Date:  Daily Transportation Update Your links to transportation news from across the nation. Wednesday, May 16, 2012 AASHTO NEWS AASHTO Joins Transportation Industry in Urging Quick Passage of New Surface Transportation Bill Link to further information AUTHORIZATION Congressional Committee Reports Progress on New Transportation Bill Link to story on NY1 Former Dem Senator: Obama Will Eventually Green-Light Keystone Link to article in The Hill Editorial: Craft a Clean Transportation Bill by June 30 Link to editorial in The Sacramento Bee FUNDING Transit Tax Referendum Unlikely in Wake County, North Carolina After Poll Finds Weak Support Link to article in The News & Observer Illinois Transportation Funding Questioned Link to article in the Journal-Courier STATE DOT NEWS I-75 Toll Project Revs Up Again in Georgia Link to article on Northeast Cobb Patch North Carolina DOT Now – May 14 Link to video West River Bridge in Vermont to be Replaced Link to article in the Brattleboro Reformer Wisconsin and Minnesota Reach Tentative Agreement to Keep Bridge Lights On Link to article in the Superior Telegram ROADWAYS & VEHICLES 2012 National Traffic Signal Report Card – Strategic Investments Make a Difference Link to report from the National Transportation Operations Coalition INFRASTRUCTURE Taxpayers Pay as Fracking Trucks Overwhelm Rural Cow Paths Link to Bloomberg article SAFETY New Emergency Alert System Using Billboards to Inform Houston-Area Citizens Link to story on KUHF Radio For Oil Workers, Deadliest Danger is Driving Link to article in The New York Times FREIGHT Railroad Coal Traffic: Domestic Volumes Down, but Demand for Export Up Link to article in Progressive Railroading Port of Los Angeles Reports 15% Increase Link to AP article PASSENGER RAIL California Bullet Train Chief Seeks Environmental Exemptions Link to article in the Los Angeles Times TRANSIT Bus Rapid Transit has Green Light to Launch in San Francisco Link to article in The Examiner LaHood, Lawmakers React to Audit of DC Metro Expansion to Dulles Airport Link to article in The Hill Sound Transit's Boring Machine Reaches Downtown Seattle Link to story on KOMO-TV AVIATION Despite Recommendations, FAA Still Not Budging on Mandatory Bird Strike Reports Link to article on Medill Reports Chicago Atlanta Airport Opens Maynard Jackson International Terminal Today Link to article in USA Today SECURITY TSA Defends Its Handling of Security Breaches Link to article in The Hill PEDESTRIANS/BICYCLES Why Seniors, Children and the Poor are a Greater Risk of Traffic Deaths Link to blog on The Atlantic Cities TRANSPORTATION BLOGS As Summer Travel Heats Up, FAA Keeps the Focus on Child Safety Link to US DOT's Fast Lane Downeaster Expansion Brings Jobs, More Transportation Options to New England Link to US DOT's Fast Lane OTHER Washington State University Tests Mesh Fence to Protect Bees from Highway Traffic Link to article in the Tri-City Herald Tampa Port Board Wants to Explore Possibility of Building Cruise Terminals Near Pinellas Link to article in the Tampa Bay Times US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Webinar and Live: Risk-Based Security and Enhanced Behavior Detection/Analysis – May 22 – Cambridge, Massachusetts Link to announcement TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2012 TRB 91st Annual Meeting Highlights: Transportation – Putting Innovation and People to Work Link to publication from TRB NEWS RELEASES Governors Highway Safety Association Joins NTSB Panel on Eliminating Substance-Impaired Driving Link to news release   Project Profile South Carolina Department of Transportation I-385 Rehabilitation Project When US 276 in northern South Carolina became I-385 in order to accommodate the increase in traffic in the area, initial planning had not included a need for substantial upgrades. However, more than 25 years later, the roadway still had not had a reconstruction or rehabilitation. More... Transportation TV House-Senate Conference Committee Begins Work on Transportation Bill In this Transportation TV News Update, coverage of the much anticipated first meeting of the House and Senate Conference Committee on the surface transportation bill. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), EPW Committee Ranking Member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Rep. John Mica (R-FL), and T & I Committee Ranking Member Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) comment as the meeting begins. Federal Register Information COAST GUARD PROPOSED RULES Inland Waterways Navigation Regulations; Correction , 28825 [2012–11801] [TEXT] [PDF] RULES Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Hood Canal, WA , 28767–28769 [2012–11810] [TEXT] [PDF] Eighth Coast Guard District Annual Marine Events and Safety Zones , 28766–28767 [2012–11809] [TEXT] [PDF] Safety Zones: Fourth of July Fireworks, City of Antioch, CA , 28769–28770 [2012–11802] [TEXT] [PDF] Safety Zones: Fourth of July Fireworks, City of Eureka, CA , 28770–28771 [2012–11807] [TEXT] [PDF] Safety Zones: Red, White, and Tahoe Blue Fireworks, Incline Village, NV , 28770 [2012–11803] [TEXT] [PDF] Safety Zones: San Francisco Giants Fireworks Display, San Francisco, CA , 28771 [2012–11808] [TEXT] [PDF] FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION RULES Flightcrew Member Duty and Rest Requirements; Correction , 28763–28764 [2012–11592] [TEXT] [PDF] FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION NOTICES Agreements Filed , 28880 [2012–11880] [TEXT] [PDF] Ocean Transportation Intermediary License: Applicants , 28880 [2012–11884] [TEXT] [PDF] Ocean Transportation Intermediary License: Revocation , 28880 [2012–11881] [TEXT] [PDF] MARITIME ADMINISTRATION NOTICES Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel ANDANTE; Invitation for Public Comments , 28924 [2012–11887] [TEXT] [PDF] Requested Administrative Waiver of the Coastwise Trade Laws: Vessel VANS CATCH TWO; Invitation for Public Comments , 28924–28925 [2012–11892] [TEXT] [PDF] TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION NOTICES Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals , 28893–28894 [2012–11855] [TEXT] [PDF] Maritime Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool; Removal , 28894 [2012–11857] [TEXT] [PDF] The AASHTO Daily Transportation Update is published electronically Monday through Friday and is a service of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. For further information or comments please contact David Dubov ddubov@aashto.org or the AASHTO Daily Transportation Update's editor, Bernie Wagenblast at bernie@bwcommunications.net. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ernie Cochran at ecochran@aashto.org. ©2011 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials