With the help of Oriana Pawlyk
— Legislators on key transportation committees aren’t breaking a sweat on Election Day itself, but the post-election reshuffle will have major implications for transport policy.
— Freight railroads will have to live under additional control by the Surface Transportation Board for at least another six months.
— New York City is receiving more than a quarter of the $15 billion in disaster aid awarded after Hurricane Sandy, 10 years after the storm.
IT’S MONDAY: You’re reading Morning Transportation, your Washington politics guide to everything that moves. As always, send in tips, speeches, reviews and lyrics [email protected]. You can find us all on Twitter: @alextdaugherty, @TSnyderDC AND @Oriana0214.
“If it’s a bunch of clowns you voted for/Election Day’s comin’ again/If you don’t like it now/If it’s more than you’ll let/If you don’t like who’s there, vote ’em out.” “
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WAKE ME UP WHEN NOVEMBER IS HERE: Next week’s election will undoubtedly have major implications for transport policy and oversight. The infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act — specifically parts of new laws that expand electric vehicle tax credits and the nation’s toll grid — will be targeted by Republicans if they win a majority. But the current lawmakers at the center of these political squabbles are mostly certain to hold their seats until 2023. The question is who gets the upper hand.
IN HOME: Most lawmakers from both parties who serve in top T&I leadership roles — with the exception of retiring chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) — are not facing competitive re-election bids. The only race to watch will be played during the lame duck period, as Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) and Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DD.C.) jockey for DeFazio’s position. On the GOP side, ranking member Sam Graves (R-Mo.) will wait to see if he steps up to chair the committee. Nor do Larsen, Norton and Graves face serious opposition on Election Day. So far, no T&I lawmakers have publicly announced bids for open subcommittee leadership slots, though there are GOP openings on the Coast Guard and Marine subcommittee and the Highway and Transit subcommittee. Aviation Subcommittee and Highway and Transit Subcommittee seats could open up on the Democratic side if Larsen or Norton take the top Democratic seat on the committee.
IN THE SENATE: None of the senators in line to lead the Senate Commerce or Senate EPW committees face competitive re-election, though Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) will be watching the national map to see if he moves up to chair the Committee on Trade as of now Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has said he aims to take the top GOP seat on the Armed Services. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) is next in line to take Cruz’s place as chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee if he wins what is expected to be a non-competitive election. And on the EPW Committee, leadership in both parties is expected to remain relatively similar in 2023, but eyes will turn to Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee Chairman Ben Cardin (D-Md. .), as both have not yet decided on their plans for 2024.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN: Expect top administration figures like DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to face continued letter writing and questions from GOP lawmakers in the upcoming Congress. And if the GOP manages to win a majority in both chambers, watch for legislative efforts to roll back some of the infrastructure laws and IRA money that would go to programs Republicans oppose.
STB is watching: U.S. Class I freight railroads will have to live under additional scrutiny from the Surface Transportation Board for at least another six months, after the STB announced Friday that it is extending the interim reporting period for BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. Carriers will have to continue to submit biweekly service progress reports and weekly performance data until May 5, 2023. “The latest data shows that the Four Carriers are currently meeting some of their six-monthly targets for service improvement and many key performance indicators are trending in a positive direction,” STB said in a statement. “However, the data continues to corroborate the anecdotal information that continues to be reported to the Board regarding significant service issues.”
reminders: We reported earlier this month that rail performance was still disappointing both carriers and regulators, but that the STB has limited options to intervene quickly.
RAILCAR BACKLOG: The Railroad Supply Institute reported Friday that there was a backlog of 61,415 railcars in early October, as orders rose 124 percent and shipments rose just 11 percent.
TIME TO BREAK THE COVID RULES? Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the top Republican on the railroad subcommittee, and 55 other House Republicans sent a letter Friday asking the Biden administration to end vaccination requirements between the U.S. and Canada. Canada ended its vaccination and testing requirements earlier this month. Lawmakers cited labor shortages and supply chain constraints as a reason to lift the restrictions.
“These regulations put more strain on our supply chain by impeding the trucking industry’s ability to move these essential goods quickly,” they wrote, echoing the trucking industry’s position after Canada revoked its Covid rules.
GM DOESN’T HEAR ELON MUSK ON TWITTER: Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter was finalized on Friday, and the aftershocks were felt as far as the auto sector, as General Motors immediately said it was “paining” its Twitter ads. “We are engaging with Twitter to understand the direction of the platform under their new ownership,” GM told CNBC.
SANDY TURN 10: Ten years after Hurricane Sandy’s blistering winds and 14-foot storm surge caused $69 billion in damage to New York and New Jersey, disrupting public transportation, many parts of the region remain vulnerable. New York received $43 billion in federal disaster aid, $15 billion of which was for New York City, but a recent report found that more than a quarter of the city’s share has not yet been used “due to delays, bureaucracy and politics,” write Danielle Muoio Dunn and Ry Rivard.
If we are honest: Mayor Eric Adams said the “level of complexity” of the projects was a problem. And New Jersey’s top environmental regulator, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, called for honesty about the risks of another tragic storm and rising seas. “We’re not ready, period,” LaTourette said. “Neither is New York City. Neither does most of the country.”
Adam Lisberg has left DJI as its director of corporate communications for North America after more than six years with the drone company (Friday was his last day). Arianne Burrell will fill the role on an interim basis until DJI appoints a permanent replacement.
— “‘No Work’: The Holiday Career or Starvation of America’s Dock Drivers.” New York Times.
— “A plan to accelerate the transition to zero-emission trucks in California could get even faster.” POLITICO Pro.
— “FAA to revoke unused airport slots for international flights.” Bloomberg.
— “Would you give up planes for these trains? Europe promotes climate-friendly travel.” Washington Post.
— “How United Airlines expects electric planes to change the way travelers make travel decisions.” CNBC.
— “Ford gives dealers more time to decide on EV standards.” The Detroit News.
– “Travel is rising to pre-pandemic levels.” Forbes.
— “Republicans are hijacking bike lanes to stop a progressive prosecutor.” HuffPost.
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