Skip to main content

President’s transportation budget ‘takes the next step’, says ITS America

Announcing President Obama’s US$98.1 billion Fiscal Year 2017 Budget for the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “Meeting future challenges will require a long-term vision for the transportation sector that includes more and cleaner options, and expands those options to communities across the country. This budget brings us closer to that vision.” The Budget addresses the DOT’s top priority, safety, with investments in the safe integration of emerging techno
February 10, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Announcing President Obama’s US$98.1 billion Fiscal Year 2017 Budget for the 324 US Department of Transportation (DOT), Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said, “Meeting future challenges will require a long-term vision for the transportation sector that includes more and cleaner options, and expands those options to communities across the country. This budget brings us closer to that vision.”

The Budget addresses the DOT’s top priority, safety, with investments in the safe integration of emerging technologies, such as autonomous vehicles and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which have the potential to transform transportation systems, save lives and reduce carbon emissions.
 
It also supports the authorised funding levels in the recent surface transportation authorisation, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act , but also moves to a regionally-focused approach to transportation funding that reflects the changing shape of the country’s communities and prioritises spending on projects that will have the most benefits.

Commenting on the budget, a spokesman for ITS America said: “Lives saved, more time for friends and family and more efficient movement of a growing economy are not Democratic or Republican priorities. They are American priorities. Congress accelerated the deployment of Intelligent Transportation Systems with the FAST Act. 77 cities across our nation are stepping up to US DOT’s Smart City Challenge to invest in smart infrastructure and modern, high-tech transportation services.”
 
“The President's budget takes the next step by investing not only in needed traditional infrastructure improvements but also the next frontier of automated and connected vehicle technologies and other transportation innovations that will transform our modern way of life.  This is a budget that Congress and future administrations should build on to make connected and automated vehicles, smart infrastructure and transportation innovation a cornerstone of our nation’s economic strength and global competitiveness.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Authorities switch on to all electric buses as costs tumble
    January 9, 2018
    Alan Dron looks at changes in bus propulsion as cities look to improve air quality and seek to reduce maintenance costs. Despite the ending of various incentives to adopt alternative fuels, the introduction of electric buses by US transit authorities is picking up speed as performance improves, costs drop and air quality considerations become increasingly significant. More US bus manufacturers are introducing zero-emission models and some recent contracts will see many more passengers getting their first
  • The future? It's remote, says Valerann
    January 4, 2024
    More responsive traffic management is of enormous value – and Valerann thinks its SaaS system, remotely deployed in Latin America, is able to identify incidents much more quickly, finds Andrew Stone
  • £40m AV R&D competition launched
    May 30, 2022
    Includes feasibility fund for mass transit using self-driving vehicles as alternative to bus or rail
  • US DOT announces ITS video challenge
    May 21, 2012
    The US Department of Transportation's Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has announced the ITS Video Challenge, a new national competition showcasing innovative ways that local communities use smart transportation technology to improve safety, mobility and the environment.