DOT 100-10
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Contact:  Kim Riddle
Tel.:  (202) 366-5128

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Signs Memorandum of Cooperation to Encourage Women to Pursue Math
and Science Careers in Transportation
Partnership with Women’s Transportation Seminar International Supports Diverse 21st Century Workforce

To help counter an anticipated shortage of skilled transportation workers, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today signed an agreement with the Women’s Transportation Seminar International to encourage women to complete undergraduate and graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and math – while pursuing careers in transportation.

“There’s tremendous opportunity out there for women interested in transportation-related careers,” said Secretary LaHood.  “We need to do more to prepare, train and educate young women about the possibilities that await them.”

Secretary LaHood said the need for environmental engineers and technicians is expected to rise by 30 percent over the next decade.  The Department of Labor reported in 2008 that less than 6 percent of employed women worked in transportation, and only 10 percent of all civil engineers in the U.S. are women. The joint initiative will support the advancement of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through a strategic partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Women’s Transportation Seminar International (WTS).  

“WTS is excited to launch this strategic partnership with DOT and to help develop a transportation workforce of the future” said Elaine Dezenski, WTS International President.   “Through this effort, we will work with government and industry to attract and prepare more girls and women for careers in transportation.  Our goal is to help create a 21st century workforce to support a transportation network and infrastructure needed in the 21st century.

Utilizing its network of 45 chapters and over 4,000 transportation professionals, WTS will work with the DOT to organize a series of outreach sessions in 2010 and 2011 throughout the U.S.   Sessions will focus on workforce development as it relates to STEM, with specific attention given to attracting and retaining a highly qualified, diverse and technically advanced workforce for the future.  

The Memorandum of Cooperation signed today supports the following key goals:

• understanding where gaps exist in the attraction and retention of women in transportation-oriented technical fields such as engineering and logistics;
• developing a tool-kit of best practices in the areas of mentoring, promoting women entrepreneurs and attracting students in technical fields into transportation;
• developing more effective professional development opportunities for women across the lifecycle of a career;
• developing ideas and partnerships to encourage girls (13-18 years) to consider careers in transportation; and
• engaging the WTS community in a broad-based policy initiative that supports the advancement of women in U.S. transportation.

The initiative supports both the DOT strategic plan and its goal to achieve organizational excellence in workforce development and the WTS mission to transform transportation through the advancement of women.

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BTS 25-10
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568

BTS Releases 4th-Quarter 2009 Air Fare Data;
Average 4th-Quarter Domestic Air Fares Fell 7.4% from 4th Quarter 2008
Top 100 Airports: Highest Fare in Huntsville, Lowest Fare at Atlantic City

Average domestic air fares in the fourth quarter of 2009 fell to their lowest October-to-December level since 2006, dropping 7.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008 in the largest year-to-year decline since 2001, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today. 

            BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reports average fares based on domestic itinerary fares, round-trip or one-way for which no return is purchased. Fares are based on the total ticket value which consists of the price charged by the airlines plus any additional taxes and fees levied by an outside entity at the time of purchase. Fares include only the price paid at the time of the ticket purchase and do not include other fees, such as baggage fees, paid at the airport or onboard the aircraft. Averages do not include frequent-flyer or “zero fares” or a few abnormally high reported fares.

            The $319 fourth-quarter 2009 average fares were down 10.8 percent from the all-time high, not inflation-adjusted, of $358 in the third quarter of 2008 and down 24.4 percent from the inflation-adjusted high for any fourth-quarter since 1995 set in 2000. The fourth quarter 2009 average fares were up 7.4 percent from the post-9/11 fourth-quarter low of $297 in 2004.

While air fares in the fourth quarter of 2009 declined 6.1 percent since the fourth quarter of 2000, overall prices measured by the inflation rate rose 24.1 percent during that period. In the 14 years from 1995, the first year of BTS records, air fares rose 10.9 percent compared to a 40.7 percent inflation rate. In 1995 dollars, the average air fare in the fourth quarter of 2009 was $227, compared to $288 in 1995 and $300 in 2000.

See BTS May Air Fare Release for summary tables and additional data. BTS air fare records reach back to 1995. See BTS Air Fare web page for historic data.

 

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DOT 99-10
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Media Contacts:
Carolyn Vadino, US Mission to the UN, 212-415-4301
Olivia Alair, Department of Transportation, 202-366-4570

U.N. and International Officials Launch Global Effort to End Distracted Driving

New York, NY – Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and senior representatives from the United States and Russia appeared at the United Nations headquarters in New York today to launch a global effort to address the growing and deadly epidemic of distracted driving. Secretary Ban was joined for the announcement by U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin and Jennifer Smith, President of FocusDriven, a victims’ advocacy organization based in the U.S.

With approximately 600 million passenger cars on the road today and 4.6 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide, drivers talking and texting behind the wheel is becoming a growing public safety threat. Distracted drivers are about four times as likely to be involved in a crash as those who are focused on driving, and drivers who are texting are more than 20 times more likely to crash than non-distracted drivers.  In 2008, nearly 6,000 people were killed and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving distracted driving in the U.S. alone.

