Public Transit

Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail transportation system said Thursday that it has sold 1,500 commemorative fare cards this week for President Obama's second inauguration.

The organization that runs subway trains in the capital, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), said earlier this week that it was accepting pre-sale payments for a special version of its SmarTrip fare cards that will mark Obama being sworn in again on Jan. 21, 2013.

WMATA tweeted Thursday that 1,500 of the cards, which feature Obama's picture and include the phrase "America Makes History Again," have already been sold.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Maryland is running low on transportation money.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called for Florida to pass a distracted-driving law during a recent trip there.

Airlines are facing a large pilot shortage.

Transit supporters in Indianapolis are lobbying for officials to hold a referendum to build a new rail system.

Washington, D.C.'s Metrorail subway is accepting orders for SmartTrip fare cards commemorating President Obama's second inauguration.

The organization that runs subway trains in the capital, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), said Tuesday that it was accepting pre-sale payments for cards that will mark Obama taking the oath of office again on Jan. 21, 2013.

The cards feature Obama's picture and include the phrase "America Makes History Again." Metro is selling the commemorative cards for $15, which is $5 more than the price of a normal SmarTrip card. 

Transportation groups are claiming a nearly 70 percent success rate for transportation referendums in this week’s elections.

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) said voters approved 25 out of 31 road spending measures and 13 out of 19 initiatives for public transit funding.

Both groups declared that the victories sent a message that voters are in favor of governments spending more on transportation.

Democratic senators from New York and New Jersey are praising the federal government on Thursday for increasing disaster funding to clean up the devastation from Hurricane Sandy -- but are also demanding more.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has declared a "transportation emergency" during his state's recovery from Hurricane Sandy.

Cuomo has announced that New York City's subway will not charge fares on Thursday and Friday as the system resumes limited service after suffering severe flood damage during Sandy.

Separately, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) has announced a three-passenger limit on driving across bridges that lead into hard-hit Manhattan.

After being deluged by Hurricane Sandy, the New York City subway and commuter rail systems will resume service Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning on a limited basis.

The announcement was made Wednesday by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). Cuomo said trains would begin running on the Metro-North and Long Island Railroad railways Wednesday afternoon, and subway service will follow in areas north of hard-hit lower Manhattan.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday that his department is providing $13 million to states affected by Hurricane Sandy to help restore transportation systems disrupted by the storm.

LaHood said the money is going to New York and Rhode Island, which he said were the first states to ask DOT for help after Sandy.

"President Obama has directed us to immediately help restore vital transportation infrastructure following this unprecedented and devastating storm — and that’s exactly what we’re doing," LaHood said in a blog post on the Transportation Department's website.

New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has restored partial bus service in the densely populated city that was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.

Several New York City subway stations remain deluged with water dumped on train tracks and platforms by the storm, but the MTA said it began running buses on a Sunday schedule on Tuesday evening.

The agency has said it is not charging fares for the rides, and it hopes to resume a nearly full weekday schedule by Wednesday.

“Our transportation system has never faced a disaster as devastating as Hurricane Sandy, which has caused an unparalleled level of damage,” MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota said in a statement.  “The challenge that we face now is one of assessment, inspection, repair, and restoration. This will not be a short process, but it will be one that puts safety as its major focus.”

The chairman of the authority that runs the New York City subway said Tuesday that the sprawling transit system experienced more damage during Hurricane Sandy than it had at any other point in its history. 

“The New York City subway system is 108 years old, but it has never faced a disaster as devastating as what we experienced last night,” New York Metropolitan Transit Authority Chairman Joseph Lhota said in a statement. “Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on our entire transportation system, in every borough and county of the region. It has brought down trees, ripped out power and inundated tunnels, rail yards and bus depots.” 

Lhota said that during the worst of the storm Monday night, seven subway tunnels that run under New York’s East River flooded. He added that commuter rail lines to Long Island and New Haven, Conn., also sustained water damage.