Railroads

Your morning transportation speed-read:

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairwoman Deborah Hersman has been called a “good pick” for Transportation Secretary by a Washington, D.C., newspaper.

Japan’s All Nippon Airways has said that the grounding of Boeing’s 787 “Dreamliner” airplane has affected 100,000 passengers.

The proposed merger between American and U.S. Airlines is said to once again be close to being announced.

New York City is planning three new underground rail projects. 

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Major League Baseball player Sergio Romo is not being charged for a New Year's Day run-in with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials at Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport.

Airline mergers do not appear to have drastically changed the way the industry operates, according to at least one report.

An Amtrak train derailed over the weekend in Los Angeles, but it was not carrying any passengers.

State lawmakers in Virginia are beginning to debate Gov. Bob McDonnell's (R) plan to eliminate its gas tax.

Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood criticized Republicans in Congress for opposing President Obama’s high-speed rail initiatives in an interview conducted after he announced his retirement.

LaHood said on Tuesday that he would not serve a second term in Obama’s Cabinet, a widely expected announcement that set off a scramble to guess who would succeed him at the Transportation Department.

In an interview with the Huffington Post website after the announcement, LaHood said the U.S. has not invested enough in high-speed rail development because the Obama administration’s efforts have been stymied by congressional Republicans.

"Look, we are behind on high-speed rail," LaHood said, though he added that he was confident his eventual successor would continue pushing for rail funding.

"Because of the president's vision and because of the work of those of us here at DOT, we have come a long way,” he said of the state of high-speed rail development as he is leaving office. “As long as President Obama is in the White House, whoever sits in this chair will have high-speed rail as one of their top priorities."

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Denver International Airport has an apparent rabbit problem.

Philadelphia International Airport is getting a $734 million makeover.

Land has not been purchased for a controversial high-speed rail proposal in California that is supposed to begin construction this year.

Transportation workers in Greece have gone on strike.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's (R) extending Amtrak service in the southwest part of his state has at least one fan: Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman.

McDonnell has called for extending Amtrak service from Lynchburg, Va., to Roanoke, Va., as part of its plan to overall the state's transportation system.

Boardman said McDonnell's proposal offers "a true vision and tangible support of intercity passenger rail as a relief to the growing problems of highway congestion.

"Passenger rail is a vital alternative in Virginia's overall transportation solution and will be a contributor to Virginia’s future economic success," Boardman said in a statement. 

Your morning transportation speed-read:

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says a controversial high-speed rail proposal in California has reached a couple of key milestones.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu has been tapped to give a speech at the Washington Auto Show next month.

An ad by Japanese automaker Honda has been named the most memorable television advertisement for an automobile in the last 25 years.

A person was nearly seriously injured filming an airplane stunt.

Amtrak is taking steps to improve the ability of hearing-impaired passengers to buy tickets for its trains and use customer service counters in its stations.

The company said Wednesday that it has installed "hearing loops" on customer-interaction points at its stations in New York and Washington, D.C. The equipment allows passengers to connect hearing aids to them in order to receive enhance audio that eliminates background noise.

Amtrak CEO Joe Boardman said it was important for Amtrak to make it easier for passengers with hearing issues to maneuver around its stations.

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) will gavel in his first meeting as House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman this week after President Obama takes his second oath-of-office.

Shuster will hold an organizational meeting for the panel he is taking over from Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) on Wednesday.

Topics scheduled to be covered include committee rules and subcommittee chairmen and ranking members.

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Your morning transportation speed-read:

Dulles International Airport is considering closing one of its runways during President Obama’s inauguration to make room for private jets.

A Polish airline is considering asking Boeing for compensation for problems with its 787 “Dreamliner” airplanes.

Amtrak and the California High-Speed Rail have made their partnership for buying high-speed rail equipment official.

A man was arrested for running across the runway at San Diego International Airport.

The House lawmaker responsible for railway oversight promised to put the brakes on a high-speed railway in his state.