Today, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a directive to more than 40,000 United Nations staff, barring employees from texting behind the wheel while driving U.N.-owned vehicles. Similarly, President Obama signed an Executive Order last fall prohibiting nearly 4 million U.S. government employees from texting while operating government-owned cell phones, vehicles or while on official business.

The rapid increase in cell phone use around the world threatens to exacerbate an already worsening traffic fatality rate worldwide. Today, road crashes claim 1.3 million lives each year, the equivalent of one death every 30 seconds. By 2030, the World Health Organization projects that traffic crashes will climb from the ninth to the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. The vast majority of road crashes result from preventable driver behavior. 

The State Department has already asked its U.S. embassies around the world to raise awareness about distracted driving, as well as to collect data about distracted driving from other governments.

Ambassador Rice said, “Texting while driving isn’t a harmless little habit. It’s a killer. It affects every nation on Earth. The suffering it causes is terribly direct and immediate—lives lost for no reason, futures shattered in an instant. But its toll is truly global. So this is a problem that needs global attention and action.”

“Distracted driving isn’t just a deadly epidemic in the U.S. – it’s a threat around the world,” said Secretary LaHood. “We believe our nations can do more to stop distracted driving if we work together.  The Obama Administration stands ready to work with other countries so that we can put an end to dangerous driving behaviors and make the world’s roads safer for everyone.”

Many other governments are also moving to put an end to distracted driving. To date, 32 countries – including Russia, Brazil, France, Japan, Jordan, Spain, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom – have passed laws that restrict drivers’ use of handheld devices. Portugal has outlawed all phone use – hand-held or hands-free – in the driver’s seat.

Ambassador Churkin said, “The call for action we are making today is very timely and important. Distracted driving is one of the major risk factors for road traffic crashes. It was highlighted during the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety held in Moscow last November and is reflected in the UNGA resolution 64/255 ‘improving global road safety’ which was presented by Russia. Russia is ready to engage with the United States and other interested countries in defining the ways to mainstream it into global road safety cooperation agenda.”

The officials were joined by FocusDriven President Jennifer Smith, who founded the first anti-distracted driving victims’ advocacy organization in the U.S. Mrs. Smith’s mother, Linda Doyle, was killed by another driver distracted by his cell phone, and after meeting other victims at Secretary LaHood’s national Distracted Driving Summit last fall, she worked to establish a non-profit modeled on the success of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to give a voice to victims and their families.

“The distracted driving epidemic is a global problem,” said FocusDriven President Jennifer Smith. “We are losing mothers, sons, friends and loved ones every day because of a phone call or text message. By working together we can help prevent others from experiencing the same senseless, preventable loss that I and countless others have endured. I look forward to working with Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin to eliminate cell phone use while driving.”

The global anti-distracted driving effort launched today also has an active online component that will allow other countries, safety organizations, and anti-distraction campaigns to share news and research as well as multimedia and other information. Facebook users can find out more about the campaign as well as other anti-distraction groups and events by visiting http://www.facebook.com/gcedd, the Global Call to End Distracted Driving Facebook page. The U.S. Department of Transportation also hosts an official U.S. government website to devoted anti-distraction news and information at, www.distraction.gov.

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BTS 24-10
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568                 

BTS Releases March Passenger Airline Employment Data;
March 2010 Employment Down 3.8 Percent from March 2009

U.S. scheduled passenger airlines employed 3.8 percent fewer workers in March 2010 than in March 2009, the 21st consecutive decrease in full-time equivalent employee (FTE) levels for the scheduled passenger carriers from the same month of the previous year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today.  FTE calculations count two part-time employees as one full-time employee.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the March FTE total of 377,261 for the scheduled passenger carriers was 14,800 below that of March 2009 and the lowest monthly total for any month since at least 1990. Historic employment data can be found on the BTS web site.

Five network airlines decreased employment from March 2009 to March 2010.  Delta Air Lines, after completing its merger with Northwest Airlines, is reporting combined numbers in 2010 compared to separate reporting through December 2009. Network airlines operate a significant portion of their flights using at least one hub where connections are made for flights to down-line destinations or spoke cities.

Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways were the only low-cost carriers to report a decrease from March 2009. Regional carriers American Eagle Airlines, Comair, Atlantic Southeast Airlines, Pinnacle Airlines, Horizon Air, Mesa Airlines, Air Wisconsin Airlines, Mesaba Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Executive Airlines, Shuttle America, PSA Airlines and Lynx Airlines also reported reduced employment levels compared to last year. 

Scheduled passenger airline categories include network, low-cost, regional and other airlines. 

The six network airlines employed 256,500 FTEs in March, 68.0 percent of the passenger airline total, while low-cost carriers employed 16.9 percent and regional carriers employed 13.7 percent           

See BTS Passenger Airline Employment press release for summary tables and additional data.

