In This Issue

	Mineta Steps Down
	$3 Billion for HI Rail
	E-ZPass used to Track Drivers
	Skyrocketing Costs delay TDOT
	Virginia Limits Hybrids in HOV Lanes
	‘Distance Dots' tried in Preventing Tailgating
	Alabama Drives into Second
	Plans for Memphis Light Rail
	Texas RMA Resolution Turmoil
	Highway Improvements could Cost Millions
	Transportation Community Advisory Committee Issues Final Report

Editor's Note: This week marked the 50th Anniversary of the Interstate Highway System. Many of you participated in events across the country and in DC on the 28th and 29th. These have been fitting tributes to not only the system but to the men and women who made it all possible. On Thursday I was interviewed by National Public Radio for their "All Things Considered" show and was asked what the most important project was on the interstate system. I told them that I had been privileged to work on many and that picking one would be like choosing your favorite child at the dinner table. It was however, a great question that caused me to be introspective about the projects I have worked on over the years. Hopefully, you can answer this question yourself and go through that same searching process. Congratulations to each who had a hand in building this world class system. TW

Mineta Steps Down

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Transportation chief Norman Mineta is resigning his position as of July 7, to "move on to other challenges." Mineta, who helped the nation overcome the challenges of 9-11, has been the longest-serving transportation secretary in the department's 39-year history.

"Norm worked hard to help eliminate red tape and liberalize the commercial aviation market," President Bush said in a statement. "After Hurricane Katrina, Norm and his team were able to rapidly repair and reopen the region's major highways, airports, seaports and pipelines."

Mineta is a former Democratic congressman who also served as the commerce secretary in the second Clinton administration. As one of the only Bush cabinet members still in office, he assisted in passing a six-year, $286.4 billion highway spending plan in July.

Mineta is widely known and respected in Washington and by his peers for his deep transportation knowledge and expertise.

Secretary Mineta has served this country for many years in ways that have benefited the user's of our nation's transportation system. He deserves our thanks, respect and recognition for his many contributions. TW

$3 Billion for HI Rail

HONOLULU - The latest cost estimates for Honolulu's fixed rail transit system on O'ahu have come in at $3 billion. The line is planned to connect Kapolei with downtown Honolulu and Manoa. The cost estimate is for construction of the rail system only, not including operating costs, rail cars, or land acquisition.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann remains convinced that the city will be able to cover the costs of the fixed rail without additional tax increase. The city hopes to receive $150 million from the recently approved half-percent hike in the excise tax. Hannemann also plans to receive matching money from the federal government, and the remaining deficit from the private sector who want the lucrative transit stops on their property.

Some city council members are more skeptical about the plans, saying the ultimate cost of the project could double or even triple.

"I can not say that we are defiantly not going to go back to taxpayers, but what I do know is we have the makings of an excellent project," Hannemann said. He says if the plans pan out, construction on the rail system will begin in 2009 and be completed by 2012.

E-ZPass used to Track Drivers

MANCHESTER, N.H. - State law enforcement in New Hampshire is using E-ZPass data to track drivers linked to crimes. So far, there have been six requests for the E-ZPass information since the system was completed last summer, according to Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton.

Because of New Hampshire privacy laws, officers must obtain a subpoena to obtain the information from the department of transportation. Officers must prove to a judge there is probable cause a crime has been committed. As one of the last states to join the E-ZPass system, officials developed more stringent rules for releasing information, based on the experiences of other states.

Law enforcement officials look for time and location of transactions to establish travel patterns. The information on all vehicles is kept for 60 days under department rules, but the pictures contain only the license plate of the car. State statutes prohibit photographing the occupants in the vehicles.

Skyrocketing Costs delay TDOT

NASHVILLE - The rising cost of land is delaying the Tennessee Department of Transportation from widening the county's main road, Highway 66. The cost of right-of-way acquisition for the thoroughfare has come in at an estimated $13.5 million, more than three times what TDOT had budgeted.

