| | | | |  | | By Oriana Pawlyk and Tanya Snyder | Presented by The American Public Transportation Association | | | | | — Congress is coming back for the first time since Baltimore's Key Bridge collapsed, and Democrats will see what they have to do to get Republicans to agree to a big emergency funding package. — The port is expected to be fully functional by the end of May and have a 35-foot-deep channel open by the end of April. — Did you feel that earthquake Friday? It was enough to stop air traffic (briefly). IT’S MONDAY: You’re reading Weekly Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. (If you want to read this tipsheet every day, subscribe to Morning Transportation here.) Send tips, feedback and song lyrics to Tanya at tsnyder@politico.com and Oriana at opawlyk@politico.com, and follow us at @TSnyderDC and @oriana0214. “Five years ago it was all open road / now I've got a tank full of gas and nowhere to go / I tried going fast, I tried going slow / now I idle in neutral a mile from home.”
| | | | A message from The American Public Transportation Association: Buses and trains are a familiar sight in our daily lives, but have we stopped to think about the economic impact they make? Public transportation does more than take us from place to place. It boosts our economy by generating thousands of good-paying jobs and connecting businesses to employees. It's time to think differently about public transit and recognize its role as a catalyst for economic growth. | | | BRIDGE FUNDING DEBATE AWAITS CONGRESS’ RETURN: Senators return to Washington this evening, and the House comes back Tuesday evening, after a two-week spring recess. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will be on Capitol Hill waiting for them, appealing to Congress to fund Baltimore’s bridge rebuilding efforts despite a chilly response from some lawmakers to President Joe Biden’s assertion that the federal government will foot the bill. Speaking on CBS’ "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Moore couldn’t pinpoint a firm price tag — even though potential estimates are already in the billions — for a new bridge. The House Freedom Caucus on Friday said its members are open to supplemental funding, but it wants to extract major concessions from the Biden administration in return. They want Biden to lift its freeze on approvals for liquefied natural gas exports before Congress considers any emergency funds, POLITICO’s Anthony Adragna reports. They’re also insisting that any spending needs to be fully offset by cuts elsewhere — previewing the challenges ahead as a divided Congress mulls how to proceed with what Moore acknowledges will be a “long” and “expensive” project. Democrats mobilize: Maryland Democrat David Trone in a statement Friday urged Congress to “help fund this effort because this isn’t a Maryland problem, it’s an American one.” Separately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized in a dear colleague letter that “it will take bipartisan cooperation” to reopen the Port of Baltimore and rebuild the Key Bridge. ‘Heaven and Earth’: Biden on Friday reiterated that the federal government would cover the full cost of repairs and that the bridge be rebuilt “as rapidly as humanly possible” and with “union labor and American steel.” He also said that his administration is “absolutely committed to ensuring that parties responsible for this tragedy pay to repair the damage and be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The companies that manage and own the Dali cargo ship that crashed into the bridge pillar, Synergy Marine Group and Grace Ocean, have filed to cap their liability at $44 million. Moore said Sunday that he “expected that” but that “there's going to be an independent investigation” and “if they are deemed liable and responsible for what happened, then they need to be responsible for helping with that cleanup.” End of May: Moore said the goal of having the port back to “full functioning” by the end of May is “aggressive” but “realistic.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on MSNBC Sunday that by the end of April, the Army Corps of Engineers should be able to open a channel that’s 35 feet deep. (The port’s channel normally goes 50 feet deep to accommodate the size of post-Panamax ships.) — Buttigieg noted that the NTSB investigation into the incident will help guide any future bridge standards for bridges being built now and in the future that would make them less vulnerable to collisions. Trump, give us your take: While skirting questions comparing Biden’s response to the bridge collapse with Donald Trump’s silence on the incident, Buttigieg said that it would be “helpful for the former president to weigh in here and show the solidarity that we have seen from most, if not all, elected officials.” — Crews began Sunday to remove cargo containers from the Dali, the Unified Command announced.
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| | THE BILL IS UNDERWAY: Also in his dear colleague letter sent Friday, Schumer said that negotiations between the House and Senate on both sides of the aisle continue to get the FAA reauthorization, S. 1939 (118), done before the latest extension expires May 10. Schumer said that Senate Commerce Committee chair Maria Cantwell and her team are “working tirelessly to finalize an agreement and pass” the bill next month. DID YOU FEEL THAT? A 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook the New York metropolitan area Friday forced the FAA to briefly issue a ground stop at nearby airports for both incoming and outgoing traffic, and diverted some other flights in the area. Travel resumed following runway inspections, and an aftershock felt later did not disturb flights. (On the ground side of things, Amtrak also initiated rail inspections and reduced speeds for trains moving on the Northeast line). Tardy at Newark: It wasn’t smooth sailing at all the New York-area airports once ground stops were lifted. Hours after the morning earthquake hit, Newark Liberty International Airport still experienced major delays. As of Friday afternoon, the FAA said flights were delayed an average of 122 minutes because of the flight volume.
