LaHood addresses DOT grants, freight policy

LaHood addresses DOT grants, freight policy    The Department of Transportation is very close to completing criteria for a $1.5 billion transportation grant program that was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Secretary Ray LaHood said Tuesday.
   The department plans to issue a request for proposals from states and local governments interested in competing in the merit-based grant program, he said in a speech at the American Association of Port Authorities' Spring Conference in Washington.
   LaHood was receptive to an audience suggestion for development of a national freight strategy to guide upcoming investments, but said such an effort would have to wait until the department finishes managing the disbursement of billions of dollars from the economic stimulus legislation to state transportation administrations and transit agencies.

LaHood

   He offered to convene a meeting and invite all the freight transportation stakeholders to talk about a national freight policy sometime in late summer or the fall.
   LaHood said he understood the importance of the nation's ports to the economy and said he intended for DOT to be a 'full partner' in making sure ports are modernized and in good repair to meet anticipated growth in international trade. ' Eric Kulisch