• Aviation Safety: Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and Address Safety Issues of Small Air Cargo Carriers. GAO-09-614, June 24, 2009 (55 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-614
• Highway Trust Fund: Options for Improving Sustainability and Mechanisms to Manage Solvency. GAO-09-845T, June 25, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-845T
• International Aviation: Federal Efforts Help Address Safety Challenges in Africa, but Could Benefit from Reassessment and Better Coordination. GAO-09-498, June 16, 2009 (38 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-498
• Public Transportation: New Starts Program Challenges and Preliminary Observations on Expediting Project Development. GAO-09-763T, June 3, 2009 (16 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-763T
• Recovery Act: The Department of Transportation Followed Key Federal Requirements in Developing Selection Criteria for Its Supplemental Discretionary Grants Program. GAO-09-785R, June 30, 2009 (7 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-785R

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• Aviation Security: TSA Has Completed Key Activities Associated with Implementing Secure Flight, but Additional Actions Are Needed to Mitigate Risks. GAO-09-292, May 13, 2009 (62 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-292
• Federal Transit Administration: Progress and Challenges in Implementing and Evaluating the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. GAO-09-496, May 21, 2009 (52 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-496
• Freight Rail Security: Actions Have Been Taken to Enhance Security, but the Federal Strategy Can Be Strengthened and Security Efforts Better Monitored. GAO-09-243, April 21, 2009 (123 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-243
• Motor Carrier Safety: Commercial Vehicle Registration Program Has Kept Unsafe Carriers from Operating, but Effectiveness Is Difficult to Measure. GAO-09-495, May 12, 2009 (37 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-495
• Responses to Questions for the Record: March 18, 2009, Hearing on ATC Modernization: Near-Term Achievable Goals. GAO-09-718R, May 20, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-718R

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“MTA grants Italian rail car builder more time in contract negotiations” by Maeve Reston, Los Angeles Times, May 28, 2009

Los Angeles County’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority board delayed a decision today on whether to hire an Italian rail manufacturer to build 100 cars needed for Metro’s light rail line extensions. The delay — the second since March — would give MTA officials more time to work out the details of a new offer by the firm, AnsaldoBreda, for a $300-million financial guarantee on the potential 100-car contract. [...]

Link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/05/mta-grants-more-time-to-controversial-italian-rail-car-builder.html

“Subsidies attracting riders to mass transit” by Sean Holstege, The Arizona Republic, June 2, 2009

When Jim Wilson took a job at Arizona Public Service Co. a year ago, he figured he’d pay $75 a week in gas and $40 a month on parking to commute from Surprise to downtown Phoenix. So, when APS offered him a transit pass for free, he was thrilled. [...]

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/traffic/lightrail/articles/2009/06/02/20090602subsidy0602.html

“Time For Feds To Fund Mass Transit Operating Expenses?” by Linda Caruso, The National Journal, June 1, 2009

Americans are using public transportation in record numbers — taking 10.7 billion trips last year, an increase of 4 percent over 2007 — yet because of declining state and local budgets, many mass transit systems are facing the prospect of raising fares, cutting service and laying off staff. [...]

Link: http://transportation.nationaljournal.com/2009/06/is-it-time-for-the-feds-to-fun.php

“Recession hasn’t slowed light rail traffic” by Steve Harrison, Charlotte Observer, May 28, 2009

The Lynx Blue Line averaged 15,121 weekday trips in April – surprisingly high ridership given the severe recession. Charlotte’s light-rail line had been averaging roughly 14,000 trips for much of the year, and the Charlotte Area Transit System expected it to decline because fewer people are working. [...]

Link: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/local/story/749244.html

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“Rail industry urges shorter trains off-peak to cut carbon emissions”, The Guardian, May 28, 2009

The rail industry is urging the government to run shorter trains in order to meet Britain’s climate change obligations. Removing carriages outside rush hour would conserve energy and reinforce rail’s reputation as one of the greenest modes of transport, says an industry manifesto published today. Network Rail, owner of rail infrastructure, and the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) argue they can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020 by running shorter trains at off-peak times. [...]

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/28/railway-trains-climate-change-carbon-emissions

“Union Pacific CEO: Regulation Inflating Funding Costs” by Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires, May 27, 2009

CHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- The head of Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) warned Wednesday railroads face inflated funding costs because of uncertainty about future industry regulation. James Young, chief executive, intensified his criticism of the planned reauthorization of the Transportation Act later this year, which he said could damage future industry investment. “It’s bad law,” said Young in remarks to a rail shippers conference in Chicago. [...]

Link: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905271341DOWJONESDJONLINE000780_FORTUNE5.htm

“Italian railways says to bid for Veolia Cargo”, Reuters.com, May 18, 2009

Italian railways Ferrovie dello Stato said on Monday it would bid for Veolia Cargo (VIE.PA), which competes on freight transport with French state-owned railway company SNCF.[...]

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLI51107520090518

“European Train Travel: Working on the Railroad”, by Bruce CROMLEY, Time.com, May 28, 2009

Europe’s railroad industry, for decades dominated by stodgy state-owned monopolies, is ready for a renaissance of its own. A looming round of deregulation is set to spark an industry restructuring, pitting existing state-owned railroads against smaller private upstarts.[...]

Link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1901431,00.html?iid=tsmodule

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“Florida still has chance for fast train, but other states vying for U.S. aid” by Michael Turnbell, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 25, 2009

A bullet train, its supporters say, could boost tourism, create jobs and get cars off Florida’s crowded roads. There’s even $8 billion in federal stimulus money available to help build the proposed Tampa-Orlando-Miami line, where trains would move at least 110 mph and zip travelers from South Florida to Disney World in less than two hours. [...]