| | | | SUBSCRIBE TO GLOBAL PLAYBOOK: Don’t miss out on POLITICO’s Global Playbook, the newsletter taking you inside pivotal discussions at the most influential gatherings in the world, including WEF in Davos, Milken Global in Beverly Hills, to UNGA in NYC and many more. Suzanne Lynch delivers the world's elite and influential moments directly to you. Stay in the global loop. SUBSCRIBE NOW. | | | | | | | | CHINA CONCERNS: During a hearing on port safety and security held at PortMiami Friday, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) again warned of increased use of Chinese-made ship-to-shore cranes operating at ports nationwide, saying they make U.S. maritime transportation and supply chain systems vulnerable to potential cybersecurity threats. Gimenez, chair of the Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, said the proliferation of such port equipment and operational technology “introduce significant supply chain vulnerabilities” at a time when ports need widespread protection, especially in light of the setbacks in Baltimore. The House Homeland Security Committee as well as the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recently initiated a joint investigation into the possible security exposure, focusing on ZPMC, the Chinese state-owned company making the cranes.
| | A TRICKLE, NOT A GUSH: The Energy Department’s Loan Programs Office has authorization to lend more than $200 billion for “next-generation energy projects — from solar farms and batteries to hydrogen production and lithium mining,” write Kelsey Tamborrino and Brian Dabbs. But so far, it’s approved just $25.8 billion. And it’s likely that not much more will be shaken loose before the next Inauguration Day, when its fate could rest in the hands of Donald Trump. “It would just die on the vine,” Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said in an interview. Environmentalists are frustrated with the slow pace of getting clean energy dollars from the Inflation Reduction Act and other initiatives out the door. But they’re also cognizant of the challenges the administration faces in ensuring the money is spent well and is free of the kind of waste, fraud and abuse that could open Biden’s clean energy ambitions up to Republican opposition. (No one has forgotten the black eye President Barack Obama’s stimulus package got when Solyndra went belly up.)
| | | | A message from The American Public Transportation Association:   | | | | | INCOMING: TESLA ROBOTAXI? Elon Musk's version of a Friday news dump hit X just before 5 p.m. Eastern Friday:
Of course, Tesla vehicles are already equipped with software called "Full Self-Driving," not to mention its older sister, "Autopilot," despite the fact that no Tesla on the market today can safely drive itself without an attentive human being behind the wheel. No details were revealed on what Tesla's version of a "robotaxi" will look like or whether the company would operate a taxi service.
| | | | — “Here's how one airline is planning to provide a total eclipse experience — from 30,000 feet in the air.” CBS News. — “Why Republicans Will Regret Their Crusade Against Electric Cars,” POLITICO Magazine. — “Feds investigating whether NYC mayor accepted free airline upgrades,” POLITICO. — “The Inside Tale of Tesla’s Fall to Earth,” Wall Street Journal. — “Captain of United 737 that left pavement in Houston wanted to ‘expedite’ time on runway,” FlightGlobal. — “Tests on fuel delivered to Dali in N.J. before bridge crash showed it was safe, company says,” NBC News. — “Planning to Combine Business and Leisure Travel? You’re Not Alone.” New York Times. — “NYPD using drones to inspect buildings, bridges after 4.8-magnitude earthquake felt in NYC,” ABC7NY. — “Exclusive: Tesla scraps low-cost car plans amid fierce Chinese EV competition,” Reuters. — “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of DC Metro’s Design and Wayfinding Evolution,” CBS News.
| | | 7 a.m. — The American Public Transportation Association’s Legislative Conference kicks off with discussion of federal legislation and policy initiatives and an opportunity to shape the industry’s positions and federal advocacy agenda. 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Know of an event we should have on our calendar? Let MT know at transpocalendar@politicopro.com.
| | | | A message from The American Public Transportation Association: An investment in public transportation is more than a financial allocation — it's a commitment to fueling America’s economic progress. Public transit doesn't just employ over 430,000 workers and support manufacturers, it fortifies the U.S. economy by seamlessly linking workers to job opportunities, customers to markets, and communities to avenues of growth. With every dollar dedicated to public transit, we witness a remarkable return of $5 in economic benefits.
Investing in public transportation means investing in our economy – and the workers who drive it. From urban centers to rural communities, federal investments in public transportation benefit everyone by creating jobs, supporting businesses, and driving innovation.
Let’s keep U.S. industries competitive, productive, and on track for success. Let’s rethink the economic impact of public transportation. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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