Transportation Issues
CED-78-159: Published: Oct 10, 1978. Publicly Released: Oct 10, 1978.
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Because of the complexity and importance of the U.S. transportation system, government at all levels; Federal, State, and local has assumed a wide range of roles and responsibilities in transportation. At the Federal level, these responsibilities include: promoting the development of an efficient and accessible national transportation system; promoting fair competition and protecting the public from abuse of monopoly power; protecting the safety of travelers and cargo; and balancing environmental, social, and energy goals with transportation needs.
Current transportation issues involve: rail freight transportation, rail passenger service, urban mass transit, highway and auto safety, trucking industry regulation, air transportation, inland waterways, ocean transportation, and pipelines. Future developments in three areas; energy, environmental quality, and new technology are likely to have particular importance for the U.S. transportation system. GAO has been involved in: developing and coordinating balanced national transportation policies and programs; evaluating efforts at restructuring and rehabilitating the railroad freight transportation system; evaluating programs to develop a safe motor vehicle, highway transportation system; evaluating the management of Federal assistance programs for highway construction and maintenance; and evaluating the justifications for transportation regulation. Other GAO activities have included audits of Amtrak's management role and studies of aircraft safety and economic regulation. The GAO role in developing economically viable urban public transit systems has been limited.
Sep 30, 2020
Supplemental Material For GAO-20-686:
Transit Asset Management: Survey of TAM Program ParticipantsGAO-20-687SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.-
Transit Asset Management:
FTA Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program ImprovementsGAO-20-686: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
Sep 8, 2020
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Airport Funding:
Information on Grandfathered Revenue Diversion and Potential Implications of RepealGAO-20-684: Published: Sep 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 8, 2020. -
Aviation Sanitation:
FDA Could Better Communicate with Airlines to Encourage Voluntary Construction Inspections of Aircraft Galleys and LavatoriesGAO-20-612: Published: Sep 8, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 8, 2020.
Sep 2, 2020
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Facial Recognition:
CBP and TSA are Taking Steps to Implement Programs, but CBP Should Address Privacy and System Performance IssuesGAO-20-568: Published: Sep 2, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 2, 2020.
Aug 20, 2020
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Aircraft Noise:
Information on a Potential Mandated Transition to Quieter AirplanesGAO-20-661: Published: Aug 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 20, 2020.
Aug 18, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
Actions Needed to Evaluate Changes to FAA's Enforcement Policy on Safety StandardsGAO-20-642: Published: Aug 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 18, 2020.
Aug 10, 2020
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Transportation Research:
Additional Actions Could Improve DOT's Internal Collaboration and Reliability of Information on Research ActivitiesGAO-20-622: Published: Aug 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 2020.
Jul 27, 2020
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Surface Transportation Security:
TSA Has Taken Steps to Improve its Surface Inspector Program, but Lacks Performance TargetsGAO-20-558: Published: Jul 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 27, 2020.
Jul 16, 2020
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Capital Investment Grants Program:
FTA Should Improve the Effectiveness and Transparency of Its ReviewsGAO-20-512: Published: Jul 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 16, 2020.
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