| | | | | |  | | By Alex Daugherty, Tanya Snyder and Irie Sentner | | | | | — NTSB investigators dug into the details of what caused the high-profile derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, though some residents want more from the Biden administration. — The FAA has made “limited efforts” to address air traffic controller staffing shortages, DOT’s IG says. — The 5G deadline is approaching, and DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg warns airlines they could face penalties if passengers face delayed or canceled flights. IT’S MONDAY: You’re reading Morning Transportation, your Washington policy guide to everything that moves. Send tips, thoughts, song lyrics and recipes you like to adaugherty@politico.com, tsnyder@politico.com and isentner@politico.com. Find us on Twitter @alextdaugherty, @TSnyderDC and @iriesentner. “I walked the avenue, 'til my legs felt like stone/I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone/At night I could hear the blood in my veins/Just as black and whispering as the rain/On the streets of Philadelphia.”
| | | | A message from The Coalition to Protect America's Regional Airports: The Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports opposes any changes to the slot and perimeter rules as any changes will add more congestion at regional airports and more headaches for passengers. With Reagan National Airport already at capacity, adding flights will disrupt its operational efficiency, increase noise and pollution for surrounding communities. Learn more at https://www.protectregionalairports.com/. | | | | | TWO DAYS IN EAST PALESTINE: NTSB on Friday wrapped up two days of investigative hearings in East Palestine, Ohio, aimed at uncovering all the facts of the Feb. 3 Norfolk Southern train derailment there. Investigators dug into the performance of tank car pressure release valves; the flow of information and resources to emergency responders; the inspection regimen for rail cars; and much more. Here are our five takeaways from almost 20 hours of hearings. Party time: The parties to the investigation — who both appeared as witnesses and got to ask questions of other witnesses at the hearing — are learning along with the NTSB. Agency Chair Jennifer Homendy told reporters that the party process “is an advantage because they get information while we're finding it out,” meaning that the parties can “improve safety immediately instead of waiting down the road until a final report is issued.” Tricky politics: The community of East Palestine remains deeply suspicious of the government and angry at the Biden administration. Many say they feel abandoned, despite the presence of the EPA and the FRA, because President Joe Biden himself hasn’t visited. When asked what they want the government to do, people have various responses. Some want more monitoring of long-term health, some are skeptical that the air- and water-quality testing they’re getting is accurate or adequate, and some want the federal government to help their families relocate. There’s not one unified demand, but there is a widespread feeling that the government isn’t doing enough for the people there and isn’t being fully honest with them.
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| | SHORT-STAFFED: It’s no secret that the FAA has had trouble keeping up with controller staffing and attrition, and a DOT inspector general report released Friday underscored the stakes, saying the agency risks “the continuity of air traffic operations" if it can't get a handle on the matter. — Highlights: The agency has made “limited efforts” to stanch the bleeding, doesn’t have a plan to address it and “faces an immense challenge” to train enough controllers in the short term. Irie has more. DEADLINE COMING: Buttigieg wrote to Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio on Friday reminding airlines of the July 1 deadline to retrofit commercial aircraft with updated altimeters that can handle stronger 5G signals — and noting that DOT has the authority to punish airlines that cancel or delay flights because of the issue. “Passengers cannot be expected to bear the responsibility for an airline that fails to realistically adjust schedules that can foreseeably be impacted by 5G readiness issues in its fleet,” Buttigieg wrote. “DOT will hold carriers accountable for any violations of the law.” — Domestic carriers aren’t as concerning heading into the deadline, as we reported earlier this month; the bigger issue is foreign airlines flying Boeing 777s that must update their altimeters or else they cannot fly at all. Other planes will be limited from making certain low-visibility landings starting next month, though the altimeter upgrades for all commercial planes must be complete by early next year. QUICKEN THE PACE: The FAA needs to sort through regulatory, management and communication issues that have hindered the agency's ability to certify air taxis , DOT’s OIG said Friday, though the audit said the FAA is in the process of improving its internal processes. Alex has more. — In a report released on Friday, DOT's IG said the FAA made "limited progress" over four years to determine which certification process to use for AAMs like eVTOLs. FAA never established airworthiness standards and operational regulations for certain lift-powered aircraft, creating what the OIG said was "significant internal debates and a lack of consensus on how to proceed." The OIG said FAA agreed with its recommendations to improve the process and plans to accelerate rulemakings.
