Melania Trump's plane forced to land after mechanical problem causes smoke, 'burning smell'
First lady Melania Trump's place was forced to land Wednesday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland after smoke was reported on board.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Coverage of the Department of Transportation and everything related to the nation's infrastructure.
Cyclist, pedestrian safety top priority of new D.C. regional transportation plan
By Julia Airey - The Washington Times
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) voted 29-2 Wednesday to approve Visualize 2045 --a regional plan for $291 billion worth of projects to optimize transportation for the additional 1.2 million people projected to live in the area by 2045. Published October 17, 2018
Recent Stories
Disability advocates want MetroAccess to have medical kits for riders
Advocates for people with disabilities are concerned that MetroAccess vehicles carry no medical kits, a rarity among mass transit systems.
Portland mayor stands by decision to allow antifa to block traffic, hassle motorists
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler came under fire over a viral video showing antifa protesters blocking traffic and harassing drivers, but he says he supports the decision by police to watch from a distance without getting involved.
Metro watchdog prepares to handle rider safety
Metro's newest safety watchdog has "aggressive teeth," a multimillion-dollar budget and a full staff in anticipation of the federal government ceding it oversight of the regional transit system, officials say.
PACOM on China's Belt and Road
The Pentagon's Pacific Command is pushing back against China's attempt to relabel its global infrastructure development initiative to make it more palatable for strategic messaging in support of Beijing's drive for global hegemony.
Limousine company operator arrested following deadly crash
The operator of a limousine company involved in a crash that killed 20 people was arrested Wednesday, state police said. It wasn't immediately clear whether the charges were related to the deadly wreck.
Woman with 'emotional support squirrel' removed from plane
Police at a Florida airport removed a passenger who refused to get off a Cleveland-bound flight after she was found carrying an "emotional support squirrel."
Four Maryland high schoolers hit by car while waiting for the bus: Report
Four Maryland high schoolers were injured after being hit by a car while waiting for the bus on Tuesday morning.
India to buy Iran oil, defy U.S. sanctions
Defying the Trump administration's warning for countries to completely stop buying Iranian oil, two Indian firms have placed orders to import crude from the Islamic Republic, India's minister of petroleum and natural gas announced.
Hundreds attend vigil to honor 20 victims of limousine crash
A ceremony for the victims of the limousine crash that killed 20 people ended with participants lifting candles above their heads to signal unity and perseverance.
N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo: Limo that crashed shouldn't have been on the road
The driver of a supersized limousine involved in a crash that killed 20 people outside an upstate New York country store wasn't properly licensed, and the limo failed a state safety inspection just last month and shouldn't have been on the road, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.
Roads where limo crash killed 20 are a menace, store says
The site of a devastating accident that killed two pedestrians and 18 occupants of a limousine headed to a birthday party, including four sisters, is a known danger spot that has long worried locals, according to a manager of the store that sits at the intersection where the accident happened.
In praise of construction work
The U.S. construction industry could use upward of half a million workers for jobs that are ready to be filled, and that number is expected to grow.
Elon Musk taunts SEC from Twitter account; Tesla shares fall
Tesla shares fell 5 percent Friday after CEO Elon Musk taunted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from his Twitter account, taking aim at the agency in the wake of reaching a multimillion dollar settlement surrounding a previous tweet.
Metro IG staff bulks up in prep for probes
The Metro Office of Inspector General (OIG) is gearing up for more investigations of the long-troubled transit agency as it seeks more independence from Metro officials, who are launching a $500 million, multiyear repair project.
EgyptAir stands by purported interview with Drew Barrymore
EgyptAir is standing by a writer for its in-flight magazine who penned a bizarre article purportedly based on an interview with American actress Drew Barrymore.
Ferry stranded with 300 onboard in Baltic Sea moving again
A ferry stranded in the Baltic Sea for several hours with about 300 people on board was on the move again on Tuesday following a malfunction that sent smoke pouring from the engine room, authorities said.
Tesla 3Q production numbers up as Musk rallies workers
Tesla is reporting encouraging production figures for its third quarter as founder Elon Musk tells employees to work hard to prove "the naysayers wrong."
U.S. House approves $1.7 billion in disaster aid for Carolinas
The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation that would provide $1.7 billion to help residents of the Carolinas and elsewhere recover from recent natural disasters.
