General
Legacy ID
10811
Quick Guide in Applying to the Transit Subsidy Program
DOJ EOIR Integrity Awareness Training
DOJ-EOIR Transit Subsidy Program Overview
Reporting of Disability-Related Complaint Data for 2023
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations require U.S. and foreign air carriers operating to, from, or within the United States that have at least one aircraft in their fleet with a designed seating capacity of more than 60 passenger seats to: 1) record and categorize disability-...
DOT Onboard Demographics, November FY 2024
This spreadsheet provides onboard statistics for November, FY 2024. Demographics are particularly useful to managers in the workforce planning process. This data is also used by Congressional staffers and others who have an interest in the size and makeup of the federal workforce, and by...
DOT Onboard Demographics, October FY 2024
This spreadsheet provides onboard statistics for October, FY 2024. Demographics are particularly useful to managers in the workforce planning process. This data is also used by Congressional staffers and others who have an interest in the size and makeup of the federal workforce, and by...
IIJA Investments in Habitat and Ecosystem Restoration, Pollinators, and Wildlife Crossings
Testimony of Brian Fouch
Associate Administrator,
Office of Federal Lands Highway
Federal Highway Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation
Before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
December 6, 2023
Chairman Carper, Ranking Member Capito, and Members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s investments in ecosystem restoration, pollinator-friendly roadside practices, and wildlife crossings. I am pleased to be here today with Director Williams.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure, competitiveness, communities, and resilience to climate change. This historic legislation includes the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, a first-of-its-kind pilot program to make roads safer, prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions, and improve habitat connectivity. The program represents an unprecedented effort to make roads safer in local and rural communities while protecting wildlife as it creates a dedicated source of funding for wildlife crossing projects, which traditionally have had to compete with other infrastructure priorities for funding. At the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), we recognize the importance of wildlife crossings projects. Earlier this year, Secretary Buttigieg visited a wildlife crossing in New Mexico, where he announced details for the new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program. Earlier this week, FHWA was pleased to announce award selections for the first round of funding under this program—announcing $110 million in grants for 19 wildlife crossing projects in 17 States, including four Indian Tribes. FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt was in Arizona yesterday to announce the award of $24 million to the Arizona Department of Transportation for the Interstate 17 Munds Park to Kelly Canyon Wildlife Overpass Project. The project will reduce wildlife vehicle collisions along I-17 while increasing habitat connectivity for local species, particularly the elk. The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program is a safety-focused program, with the goals of protecting motorists and wildlife by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and, in carrying out that purpose, improving habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species.
SAFETY
Safety is FHWA’s number-one priority and FHWA is committed to achieving the Department’s goal of zero roadway deaths and serious injuries through the Safe System Approach as outlined in the National Roadway Safety Strategy. Each year in the United States, approximately 200 people are killed – and many more are injured – in more than one million collisions involving wildlife and vehicles. By reducing these collisions, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program will improve the safety of our Nation’s roadways while protecting wildlife. Through this program, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides resources to address this important safety issue, making a total of $350 million available over five years. This investment will help make roads safer by preventing dangerous wildlife-vehicle collisions that can result in injury or death to drivers and passengers and harm or mortality to animals. The projects funded by the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program will improve the overall safety of the traveling public and reduce the economic drain caused by wildlife-vehicle collisions (such as loss of income, medical costs, property damage, and decline in productivity and quality of life), while simultaneously supporting species survival and improving habitat connectivity.
HABITAT CONNECTIVITY
In addition to improving safety for motorists and wildlife, the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program aims to improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. Roadways that cross wildlife habitats create a barrier for animals and, if they try to cross the roadways, can result in wildlife-vehicle collisions. The grant funding provided through the program will promote more wildlife crossings that are built both over and under roadways, providing more options for animals to cross busy roads without coming into conflict with traffic.
IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS
The FHWA is working tirelessly to implement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law so that we can deliver on the promise of this historic investment. Among the many Bipartisan Infrastructure Law programs we have stood up in the past two years, FHWA is implementing the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program and improving wildlife crossing safety. In April 2023, the FHWA issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) making up to $111.85 million from Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 funding available for this program. The Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program provides funding for construction and non-construction projects. All projects should seek to protect motorists and wildlife by reducing the number of wildlife-vehicle collisions and improve habitat connectivity for terrestrial and aquatic species. Eligible entities for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program include: State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, units of local government, regional transportation authorities, special purpose districts or public authorities with a transportation function, Indian tribes, Federal Land Management Agencies, and a group of any of these entities.
In response to the first year NOFO, FHWA received 67 applications from applicants in 34 States requesting $549 million in Wildlife Crossing Pilot Program funds. This represents nearly five times the amount available in the first NOFO, and over one and a half times the amount available for the program over the life of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, demonstrating the overwhelming demand for funding of this nature. Yesterday, FHWA announced award selections for this first round of funding. Future NOFOs will provide funding for Fiscal Years 2024, 2025, and 2026. FHWA is incorporating feedback from Tribes and other participants in the development of the next NOFO, for Fiscal Year 2024, with the goal of issuing that NOFO as expeditiously as possible.