Link: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sfl-high-speed-rail-b052509sbmay25,0,6488044.story

“Against All Odds, Florida Rail Authority Rolls On”, News Service of Florida, May 26, 2009

The Florida High Speed Rail Authority last month had one of its most high profile members resign and the rest of its members terms have actually expired. But the authority has kept the wheels on its plan to apply for federal money that can be used to build a proposed Tampa-Orlando-Miami bullet train. [...]

Link: http://www.jaxobserver.com/2009/05/26/rail-authority-rolls-on-despite-vacancy-expired-terms/

“High-speed rail proposal is viewed with concern” by Christine Souza, California Farm Bureau Federation, May 27, 2009

As the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority plans an 800-mile high-speed rail system that will help alleviate congestion on roadways and transport passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in a little over two and a half hours, California’s agricultural landscape is likely to change dramatically. [...]

Link: http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm?ID=1316&ck=F3F1B7FC5A8779A9E618E1F23A7B7860#top

“High speed rail for America” by Sean Devlin, Examiner.com, May 25, 2009

The CBS Evening News revisited the high speed rail discussion and looked into as whether it was a viable option. This is especially important as the green movement is looking for more environmentally responsible transportation, part of which means alleviating road and air traffic congestion. [...]

Link: http://www.examiner.com/x-6812-Newark-Alternative-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m5d25-High-speed-rail-for-America

“High-speed rail dreams depend on dedicated tracks” by Aubrey Cohen, Seattlepi.com, May 28, 2009

While rail advocates dream of passenger trains blazing through Washington at 200 mph, freight railroad representatives say anything half that fast won’t work on their tracks. ”True” high-speed rail would exceed 150 mph, but the Amtrak Cascades line between Eugene, Ore., and Vancouver, B.C., is more likely to see incremental progress from the current top speed of 79 mph to between 110 and 125 mph (the top potential speed of the current Talgo trains), Cascadia Project rail fellow Ray Chambers said at a forum in downtown Seattle on Thursday. [...]

Link: http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/406665_trains28.html

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However, after a couple of months of operation, the viability of the system has been proven endangered by the cost of maintenance… Around 1,500 bikes are repaired every day and these costs are definitely not compensated by user’s fares. According to internal sources, every bike wocould cost around €2,500 to JCDecaux, whereas only €1,000 were included in the business plan and budget.

As of today, the estimates are impressive: up to 11,600 bikes vandalized, 7,800 bikes that disappeared, and more than 3,200 complaints filed by JCDecaux for theft or vandalization. These alarming figures should however be put aside the large number of daily users (78,000 in average) and the number of kilometers travelled per bike per year (estimated at 10,000 km/year!). The quality of bikes even if necessary for users to enjoy a pleasant ride is not only a matter of maintenance and people need to be conscious they have to care about the vehicle they use, as any other mean of public transportation, as if it was a train, a bus, or a subway…

References

• Article: Vandalisme : Vélib’, un service pour tous, à chacun d’en prendre soin !, Velib Newsletter : here
• Article: Le Vélib’, si populaire mais si cher, lefigaro.fr, June 24, 2008: here

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Since Veolia Environnement is looking for reducing its debt of around €2 billion, since the 2008 net result divided by two from the previous year at €405 million, since the stocks lost 43% of its market value in the last 12 months, the mothers company needs to bring back confidence among its investors. Traffic flows in freight rail dropped up to 40-50% and Veolia Cargo even stopped its cooperation with French marine shipping company CMA-CGM: both companies shut down their joint venture, Veolia Cargo Link, in march 2009… Selling subsidiaries is a way to get cash flow back flowing!

From the outside, we can wonder who will buy out Veolia Cargo: Deutsche Bahn, who already spent €700 million in the United Kingdom to buy out EWS? Another European key-player in freight operation, from Spain or Italy? This will definitely be a way to compete against the French National Railway Company, SNCF… However, from “information or propaganda” to an official “announcement”, the selling of Veolia Cargo seems real enough to have SNCF, the French National Railway company interested in buying out the private company’s freight rail operations! Pierre Blayau, SNCF Fret (SNCF freight division) President confirmed his company’s interest in its direct opponent on the French market.

References

• Article: Veolia Environnement met en vente Veolia Cargo, Les Echos, May 11, 2009: here
• Article: La SNCF candidat à une reprise de Veolia Cargo, e-Lloyd, May 13, 2009: here

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This report evaluates the applicability, Federal policy implications, and possible public and private sector roles related to peak pricing strategies at ports and intermodal facilities in the U.S. and includes a detailed analysis of the PierPASS OffPeak Program, key port market characteristics, institutional issues pertinent to port peak pricing programs, and policy and program considerations.

The report is available at: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09014/index.htm

For additional information please contact: Ed Strocko, FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations,  ed.strocko@dot.gov or +1 202-366-2997

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• Aviation Safety: Potential Strategies to Address Air Ambulance Safety Concerns. GAO-09-627T, April 22, 2009 (17 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-627T
• Commercial Aviation: Airline Industry Contraction Due to Volatile Fuel Prices and Falling Demand Affects Airports, Passengers, and Federal Government Revenues. GAO-09-393, April 21, 2009 (52 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-393
• High Speed Passenger Rail: Future Development Will Depend on Addressing Financial and Other Challenges and Establishing a Clear Federal Role. GAO-09-560T, April 1, 2009 (6 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-560T
• Transportation Security: Comprehensive Risk Assessments and Stronger Internal Controls Needed to Help Inform TSA Resource Allocation. GAO-09-492, March 27, 2009 (57 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-492

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