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USDOT Sums Up A Remarkable Four Years In Department History

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Yesterday, USDOT issued a sweeping, 6,700-word news release summarizing its accomplishments under the administration of President Joe Biden and Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

As might be expected, the multimodal system improvements set in motion by signature Biden era legislation such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) get top billing. More than 40 new programs, the department notes, “allowed for the tens of thousands of projects now taking shape in communities across America,” most of which will be completed after Biden leaves office on Monday. Those projects “are fueling the growth of good-paying skilled trade jobs, spurring long-needed modernization in communities of all sizes, including rural and Tribal regions, and giving states and cities the ability to carry out projects that had been on the backburner for years or even decades due to a lack of funding,” USDOT states.

Transportation safety and new consumer protections for airline passengers are also prominently spotlighted in the news release. Overviews of improvements in supply chain logistics and infrastructure sustainability against climate change, as well as research and innovation accomplishments, are also provided. USDOT notes that two broad goals of Secretary Buttigieg figured in all the initiatives highlighted: “connecting people to opportunity through transportation investments,” and ensuring that all modes of transportation modes are affordable and accessible to the people who depend on them.

Reflections on Buttigieg’s leadership and accomplishments are also the subject of a Transport Topics article.

ICYMI: View TRB Event Focused On Transportation R&D And Innovation

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During the Chair’s Plenary Session of last week’s Transportation Research Board (TRB) annual meeting, Victoria Sheehan, TRB executive director, and Sarah Sharples, chief scientific advisor for the UK Department for Transport, delivered remarks on transportation research and development. TRB also conferred five major awards and hosted a “fireside chat” on “cultures of innovation in policy, practice, and technology.” Representatives of the International Association of Public Transport, PIARC (World Road Association), the World Bank, and the International Road Federation participated in the discussion moderated by Texas Southern University professor Carol Lewis and University of Pennsylvania professor (and former PennDOT and SEPTA chief) Leslie Richards.

A video of the entire session can be viewed on YouTube.

TransCore Completes End-To-End System Upgrade For West Virginia Turnpike

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A TransCore news release marks the company’s recent successful launch of an “Infinity Digital Lane System with updated E-ZPass infrastructure and fully integrated toll-by-plate transaction processing capabilities” at all four toll West Virginia Turnpike toll plazas. The new roadside collection system fulfills the turnpike’s need for advanced tolling technology that optimizes transaction processing and accommodates motorists’ increasing reliance on electronic toll payment while supporting a range of convenient payment options, toll-by-plate included.

Jeff Miller, executive director of the West Virginia Parkways Authority (WVPA), the turnpike operator, commented, “This system upgrade was crucial for ensuring WVPA can efficiently operate and support our travelers well into the future. . . . Many Turnpike drivers are already experiencing the benefits of the back-office system upgrade we partnered with TransCore to deploy a few months ago, but now that the lane technology is also live, I’m confident that our end-to-end systems are providing more efficient, streamlined travel for our motorists.”

TransCore and the authority also collaborated on deploying the 2008 system that the new, upgraded technology has replaced. Whitt Hall, TransCore President and CEO, commented, “Having worked in close partnership with WVPA for the better part of two decades, it’s exciting to see our technology, people, and combined efforts culminate in a technologically advanced system that continues to improve the user experience for Turnpike motorists.”

More Evidence Congestion Pricing Is Changing Manhattan Traffic Patterns

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Data supplied to The Financial Times (FT) by INRIX shows that traffic has already started moving faster during at least one peak period on most bridges and tunnels leading to the Manhattan congestion zone. On the contrary, three bridges not connected to the congestion zone didn’t experience similar traffic speed increases.

The change in traffic movement across each bridge and tunnel is displayed in a chart imbedded in the FT article. The INRIX findings are derived from an analysis of anonymized GPS data collected before and after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) launched congestion zone tolling on January 5.

“An FT analysis of hourly traffic data from [MTA] also showed fewer vehicles in affected tunnels during rush hours. Bridges and tunnels outside the zone carried more vehicles.”

The article includes positive observations on changes in Manhattan traffic volume and mobility by an INRIX staffer, a University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign engineering professor, and Benjamin Moshes, a co-creator of the Congestion Pricing Tracker.

South Korea Incentivizes Alternative Fuel Vehicle Sales With Subsidies And Toll Discounts

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The South Korean government today announced it is offering several financial incentives to boost sales of electric vehicles (EVs), expand infrastructure to accommodate commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and generally shore up its place in the global EV and hydrogen vehicle markets, Korea JoongAng Daily reports.

“Under the policies, all buyers aged between 19 and 34 who select an EV for their first car will be given up to 20 percent additional subsidy on top of the maximum 5.8 million won ($3,973) of existing subsidy that goes to all EVs that cost less than 53 million won [$36,416].” In addition, “All EV owners will be exempt from individual consumption tax and acquisition tax until 2026 and get a discount on highway toll fees until 2027.” Through a 720 billion won ($495 million) investment, the government also plans to expand its fleet of hydrogen-fueled buses and more than double the number of commercial hydrogen fuel stations. Other measures are detailed in the article.

“‘EVs and batteries are the future of the mobility industry; the government will spare no expense for Korea to actively respond to the current slowing down trend and regain its leadership in the rapidly changing global markets,’ said Ahn Duk-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.”