• Aviation Safety: Better Data and Targeted FAA Efforts Needed to Identify and Address Safety Issues of Small Air Cargo Carriers. GAO-09-614, June 24, 2009 (55 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-614
• Highway Trust Fund: Options for Improving Sustainability and Mechanisms to Manage Solvency. GAO-09-845T, June 25, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-845T
• International Aviation: Federal Efforts Help Address Safety Challenges in Africa, but Could Benefit from Reassessment and Better Coordination. GAO-09-498, June 16, 2009 (38 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-498
• Public Transportation: New Starts Program Challenges and Preliminary Observations on Expediting Project Development. GAO-09-763T, June 3, 2009 (16 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-763T
• Recovery Act: The Department of Transportation Followed Key Federal Requirements in Developing Selection Criteria for Its Supplemental Discretionary Grants Program. GAO-09-785R, June 30, 2009 (7 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-785R

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• Aviation Security: TSA Has Completed Key Activities Associated with Implementing Secure Flight, but Additional Actions Are Needed to Mitigate Risks. GAO-09-292, May 13, 2009 (62 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-292
• Federal Transit Administration: Progress and Challenges in Implementing and Evaluating the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. GAO-09-496, May 21, 2009 (52 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-496
• Freight Rail Security: Actions Have Been Taken to Enhance Security, but the Federal Strategy Can Be Strengthened and Security Efforts Better Monitored. GAO-09-243, April 21, 2009 (123 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-243
• Motor Carrier Safety: Commercial Vehicle Registration Program Has Kept Unsafe Carriers from Operating, but Effectiveness Is Difficult to Measure. GAO-09-495, May 12, 2009 (37 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-495
• Responses to Questions for the Record: March 18, 2009, Hearing on ATC Modernization: Near-Term Achievable Goals. GAO-09-718R, May 20, 2009 (14 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-718R

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“Rail industry urges shorter trains off-peak to cut carbon emissions”, The Guardian, May 28, 2009

The rail industry is urging the government to run shorter trains in order to meet Britain’s climate change obligations. Removing carriages outside rush hour would conserve energy and reinforce rail’s reputation as one of the greenest modes of transport, says an industry manifesto published today. Network Rail, owner of rail infrastructure, and the Association of Train Operating Companies (Atoc) argue they can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020 by running shorter trains at off-peak times. [...]

Link: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/28/railway-trains-climate-change-carbon-emissions

“Union Pacific CEO: Regulation Inflating Funding Costs” by Doug Cameron, Dow Jones Newswires, May 27, 2009

CHICAGO -(Dow Jones)- The head of Union Pacific Corp. (UNP) warned Wednesday railroads face inflated funding costs because of uncertainty about future industry regulation. James Young, chief executive, intensified his criticism of the planned reauthorization of the Transportation Act later this year, which he said could damage future industry investment. “It’s bad law,” said Young in remarks to a rail shippers conference in Chicago. [...]

Link: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905271341DOWJONESDJONLINE000780_FORTUNE5.htm

“Italian railways says to bid for Veolia Cargo”, Reuters.com, May 18, 2009

Italian railways Ferrovie dello Stato said on Monday it would bid for Veolia Cargo (VIE.PA), which competes on freight transport with French state-owned railway company SNCF.[...]

Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSLI51107520090518

“European Train Travel: Working on the Railroad”, by Bruce CROMLEY, Time.com, May 28, 2009

Europe’s railroad industry, for decades dominated by stodgy state-owned monopolies, is ready for a renaissance of its own. A looming round of deregulation is set to spark an industry restructuring, pitting existing state-owned railroads against smaller private upstarts.[...]

Link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1901431,00.html?iid=tsmodule

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Since Veolia Environnement is looking for reducing its debt of around €2 billion, since the 2008 net result divided by two from the previous year at €405 million, since the stocks lost 43% of its market value in the last 12 months, the mothers company needs to bring back confidence among its investors. Traffic flows in freight rail dropped up to 40-50% and Veolia Cargo even stopped its cooperation with French marine shipping company CMA-CGM: both companies shut down their joint venture, Veolia Cargo Link, in march 2009… Selling subsidiaries is a way to get cash flow back flowing!

From the outside, we can wonder who will buy out Veolia Cargo: Deutsche Bahn, who already spent €700 million in the United Kingdom to buy out EWS? Another European key-player in freight operation, from Spain or Italy? This will definitely be a way to compete against the French National Railway Company, SNCF… However, from “information or propaganda” to an official “announcement”, the selling of Veolia Cargo seems real enough to have SNCF, the French National Railway company interested in buying out the private company’s freight rail operations! Pierre Blayau, SNCF Fret (SNCF freight division) President confirmed his company’s interest in its direct opponent on the French market.

References

• Article: Veolia Environnement met en vente Veolia Cargo, Les Echos, May 11, 2009: here
• Article: La SNCF candidat à une reprise de Veolia Cargo, e-Lloyd, May 13, 2009: here

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This report evaluates the applicability, Federal policy implications, and possible public and private sector roles related to peak pricing strategies at ports and intermodal facilities in the U.S. and includes a detailed analysis of the PierPASS OffPeak Program, key port market characteristics, institutional issues pertinent to port peak pricing programs, and policy and program considerations.

