Skip to main content

US Tranportation Secretary pessimistic?

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has expressed doubts that the reauthorisation bill will be passed in the current session of Congress, according to the Innovation Briefs report by Ken Orski.
March 15, 2012 Read time: 1 min
US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has expressed doubts that the reauthorisation bill will be passed in the current session of Congress, according to the 3949 Innovation Briefs report by Ken Orski.

LaHood spoke during the recent annual meeting of the 2774 Transportation Research Board in Washington, where six US transportation secretaries discussed challenges they had met during their time in office. LaHood’s comments drew some surprise given recent announcements from the US Government about the importance of infrastructure.

There have been some earlier comments that the Senate Finance Committee may have arrived at a bipartisan agreement on providing the US$13 billion needed to fund the bill. However LaHood pointed out that the politically polarised situation in the 10 months to the next US election will make it hard for sufficient agreement to be reached that would allow the reauthorisation bill to be passed.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Democratisation of technology: an interview with Ivan Di Federico
    June 20, 2025
    A very different global future is emerging where a successful business must have a large amount of the right data and access to the best technology. But for long-term success a business must create value for its customers, says Ivan Di Federico, formerly chief strategy officer and now president and chief executive officer of Topcon Positioning Systems. He talks to Anthony Oliver, host of the Infrastructure podcast.
  • East Africa drives towards road tolling
    March 18, 2016
    Road tolling is increasing in East Africa as the region’s countries expand highway networks - Shem Oirere writes. The drive towards road tolling in East Africa is gaining momentum. Uganda appears to have broken ranks with its neighbours to make huge strides in achieving progress with this innovative road financing plan. Road tolling has hitherto has been held back in East Africa for lack of political goodwill and State bureaucracies. Kenyan government officials have made announcements on planned road tollin
  • ITS innovation will benefit transport in the Middle East
    May 29, 2013
    *Zeina Nazer, secretary general of ITS-Arab, introduces the rapid evolution of Intelligent Transport Systems in the Middle East and North Africa and talks about the special challenges and opportunities this represents, both for the industry and her organisation. Over the past six years, ITS-Arab has focused on promoting Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) at the policy and decision making echelons, while developing ITS specifications at a project design level throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MEN
  • Europe-Asia road link
    February 9, 2017
    The governments of China, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia have finally approved a project for the building of a new transcontinental road, which will connect Asia and Europe. The new route is much-needed and will speed the transportation of cargo between the two continents, according to Maxim Sokolov, Russia’s Minister of Transport. The idea for the building of the road was first proposed by the European Commission around 2005. It was prompted by the ever growing volume of trade between the EU and Chin