CIVIL AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES ORGANIZATION (CANSO)
Aviation is a key sector in the world economy. It both drives and supports global economic growth. On a global level the aviation market was boosted by strong growth in emerging markets, transporting approximately 3.1 billion people and 49.3 million tonnes of cargo according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in 2013. Airports Council International (ACI) figures show 4.6% growth in passengers compared with 2.4% growth in global GDP, reflecting the continued economic recovery after the financial and economic crises of 2008-2009. For air navigation services (ANS) the key measures of activity are Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flights, IFR flight hours and IFR airport movements.
Infra Views
Hidden Highways: Fog and Traffic Crashes on America’s Roads
Thursday, December 25th, 2014AAA FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY
Fog presents numerous challenges to motorists. By definition, it reduces visibility to less than 5/8-mile, and, as fog obscures details of the driving environment and reduces contrast, drivers have difficulty accurately perceiving certain things that are crucial for safe driving, such as depth and speed. Moreover, because high beams reflect off of the suspended water droplets that fog comprises and actually make it harder to see, drivers are deprived of a tool that is useful in other low-visibility situations.
Multimodal Transportation Alternatives for Minnesota
Wednesday, December 24th, 2014This paper looks at alternatives for promoting and strengthening multimodal transportation in rural and small urban areas. It outlines 65 different innovative activities around the United States that have been undertaken to promote multimodalism in rural areas and smaller towns. These activities are grouped into six categories: improving transit options; accommodating alternative vehicles; supporting pedestrian and bicycle travel; multimodal land use planning; the use of financial incentives to promote multimodal land use development; and other alternatives that do not fit in these five categories.
View this complete Infra Views post...Private Capital, Public Good
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014BROOKINGS METROPOLITAN POLICY PROGRAM
Despite its fundamental and multifaceted role in maintaining national growth and economic health, infrastructure in the United States has not received an adequate level of investment for years. Political dysfunction, a challenging fiscal environment, greater project complexity, and the sheer size of the need across different sectors are forcing leaders across the country to explore new ways to finance the investments and operations that will grow their economies over the next decade…Part of this exploration means new kinds of agreements between governments at all levels and the private sector to deliver, finance, and maintain a range of projects. Beyond simplistic notions of privatization, the interest is in true partnerships between agencies, private firms, financiers, and the general public. Many nations already successfully develop infrastructure in this manner today.
Despite its fundamental and multifaceted role in maintaining national growth and economic health, infrastructure in the United States has not received an adequate level of investment for years. Political dysfunction, a challenging fiscal environment, greater project complexity, and the sheer size of the need across different sectors are forcing leaders across the country to explore new ways to finance the investments and operations that will grow their economies over the next decade.
View this complete Infra Views post...Connecting Low-Income People to Opportunity with Shared Mobility
Monday, December 22nd, 2014INSTITUTE FOR TRANSPORTATION & DEVELOPMENT POLICY
LIVING CITIES
In the last decade, shared mobility services have taken off across the United States as a complement to local public transit and an alternate to private car ownership…These services, which include car-share, bike-share and ride-share, maximize the use of vehicles by sharing them among multiple users, encourage more transport options, and aim to reduce transportation costs for users. While mass rapid transit moves the most people most efficiently and is the backbone for urban development, this paper is concerned mostly with recent advances in low-volume passenger carrier models in the United States. The purpose of this report is to highlight the potential for shared mobility systems such as bike-share and car-share to benefit low-income individuals.
NYC: Audit Report on the Maintenance of Bike Share Equipment
Friday, December 19th, 2014THE CITY OF NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER
During the audit period, NYCBS failed to maintain Citi Bike program equipment (bikes and stations) as required by its contract with DOT and its own internal operating procedures. Specifically, NYCBS did not: (1) perform maintenance checks on all bicycles on a monthly basis; (2) perform station inspections twice per week; (3) ensure that on-street maintenance checks of bikes were properly documented; (4) respond within the required timeframes to cleanliness issues with bicycles and stations after discovery or notification of problems; and (5) maintain connectivity of stations to its main database at required levels. As a result of these deficiencies, the riding public is exposed to increased safety risks and customer satisfaction is potentially jeopardized.
More Wind, Less Warming
Wednesday, December 17th, 2014ENVIRONMENT TEXAS
American wind power is already significantly reducing global warming pollution. In 2013 alone, wind power averted 132 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions – as much as would be produced by 34 typical coal-fired power plants. But with the United States and the world needing to move toward a future of 100 percent clean energy in order to prevent the worst impacts of global warming, America must do much more.
Freeing the Grid: Net Metering & Interconnection Best Practices
Tuesday, December 16th, 2014INTERSTATE RENEWABLE ENERGY COUNCIL
VOTE SOLAR
One significant lesson that is apparent upon reviewing the wide variety of existing state standards is that inconsistency is the nemesis of clean energy development. It creates confusion among consumers, undermines the ability of businesses to operate efficiently across utility service territories or state lines,
and increases costs to all program participants — utilities, consumers, businesses and commission staff — by forcing these stakeholders to master the idiosyncrasies of each individual state’s programs.
Transportation Infrastructure Investment: Impacts of the Federal Highway and Mass Transit Program
Monday, December 15th, 2014TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION COALITION
Federal transportation spending expands the capital stock of the US economy, drives the production and delivery of goods and services, and positively affects business and household incomes. It also enhances the transportation system’s operational capacity by reducing travel times and costs. This results in greater accessibility for individuals, households and businesses, more efficient delivery of goods and services, improved life styles and standards of living, and safer roadways.
The Ohio River: Modeling Waterway Transportation
Friday, December 12th, 2014MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE CONSORTIUM
The inland waterway system of the U.S. is a vital network for transporting key goods and commodities from the point of production to manufacturers and consumers. Shipping materials via the inland waterways is arguably the most economical and environmentally friendly option (compared to hauling freight by trains or railways). Despite the advantages the inland waterways enjoys over competing modes, key infrastructure – such as locks and dams, which help to control water levels on a number of rivers and make navigation possible – is declining. Limited funds have been allocated to make the necessary repairs to lock and dam facilities. Over the past 10 years Inland Waterways Trust Fund resources (which historically funded maintenance and improvement projects) has steadily declined.
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