Mass Transit:
Historical Patterns and Future Outlook
T-RCED-91-15: Published: Mar 5, 1991. Publicly Released: Mar 5, 1991.
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GAO discussed the Urban Mass Transportation Administration's (UMTA) 5-year reauthorization proposal, focusing on the sources and uses of funds, increased funding flexibility between mass transit and highway, and UMTA oversight of grantees. GAO noted that: (1) between fiscal year (FY) 1981 and FY 1991, federal transit funding declined from $4.6 billion to $3.2 billion; (2) various legislation limited the Highway Trust Fund which, at the end of FY 1991, was expected to have $4.1 billion available; (3) UMTA proposed spending $16.3 billion between FY 1982 and FY 1986 and drawing down the uncommitted balance in the mass transit account to less than $1 billion by 1996; (4) an industry association estimated that $6.5 billion in federal funds would be needed annually to maintain the existing mass transit infrastructure; (5) the UMTA reauthorization proposal would allow state and local governments flexibility in allocating federal funds between mass transit and highway projects, but several obstacles could limit the success of such multi-modal funding; (6) the proposal could continue the existing bias for highway construction over mass transit; (7) the proposal would shift a larger share of the financial burden to grant recipients by reducing the federal share for capital projects from 80 percent to 60 percent; (8) greater cost-sharing by states, localities, and grantees could promote leveraging of scarce federal funds, but caution should be exercised in making an immediate shift of financial responsibility to transit authorities; and (9) UMTA did not effectively oversee grantees' management and use of federal funds, which placed those funds at risk for waste and misuse.
Mar 2, 2021
COVID-19 Pandemic:
Preliminary Observations on Efforts toward and Factors Affecting the Aviation Industry's RecoveryGAO-21-412T: Published: Mar 2, 2021. Publicly Released: Mar 2, 2021.
Feb 18, 2021
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General Aviation:
Stakeholders Expressed Mixed Views of FAA Policies on Private Pilot Expense SharingGAO-21-285: Published: Feb 18, 2021. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 2021.
Jan 28, 2021
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Unmanned Aircraft Systems:
FAA Could Strengthen Its Implementation of a Drone Traffic Management System by Improving Communication and Measuring PerformanceGAO-21-165: Published: Jan 28, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2021.
Jan 7, 2021
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Aircraft Noise:
Better Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise ConcernsGAO-21-200: Published: Jan 7, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 7, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
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Automated Technologies:
DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee SafetyGAO-21-197: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 17, 2020
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Emergency Responder Safety:
States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce Roadside CrashesGAO-21-166: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 17, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Reagan National Airport:
Information on Effects of Federal Statute Limiting Long-Distance FlightsGAO-21-176: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Federal-Aid Highways:
States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot be Definitively DeterminedGAO-21-88: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Aviation Certification:
FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small AirplanesGAO-21-85: Published: Nov 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
FAA's Office of Aviation Safety Should Take Additional Actions to Ensure Its Workforce Has Needed SkillsGAO-21-94: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
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