Chicago area congressman introduces bill to rename highway in honor of Barack Obama
Illinois Rep. Bobby Rush introduced legislation on Wednesday that would rename part of an interstate highway after former President Barack Obama.
Engineers search for cause in cracked beam at transit hub
San Francisco officials struggled Wednesday to find the source of unusual cracking in support beams that shut down a just-opened, $2 billion transit center meant to serve as a bold architectural statement from a wealthy, high-tech city.
Trump to OPEC: Lower oil prices now
President Trump demanded Thursday that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries immediately work to lower oil prices.
Google's new pollution police, coming to patrol near you
Google's Street View fleet of cars is being outfitted with updated pollution-recording devices to patrol streets in Europe and in the United States, and monitor fluctuating levels of air quality. Make way for the patrolling pollution police -- bringing regulations and new compliance costs to a neighborhood near you.
Trump monitors Hurricane Florence preparedness, response effort
President Trump on Sunday was monitoring the preparedness and response effort for Hurricane Florence, the White House said.
Ricardo Rossello, Puerto Rico's governor, pushes back on Trump's praise of FEMA
Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello criticized the relationship between the island and the federal government on Wednesday in light of President Trump praising the Federal Emergency Management Agency's work in the aftermath of Hurricanes Maria and Irma.
Trump: FEMA did 'an unappreciated great job' in Puerto Rico
President Trump doubled down Tuesday on presenting the federal response to the natural disasters in Puerto Rico as an "unappreciated great job."
'Belt and Road' projects lay foundations for China's expansion of military bases, critics charge
China's "Belt and Road" global financing strategy is sporting its first serious potholes, as backlash from smaller nations across Asia mounts amid frustration over opaque and predatory lending practices.
D.C.-area water taxi looks to woo commuters as alternative to traffic nightmares, Metro shutdowns
Water taxi riders now can travel to and from The Wharf, the Navy Yard, Georgetown, National Harbor and Alexandria. Google Maps started listing the taxi routes online this summer while Metro was creating severe service interruptions to resolve maintenance issues.
California gas-tax repeal stalls Democratic drive to flip House seats
California's Proposition 6, the popular gas-tax repeal, is fueling the GOP's fight to wipe out the "blue wave" threatening to engulf swing-district House Republicans in the Golden State.
Making 'the wall' work
With 470 BC destruction at Thermopylae of the 300 Spartans and a group of Greek auxiliaries at the hands of a huge invading Persian army under King Xerxes, all Greece appeared open to conquest. The Athenians were particularly at risk and were not much comforted when the Oracle of Delphi predicted than Athens would be saved by her wooden walls.
British Airways discloses data breach compromising customer financial data
British Airways, one of U.K.'s largest airlines, disclosed a data breach Thursday affecting customers who booked travel arrangements through its website and mobile application.
Potomac Construction vice president indicted in bribing of Metro official
The Vice-President of a Maryland construction firm has been indicted for bribing a Metro official, according to the transit agency's Office of Inspector General.
Emirates plane quarantined at JFK airport after passengers fall ill
The number of ill passengers on an Emirates plane rose to 19 Wednesday when an Emirates plane arriving at New York's JFK airport from Dubai was quarantined.
Storm-hit Japanese airport counts damage; unclear when reopens
The closure of a major Japanese airport flooded by a typhoon is raising worries about the impact on tourist traffic, mostly from China and Southeast Asia, as well as on exporting computer chips and other goods.
School bus cameras help catch illegally passing drivers in Maryland, ticketing $10M
Area drivers are paying tens of millions of dollars worth of tickets for illegally passing stopped school buses, according to a new data by the Mid-Atlantic AAA.
The threat of tariffs may work
Love him, or hate him, you've got to hand it to Donald Trump. His trade and tariff strategy — risky as it is — seems to be working. The master negotiator is hammering out agreements — first with the Europeans and now with Mexico — that are better deals for American firms and workers.
At least 7 die as Greyhound bus, semitrailer collide head-on in New Mexico
A blown tire on a semitrailer may be to blame for a deadly head-on crash with a commercial passenger bus along Interstate 40 in New Mexico near the Arizona border, according to authorities.
