Turkey train crash leaves 9 dead, dozens injured
A high-speed train hit a railway engine and crashed into a pedestrian overpass at a station in the Turkish capital Ankara on Thursday, killing nine people and injuring 47 others, officials said.
Transportation & Infrastructure
Coverage of the Department of Transportation and everything related to the nation's infrastructure.
Report faults Indonesian airline's safety measures in crash
By Niniek Karmini and David Koenig - Associated Press
Faulty equipment and Indonesian carrier Lion Air's own safety failures had pilots fighting for control of their Boeing 737 MAX 8 as it plunged into the Java Sea on Oct. 28, killing all 189 people aboard, investigators said Wednesday. Published November 28, 2018
Recent Stories
Sen. Chuck Schumer injects climate change fight into infrastructure deal
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer on Friday demanded that a deal for an infrastructure program include measures to combat climate change, throwing down the gauntlet on road and bridge projects that was one of the only areas of potential agreement between Capitol Hill Democrats and President Trump.
Truck collides head-on with Illinois school bus; 2 dead
A semitrailer heading the wrong way on an interstate collided head-on with a school bus carrying members of an Illinois high school girls' basketball team, killing the truck driver and an adult on the bus, authorities said Thursday.
2 Metro workers arrested on fraud charges in 'timekeeping scheme,' official says
Metro's Office of Inspector General has accused a D.C.-area man and woman of a "fraudulent timekeeping scheme" involving their employment at Metro and Amtrak.
1 child dead, 45 people hurt in Arkansas charter bus crash
One child was killed and at least 45 other people were injured when a charter bus carrying a youth football team from Tennessee rolled off an interstate off-ramp and overturned before sunrise Monday in central Arkansas, authorities said.
Ex-Gov. Chris Christie, frustrated N.J. commuter, tweets at successor over snowstorm gridlock
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie threw a little shade at his Democratic successor Thursday night for the state's inadequate response to the early snowstorm that blanketed much of the Northeast.
Benefitting from a diverse energy sector
President Trump and the administration have long vowed to revive America as the world's leading energy producer. To fulfill this promise — as well as unofficial campaign promises — the administration announced in June that it planned to bail out coal and nuclear power plants at risk of being shuttered under the guise of national security, claiming saving these plants would bolster "grid resilience" and promote American "energy dominance."
Trump advisers warn of gas tax trap in infrastructure deal
President Trump and congressional leaders have sounded optimistic about their ability to strike a deal to rebuild America's crumbling infrastructure, but advisers to the White House warn that Democrats are trying to spring a gas tax trap on the president to sabotage his 2020 re-election bid.
Robyn Denholm named as Tesla's new board chair in settlement with regulators
Tesla's board has named one of its own as chairman to replace Elon Musk, complying with terms of a fraud settlement with U.S. securities regulators.
Trump seeks unity with House Dems on economy, infrastructure plan and health care
President Trump extended an olive branch Wednesday to the new Democratic House majority, saying he's ready to work with them to sustain the "American economic miracle."
Lion Air jet's airspeed indicator malfunctioned on 4 flights
The "black box" data recorder from a crashed Lion Air jet shows its airspeed indicator malfunctioned on its last four flights, investigators said Monday, just hours after distraught relatives of victims confronted the airline's co-founder at a meeting organized by officials.
Possible seabed position of crashed Lion Air jet located
A massive search effort has identified the possible seabed location of the crashed Lion Air jet, Indonesia's military chief said Wednesday, as experts carried out the grim task of identifying dozens of body parts recovered from a 15-nautical mile-wide search area, and chilling video of passengers boarding the fatal flight emerged.
Previous flight of crashed Lion Air jet terrified passengers
Relatives numbed by grief provided samples for DNA tests to help identify victims of the Lion Air plane crash that killed 189 people in Indonesia, as accounts emerged Tuesday of problems on the jet's previous flight including rapid descents that terrified passengers.
