Local and state government entities could be headed toward a $1.5 trillion financial catastrophe. Public-sector pension programs are hemorrhaging and experts see no relief in sight. In 2014, the funding gap between promised benefits and funding to pay for the benefits topped $934 billion. The Pew Charitable Trusts, in a recent study, reported that gap […]
The Great Recession may be over, but fiscal issues in many states are still dire. Public officials at every level of government are also struggling to meet budgets that have not expanded in years. Even after seven years of recovery efforts, more than 20 states still collect less tax revenue than they did prior to […]
Last month, President Obama signed a bill that had reached his desk. The new statute had only one objective – to improve the federal government’s slow responses to Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests. The intent of the congressional sponsors was clearly to make government more transparent to the people it serves. If that can be […]
In a world of drone package delivery and self-driving cars, it’s clear that all kinds of everyday activities are being impacted by technology. That’s especially true when it comes to transportation. Mobile app-based ridesharing is a trend that has tremendous energy behind it … and, it has created a few road bumps along the way. […]
Here’s something that may, or may not, be new to readers … but it is worth consideration. There are some very successful programs and models available for transportation executives as they seek to make motorists safer. One initiative called Vision Zero is especially popular because of its success. This program actually began in 1997 in […]
FEMA to require states to pay into disaster assistance fund The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is considering the establishment of a financial obligation that states would be required to make before becoming eligible for public assistance after a disaster. In short, FEMA wants every state to invest in disaster mitigation. Public comments on the […]
An estimated 231 million travelers will take flight this summer on U.S. airlines alone – up 4 percent from last summer’s high of 222 million passengers. International flights will add about 30 million additional travelers. While exciting times may begin once passengers step off the planes, getting inside the airplanes to take off will require […]