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News In Motion

The movement of People, Goods and Ideas.

NIM is TranSystems' e-newsletter distributed to more than 10,000 subscribers nationwide. The electronic publication features top news and expert commentary on target market segments in the transportation industry.

2013 Budget reflects central role of transportation in the lives of Americans, in the vitality of our nation's economy

It has been more than two years and four months since America's transportation funding expired. READ ARTICLE

Airports criticize 'recycled' proposals in Obama's transportation budget

The $3.8 trillion budget unveiled by President Obama includes "recycled" transportation proposals such as an increase on airline tickets, but it does not do much for small airports, the Washington, D.C. based Airports Council said Monday. READ ARTICLE

Auto show concept cars go from wild to mild

In their day, the jaw-dropping looks of concept cars such as the Dodge Copperhead, Chrysler Atlantic and Plymouth Howler merited rock-star treatment at auto shows. READ ARTICLE

Big money talks for airports when trying to lure airlines

Frontier Airlines announced last week it would begin service at Central Illinois Regional Airport at Bloomington-Normal, where business and government leaders had amassed more than $450,000 to lure an airline to replace the one that’s leaving, AirTran Airways. READ ARTICLE

Budget Alarms Market

President Obama’s $3.8 trillion fiscal 2013 budget alarmed the muni market by proposing to reduce the value of tax-exempt interest and other tax preferences to 28%. READ ARTICLE

Cathay Pacific Says Cargo Slowdown May Stretch Into Second Half

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd., the largest international air-cargo carrier, said a freight slowdown may continue into the second half after it reported a 10th consecutive decline in monthly volumes. READ ARTICLE

Chinese funds could help strengthen US infrastructure

With Chinese investment into the United States increasing, Chinese companies' assistance in rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure system in the US comes at an opportune time. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

There are a couple of things that have to be put into perspective with regard to this article. READ COMMENTARY

Chinese trade activity declines for first time in two years

Chinese imports and exports fell in January, the first declines in two years and a potential reflection of worsening economic conditions at home and abroad.
READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

There are two very real conditions that are slowing economic trade for China, and one that is seasonal and primarily circumstantial. READ COMMENTARY

Congress braces for a brutal fight over highway bills

Now that the fracas over the payroll tax cut appears to be winding down, focus is shifting toward the controversial transportation bill bobbing its way through the House. READ ARTICLE

Democratic lawmaker attempts to restore transit funding to House transportation bill

New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D) is trying to eliminate a cut to public transit funding that is included in the House's $260 billion surface transportation bill. READ ARTICLE

ECONOMY: Trucking activity dips to mid-2010 levels

Trucking softened in January, reflecting shipping activity last seen in mid-2010, according to an economic index released Tuesday. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

This is not our observation. READ COMMENTARY

Gas prices' earliest-ever rise above $3.50 a bad sign for motorists

Kirsten Pinnock monitored closely the dial on the Allentown Sunoco gas pump. She only wanted $12.50, not a penny more. That would bring the fuel gauge on her car up to the halfway mark. READ ARTICLE

GOP revives pipeline push in highway bill

House and Senate Republicans are using battles over high-profile transportation bills this week to demand construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. READ ARTICLE

Gov. Bryant sees Port as potential 'game-changer'

Gov. Phil Bryant said Monday after a tour of the Port of Gulfport he understands the potential the planned expansion has for job creation, but his office would focus on making sure as many new positions there result as possible. READ ARTICLE

Governor Brown Advances High-Speed Rail Support

Governor Jerry Brown and United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood reaffirmed their support for building High-Speed Rail in California. READ ARTICLE

House transportation bill: Traffic is heavy -- against it

A highway and mass transit bill headed to the House this week has drawn opposition from an eclectic array of organizations. READ ARTICLE

HOW TO PUMP HALF A MILLION GALLONS OF FUEL FROM A LISTING CRUISE LINER, And just how much fuel is that?