As required by statute, Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program projects will be administered by State Departments of Transportation, and by FHWA’s Office of Federal Lands Highway for Tribes and Federal Land Management Agencies. FHWA has a long history of supporting these stakeholders with project delivery through our Federal-aid Division Offices and Federal Lands Highway Division Offices. This experience makes FHWA well-positioned to administer this important program and FHWA looks forward to supporting recipients.
In addition to the new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, wildlife crossings are eligible under several Federal highway programs, including the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) Program, Highway Safety Improvement Program, Federal Lands Transportation Program, Federal Lands Access Program, and Tribal Transportation Program, and FHWA has looked for opportunities to highlight these eligibilities, including specifically mentioning eligibility for wildlife crossing structures in the STBG program guidance.
Currently, the Office of Federal Lands Highway is delivering a dedicated wildlife overpass project in Idaho for the Idaho Transportation Department, using Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) funds. FHWA’s Wyoming Division is supporting a wildlife crossings project for which the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant.
WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS
The FHWA has a longstanding practice of engaging with stakeholders across the country, and we have placed an even greater emphasis on these efforts since the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. FHWA developed the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program NOFO after considering input from wildlife conservation groups, foundations, Tribal governments, and other relevant Federal, State, and local stakeholders. FHWA has worked closely and collaboratively with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to tap its ecological and transportation expertise on wildlife needs and data collection. In the spirit of President Biden’s whole-of-government approach, we have mapped an approach where FHWA can, and will continue to, leverage the Service’s extensive knowledge on habitat connectivity and conservation while also ensuring the integrity of the competitive grant process, considering the Service is an eligible applicant.
FHWA is also working with these stakeholders to develop guidance, metrics, and best practices regarding wildlife crossings and habitat connectivity as required by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. FHWA is committed to continuing its robust consultation with the transportation and wildlife conservation community to maximize the impact of the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program and other activities established under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
To allow for a better understanding of the program, FHWA hosted two informational webinars for the Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program NOFO providing information to assist applicants interested in applying—a public webinar and a webinar specifically for Tribes. In addition to standing up the new Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, FHWA has been working to make stakeholders aware of eligibility for wildlife crossings under other programs. FHWA will continue its focus on stakeholder engagement as we implement this program.
POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY PRACTICES ON ROADSIDES AND HIGHWAY RIGHTS- OF-WAY
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also established the Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way program, to provide grants to eligible entities for activities to benefit pollinators on roadsides and highway right-of-way, including the planting and seeding of native, locally-appropriate grasses and wildflowers. Congress provided funding for this new program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. FHWA is working to implement this program as expeditiously as possible.
CONCLUSION
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you today. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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Oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Modal Perspectives
Testimony of Ann Carlson, Acting Administrator, NHTSA
United States House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
Oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Modal Perspectives
December 13, 2023
Good morning, Chairman Crawford, Ranking Member Norton, and members of the subcommittee. I am Ann Carlson, Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Thank you for inviting me to testify today on NHTSA’s efforts, under the leadership of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, to fulfill the agency’s important safety mission.
Every person has been touched by crashes on our nation’s roads. Many of us have lost loved ones, friends, or family to a crash, as I have. And virtually everyone knows someone who has been injured. That’s why NHTSA’s work touches every person in the United States every day. NHTSA is committed to making the nation’s roads safer for everyone, preventing crashes, and reducing fatalities, injuries, and the economic cost of crashes on our roads.
Today I’m pleased to share new early estimates of traffic fatalities for January through September of 2023, which project that traffic fatalities declined for the sixth straight quarter. We are projecting that fatalities decreased about 4.5 percent from the same time in 2022.
While we are optimistic that we’re finally seeing a reversal of the record-high fatalities seen during the pandemic, this is not a cause for celebration. An estimated 19,515 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in the first half of 2023, a devastating loss that Secretary Buttigieg has rightly called a crisis on our roadways.
That’s why NHTSA – and the whole U.S. Department of Transportation – is leaning in on the safe system approach and the Department’s National Roadway Safety Strategy.
The only acceptable number of fatalities is zero. Getting to zero will require consistent, dedicated focus and work from every level of government, safety advocates, and the private sector.
One way we are working toward zero fatalities is by using the remarkable new resources Congress provided NHTSA through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, or BIL. I thank you for increasing NHTSA’s overall budget by more than 50 percent.
BIL also directs us to conduct a number of new research projects and rulemakings. NHTSA continues to work as quickly as possible on these critical projects and rules to save lives and to meet our statutory obligations.
We have issued a proposed rule to require automatic emergency braking, or AEB, and pedestrian AEB in new passenger cars and light trucks. With the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, we have issued a proposed rule to require AEB in heavy vehicles, including tractor trailers. When deployed, these technologies should dramatically reduce rear-end crashes, save more than 500 lives and prevent nearly 33,000 injuries per year.
NHTSA has also proposed significant upgrades to our 5-Star Safety Ratings program, and we completed a BIL directive in February 2022 when we issued our final adaptive driving beam rule.
