Transportation Safety


Final Rule Requires Transit Agencies to Maintain Capital Assets

Grantees will have to develop plants for assets, including vehicles, facilities, equipment, and infrastructure. In 2013, FTA says, the transit industry deferred maintenance needs to a tune of $86 billion, representing more than 12 percent of total assets nationwide.

Federal Highway Administration Invites States to Designate 'Zero-Emission' and 'Alternative Fuel' Corridors

The initiative will help drivers find alternative fuels and contribute to smart city development.

This July 2015 photo shows an autonomous underwater vehicle being deployed in the underwater search for the missing MH370 aircraft. (ATSB photo)

MH370 Hunters Agree Not to Terminate Search

Only 10,000 square kilometers of the high-priority search area remaining to be searched, and the three governments involved had agreed earlier to stop searching if the missing plane wasn’t found in that area. But they agreed July 22 only to suspend the search if that is what happens.

FAA Improves Runway Conditions Reporting

New Takeoff and Landing Performance Assessment standards, matrix will reduce the risk of overrun accidents.

DOT Moves Gateway Projects Into Funding Queue

"Building a new rail tunnel under the Hudson to allow for the repair of the ancient and Sandy-damaged tunnels is critical for the countless commuters, shoppers, and tourists who are the lifeblood of our regional economy," U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said.

FMCSA Declares Passenger Motor Carriers to be a Public Safety Hazard

FMCSA Declares Passenger Motor Carriers to be a Public Safety Hazard

A father and son have both been declared an imminent hazard to public safety.

Missed Stop Signal Cited in Train Collision Report

The report says BNSF will implement a positive train control system in that part of its systems by the end of 2016, and that preliminary review of locomotive event recorder data showed the eastbound train was traveling about 62 mph when it went by the approach signal at the west end of the Panhandle siding and about 65 mph when it went by the stop signal at the east end of the siding.

FAA Rules the Republican Convention a No Drone Zone

FAA Rules the Republican Convention a No Drone Zone

Flight restrictions have been put in place in Cleveland, Ohio, from July 17 to July 22.



NTSB's Tank Car Agenda Eyes 'Aggressive Retrofit'

The agenda says the second discussion topic on July 13 is tank car retrofit logistics and capacity and "what is the industry's current capability to pursue an aggressive retrofit or replacement schedule given the implementation requirements of Section 7304 of the FAST Act."

NHTSA Begins Car Safety Bus Tour

The tour is intended to raise public awareness of the Takata airbag recall, vehicle recalls and how to search for them using NHTSA's Recalls Look-Up Tool, as well as tire maintenance, child safety seats, and heatstroke when children are left in hot cars.

FMCSA said it will consider a crash non-preventable if the commercial motor vehicle was hit by a motorist who was convicted of one of these offenses, or a related offense: DUI, driving the wrong direction, striking the CMV in the rear, or striking the CMV while it was legally stopped.

FMCSA Seeks Comments on Crash Preventability Demonstration Program

FMCSA said it will consider a crash non-preventable if the commercial motor vehicle was hit by a motorist who was convicted of one of these offenses, or a related offense: DUI, driving the wrong direction, striking the CMV in the rear, or striking the CMV while it was legally stopped.

FAA Policy Encourages Voluntary Safety Equipment Installation

FAA Policy Encourages Voluntary Safety Equipment Installation

The new policy is intended for general aviation aircraft.

Testing Rules to Cover Rail Maintenance of Way Workers

"These new rules add another layer of protection for workers who work along and near railroad tracks and will help us reduce preventable worker injuries and fatalities," said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.

New Chief for Australian Transport Safety Bureau Arrives

Greg Hood began a five-year term on July 1 as ATSB's second chief commissioner. He has more than 35 years' experience in the transportation industry, beginning his career as an air traffic controller in the Royal Australian Air Force before working in the country's civil aviation industry.

NTSB Schedules Roundtable on Hazard Rail Shipments

The July 13 event is planned for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with representatives from the railroad industry, railcar manufacturers and owners, and industry associations attending to discuss the progress of moving to a new and stronger rail tank car, the DOT 117.

FRA Determines Track Maintenance Failures Caused Columbia River Gorge Derailment

FRA's preliminary investigation determined the derailment was caused by broken lag bolts leading to a wide track gauge. Investigators found multiple lag bolts in the track section were broken and sheared, leading to tie plates loosening from ties and allowing the rails to be pushed outwards as trains moved across them.

Tennessee Truck Driver Considered an Imminent Hazard to Public Safety

The driver, Randall Weddle, was served a federal order on June 22.

Toxic Chemicals Series, Metro Fire Story Honored in Journalism Awards Contest

The 2016 National Press Club Journalism Contest also awarded the Consumer Journalism, newspapers, award to the Associated Press for its stories about the fishing industry in Southeast Asia’s use of slave laborers.

Columbus Wins Smart City Challenge

Columbus plans to deploy three electric self-driving shuttles to link a new bus rapid transit center to a retail district and use data analytics to improve health care access in a neighborhood where the infant mortality rate quadruples the national average.

VW to Pay Roughly $10.2 Billion to Settle Emissions Claims

A source briefed the Associated Press, saying the money would go mainly to compensate 482,000 owners.

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