It’s been nearly a full month since the Costa Concordia ran aground just off the Tuscan island of Giglio, and after two weeks of delays salvage workers yesterday began pumping operations aimed at recovering most of the half million gallons of fuel aboard the badly listing Italian cruise liner. READ ARTICLE

Industrial Production Rises on Autos, Machinery

Factories in the U.S. boosted production in January, capping the biggest back-to-back increases in more than two years, showing manufacturing will remain at the forefront of the expansion. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

This has been written about recently - the fact that automotive and precision heavy machinery manufacturing remains strong. READ COMMENTARY

LaHood recommends $2.2 billion to strengthen backbone of U.S. transportation network

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Feb. 14 recommended $2.2 billion in funding to begin or advance construction of 29 significant rail and bus rapid transit projects in 15 states. READ ARTICLE

Nearly 70 Transportation Associations Sign Letter Opposing Tolls

Sixty-eight transportation associations signed a letter to the Senate opposing the use of tolls on the U.S. Interstate Highway System in the Senate's version of the Surface Transportation Bill (S. 1813). READ ARTICLE

New York Seeks $2 Billion Federal Loan for Tappan Zee Bridge

New York state has applied for a $2 billion federal loan for construction of a $5.2 billion replacement for the Tappan Zee Bridge across the Hudson River, state officials said.
READ ARTICLE

NY Factories Expand Fastest Pace Since 2010

Manufacturing in the New York region expanded in February at the fastest pace since June 2010, a sign factories are propelling the expansion. READ ARTICLE

Obama budget contains nearly $35 billion for passenger rail

The Obama administration, which has been urging California to push through growing opposition to its high-speed rail project, asked Congress on Monday for nearly $35 billion in passenger rail funding over the next five years. READ ARTICLE

Obama includes $47B for high-speed rail in 2013 budget

The $3.8 trillion budget unveiled this week by President Obama includes $47 billion for high-speed rail development, despite a Republican effort to defund the initiative this year.
READ ARTICLE

Rising Gas Prices: Not Demand Driven

Gas prices are off to a fast start in 2012. The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is up more than 8 percent since the end of 2011, rising from $3.25 per gallon to $3.52, according to new data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

There have been some further developments that need to also be factored into the price of gasoline and diesel. READ COMMENTARY

Shoring up roads, bridges, transit systems boosted to the top of Washington's political agenda

After years of procrastination, the White House and Congress have suddenly boosted a long-term plan to improve the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems to the top of the political agenda. READ ARTICLE

Spending by states and cities declines

The belt-tightening coincided with a cut in federal stimulus aid and reflected lower spending on health care for the poor, employee compensation and big ticket items, such as roads and college buildings. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

To the degree that this spending reduction was in reaction to the weak tax revenues experienced at the tail end of the worst part of the recession, there may be some actual, good news ahead for state spending. READ COMMENTARY

Steady rail traffic growth a sign of economic recovery

Louisiana can expect a boost to its rail traffic this year, mirroring a nationwide trend of positive growth and economic recovery. READ ARTICLE

A Step Further...

When the world sees crude oil prices rising to near $120 per barrel (Brent North Sea Crude), supply chain transit times extending, load sizes generally getting larger when cost savings can be found, and a more predictable intermodal service by the rail providers - the marketplace has shown that it can have a love affair with rail. READ COMMENTARY

Tales in Motion: Watch Out: The Quality That's Being Monitored May Be Your Own

All in all I suppose we should count ourselves fortunate that when, in the pursuit of some damnable transaction or other over the phone, and upon hearing the words “for quality assurance purposes this call may be monitored,” they seem to be talking about monitoring the people on the other end of the line…and not us.
READ ARTICLE

That's a lot of transportaion news...what's it all mean?

If your world view is such that you figure that any piece of legislation that has a large number of enemies…that usually are enemies of each other… must have something going for it, then you’ll just love the transportation bill working its way through the House.
READ ARTICLE

Trucking Industry Challenges U.S. on Driver Rest Rules

The largest U.S. trucking group filed a legal challenge to Transportation Department driver- fatigue rules that the industry says focus on the wrong safety problems and don’t meet legal requirements. READ ARTICLE

Update to the Maritime Impact Matrix

What’s moving the matrix? READ ARTICLE

Using social media to improve airport security

Have you ever wondered what you can and cannot carry on an airplane? How about knitting needles, a wedding dress, ski poles or fried rice? READ ARTICLE

W.H. threatens transportation veto

The Obama administration blasted the House’s five-year transportation proposal Tuesday and issued the White House’s first veto threat of the year. READ ARTICLE

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That's A Lot of News

What's it all mean? The warning blender.

TranSystems Transportation Activity Index, February 16 2012
Oil Prices: infrastructure, mass transit, and everything else

The first of the February events that we wrote about a week ago has started to happen. Oil prices are inching up on several different key events. READ COMMENTARY