 

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FHWA 13-10
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Contact:  Doug Hecox
Tel:  202-366-0660     

Top Highway Official Kicks Off First of Five Events
to Improve Minority Contracting for Transportation Projects
Dates of Additional Events Announced 

WASHINGTON – Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez met today with members of the business community in Denver at a workshop to improve small businesses’ ability to compete for federal transportation contracts and engage more women and minorities in construction careers.

 “Open and fair competition for federal transportation projects among businesses of all sizes ensures the best value for taxpayers,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Finding new and better ways to open doors to minority- and women-owned businesses is central to that effort, and we are very committed to expanding opportunities for these businesses."

The workshop, co-hosted by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), gave local trade unions, construction contractors, and minority- and women-owned businesses an opportunity to meet each other as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Denver Regional Transit Authority. This event is part of a larger national effort to ensure participation by small and disadvantaged businesses (DBEs) in the nation’s economic recovery and help states meet their goals for awarding contracts to DBEs.

            The Denver meeting focused on the construction of two light-rail commuter lines planned by Colorado DOT and the Denver Regional Transit Authority. The combined projects, estimated to cost $2.4 billion, will provide 33.3 miles of new light rail from Denver International Airport to downtown Denver, and from downtown Denver to suburban Wheat Ridge.  The workshop is being held well in advance of advertising contracts in order for all to participate in the process.

            In the coming months, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will sponsor four similar meetings around the country. Each event will focus on a specific federally-funded transportation project and help minority- and women-owned DBEs learn about contracting opportunities and how to better position themselves to take advantage of these opportunities.

            “We modeled these events after successes in Missouri and Wisconsin,” said Administrator Mendez. “To help put people back to work and manage costs of transportation projects, we want to do everything we can to help small business enterprises compete.”

USDOT officials will meet with DBEs, state and local transportation officials, and other stakeholders in coming months about the following projects:

• Hartford - New Britain to Hartford Busway, Aug. 3-4. Estimated to cost $573 million, this project will design and build 9.4 miles of bus lanes and 11 stations within existing but unused railroad right-of-way parallel to I-84 from New Britain to Union Station in downtown Hartford. This event will be co-hosted by the FTA.

• Phoenix - new Construction on I-10 and Estrella Expressway, Aug. 24-25.  The two projects, estimated to cost more than $3 billion, will build 16 miles of new six-lane freeway from I-10 to State Route 60 and 12 miles of six-lane freeway through Glendale, Peoria and El Mirage from the Estrella Expressway to Grand Avenue.

• Brooklyn and Queens - Kosciuszko Bridge Replacement, in October. Estimated at $670 million, this project will widen a 1.1-mile segment of the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway and rebuild two structures to replace the existing bridge.

• Louisville and New Albany, Ind. - Ohio River Bridges, Nov. 9-10, 2010. These projects, estimated at more than $4 billion, will build two new bridges – one in downtown Louisville and another on the east side of the city connecting the Gene Snyder Freeway in Louisville, Ky., to the Lee Hamilton Highway in New Albany, Ind. In addition, the existing interchange, where I-64, I-65 and I-70 converge in downtown Louisville, will be rebuilt.

 

           
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** Media Advisory **

Event at UN: Global Call to Action on Ending Distracted Driving

On Wednesday, May 19 at 10:30 a.m, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and senior representatives from the United States and Russia will join together at the United Nations to launch a global effort to address the dangerous and growing epidemic of distracted driving.

With approximately 600 million passenger cars on the road today and 4.6 billion cell phone subscriptions worldwide, the deadly epidemic of distracted driving is on the rise. Distracted drivers are about four times as likely to be involved in a crash as those who are focused on driving, and drivers who are texting are more than 20 times more likely to crash than non-distracted drivers.  In 2008, nearly 6,000 people in the United States were killed and more than half a million were injured in crashes involving distracted driving.

WHO:
* United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
* United States Ambassador Susan Rice
* Secretary Ray LaHood, United States Department of Transportation
* Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin
* Jennifer Smith, President, Focus Driven

WHERE: North Lawn Building, UN Headquarters, 2nd Floor Press Stakeout  

WHEN:  Wednesday, May 19, 10:30 a.m.

This event is open to all accredited members of the UN Press Corps. Press without UN credentials must contact UN Media Accreditation at 212-963-6934.

The event will be webcast live on www.un.org/webcast, and  www.state.gov.

Media Contacts:
Carolyn Vadino, US Mission to the UN, 212-415-4301
Olivia Alair, Department of Transportation, 202-366-4570

 

DOT-98-10       
Monday, May 17, 2010 
Contact:  Mark Paustenbach    
Tel:  (202) 493-6024

U.S. Transportation Secretary Announces Proposed Regulations to Prevent Railroad Crew Distractions While Operating Trains

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today continued his campaign to stop distracted driving by announcing a proposed rule to prohibit the improper use of distracting electronic devices by on-duty railroad operating employees.  If adopted, the rules would explicitly restrict and in some cases prohibit the use of cell phones and other hand held devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) by safety critical employees, including locomotive engineers, conductors, switchmen, and other train employees. 