The department's chief engineer, Paul Degges, said the December 2007 letting is now the earliest the project could start. He said they are spending the $13.5 million to purchase the rights of way because they plan to complete the project. "We just have to secure funding," Degges said. "There is not a chance that it won't happen."

The original $4 million budget for the land was based on values from several years ago. Since then, the majority of the land has been rezoned for commercial use and its value has substantially increased.

As TDOT must submit three-year plans for construction, while the state only funds projects for the upcoming fiscal year. So the project will not be able to be rescheduled until the legislature approves funding in next year's budget.

"This is not the only project this has happened to," said Degges. "It's very frustrating on our end as well."

The project includes widening the highway to six lanes, raising the median and upgrading the traffic signals from Boyds Creek Highway to Nichols Street.

While this isn't a large project we put this article in this week's report to reflect a growing trend around the country of the need to make the updating of project cost estimates an annual process in the states. Between right of way costs, materials cost increases and labor expenditures, there is a need to constantly review cost estimates. TW

Virginia Limits Hybrids in HOV Lanes

ARLINGTON, Va. - More than ten years ago, Virginia found a way to persuade drivers to purchase low-polluting vehicles. Low emission cars were allowed to drive in car pool lanes without passengers. When few drivers benefited from the new law, in 2000, hybrid cars were included.

Now the number of hybrid cars in the car pool lanes is soaring, to the dismay of drivers with passengers in their cars. To deal with the increasing congestion, state transportation officials and lawmakers plan to limit the hybrids taking advantage of the HOV lanes. As of July 1, hybrids purchased after June 30 cannot drive in car pool lanes without another occupant in their vehicle on I-95 and I-395. Hybrids without passengers will still be allowed in HOV lanes on all other highways in the state.

To assist authorities in recognizing the hybrids bought after the deadline, hybrids bought after July 1 will be given different license plates. Fines will also be increased for car pool violators during rush hour in an attempt to curb the congestion.

‘Distance Dots' tried in Preventing Tailgating

BUFFALO, Minn. - Minnesota will soon be one of the first states to try using "distance dots" to encourage drivers not to tailgate. The dots will be painted on a two-mile stretch of state Highway 55, on which 80 percent of crashes are caused by tailgating.

Pennsylvania and Maryland have also used the dots, which are coupled with signs informing drivers how many dots must be between vehicles to allow enough time in an emergency stop not to hit the car in front of them.

In 2004, tailgating was a factor in crashes injuring 3,890 people, and killing four in Minnesota. It also ranked third as the most cited factor in multi-vehicle crashes, following inattention and failure to yield. Ideal driving conditions allow a 3-second gap between vehicles.

Alabama Drives into Second

Alabama - Alabama is ranked second in the Southeast for number of vehicle miles traveled per capita, according a report published by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama. The state exceeded 13,000 vehicle miles per resident, indicating strong highway use, said the report. These figures show the high volume of cars and trucks traveling through the state, as well as miles driven by residents.

"I think one factor is urban sprawl," explained Don Vaughn, chief engineer and deputy director of the Alabama Department of Transportation. "A lot of people work in more populated regions, and they commute because they don't want to live in town. They drive in from all over."

Traffic counts and road capacities were used by researchers to compute the number of vehicle miles driven. This number was then divided by the population of each of the ten states, respectively. Mississippi ranked first for miles driven in the Southeast, followed by Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida and North Carolina (tied), and Louisiana.

Plans for Memphis Light Rail

MEMPHIS - The Memphis Area Transit Authority believes they can solve the issues facing the area's need for light rail. Officials at MATA have planned a route to provide service from downtown to Memphis International Airport. If plans go through, this would be the first of three legs of the system which would eventually extend to southeast Shelby suburbs and Millington.

The construction cost for the airport line alone, not factoring inflation, would be $400 million. MATA hopes half of this will be covered by the feds, and the state will cover another $100 million. This would leave the last $100 million to come from Memphis, not a small feat.