The report is available at: http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09014/index.htm

For additional information please contact: Ed Strocko, FHWA Office of Freight Management and Operations,  ed.strocko@dot.gov or +1 202-366-2997

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• Aviation Safety: Potential Strategies to Address Air Ambulance Safety Concerns. GAO-09-627T, April 22, 2009 (17 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-627T
• Commercial Aviation: Airline Industry Contraction Due to Volatile Fuel Prices and Falling Demand Affects Airports, Passengers, and Federal Government Revenues. GAO-09-393, April 21, 2009 (52 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-393
• High Speed Passenger Rail: Future Development Will Depend on Addressing Financial and Other Challenges and Establishing a Clear Federal Role. GAO-09-560T, April 1, 2009 (6 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-560T
• Transportation Security: Comprehensive Risk Assessments and Stronger Internal Controls Needed to Help Inform TSA Resource Allocation. GAO-09-492, March 27, 2009 (57 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-492

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The LKW-Maut is the German global toll scheme applied to goods trucks over 12 tons since January 1, 2005. Haulers are charged for the distance they run on German motorways. The tax also depends on the number of axles and the CO2 emission category of the vehicle. Toll Collect is the organisation in charge of monitoring the whole scheme and collecting the toll.

Each driver has an on-board unit (OBU) installed in the truck. These electronic devices are paid by German Government and make possible to know the exact mileage made by every truck on German motorways.

When the system was launched, the average amount of the toll was €0.12/km. After 4 years of operation, Toll Collect deems the scheme a success since distances run by trucks with higher emissions rate had significantly decreased. Apparently, the cumulated mileage of trucks from S0, S1 and S2 pollutants rejection categories compared to total mileage has gone down from 48% in 2005 to 8% in November 2008.

A meaningful action to protest

Since January 1, 2009, toll fares have been increased. Basically, 4 axles and more vehicles will be charged between €0.155/km if they are Euro V and €0.288/km if Euro 0 and Euro I. This increase – supposed to generate about €1 billion in 2009 for the German Ministry for Transport (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Sdadtentwiclung) -, was all the same hard to accept that it occurred as the freight sector is particularly impacted by the worldwide economic slowdown.

The BGL (Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung), an important workers organisation which is clearly against it, promotes initiatives allowing haulers to display their dissatisfaction about it. Here are pictures available on their website ! They can be found at the rear doors of some trucks in Germany and are also distributed as flyers.

Approximate translations are: “Billions for banks, euthanasia for transport companies” and “Wicked, Angela, since your toll increase, my daddy has lots of spare time for me during the day“.

Is this a glimpse of what we will see in France in a couple of years…?

As a reminder, France will implement a very similar scheme to the LKW Maut’s by 2012, and even earlier as a test in the Alsace region. Shall French politicians already prepare for this kind of actions in the future, then?

References

• website: Bundesverband Güterkraftverkehr Logistik und Entsorgung (BGL) here
• website: German Ministry for Transport (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Sdadtentwiclung) here
• website: LKW-Maut fare structure here
• press release: Toll Collect, Quatre ans de péage poids lourds en Allemagne, 12/19/2008 here
• article: Financer aujourd’hui les infrastructures de demain, Transport Expertise, 04/07/2008 here

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• Coast Guard: Observations on Changes to Management and Oversight of the Deepwater Program. GAO-09-462T, March 24, 2009 (8 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-462T
• Commuter Rail: Many Factors Influence Liability and Indemnity Provisions, and Options Exist to Facilitate Negotiations. GAO-09-282, February 24, 2009 (66 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-282
• High Speed Passenger Rail: Future Development Will Depend on Addressing Financial and Other Challenges and Establishing a Clear Federal Role. GAO-09-317, March 19, 2009 (102 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-317
• Highway Infrastructure: Federal Efforts to Strengthen Security Should Be Better Coordinated and Targeted on the Nation’s Most Critical Highway Infrastructure. GAO-09-57, January 30, 2009 (79 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-57
• Highway Trust Fund: Improved Solvency Mechanisms and Communication Needed to Help Avoid Shortfalls in the Highway Account. GAO-09-316, February 6, 2009 (23 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-316
  
• Next Generation Air Transportation System: Issues Associated with Midterm Implementation of Capabilities and Full System Transformation. GAO-09-481T, March 25, 2009 (20 pages). 
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-481T
• Next Generation Air Transportation System: Status of Transformation and Issues Associated with Midterm Implementation of Capabilities. GAO-09-479T, March 18, 2009 (21 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-479T
• Responses to Questions for the Record: February 11, 2009, Hearing on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2009. GAO-09-467R, March 10, 2009 (8 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-467R
• Transportation Programs: Challenges Facing the Department of Transportation and Congress. GAO-09-435T, March 10, 2009 (22 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-435T
• Urban Partnership Agreements: Congestion Relief Initiative Holds Promise; Some Improvements Needed in Selection Process. GAO-09-154, March 25, 2009 (93 pages).
  http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-09-154

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