Amtrak:
Deteriorated Financial and Operating Conditions Threaten Long-Term Viability
T-RCED-95-123: Published: Mar 2, 1995. Publicly Released: Mar 2, 1995.
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GAO discussed its recent report on Amtrak's financial and operating conditions and its funding request for fiscal year (FY) 1996. GAO noted that: (1) Amtrak's deteriorating financial and operating condition jeopardize its ability to provide quality services; (2) federal subsidies have not covered the gap between Amtrak's revenues and expenses; (3) Amtrak efforts to reduce its losses have diminished service quality and reliability, which in turn have decreased ridership and revenues; (4) Amtrak plans to further cut service and staffing, retire its oldest cars, and improve productivity and services, but its success depends on increased government financial support and legislative changes; (5) Amtrak faces intense fare competition from airlines and other transportation sectors; (6) Amtrak's fastest growing source of revenues is commuter rail contracts which produce more passengers than its intercity service; (7) Amtrak needs over $4 billion to repair its equipment, facilities, and track, but increasing funding shortfalls and expenses will severely hamper Amtrak's repair efforts; (8) if Amtrak is privatized, only a few potentially profitable, well-travelled routes would remain; (9) if funding remains the same, Amtrak will have to further reduce its services; and (10) Amtrak is requesting $260 million in operating assistance and $600 million in capital assistance for FY 1996, although it is not known how much of Amtrak's total capital grant request would be spent on the Northeast Corridor and how much would be spent elsewhere in the Amtrak system.
Mar 2, 2021
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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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