Dulles airport's new facial recognition system snares fraudster, snarls passengers
The federal government is touting its new facial recognition software at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, as a critical tool in fighting fraud -- but passengers are blaming the software for long queues at the end of lengthy international flights.
The ascent of electric cars
Tesla reported second quarter results earlier this month. Despite losing $718 million during the quarter, Tesla shares rose 16 percent on renewed promises of profitability. Driven by government incentives and mandates, world automakers have announced big electric car introduction plans. But will any electric car firm be able to make money?
Iraq's neighbors siphon Fertile Crescent water supply for their own agriculture, power projects
The Islamic State hold on territory has been broken, but Iraq now faces another existential threat as it battles neighboring Iran and Turkey for access to an increasingly scarce flow of water to the once-flourishing Fertile Crescent running down the spine of the country.
Trump administration nixes millions for Syria reconstruction
Hundreds of millions in U.S. federal funds initially earmarked to help rebuild Syria, ravaged by the ongoing civil war and the U.S.-led campaign to defeat the Islamic State, have been canceled.
Plane skids off rainy Manila runway, rips off engine, wheel
A plane from China landing on a rain-soaked Manila runway in poor visibility veered off in a muddy field with one engine and a wheel ripped off but no serious injuries among the 165 people aboard who scrambled out through an emergency slide, officials said Friday.
Elon Musk tells The New York Times he's cracking under stress of Tesla job
Electric car maker Tesla's CEO Elon Musk admitted to The New York Times that stress is taking a heavy toll on him personally in what he calls an "excruciating" year.
Metrobus camera footage leads to D.C. Superior Court awarding $4.32 million to bus crash victim
A man hit by a Metrobus in 2015 has been awarded millions in a case against WMATA that hinged on the transit agency's own camera system.
Trump defends tariffs, says U.S. 'was built' on taxing imports
President Trump said Wednesday that tariffs are propelling the U.S. to better trade deals, defending his trade wars amid a new round of strong economic reports from the government.
Ralph Northam says Dulles area could be site of new Redskins stadium
Ralph Northam, the governor of Virginia, told the Richmond Times-Dispatch he thinks the Washington Redskins will look at Loudoun County as a potential site for a new stadium.
White House undergoing renovations during Trump's absence
The White House complex is being renovated during President Trump's working vacation in New Jersey, including refurbishing restrooms in the West Wing and installing a new air-handling unit in the East Wing.
Elon Musk says he may take Tesla private and shares roar
Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced Tuesday that he is considering taking the electric car maker private, causing the company's stock to spike.
Senators urge Trump admin. to counter 'predatory' Chinese infrastructure lending to poor countries
Sixteen bipartisan senators wrote a letter to the Trump administration about their alarm that Pakistan could soon request an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout loan to repay China for a series of "predatory Chinese infrastructure financing" projects.
DHS invests $20 million in border wall prototypes, fails to account for rough terrain
The Department of Homeland Security invested $20 million in the contest to build prototypes for President Trump's border wall, only to discover that most of them were impractical for the tough terrain along the U.S.-Mexico line, the government's chief watchdog said Monday.
DHS cut corners to start building Trump's border wall
Homeland Security cut corners in deciding where to build President Trump's border wall, and still hasn't been able to put any of the new designs the president demanded into operation, the government's chief watchdog said in a new report Monday.
D.C. Metro: No special subway accommodations for white nationalists attending 'Unite the Right'
Jack Evans, chairman of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, confirmed on Sunday there would be no special trains or security for those attending a "white civil rights" rally, after considering that option on Friday.
5 killed when small plane crashes in California parking lot
Ella Pham said it was a painful thing to see. Pham, 20, and her boyfriend were walking in a parking lot Sunday when they saw a twin-engine Cessna crash, she told the Los Angeles Times.
Amtrak train derails near Union Station in District
An Amtrak train with about 196 passengers on board has derailed north of Union Station, authorities said Thursday afternoon.
Senate rejects Democratic push for more election security funds
Senate Republicans on Wednesday defeated an attempt to allocate $250 million to states for "election security," turning back what Democrats said would have been the first steps to combat foreign meddling in the looming midterm elections.
Nissan adds back-seat alarm to prevent the death of children left in hot cars
Car company Nissan said Tuesday that a back-seat alert will feature in more of its vehicles rolling out over the coming years in an effort to prevent child deaths after being left in hot cars.
