Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

During a trip to Asia in December, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa met with executives from a Chinese investment company, which officials said was arranged to explore alternative investment opportunities.

The controversial plan includes a call for increased oil drilling to help pay for infrastructure projects, according to several sources.

Forty-two capital construction projects and 33 planning projects in 40 states were awarded funding. Nearly 1,000 construction grant applications for more than $19 billion were submitted from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

RITA provides $81 million in annual funding to 136 colleges and universities conducting transportation research and providing the training needed to manage today's transportation infrastructure through the UTC program.

Three important reauthorization bills were discussed in detail, including the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization, as well as “Buy America” policies.

The release of the funds came eight days earlier than required by law and took place before more than 500 headquarter employees at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Includes $10.231 billion in new budget authority for public transportation — a $740 million increase, or 7.8 percent, over last year’s level, but $106 million less than the level authorized in SAFETEA-LU.