“Operating a passenger or freight train demands the full and undivided attention of crewmembers at all times.  Lives depend on it,” said Secretary LaHood.  “We want to make sure that railroad employees know not to use hand held devices on the job because doing so jeopardizes safety.”

The proposed rule announced today is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving.  During a seminal September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, Secretary LaHood announced the Department’s plans to vigorously pursue regulatory and other steps to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving. 

The rule would prohibit the use of an electronic device--whether personal or railroad-supplied-- if it interferes with that employee’s or another employee’s performance of safety-related duties.  Railroad operating employees would be permitted to use cell phones or similar electronic devices under highly limited circumstances.

The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) provides certain exceptions for watches, calculator use, medical devices, railroad radios, cameras used to document bona fide safety hazards or violations of rail safety laws and various emergency situations.  The regulations would also authorize the Federal Railroad Administration to review a railroad’s training program on the use of electronic devices and require that records be kept documenting employees receiving recurrent training at specified intervals.  The NPRM seeks comment on whether violations of the rule should be used as a basis for revoking a locomotive engineer’s certification to operate a locomotive under other FRA regulations.

“There should be no confusion about when and where cell phones, video games or PDAs may be used by train crews,” said FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae.
 
FRA is proposing to codify a modified version of its 2008 Emergency Order No. 26 (EO 26), which sets forth stringent restrictions on the use of electronic devices by railroad operating employees.  FRA issued EO 26 less than three weeks after a September 12, 2008 collision between a Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific Railroad freight train in Chatsworth, California, killing 25 people. 

Preliminary investigative findings revealed that the engineer operating the Metrolink train was text messaging at the time of the collision.  While longstanding railroad operating rules and EO 26 have restricted the use of electronic devices, FRA has determined that Federal regulations are necessary to more effectively prevent the inappropriate and unauthorized use of these devices on the job.  A final rule would supplant EO 26.

The proposed rule will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, may 18.  Comments on the proposed rule may be submitted through www.regulations.gov (Docket# No. FRA-2009-0118).  The deadline for submitting comments on the proposal is June 17.  Click here to view the NPRM.

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FTA 13-10
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Contact:  Paul Griffo
Tel.:  (202) 366-4064

Secretary LaHood Announces Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Awarded 1,000th Recovery Act Transit Grant

Obama Administration Has Provided $8.7 Billion for
Transit Vehicles, Infrastructure, Preventive Maintenance

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced today that the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma has received the 1,000th grant for transit awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The Choctaw Nation will use the $480,374 grant for vehicle and technology upgrades.  The non-reservation tribe provides transportation services for all the residents of a 10½-county area of southeast Oklahoma where many members of the tribe live.

“Recovery Act transit grants are having a positive impact on people’s lives, not just in cities, but in rural areas across the country as well,” said Secretary LaHood.  “By funding the nation’s transit systems, we can create jobs today, and build a better, more sustainable economy moving forward.”

Since the Recovery Act passed in 2009, $8.7 billion in transit grants have been awarded to transit providers across the country.   Those grants have purchased more than 12,000 buses, vans and rail vehicles; more than $4.4 billion in transit infrastructure construction or renovation; and more than $725 million in preventive maintenance.  These improvements have helped to save transit service and jobs, while enhancing safety and service reliability. 

“Through the Recovery Act, the Obama Administration is providing clean, safe, and reliable transit for millions of riders across the country each day,” said Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff. “These one thousand grants have saved or created thousands of good-paying jobs in transit while improving commutes for millions of Americans across all fifty states.”

Choctaw Nation Chief Gregory E. Pyle said that the grant money will enable the transit program to purchase three 14-passenger paratransit buses, three paratransit mini-vans and ride dispatching software. “We are very thankful for the Recovery grant,” Pyle said.

“We serve a large area – over 11,000 square miles,” said Choctaw Transit Director Johnny James. “The Recovery grant will enable us to serve more clients with greater efficiency.”

Recovery Act grants for bus purchases have also benefitted domestic bus manufacturers, which have received orders that are boosting production and supporting jobs.  For example:

• Orion Bus in Greensboro, N.C. has now received 10 contracts for nearly 300 buses with Recovery Act funds – orders the company says allowed it to maintain 176 jobs. 

• Gillig Bus in Hayward, Calif. has received orders for 790 buses with Recovery Act funds – work the company says has allowed them to support 395 jobs.

Other Recovery Act-funded transit projects include:

• Denver Union Station will be redeveloped as a multimodal transportation center that will accommodate significant additional passenger rail service, promote economic vitality, and help people who are young, elderly, or disabled access transportation more independently.

• Bridges and a parking lot that provide commuter access to the T. George Staten Island Ferry Terminal will be refurbished. The rehabilitation will restore and preserve the structural integrity of these bridges for another 25 years while completing the makeover of this vital transportation hub which provides a direct connection for 60,000 riders a day to and from Manhattan.

