DOT 74-13
News Digest
BTS Releases State Transportation Statistics 2012 with Mapping Application. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), today released its annual State Transportation Statistics 2012 (STS) – a web-only reference guide to transportation data for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. STS 2012 includes a wide range of state-by-state information. The 10th annual STS consists of 115 tables of state data on infrastructure, safety, freight transportation, passenger travel, registered vehicles and vehicle-miles traveled, economy and finance, and energy and environment, plus a U.S. Fast Facts page. In addition to the STS 2012 tables, state-by-state data can be viewed in a State Transportation Facts and Figures mapping application. Contact: Dave Smallen (202) 366-5568.
Proposal Provides Increased Flexibility for States to Lead Environmental Review Process. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today issued a proposal that would give states an opportunity to manage the federally required environmental review process for highway, rail and transit projects. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would expand the Surface Transportation Project Delivery program for interested states, implementing a key provision of MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century). Since its creation in the “Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users” (SAFETEA-LU) in 2006, the STPD program has been available only as a pilot in five states. The NPRM appears in today's Federal Register. The public is invited to submit its comments through www.regulations.gov during the 60-day public comment period, which will expire on Oct. 29, 2013. Contact: Doug Hecox (202) 366-0660.
DOT Proposes to Approve Delta-Virgin Atlantic Antitrust Immunity Agreement. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today proposed to approve a request by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic Airways, along with their SkyTeam partners, for antitrust immunity that would allow the airlines to operate a joint venture on flights between the United States and United Kingdom. If the decision is made final, Delta and Virgin Atlantic would be able to more closely coordinate their operations between North America and the United Kingdom. The Department tentatively concluded that the alliance would benefit passengers by providing stronger competition with existing alliances in the U.S.-Europe market and that it would be unlikely to have anticompetitive effects. Objections to DOT’s show-cause order are due in 14 calendar days, with answers to objections due seven calendar days afterward. The show-cause order is available at www.regulations.gov , docket DOT-OST-2013-0068. Contact: Bill Mosley, (202) 366-4570.
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