Welcome to The On-Ramp, the newsletter published by Venable's Autonomous and Connected Mobility Team. The On-Ramp explores legal and policy developments in the world of autonomous and connected vehicles, smart infrastructure,...more
Earlier this month, the Biden administration agreed to provide financial support to Brightline West, which will be a privately operated high-speed inter-city rail system connecting Las Vegas and Southern California. As its...more
One of the most significant transit projects in Florida history reached a new milestone last month when the Brightline rail system expanded its service from South Florida to Orlando. Brightline marks the first privately...more
CITY HALL- New Bill Targets Removing Lead from School Water Councilmember Helen Gym is proposing a bill that would require all Philadelphia public schools to install modern water filters wherever school water can be tapped...more
CITY HALL- Paid COVID Sick Leave Passes Council, Will Last Until 2023 Philadelphia City Council voted last week to pass a paid COVID-19 sick leave requirement for companies with more than 25 employees....more
In Washington, Congress has not reached the consensus needed for passage of the Build Back Better legislation; however, that has not stopped rollout of the programs and initial funding included in the Bipartisan...more
On November 5, 2021, Congress passed a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (the Bill). The Bill includes $550 billion in new spending on infrastructure over the...more
Highlights of the Bill President Biden Signed Into Law on Nov. 15 - President Biden has signed into law a historic $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill. The bill contains significant federal investments for roads, bridges,...more
What follows is an update to our August 9, 2021 article, Top Ten: What You Need to Know About the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Last Friday evening, November 5, 2021, the House of Representatives...more
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, was passed by Congress and is set to inject $1.2 trillion into projects upgrading the nation’s roads, bridges, energy, water...more
LANDMARK BILL REPRESENTS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S BUILD BACK BETTER AGENDA - On November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan $1.2 trillion “physical” infrastructure bill, paving...more
Last Friday the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Infrastructure Act”), which passed the Senate on August 10, 2021, was passed in the House. The $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Act includes $550...more
In a case closely watched by public transit activists and “government in the sunshine” advocates, the North Carolina Supreme Court last week affirmed a 2020 Business Court decision that found the North Carolina Railroad...more
On Aug. 10, 2021, the Senate passed the infrastructure bill, called the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in a 69-30 vote. The bill will now wait for consideration in the House of Representatives. The total cost...more
On Wednesday, July 28, a bipartisan group of Senators, along with the White House, announced an infrastructure agreement. That evening, the Senate then voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed with consideration of...more
ANTITRUST and COMPETITION - German Court asks ECJ About Review of Rail Station Fees - The Berlin Higher Regional Court has lodged a request for a preliminary ruling with the European Court of Justice (ECJ) concerning railway...more
President Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes ambitious spending proposals and modifications of the tax code that will affect businesses in all sectors of the U.S. economy. President Biden announced the American Jobs Plan...more
On March 31, 2021, President Joe Biden announced a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, named the “American Jobs Plan.” In addition to seeking upgrades to U.S. highways, bridges, ports, airports, transit systems, and waterways,...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Latvia’s Competition Authority Imposes €5.69 Million Fine on LDZ Cargo for Abusing its Dominance in Rail Freight Transport - On 3 February 2020, Latvia’s Competition Council (CC) fined state-owned...more
ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION - Belgium to Support Travel Sector With €30 Million - On 22 January 2021, the Belgian government announced new public support for rail. Starting in January 2021 and running through June 2021,...more
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigates, reports on and determines the probable causes of transportation accidents in all modes of transportation, from planes, trains and automobiles, to pipelines, ships...more
Commission Approves €1.5 Billion Dutch Scheme to Compensate Public Transport Companies for Damages Suffered During COVID-19 - On 9 November 2020, the European Commission approved, under European Union (EU) state aid rules, a...more
On March 27, 2020, Congress finalized and the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which provides significant stimulus to the various transportation sectors of the economy. The...more
On December 5, 2019, the Village of Westbury Board of Trustees adopted legislation creating the Maple Union Transit-Oriented Development District (or “Maple Union TOD”)....more