MATA has not held public hearings to analyze their plans and priorities in several years, so directly involving city officials and citizens may be the next step in bringing light rail to Memphis. Mississippi officials are planning a study of the possible light rail connection from Tunica County through DeSoto to the Memphis airport. Planners in both states should be involved in this project.

Texas RMA Resolution Turmoil

EL PASO, Texas - The Regional Mobility Authority (RMA) resolution, a concept promoted by the Texas Department of Transportation and many El Paso political and business leaders, failed to pass at a meeting of the Metropolitan Planning (MPO) Friday.

The RMA would have the power to build new roads with tolls, which supporters say would help El Paso compete with other border ports of entry, and speed up construction of projects.

While the vote will not affect the formation of the authority, which is up to the state Transportation Commission, it was a public reality check for supporters.

Member of the MPO and state representative Joe Pickett criticizes the RMA, saying it would be a powerful and unaccountable entity that could not be undone, and there are other ways to speed up construction on key projects.

El Paso Mayor John Cook said the RMA would allow money to be spent on projects in Mexico and New Mexico, saying it could even help pay for a highway through Mexico to Guaymas as a western state alternative to California ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Supporters say the RMA will help fund mass transit, including financing airports, ship channels, and international bridges. They believe the RMA provides more flexibility that TxDOT has.

Highway Improvements could Cost Millions

Tenn. - The Delta Regional Authority met Thursday with the Interstate 55-Interstate 40 Connector Task Force to discuss plans for highway improvements. The DRA, made up a federal-state partnership serving eight states, plans include the Interstate 55-Interstate 40 connector, four lanes of Highway 6, and a new bridge in Helena, Ark.

"We will establish a regional transportation plan similar to the Appalachian Regional Commission," DRA federal co-chairman, Pete Johnson said. "Once we pass the regional plan, Congress can appropriate money. Work will begin in the next several months."

The entire connector project which includes Highway 6 will cost between $200-$250 million by the time the final leg is completed in 2013, according to MDOT District Engineer Jimmy Dickerson

Dexter Muller, senior vice president for community development for the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce said the Interstate 55-Interstate 40 Connector will have a significant economic impact on Tennessee, east Arkansas, and north Mississippi.

Transportation Community Advisory Committee Issues Final Report

N.H. - The Community Advisory Committee (CAC), appointed by New Hampshire Department of Transportation Commissioner Carol Murray, issued its final report Wednesday, the "New Hampshire Long Range Transportation Plan." The 24-member committee is made up of state and local officials, business leaders, housing advocates, environmental groups, and community organizations.

The committee's long-range plan marks a shift in New Hampshire transportation planning policy. Its recommendations include strengthening partnerships across agencies, jurisdictions and with private and non-profit organizations, and focusing on people and communities rather than roads and cars.

"Business as usual will not meet New Hampshire's future transportation needs," said Lewis Feldstein, Chairman of the CAC and President of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation. "As Commissioner Murray said to us at our first meeting, ‘if you don't link land use and transportation, both will fail."

The plan also lists five projects for immediate action: The Conway village project, extend passenger rail to Nashua, implementing a statewide planning and service delivery program for non-drivers, reduce downtown congestion in Concord, and the I-93 community technical assistance program.

"New Hampshire is providing national leadership on how to build communities as well as roads and highways," said Tom Warne, a nationally known transportation consultant and former executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation. "As transportation leaders look for new ways to get clse to their customers, they are watching New Hampshire as a model to follow."

The committee conducted 14 meetings over an 18-month period, in addition to 19 community meetings held across the state.

This has been an interesting effort in New Hampshire--to connect transportation planning with virtually every other aspect of life in the "Live Free or Die" state. This report explores the interrelationships between transportation and other societal endeavors in a thought provoking way. I was privileged to have provided some input and assistance on this project and have come away from the process impressed that it is a model worth examination in other states. TW