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Flying Cars and Drones Pose Policy Challenges for Managing and Regulating Low-Altitude Airspace

Description: This report discusses the possibility that flying cars may soon become a reality. Development and marketing efforts are bringing to the fore new policy and regulatory challenges regarding the control of low-altitude airspace, safety, noise, privacy, and landowner rights. They also are raising new questions about the appropriate roles of federal, state, and local authorities in regulating and managing these operations.
Date: July 23, 2018
Creator: Elias, Bart
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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"Duck Boat" Accident Highlights Gap in Regulation

Description: 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.
Date: July 20, 2018
Creator: Canis, Bill
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: 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.
Date: July 6, 2018
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Administration's Infrastructure Program Emphasizes Nonfederal Revenue

Description: 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 t… more
Date: February 14, 2018
Creator: Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Highway Bridge Conditions: Issues for Congress

Description: 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.
Date: January 17, 2018
Creator: Kirk, Robert S. & Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Funding and Financing Highways and Public Transportation

Description: 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.
Date: January 11, 2018
Creator: Kirk, Robert S. & Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Vessel Incidental Discharge Legislation in the 115th Congress: Background and Issues

Description: 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.
Date: January 8, 2018
Creator: Gatz, Laura
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Private Partnerships (P3s) in Transportation

Description: 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 lo… more
Date: November 2, 2017
Creator: Mallett, William J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Transport Agencies Withdraw Proposed Sleep Apnea Rules

Description: 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.
Date: October 2, 2017
Creator: Peterman, David Randall
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Amtrak: Overview

Description: 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.
Date: September 28, 2017
Creator: Peterman, David Randall
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Issues in Autonomous Vehicle Deployment

Description: 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.
Date: September 5, 2017
Creator: Canis, Bill
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Airport Privatization: Issues and Options for Congress

Description: 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.
Date: August 16, 2017
Creator: Tang, Rachel Y.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: 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 … more
Date: August 15, 2017
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trespassing: The Leading Cause of Rail-Related Fatalities

Description: 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.
Date: August 15, 2017
Creator: Frittelli, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Tolling U.S. Highways and Bridges

Description: 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.
Date: August 4, 2017
Creator: Kirk, Robert S.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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