Metro can ban religious ads, appeals court rules in case brought by Washington Archdiocese
A federal appeals court said Tuesday that Metro can ban religious advertisements and other advocacy ads, ruling against the Archdiocese of Washington, which had sought to place pro-Christmas posters on buses.
Route 66: The drive is on to have famous roadway declared a 'national historic trail'
It's more than a picturesque and funky roadway. Along with dozens of state and local interest groups, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is on a quest to preserve Route 66 and have the iconic highway formally designated by Congress as a "national historic trail."
Malaysia's civil aviation chief quits over Flight 370 lapses
Malaysia's civil aviation chief said Tuesday he has resigned to take responsibility after an independent investigative report highlighted shortcomings in the air traffic control center during Malaysia Airlines Flight 370's disappearance four years ago.
China says 4 American airlines missed Taiwan deadline
Chinese regulators appear to have rejected a possible attempt by U.S. airlines at a compromise over Beijing's demand to call self-ruled Taiwan a part of China, an order Washington opposed.
Recent Opinion Columns
Why it's a critical -- and ideal -- time to upgrade America's energy infrastructure
Our nation's aging infrastructure is in significant need of investment and care if we want to ensure a secure future for coming generations.
A cure for the common queue at the airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is legendary for not giving a hoot about the convenience or dignity of travelers who must pass through its airport gantlets.
Bypassing incompetence on toll roads
The key to success in business is seizing opportunity.
From The Vault
Why technology jobs belong in America
Today up to one-third of all U.S. companies outsource work abroad to save money.
Six foreign airports earn their way off DHS's laptop ban
Six of the 10 airports that faced the laptop ban have already improved their screening enough to earn their way off the ban list, Homeland Security announced Tuesday, as it tries to raise the global level of explosives screening.
Cohn says approval process reform part of infrastructure plan
National Economic Director Gary Cohn said Wednesday that one of the objectives of the infrastructure program is reforming the approval process.
Trump unveils plan to privatize, modernize air traffic control system
President Trump unveiled a plan Monday to privatize the country's air traffic control system, part of his push for a major overhaul of America's highways, bridges, waterways and airports.
Energy goals: Jobs, production, modern infrastructure -- and good environmental stewardship
American consumers deserve safe, secure and efficient energy that's affordable and meets the needs of the 21st century economy. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has already begun work on a pro-domestic energy policy that will improve our nation's energy infrastructure, create jobs and reduce energy bills, but much more needs to be done.
UA workers: Ready for 'epic' energy, infrastructure resurgence
The United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Sprinklerfitters, Welders and HVAC Technicians (UA) is a multi-craft union that represents over 340,000 members in the United States and Canada. Our members are engaged in the fabrication, installation and servicing of piping systems and many of them work at refineries, power-generating facilities and petrochemical plants.
Mike Pence tells U.S. mayors: Donald Trump wants to do a 'big' infrastructure bill
Vice President-elect Mike Pence told mayors from around the country on Tuesday that President-elect Donald Trump wants to get a "big" infrastructure package done upon entering office.
Chuck Schumer: I told Trump his suggested $1 trillion for infrastructure 'sounded good to me'
Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer says he's told President-elect Donald Trump that Mr. Trump's potential price tag of $1 trillion for an infrastructure spending spree sounded good to him, depending on the specific package.
Nancy Pelosi sees common ground with Donald Trump on infrastructure
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi promised Wednesday to respect the outcome of the election and said she could see common ground with President-elect Donald Trump on at least one issue: rebuilding infrastructure.
Hillary Clinton pledges $275 billion in new infrastructure spending
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton promised labor union construction workers $275 billion in new infrastructure spending Monday, adding to a pile of expensive promises she's making on the campaign trail, with less detail on how she'll pay for it.
Alaska kills infamous 'bridge to nowhere' that helped put end to earmarks
Alaska officials have put the final kibosh on the infamous "bridge to nowhere" -- a $400 million project tucked into the federal transportation plan 10 years ago that became the symbol of Washington pork, spawned massive voter outrage and forever changed the way the government does business.
Millions in HUD money went to lobbying, not housing
Despite a prohibition against taxpayer money being spent to influence government, millions of dollars meant to provide housing to poor and underprivileged areas instead went to lobbying because of lax oversight by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