More information about transit projects funded by the Recovery Act can be found here.

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BTS 23-10
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568                 

BTS Releases February 2010 Airline Traffic Data;
System Traffic Down 1.9 Percent from February 2009

U.S. airlines carried 48.9 million scheduled domestic and international passengers in February 2010, 1.9 percent fewer than they did in February 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) today reported in a release of preliminary data. The February 2010 passenger total was 14.4 percent below that of two years ago in February 2008.

BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, in a release of preliminary data, reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.4 percent fewer domestic passengers in February 2010 than in February 2009. The domestic passenger number was the lowest February total since 2003. The number of international passengers on U.S. carriers increased 1.7 percent over February 2009. The February 2010 load factors of 76.6 percent systemwide, 77.3 percent domestic and 74.4 percent international were the highest recorded for the month of February.

Additional traffic numbers can be found on the BTS website in the Airline Industry box.  Click on a link in the column on the right. For more historic numbers, see Traffic on the BTS website.

For the first two months of 2010, the number of scheduled domestic and international passengers on U.S. airlines was virtually unchanged from the same period in 2009 at 101.7 million. The number of passengers declined 11.4 percent from the first two months of 2008 to the first two months of 2009.

U.S. airlines carried 0.2 percent fewer domestic passengers and 1.4 percent more international passengers in the first two months of 2010 than during the same period in 2009. 

            See BTS Air Traffic Release for summary tables and additional data.

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BTS 22-10
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568                                                                                                                        

BTS Releases Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI);

Freight Index Rose 0.9% in March from February

 

The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) rose 0.9 percent in March from its February level, rising for the third consecutive month, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today (Table 1).  The March Freight TSI rose 2.6 percent from March 2009, the first year-to-year increase in the freight index since July 2008 (Table 4).

 

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the Freight TSI index has risen 4.5 percent over the last 10 months, starting in June, after declining 15.3 percent in the previous 10 months beginning in August 2008. The index has increased in eight of the last 10 months (Table 2). The index started 2010 with an increase of 1.6 percent in the first three months (Table 3).  For additional historic data, go to http://www.bts.gov/xml/tsi/src/index.xml

 

The Freight TSI measures the month-to-month changes in freight shipments in ton-miles, which are then combined into one index. The index measures the output of the for-hire freight transportation industry and consists of data from for-hire trucking, rail, inland waterways, pipelines and air freight.

 

The March Freight TSI of 97.8 is a 4.5 percent increase from the recent low of 93.5 reached in May 2009. In May, the index was at its lowest level since June 1997. The Freight TSI is down 13.4 percent from its historic peak of 112.9 reached in May 2006.

            See TSI Freight Press Release for summary tables and additional data. See Transportation Services Index for historic data and methodology.

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DOT 96-10
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel.:   (202) 366-4570

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Members of Future of Aviation Advisory Committee; First Meeting is May 25

            U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the members of a new committee on the future of the U.S. aviation industry, which will hold its first meeting on May 25 in Washington.

            The Future of Aviation Advisory Committee was formally established in March to provide information, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary on ensuring the competitiveness of the U.S. aviation industry and its capability to address the evolving transportation needs, challenges and opportunities of the U.S. and global economy.

            “Aviation is essential to our nation’s economy and our ability to compete in international commerce,” Secretary LaHood said.  “This committee, which represents a broad cross-section of the aviation community, will begin the important conversation about how to ensure the industry remains vital and competitive.”

The committee will focus principally on five issue areas:  ensuring aviation safety, ensuring a world-class aviation workforce, balancing the industry’s competitiveness and viability, securing stable funding for aviation systems, and addressing environmental challenges and solutions. 

The advisory committee grew out of a forum last November hosted by Secretary LaHood on the future of the U.S. aviation industry, during which he urged attendees to nominate potential committee members. The members selected represent airlines, airports, labor, manufacturers, environment, finance, academia, consumer interests, and general aviation stakeholders.  The committee will meet at least four times over the next year, after which it will issue its recommendations to the Secretary.

Susan Kurland, Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs at the U.S. Department of Transportation, will chair the committee.  The other members are:

Juan J. Alonso, Associate Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Stanford University;  Susan M. Baer, Director, Aviation Department, Port Authority of NY/NJ; David Barger, President and CEO, JetBlue Airways Corporation; Bryan K. Bedford, Chairman, President and CEO, Republic Airways; Severin Borenstein, Professor, HAAS School of Business, University of California, Berkeley; Thella F. Bowens, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority; John M. Conley, International Administrative Vice President and Air Transport Division Director, Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO; Cynthia M. Egnotovich, Segment President, Nacelles and Interior Systems, Goodrich Corporation; Patricia A. Friend, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO; Robert L. Lekites, President, UPS Airlines; Ana McAhron-Schulz, Director of Economic and Financial Analysis, Air Line Pilots Association; William J. McGee, Consultant to the Consumers Union; Daniel McKenzie, U.S. Airlines Research Analyst, Hudson Securities; Jack J. Pelton, Chairman, President and CEO, Cessna Aircraft Company; Nicole W. Piasecki, Vice President, Business Development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Raul Regalado, President and CEO,  Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority; Glenn F. Tilton, Chairman, President and CEO, UAL Corporation; and Christopher J. Williams, Chairman and CEO, The Williams Capital Group.

