Railroads

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating lasers that were pointed at flights headed for Newark's Liberty International Airport.

There's confusion on when a vote on a transportation tax in Georgia will be held.

Indianapolis International Airport is considering replacing decorations with ads.

A railway in Florida is being considered for privatization.

The nation's passenger rail service, Amtrak, will join in honoring the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week by bringing middle school students from Atlanta to Washington for the planned dedication of a memorial on the National Mall in his honor this weekend.

Amtrak said Wednesday that it would provide travel for 10 students from Young Women's Leadership Academy named after King's late wife Coretta. The trip will be coordinated with First Kingdom Management Services, which is run by King's daughter, Dr. Bernice King, the agency said. 

The students will be greeted upon the arrival of their Amtrak train by Bernice King and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), who marched with King as a leader of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.

Amtrak is rolling forward with its high-speed rail plans, despite House Republican intentions of privatizing parts of the national pasenger rail service.

Amtrak announced Wednesday that it was hiring an accounting firm to plan the financing for its high-speed rail proposals, even while House Republicans are targeting Amtrak's most profitable service area for privatization.

Led by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.), Republicans are arguing that non-governmental companies could operate the Northeast rail lines at higher speeds than Amtrak's Acela trains.

Despite that objection, the agency said it was hiring New York-based KPMG LLP to acquire financing for its plan to increase the speed of Acela up to 220 miles per hour in 30 years.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Workers at Saab might not be paid for August.

A man arrested for having a gun at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport says bringing it to the airport was an accident.

New protections for airline passengers took effect this week.

A new commuter rail in Florida is moving ahead.

The funds will be used for improvements along the Northeast Corridor, said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

The Transportation Security Administration has increased the number of bomb-sniffing dogs it employs.

A man was arrested for feeding birds near a California airport.

Iowa has pulled out of a Midwest high-speed rail coalition.

A pilot was killed in a midair collision over southern New Jersey.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

An airport in France is testing virtual boarding agents at airports.

A plane went off the runway at Tulsa International Airport.

An opponent of rail projects has been appointed to a railway board in Florida.

Chicago is considering implementing bus rapid transit.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he will sign a bill to require streets to be designed with non-car uses in mind too.

Immigration officials are increasing their inspections of Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses.

Tea Party leaders in Georgia are opposed to moving a vote on a proposed transportation tax.

New York's John F. Kennedy Airport experienced a record amount of rainfall.

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) went to the other side of the country to make the case for a new Federal Aviation Administration bill.

Airplane manufacturer Boeing is expecting the first delivery of 787 airplanes soon.

The lawsuit involving a man who stripped at Richmond International Airport to protest Transportation Security Administration procedures will come before a judge.

Costs are rising on the proposed California High-Speed Rail project.

Democrats have long criticized Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) for rejecting $2.4 billion in federal money for high-speed rail, but last week, Scott was questioned about the decision by the head coach of the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The St. Petersburg Times reported that while Scott was taking a tour of the Buccaneers' training facility, he asked head coach Raheem Morris if he wanted to discuss any political issues.

"You want to talk about the debt ceiling, you want to talk about government spending, you want to talk about teacher tenure?" the paper reported Scott asked Morris.

"Absolutely not," the paper said Morris replied. "I would've liked that light rail, but don't worry about that."