatalities and prevention strategies are discussed.
Funding and Financing Highways and Public Transportation
This report discusses the current federal funding structure for surface transportation and the budget shortfalls in the Highway Trust Fund (made up of funds from gas taxes). Various options for resolving the funding shortfall are discussed, including raising the gas tax, public-private partnerships, and tolls.
Federal Public Transportation Program: In Brief
This report provides a brief description of the Federal Public Transportation Program and its functions and funding.
Trends in Public Transportation Ridership: Implications for Federal Policy
This report discusses the implications of recent trends in public transit ridership in the U.S. for future federal policy.
Administration's Infrastructure Program Emphasizes Nonfederal Revenue
This report discusses the Trump Administration's infrastructure plan and specifically the newly proposed Infrastructure Incentives Program. The report focuses on the potential of the program for projects submitted to the Department of Transportation (DOT), one of the agencies that would be charged with administering the program in addition to the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal does not break out the funds that would be directed to specific agencies or types of infrastructure.
The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program
This report discusses the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program.
U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues
This report discusses U.S. strategic nuclear forces and delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons.
Highway Bridge Conditions: Issues for Congress
This report discusses the state of highway bridges in the U.S. and federal funding programs to assist in their repair and maintenance. Statistics on the numbers of structurally deficient bridges and their locations are included.
Defense Primer: U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM)
This report describes the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) duties, departments, and assets as well as issues for Congress to consider.
Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mobility, Reconnaissance, and Firepower Programs
This report discusses the Army's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) and transport and reconnaissance vehicles being developed for their use. The FY2019 budget request for the program is also included.
Vessel Incidental Discharge Legislation in the 115th Congress: Background and Issues
This report outlines regulations for vessels discharging ballast water into U.S waters, to prevent the spread of invasive species and pollution of bodies of water. It discusses various federal, state, and Coast Guard requirements along with exempted vessel types, and recent legislative action regarding the issue.
Public Private Partnerships (P3s) in Transportation
This report discusses the benefits and limitations of public-private partnerships (P3s) that involve long-term private financing, the experience with these types of P3s in the United States, and current federal policy. The report outlines a number of issues and policy options that Congress might consider: project evaluation and transparency, asset recycling, incentive grants, infrastructure banks, tax credits for equity and debt, Interstate highway tolling, and changes to an existing federal loan program.
Presidential Permit Review for Cross-Border Pipelines and Electric Transmission
This report discusses the Presidential Permit review processes for cross-border energy infrastructure as implemented by these agencies: The Department of State for pipelines and similar facilities that transport liquids such as petroleum, petroleum products, and other hazardous liquids; The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for natural gas pipelines and associated facilities; and The Department of Energy (DOE) for electricity transmission lines and associated facilities. This report compares practices among these three agencies with respect to how they define a proposed project's scope (which dictates the array of associated impacts they will review), conduct environmental reviews, and make final decisions on permit applications. It also includes a discussion of recent efforts by Congress to change those permitting processes.
Revitalizing Coastal Shipping for Domestic Commerce
This report examines recent trends in waterborne freight movement within the United States and offers policy options that might strengthen the competitive position of coastal and Great Lakes shipping in the face of robust demand for freight transportation.
Tolling U.S. Highways and Bridges
This report explains current federal policies governing tolling and discusses issues related to increasing the use of tolls as a source of revenue for surface transportation projects.
Airport Privatization: Issues and Options for Congress
This report discusses airport privatization under the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP) and the airports that have been involved in the program on some level. Examples of airport privatization in the United Kingdom and Canada are also discussed.
Amtrak: Overview
This report provides an overview of the Amtrak rail service, Topics discussed are funding sources and shortfalls, current and proposed infrastructure, current ridership, on-time arrival improvements needed, service areas, and private passenger rail initiatives in Texas, Florida, and California.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD): Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations
This report discusses the fiscal year 2017 appropriations for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and related agencies. Comparisons between previous and current funding levels and cuts proposed by the Trump Administration are also discussed.
Department of Transportation (DOT): Fiscal Year 2017 Appropriations
This report outlines the Department of Transportation's (DOT) appropriations for fiscal year 2017 and highlights selected areas of funding such as intercity passenger rail, Highway trust funding solvency, TIGER grants, and Essential Air Service (EAS).
The Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) Program
This report discuses the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan program administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) which offers long-term low interest loans to railroad operators fro improving rail infrastructure. It was originality intended to assist small freight railroads but has been of increasing interest to passenger rail lines. Its structure, application process, approved projects, and challenges are discussed.
Trespassing: The Leading Cause of Rail-Related Fatalities
This report discusses rail-related fatalities and the problem of trespassing by pedestrians on the railroad tracks which is the leading cause of fatalities in rail incidents. Statistics on fatalities, known causes of trespassing, and initiatives to reduce trespassing incidents such as Operation Lifesaver are discussed.
Transport Agencies Withdraw Proposed Sleep Apnea Rules
This report discusses the withdrawing of a proposed rule by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that would have required long-haul truck drivers and railroad engineers to be screened for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The risks of OSA, current regulations and safety requirements, and recent accidents involving drivers with OSA are also discussed.
Surface Transportation Devolution
This report discusses proposals regarding the devolution of surface transportation building and maintenance to states and the economic and safety related impacts such an act might have. Arguments for and against the idea and recent revisions to surface transportation legislation which already reduce federal regulation are also discussed.
Airline Passenger Rights: The Federal Role in Aviation Consumer Protection
This report examines aviation consumer protections following the 1978 elimination of most governmental control regarding airline business practices. It explains the roles of Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in protecting airline consumers, and discusses some major passenger rights issues and related laws and regulations.
Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Deployment
This report discusses issues related to autonomous vehicle regulations on the federal and state level and proposals by Congress to establish new regulatory rules (H.R. 3388) that would create a federal standard for autonomous vehicles and require state law to be in agreement with the federal law.
Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress
This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the sustainment and modernization of the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker fleet. The Coast Guard's proposed FY2017 budget requests $150 million in acquisition funding for a new polar icebreaker that the Coast Guard wants to begin building in FY2020. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Administration's FY2017 acquisition funding request for a new polar icebreaker, and, more generally, whether to approve, reject, or modify the Coast Guard's overall plan for sustaining and modernizing the polar icebreaking fleet.
The Coast Guard's Role in Safeguarding Maritime Transportation: Selected Issues
This report discusses the the U.S. Coast Guard responsibility for safeguarding vessel traffic on the nation's coastal and inland waterways.
Transportation Spending Under an Earmark Ban
This report explains what earmarks are and discusses their use in surface transportation finance. It then discusses how federal transportation funding is distributed with a ban in place and how Members of Congress might influence the distribution.
Proposals for Funding Mass Transportation
This report provides outlines the key points of basic concepts for funding mass transportation. The author outlines four funding concepts: contract authority, a general transportation trust fund, an urban transportation trust fund, and the optional use of highway trust fund money.
Supersonic Transports, U.S and foreign -- A legislative history
This report discusses the aircraft which would carry the passengers faster than the speed of sound.
Gun Control: Comparison of Major Provisions of H.R. 11193 S. 1880, S. 2186 (H.R. 9022) and H.R. 9763
This report address gun control
The Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress
This report provides background information on the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), which is the Army's proposed replacement to the Vietnam-era M-113 personnel carriers.
Environmental Aspects of Transportation: Activities in the 91st Congress
This report discusses legislation in the 91st Congress related to environmental aspects of transportation.
Dakota Access Pipeline: Siting Controversy
This report discusses the Dakota Access Pipeline including background on the project and information about siting approval, as well as opposition and litigation against the pipeline.
The Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress
This report provides background information on the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV), which is the Army's proposed replacement to the Vietnam-era M-113 personnel carriers.
Funding and Financing Highways and Public Transportation
This report begins with a discussion of the problems associated with the trust fund financing system (which supports both federal highway and public transportation programs) and then explores possible options for financing surface transportation infrastructure.
Fatal Balloon Accident Highlights Disagreement Between Safety Agencies
This report briefly discusses the the safety of hot-air balloons and examines the current regulatory climate. On July 30, 2016, a hot-air balloon tour flight crashed about 30 miles south of Austin, Texas, killing the pilot and all 15 passengers on board.
Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress
This report examines aviation, transit and passenger rail security, as well as port and maritime security. The difficulty and cost of protecting the transportation sector from attack raises a core question for policymakers, i.e., how much effort and resources to put toward protecting potential targets versus pursuing and fighting terrorists.
Back to Top of Screen