Recent Streetsblog NYC posts about Barack Obama

Obama Bans Texting While Driving for Guv Workers — And There’s More

By Elana Schor | Oct 1, 2009 | 9 Comments

The U.S. DOT’s distracted driving summit came to a close today with the unveiling of an executive order from President Obama that prohibits federal employees from texting behind the wheel of a government car or using a government-provided messaging device while driving any vehicle. Photo: brainlink.org In addition, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced plans for […]

Oberstar to White House: On Emissions, Back Up Your Words With Action

By Elana Schor | Jul 28, 2009 | 2 Comments

Appearing this morning at the release of a new report on transportation’s role in fighting climate change, House transportation committee chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) challenged the Obama administration to back up their emissions rhetoric with action and pass his six-year, $450 billion infrastructure bill. FTA’s Peter Rogoff (in hard hat) heard strong words from Rep. […]

Obama Talks Urban Policy as LaHood Seeks More Urban Transpo Money

By Elana Schor | Jul 13, 2009 | 2 Comments

Obama during the "sprawl is over" speech last February The White House Office of Urban Affairs, which has drawn criticism for its inactivity at a rocky economic time for the nation’s cities, capped a day-long summit today with a speech by President Obama. Referencing his formative years as a Chicago community organizer, Obama urged the […]

Flashback: Obama Once Led Push for ‘Complete Streets’

By Elana Schor | May 28, 2009 | 6 Comments

With Congress out of town on its Memorial Day break, the nation’s capital is a quiet place to be — but all of that will change next week, as the appearance of the House transportation bill is expected to kick off an intense battle to reshape federal policy on transit, bikes, roads and bridges. Before […]

Want a Clean Bill of Health for the MTA? Call Obama.

By John Kaehny | May 8, 2009 | 11 Comments

Photo: AP/Post-Standard Former MTA CEO Lee Sander spent the last two-and-a-half years doing his best to make the MTA a transparent, accountable public agency, and in doing so restore its reputation. He let the sunshine in, but was unable to undo the damage to the agency’s image caused by years of attacks from transit advocates, […]

Doomsday Across America

By Ben Fried | Apr 30, 2009 | 3 Comments

Following up on Sarah’s post about transit funding woes in Illinois, this CNN segment from earlier in the month brings home the effect of service cuts and fare hikes in St. Louis. Similar scenarios are playing out all over the country. According to the latest tally from Transportation for America, 85 transit systems serving 22 […]

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