The first meeting of the committee will take place on May 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. at DOT Headquarters, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC.  Meetings will be open to the members of the general public who have registered to attend in advance on a first-come, first-serve basis as long as space is available.  People wishing to register can send their name, title, company or affiliation, address, phone number and e-mail address with the subject title “Registration” to FAAC@dot.gov.

The committee charter, minutes of meetings and related documents may be obtained on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2010-0074 or on the FAAC website at www.dot.gov/faac.

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DOT 95-10
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel:  (202) 366-4570

March Airline On-Time Performance Higher Than Last Year and February

      The nation’s largest airlines had a rate of on-time flights this past March that was higher than the same month last year and the rate posted in February 2010, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released today by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). 

      According to information filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), the 18 carriers reporting on-time performance recorded an overall on-time arrival rate of 80.0 percent in March, better than the 78.4 percent on-time rate of March 2009 and February 2010’s 74.6 percent. 

      The monthly report also includes data on lengthy tarmac delays, flight cancellations and the causes of flight delays by the reporting carriers, as well as information on airline bumping, reports of mishandled baggage filed with the carriers, and consumer service, disability and discrimination complaints received by DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.  This report also includes reports of incidents involving pets traveling by air, as required to be filed by U.S. carriers.
     
      A news release on the report is available at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot9510.htm.  The full report is available at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/reports/index.htm.  Detailed information on flight delays is available at http://www.bts.gov.

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DOT 93-10
Monday, May 10, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel.:  (202) 366-4570

DOT Fines Continental for Incomplete Disability Complaint Reports

            The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today assessed a civil penalty against Continental Airlines for filing incomplete reports with the Department tabulating complaints that passengers with disabilities registered with the carrier.  Continental was ordered to cease and desist from further violations and assessed a civil penalty of $100,000. 

            “Protecting the rights of airline passengers with disabilities is one of our highest priorities, and we will continue to take enforcement action when our disability rules are violated,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

            DOT rules require airlines to record disability-related complaints, categorize them by the type of disability and nature of the complaint, and submit an annual report on these complaints to the Department.  If a single piece of consumer correspondence covers more than one issue, each issue must be counted as a separate complaint.

            During an on-site inspection at Continental’s headquarters, the Department’s Aviation Enforcement Office discovered that the carrier had a policy of recording only the most significant issue in each disability complaint, even though many of the complaints involved more than one disability-related issue.  Continental did so even though all carriers had been advised earlier that each disability-related issue raised in complaint letters must be individually tabulated.

            The consent order is available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2010-0005.  The Department’s annual report on disability-related air travel complaints may be found at  http://airconsumer.dot.gov/publications/gateway1.htm.  The report covering disability-related complaints in 2009 should be issued this summer.

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DOT 92-10
Friday, May 7, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel.:  (202) 366-4570

DOT Announces Proposed Decision to Award Four Routes at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport

 The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to award four routes to Tokyo’s downtown Haneda Airport to American Airlines at New York, Delta Air Lines at Los Angeles and Detroit, and Hawaiian Airlines at Honolulu when the airport’s fourth runway becomes operational later this year.

 The opportunities were negotiated in connection with the U.S.-Japan Open-Skies agreement which was concluded last December.  They permit U.S. carriers to introduce a total of four daily round-trip services at Haneda. Previously, U.S. carriers serving Tokyo have been limited to using Narita Airport, which is considerably farther from the city.

 In a show-cause order issued today, the Department proposed to grant one opportunity to Hawaiian for service from Honolulu, two opportunities to Delta for service from Los Angeles and from Detroit, and one opportunity to American for service from New York’s JFK Airport.  Also applying for Haneda slots were Continental Airlines, Continental Micronesia and United Airlines. 

 In its proposed decision, the Department said selecting Hawaiian Airlines, which currently does not serve Japan, would add a new competitor to the U.S.-Tokyo market.  Delta’s planned flight from Los Angeles would serve the largest west coast and mainland U.S. market to Tokyo.  Delta’s flight from its Detroit hub would provide Haneda access to a broad area in the central and eastern United States.  American’s New York flight would serve the second largest mainland U.S.- Tokyo market and would also promote competition among several major airline alliances.

 If the proposed decision is made final, the selected carriers would be required to begin Haneda operations by Jan. 29, 2011.

 Objections to the show-cause order are due in ten days, and answers to objections are due seven days afterward.  After the comment period ends the Department will issue a final decision.  The order, carrier filings and other documents in the case are available on the Internet at www.regulations.gov, docket DOT-OST-2010-0018.