We are also working closely with the states and especially those communities most significantly affected by traffic crashes. This includes both urban and rural areas. It’s worth noting, for example, that while 20 percent of Americans live in rural areas, they accounted for 40 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2021.
Every decision we make at NHTSA puts safety first, and this also informs our approach to emerging vehicle technologies, including automated driving systems, or ADS, and advanced driver assistance systems, or ADAS, too.
Promoting innovation while prioritizing a strong safety culture is at the heart of NHTSA’s work in this rapidly evolving sector. Innovation and safety must go hand in hand – a robust safety culture builds public trust in advanced technologies and automated vehicles. We are using all of our authorities and research capabilities to ensure that we advance technologies that make vehicles and roadways safer.
Finally, NHTSA takes its enforcement responsibilities very seriously. So far this year, NHTSA has opened 40 defect investigations, closed 28 investigations, and overseen more than 900 safety recalls of vehicles, car seats, tires, and other equipment, as of Monday. Our Office of Odometer Fraud Investigation has opened 13 criminal investigations this year.
NHTSA is a small agency with a big mission, and safety is at the heart of everything we do. I care very deeply about the safety of every person who uses our roads, no matter if they drive, walk, bike, ride or roll. They all deserve to arrive home to their loved ones safe and sound at the end of every day.
I thank the committee for its support of NHTSA’s lifesaving mission, and I look forward to answering your questions and continuing to work with you to save lives on America’s roads.
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Oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Modal Perspectives
Testimony of Robin Hutcheson, Administrator, FMCSA
House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Highways & Transit
Oversight of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Modal Perspectives
December 13, 2023
Thank you, Chairman Crawford, Chairman Graves, Ranking Member Larsen, and Ranking Member Holmes Norton for your leadership on this subcommittee. To all committee members, thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for your ongoing partnership.
When I was confirmed as Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there was an unprecedented spotlight on not only the trucking and motorcoach industry, but the men and women driving that industry – the truck drivers. Coming off the heels of the pandemic, Americans are now acutely aware of the impact of a truck driver’s work – from the long-haul drivers delivering 75% of our goods annually, to the school bus drivers taking our children to school, and to the city drivers picking up our recycling. There’s no doubt that drivers are essential to our daily lives.
Today, I am happy to report that we have kept that spotlight shining on the industry as we carry out our mission—to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Roadway safety affects not only those whose lives were lost, but the family members and loved ones who suffer the grief of loss. We have more work to do, and we can and must do better. The work of FMCSA and the industry is supported by the historic passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I want to thank you all for the opportunity to work with you on this unprecedented investment, which has allowed not only FMCSA, but our partners, to carry out safety priorities to achieve our ambitious goal of zero fatalities on our Nation’s roadways and to support the goals of the Department of Transportation – Safety, Economic Strength, Equity, Climate, and Transformation.
We continue to work with our State and Local Government boots on the ground partners across the country on the critical goal of improving safety, leveraging the increased resources in our formula and discretionary grants by prioritizing inspections for high-risk carriers, dedicating resources to high crash corridors and work zones, and closing loopholes to prevent unsafe drivers and carriers from ever being on the road.
Truck Drivers are essential safety partners. Data demonstrates that the safest drivers are those that have been in the industry the longest. We need to understand, “why are drivers leaving the industry?” I’ve rode along with long-haul drivers in the Midwest and municipal drivers in rural Alaska, hosted listening sessions with stakeholders, and asked these questions. We know that drivers need to feel safe, have access to training, and to be well compensated to both enter and stay within the industry. We have taken that feedback and leveraged the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources to assist the truck driving profession and our Nation’s supply chain by creating a better, safer pipeline of drivers and improving recruitment and retention in the profession. And, our assistance underscores the Department’s goals, as it sits at the intersection of safety, economic strength, and equity.
We established the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Women of Trucking Advisory Board to understand and address obstacles, including violence, harassment, and discrimination, for women entering – and remaining in – the industry. We have created action items to reduce those barriers, because, the plain fact is, we can’t leave any talent on the table. We have implemented requirements to ensure that drivers entering the industry have had a minimum level of training. We used Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to train veterans and their families, members of underserved communities, and others in safely operating a commercial motor vehicle, so that they may enter the industry. We awarded Bipartisan Infrastructure Law grant funding to expedite commercial driver licenses issuances. And, since 2021, we have increased the amount of Commercial Driver’s Licenses by 1,335,850. We’ve also launched initiatives to study compensation, predatory leasing arrangements, and detention time, and work with our Departmental colleagues to address truck parking.
FMCSA has increased efforts to combat commercial operations fraud, bolstering the goals of safety and economic strength. We implemented a Strategic Action Plan to address fraudulent household goods activities, including the launch of the Protect Your Move campaign. The Campaign spanned 16 States and resulted in 700 closed complaints and a 36% reduction in customer reports.
Finally, we have dedicated grant funding and resources to prevent human trafficking, underscoring our safety and equity goals, and we completed 50 outreach events this year.
With our continued Partners’ work, our driver focus on prevention, and your historic investment in safety, we can meet our shared goal of reducing crashes on our Nation’s roadways.
Thank you for the opportunity to share FMCSA’s work – and success – in implementing the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.