| | | | A message from The Coalition to Protect America's Regional Airports:   | | | | | PROTECT OR ELECTRIFY? David Ferris and Joshua Posner report that the U.S. and Europe are taking different approaches to the adoption of Chinese EVs, with U.S. protectionism contrasting to the European Union’s low tariffs and generous national subsidies for battery-powered imports. — The U.S. imposes a stiff 27.5 percent tariff for Chinese-made cars — put in place during Donald Trump’s presidency — and has buttressed that with the made-in-America tax credits of the Inflation Reduction Act. Meanwhile, Europe’s moves have, intentionally or not, provided a strategic opening for China’s startup car brands. The EU’s tariffs on imported cars are only 10 percent, and European national subsidies for electric vehicles apply to imports as well as domestically made cars and trucks. — That’s why it’s possible to see a BYD-branded car in Dusseldorf, but unlikely in Dallas. BYD, a maker of both clean cars and the battery cells that power them, sold nearly 2 million cars last year (way more than Tesla). It’s one of many Chinese brands moving into the European market. STREETS OF PHILADELPHIA: I-95 reopened in Philadelphia on Friday, less than two weeks after a tanker truck caught fire and caused a bridge to collapse. The temporary fix was completed with recycled glass that was crushed down into aggregate, and a NASCAR dryer from Pocono Raceway was used to help speed the drying process along. Biden and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro were quick to capitalize on the fast construction project (a similar approach taken by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after Hurricane Ian wiped out a critical bridge). Biden on Friday praised “proud union workers doing shifts around the clock” and noted that DOT was also involved in the construction effort. A permanent fix will take more time, however. BILLIONS FOR BUSES: DOT on Monday announced nearly $1.7 billion in 2021 infrastructure law funding for over 1,700 buses in 46 states and territories, nearly half of which will be zero-emissions models. The buses are to be manufactured in the U.S. with American parts, doubling the amount of electric buses on U.S. streets from Whatcom County, Wash., to Washington, D.C., according to a press release. MAD IN JERSEY: New Jersey lawmakers aren't happy with FHWA after they will not require New York to do more outreach and environmental studies before putting in tolls that will affect New Jersey drivers. Ry Rivard has more.
| | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president’s ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | | | | | | — “Taylor Swift is an unlikely public transit icon.” CNN. — “L.A. opens its new light-rail link.” The New York Times. — “Fire chief warns against ‘unleashing’ self-driving taxis in San Francisco.” The Guardian. — “Opinion: Tesla's 'self-driving' cars can't drive themselves. That's a problem." The Washington Post. — “West Virginia bets on hydrogen in gamble to save coal plant.” POLITICO. — “‘Real deadline is Jan. 1’: Congress’ typical shutdown punt gets a new twist.” POLITICO. — “Freight train carrying hot asphalt, molten sulfur plunges into Yellowstone River as bridge fails.” The Associated Press. — “He has flown 23 million miles. Here are his travel secrets.” The Washington Post. — “D.C. to begin sending targeted messages to high-risk drivers.” The Washington Post. — “2023 State of Transportation Report.” Breakthrough.
| | | | A message from The Coalition to Protect America's Regional Airports: Wondering about the impact of adding more round-trip flights at Reagan National Airport? Here are the facts: The FAA found that adding 20 additional daily round-trip flights would increase delays by 29%, while an increase of 25 additional daily round-trip flights would increase delays by 33.2%. DCA already has the 3rd highest percentage of cancelled flights across U.S. airports and the busiest runway in America. In addition to more delays and cancellations, DCA is currently facing a 27% shortage of certified air traffic controllers. DCA cannot handle additional congestion given these delays and operating constraints. With over 100 members and supporters, the Coalition to Protect America’s Regional Airports is working to support the efficiency and safety of DCA by protecting the existing slot and perimeter rules. Learn more at https://www.protectregionalairports.com/. | | | | | | | Follow us on Twitter | | | | Follow us | | | | |