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DOT 90-10
Friday, May 7, 2010
Contact:  Office of Public Affairs
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

Proposed Rule Broadens DBE Program Inclusions, Requires Greater Accountability from Administering Agencies

Small businesses would benefit from a proposed rule that would help more economically and socially disadvantaged businesses participate in federal highway, transit and airport construction projects, while making the states and agencies that run the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program more accountable, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said today.

“When we help small businesses, we’re helping get the economy going,” said Secretary LaHood.  "This is an important rule that can help small businesses owned and controlled by women and minorities."

The proposed rule would require greater accountability from state and local transportation agencies.  Those that fail to meet established goals to include disadvantaged business enterprises in their spending plans must analyze the reasons for the short-fall and offer corrective actions. 

In addition, the proposed rule would prevent DBEs from being removed from the program prematurely.  It would raise the personal net worth limit for DBE owners from the present $750,000, to an inflation-adjusted $1.3 million.  This personal net worth limit was set in 1989 and has not been adjusted since. 

The proposed rule would also add safeguards to make sure that prime contractors fulfill commitments to use DBE subcontractors.  State and local agencies would have to conduct post-award monitoring of each contract for this purpose, and prime contractors could not dismiss DBE subcontractors without good cause. 

Among the other provisions, the proposal would reduce burdens on small businesses seeking DBE certification in more than one state.  Any state would have to accept another’s existing certification, unless it found good reason not to.  Currently DBEs must seek certification in each state in which they wish to do business.   

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s DBE Program helps for-profit small businesses in which socially and economically disadvantaged individuals own at least a 51 percent interest and control management and daily business operations to compete for government contracts.  It does this by requiring state and local transportation agencies to establish goals for DBE participation. 

Recently, Secretary LaHood created a high level task force to look at the DBE program and develop recommendations to improve the administration of the program.  Secretary LaHood praised the efforts of the task force.

“The Department’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization has done great work leading this initiative so far.  And we hope to achieve even more.”        

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposed rule to improve the DBE Program appeared in the Federal Register May 10.  Public comment can be received through July 11, 2010. 

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DOT 89-10
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Contact:  Karen Aldana
Telephone: (202) 366-9550

Wisconsin Becomes 25th State to Pass Texting Ban for All Drivers
Secretary LaHood Notes Key Milestone as America Reaches Halfway Point on Texting Bans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today commended Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for signing an anti-texting-while-driving bill into law for all drivers in his state. As the 25th state to pass a texting ban, Wisconsin has taken the country halfway toward a nationwide prohibition of texting while driving.
 
“Distracted driving is an epidemic that kills thousands and injures hundreds of thousands more each year. So we’re thrilled to reach the halfway mark toward laws in every state against this dangerous practice.  Everyone on Wisconsin’s roads will be safer because this law is on the books,” said Secretary LaHood.

The new Wisconsin law outlaws texting by all drivers. First-time violators face fines of $20 to $400, along with four points on their driving records. Second-time violators face fines of $200 to $800. The law is primary, meaning police officers can stop motorists suspected of this offense alone. It becomes effective on December 1.

NHTSA has developed sample legislation that states can use as a starting point to craft measures to ban texting. The sample bill is patterned after President Obama's October 1, 2009, Executive Order prohibiting federal employees from texting while operating government-owned vehicles and equipment. Last year, more than 200 distracted driving bills were under consideration by state legislatures, and the pace is expected to increase this year.

Research compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributed an estimated 6,000 deaths and half-a-million injuries to distracted driving in 2008 alone. Recently, Secretary LaHood launched pilot programs in New York and Connecticut as part of a “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other.” campaign to study whether increased enforcement and public awareness can reduce distracted driving behavior.

For more information on distracted driving and the Department of Transportation's work, visit www.distraction.gov.

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DOT 88-10
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel.:  202-366-4570

DOT Grants Delta/US Airways Slot Waiver

          The U.S. Department of Transportation has decided to allow Delta Air Lines and US Airways to swap slots at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), subject to the condition that the carriers divest themselves of a number of slots at both airports to preserve competition.   

            “This decision will enable the two airlines to carry out their transaction while making sure competition is preserved at both airports,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.

On Aug. 12, 2009, the two carriers requested approval for their transaction, which would include US Airways receiving 42 pairs of daily slots at Reagan Washington National in exchange for Delta obtaining 125 slot pairs at LaGuardia.  A slot is the right to take off or land at an airport where these rights are limited.

The Department will require the carriers divest 14 pairs of daily slots at Reagan National and 20 pairs at LaGuardia and sell them through a blind sale to airlines that currently have little or no service at these airports, with Delta and US Airways retaining the proceeds from the sale.  Slot pairs would be sold in bundles large enough to ensure that a purchaser would have a sufficient number of slots to provide meaningful new competition.  The final decision incorporates most of the major elements of the tentative decision announced on Feb. 9. 