Indonesia says survivors unlikely from Lion Air plane crash
A Lion Air plane crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indonesia's capital on Monday, likely killing all 189 people on board, in a blow to the country's aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S.
Metro leaders not on board with transportation council's long-range plans
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' "Visualize 2045" transportation plan has key proposals for Metrorail, but the transit agency's leaders are not on board.
Wisconsin labor union supports Evers in effort to unseat Walker
After Gov. Scott Walker won re-election in 2014, the Wisconsin Pipe Trades Association donated $30,000 to his inauguration celebration, hoping to win the governor's ear and patch things up from a first term full of labor-union acrimony.
Preventing the transport of research animals
We all love animals. Well, most of us do anyway. In my lifetime, I have provided a loving home to dogs, cats, birds, rabbits and anything else my little girls have desired. Over the years, our pets have served as companions, exercise partners and security detail — among other things.
Ford to test self-driving cars on streets of Washington, D.C.
The nation's capital early next year joins a roster of cities across the country where self-driving cars are being tested amid the real-world conditions of everyday commuter traffic.
Cyclist, pedestrian safety top priority of new D.C. regional transportation plan
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.
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.
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.
Recent Opinion Columns
The cost of not having a Merchant Marine
Freedom of the seas is critical to America's economic and political security, enabling the transportation of goods manufactured in the United States to other places around the world, and enabling Americans to obtain things otherwise unobtainable here, like bananas every day of every year. What would life be without the freedom to enjoy an occasional banana split?
A secure energy grid starts with copper
It's not hard to imagine the role that energy plays in our daily lives — in fact it becomes immediately apparent when we experience even a brief power outage in our home or workplace. Quite simply, it stops us in our tracks.
Fixing America's infrastructure: The road forward
America's infrastructure is a major part of our daily lives. It covers everything from the roads we drive on to the pipes that bring water into our homes.
To unleash American building, cut the red tape
America has always been a land of great builders — from Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma to the Golden Gate Bridge and the inland waterway system, we've seen the dramatic economic impact that comes from investing in infrastructure. With the development of new technology of the 21st century, we would expect that the United States is well positioned to take on bold projects that would lead the world.
Lessons from Hurricane Harvey
By the time all the measuring and calculating is done, Hurricane Harvey will prove an era-defining storm. Federal and state officials performed admirably to limit the suffering and loss of life, but the whole mess is far worse than it needed to be.
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
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.
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.
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.
Koreas discuss linking railways across border
The rival Koreas are exchanging views on improving North Korea's outdated railways and linking them with the South as they continue to take conciliatory steps amid global efforts to resolve the standoff over the North's nuclear weapons.
Over-investing in higher education
After decades worrying about a shortage of good-paying jobs, America has too many — manufacturing, construction and increasingly service businesses can't find the qualified workers needed to expand. This is a significant barrier to permanently restoring 3 percent to 4 percent growth so that the nation can meet the needs of an aging population, finance its commitments to defend freedom — through our military and costly instruments of soft power — and invest in infrastructure and R&D without becoming dangerously indebted.
DHS to build 20-mile wall along border in New Mexico
Homeland Security began building a border wall in New Mexico on Monday, moving to replace vehicle barriers and outdated mesh fencing with a modern wall that will deter pedestrians attempting to cross in the remove desert west of El Paso.
Trump cuts size of border wall: 'About 700-800 miles'
President Trump has once again cut the size of his border wall, saying Tuesday that there only needs to be between 700 and 800 miles of barriers.
Trump pitches infrastructure plan in Ohio: 'Now is the time to rebuild our country'
President Trump put Democrats on the spot Thursday for blocking a massive infrastructure program, saying they would rather deny him a win than rebuild America's crumbling highways, bridges and power grid.
Trump heralds $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan with bipartisan state, local leaders
President Trump on Monday pushed a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan with a bipartisan group of state and local lawmakers, declaring that he would loosen the red tape that has a stranglehold on construction projects.
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.