While Delta and US Airways made a counterproposal in which they would transfer 15 pairs of slots at LaGuardia and 4 ½ pairs at Reagan National to several smaller carriers, in today’s decision the Department said the carriers’ counteroffer would be insufficient to preserve competition at the two airports. 

If the carriers notify DOT that they are proceeding with the transaction, the Department will issue a schedule.  The final decision, proposed decision and public comment in the case can be found on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#docketDetail?R=FAA-2010-0109.

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DOT 87-10
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Contact:  Bill Mosley
Tel.:  (202) 366-4570

U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces Agreement with Trinidad and Tobago on Open Skies

      The United States and Trinidad and Tobago have reached an Open-Skies aviation agreement that will liberalize U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago air services for carriers of both countries.  Trinidad and Tobago becomes the 98th U.S. Open-Skies partner. 

      “This agreement paves the way for future growth in travel and trade between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago,” Secretary LaHood said.  “Consumers, airlines and economies of both countries will enjoy the benefits of competitive pricing and more convenient service.”

      Under the new agreement, airlines from both countries will be allowed to select routes and destinations based on consumer demand for both passenger and cargo services, without limitations on the number of carriers of the United States or Trinidad and Tobago that can fly between the two countries or the number of flights they can operate.  The agreement also provides them, for the first time, code-sharing and intermodal rights. 
     
      The previous U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago agreement, while liberal in many respects, contained restrictions on the cities that carriers could serve, airline pricing and charter operations.  Open Skies will remove these restrictions and also provide important, enhanced cargo rights. 

      The agreement was reached May 1 after three days of negotiations in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.  Airlines of both countries will enjoy the benefits of liberalization upon signature of the agreement, pending its entry into force.  
      

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FTA 12-10
Monday, May 3, 2010
Contact: Paul Griffo
Tel: 202-366-4064

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces $775 Million
In Federal Funds to Upgrade Nation’s Bus Systems
Funds are for buses, facilities and equipment

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that $775 million in federal funds is being made available to the nation’s transit providers to upgrade their bus systems.

“The FTA is addressing the challenge of bringing our nation’s transit systems into a state of good repair head-on,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “These funds will get us started, but we still have a long way to go.” 

Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff on Sunday made the announcement Sunday in an address during the general session of the American Public Transportation Association’s Bus and Paratransit Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Well maintained, clean and reliable buses make a world of difference to the millions of Americans who use transit every day," Administrator Rogoff said.  "The Obama Administration is making these funds available to ensure that financially strapped transit providers can keep buses rolling and serving the public during these difficult economic times.”

FTA will review applications for the discretionary bus and bus facility funds, and will prioritize proposals based on how they address the issue of the transit system’s state of good repair and recapitalization needs.

Eligible expenses for the funds include purchase and rehabilitation of buses and vans, modernization of buses, bus facilities and revenue service facilities, bus-related equipment and components of transit asset management plans.  Deadline for applications is June 18, 2010. Grantees are expected to be announced in late summer 2010.

The Notice of Funding Availability will be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The notice includes instructions on submitting applications for the funds.

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BTS 21-10
Monday, May 3, 2010
Contact: Dave Smallen
Tel: 202-366-5568                                              

BTS Releases 4th-Quarter 2009 Airline Financial Data;
Low-Cost and Regional Airlines Report Profits, Network Carriers Report Loss

Low-cost and regional airline groups reported operating profits in the fourth quarter of 2009 while the network airline group returned to a loss after one profitable quarter, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported today in a release of preliminary data.

BTS, a part of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that the airline industry collected at least $1.9 billion through ancillary fees in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 18.3 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008.  The ancillary fees constituted 6.5 percent of the total revenue of the 32 carriers that reported receiving ancillary fees. For the year, the carriers collected $7.8 billion in ancillary fee revenue, compared to $5.5 billion in 2008.

From October to December, the airlines collected $736 million in baggage fees, $564 million from reservation change fees, and $611 million from other ancillary fees, such as pet transportation fees and frequent flyer award program mileage sales. Revenue from seating assignments and on-board sales of food, drink, pillows, blankets, entertainment, or any other ancillary items are reported in a different category with other items.

            Delta Air Lines collected $425.7 million in the fourth quarter ancillary fees, the most of any carrier, while 21.0 percent of Spirit Airlines’ operating revenue came from ancillary fees, a larger percent than any other carrier. See Table 1A of the press release for the 10 airlines that collected the most in total ancillary fees in the fourth quarter. For other carriers and additional historic data, go to Passenger Baggage, Reservation Cancellation Fees or Miscellaneous Operating Revenue at BTS Schedule P-12.

            In 2009, the airlines collected $2.7 billion in baggage fees (Table 1C), $2.4 billion from reservation change fees, and $2.7 billion from other ancillary fees, such as pet transportation fees and frequent flyer award program mileage sales. Delta collected $1,647.6 million in annual ancillary fees, the most of any carrier.

            See BTS Airline Financials Release for summary tables and additional data.

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