A working group of experts from the United States and Africa met at the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) November 19 - 20, 2002 to discuss ways to promote economic development and trade by addressing air cargo transportation issues between the two continents as they relate to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

AGOA provides market incentives that encourage investment and expand trade opportunities between U.S. and sub-Saharan African businesses. It was signed into law in May 2000 and updated by President George Bush August 6, 2002.

"If trade advantages for sub-Saharan Africa are to become successful, partnerships between American and African companies are necessary to build the required infrastructure facilitating air cargo transport. This includes refrigeration and warehouse facilities, safety and security improvements, and cargo handling equipment," J. Joseph Grandmaison, member of the board, Ex-Im Bank said at the Air Cargo Roundtable.

"Ex-Im Bank is prepared to assist [export trade] through the financing of U.S. goods and services for the improved infrastructure of sub-Saharan African countries, " Grandmaison added.

Representatives from ten African countries attended the two-day seminar along with government, non-government and private sector officials. The conference included remarks by Thelma Askey, director, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and Jeffrey Shane, associate deputy secretary of transportation, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Using their experience and expertise on transportation issues in Africa, the Air Cargo Roundtable participants hope to focus the attention of government leaders on the challenges and impediments to facilitating direct Africa-US air cargo service. Their recommendations are intended to be presented at a January 2003 AGOA meeting in Mauritius.

"Aid without trade is of no assistance to Africa. We need trade∧ access to markets. What is really needed today is trade and real private sector activity," Dr. Magnus Kpakol, Economic Advisor to President of Nigeria said in an address to the group.

Kpakol said that African and American companies need to expand their trade for the mutual benefit of companies on both continents. "Exports from the United States, to us (African countries) are not just exports. They are means for economic development," Kpakol said.

Ex-Im Bank is an independent U.S. government agency that helps finance the sale of U.S. exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world, by providing loans, guarantees, and insurance. In the last five years, Ex-Im Bank has authorized $1.2 billion in financing to support U.S. exports to sub-Saharan Africa. In fiscal year 2002, Ex-Im Bank supported nearly $13 billion of U.S. exports worldwide.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 - Joseph M. Monti has been named the new director of the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center in Cambridge, MA, Paul Brubaker, administrator of the Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA), announced today. Volpe is a federal center of transportation and logistics expertise that provides analytical, scientific, and engineering support to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and others.

"Joe Monti will help advance RITAs center of transportation innovation and continue its history of supporting critical efforts to address the nation's most pressing transportation priorities," Brubaker said.

Since 2004, Monti served as the Director of the Sensors and SONAR Systems Department for the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division in Newport, RI. At the NUWC, Monti directed a workforce of more than 500 federal employees, 250 contractors, and was responsible for over $200 million in U.S. Navy programs. He also established the Strategic Planning & Business Development Office at NUWC and directed and implemented the strategic planning, development and execution of new technical programs to address rapidly evolving Navy requirements and transformation initiatives.

Since the start of Monti's federal career in 1983, he has held numerous technical and leadership positions at NUWC including chief scientist for the Critical Sea Test Program, director of the Technology & Advanced Systems Program Office, and director of the Concept Development Division. He also served as the program manager and chief scientist for the joint U.S. Navy and NATO Strategic Allied Command Atlantic Undersea Warfare Center Research Center Shallow Water Active SONAR Program.

Monti has been a key contributor to establishing undersea warfare mission requirements and war fighting capabilities for Navy transformational programs, such as 21st Century Destroyer, Unmanned Surface Vehicle and Littoral Combat Ship.

Monti earned a Bachelor of Science degree in marine biology from the University of Massachusetts and a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering and Executive Masters in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island. He recently completed the Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management.

Issued on behalf of the Government Car and Despatch Agency

Government Car and Despatch Agency's success in creating an environmentally-responsible transport service has been recognised this week by the judges of the Energy Saving Trust's prestigious Fleet Heroes Awards. The awards celebrate organisations that show their commitment to minimising their impact on the environment by cutting carbon emissions from business travel.

At the third annual awards ceremony on Tuesday' October 14, held at Covent Garden's London Transport Museum, the Agency was rewarded by the Fleet Heroes judges for its innovative driver training policy, which focuses on both road safety and environmental responsibility, and which has dramatically cut the Agency's fuel consumption. GCDA's Nigel Bennett, Director of Core Services was presented with the award by Secretary of State the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP. The Agency constantly monitors fuel consumption and promptly offers re-training to drivers whose fuel consumption is excessive. This, coupled with a driver training scheme which has been developed in partnership with the Qualification Curriculum Authority and the City and Guilds awarding body, and backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists, persuaded judges to name GCDA as winner of the Fleet Heroes 2008 Smarter Driving Award.

The Agency was also runner-up in the Fleet Heroes 2008 Leadership Award in recognition not only of its bold approach to cutting its own carbon emissions, but also for leading the business transport industry by example and being in the vanguard of the sector's efforts to make their services sustainable.

Green Cars, GCDA's taxi service for government and public sector clients, uses hybrid fuel cars and produces half the carbon emissions of traditional black cabs, and now runs the biggest low-carbon taxi fleet in London. Where contractors provide the same service for the public sector on GCDA's behalf in the regions, they are being strongly encouraged to switch to greener, low-carbon vehicles. Finally, where carbon emissions are unavoidable, GCDA offsets them through the government's Carbon Offsetting Fund.

A refreshed version of Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance has been published on 28May 2008, which supersedes the previous version. Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change stated:

"Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance supports the Government's Purpose and National Outcomes by assessing what contribution can be made by potential transport interventions."

"The Guidance was first published in September 2003. I commend this refreshed version to you, reflecting feedback from a range of transport practitioners and decision makers."

"I expect this Guidance to be followed by all those wanting to invest in transport, whether that is the Scottish Government itself, Regional Transport Partnerships, Local Authorities, private companies or others. In particular, the objective led framework recommended here is seen as best practice in transport appraisal internationally. Following these principles, as set out in the Guidance, will ensure that the best solutions to transport problems or opportunities to make transport improvements are taken forward, based on robust evidence."

It should be noted that the principles of undertaking appropriate transport appraisal using Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) have not changed in terms of being objective-led. Importantly, however, the opportunity has been taken to refresh STAG for the following reasons:

To clearly establish that it supports the Government's Purpose, which is to focus the Government and public services on creating a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

To make it fit for purpose, including reflecting feedback from stakeholders from consultation undertaken in 2006 and 2007, so that STAG studies are carried out in proportion to the evidenced based transport problems and opportunities being addressed.

To make it easier to follow. STAG now consists of a compressed version of the Guidance, which explains the purpose of the process, and this is supported by a Technical Database, which provides details on how to undertake an appraisal using STAG. To improve clarity on undertaking appropriate appraisal and reporting.

To highlight that an appraisal using STAG should be completed before commencing detailed design elements using mode specific guidance or standards and/ or before undertaking a development management Transport Assessment. To re-emphasis that STAG is a whole process inclusive of Monitoring and Evaluation. To stress that it is the responsibility of any party undertaking a STAG study to check at key points that the process is being followed as intended.

The publication of the refreshed version of STAG has also provided an opportunity to update and augment some aspects of the material that now rests in the Technical Database. These 'Business as Usual' updates include:

The Monetisation of carbon - in line with UK guidance on climate change, the value of all carbon emissions must now be reported. The introduction of Wider Economic Benefits - new guidance has been introduced on how to capture the impacts of transport schemes on economic output and productivity.

Guidance on the application of Optimism Bias - this provides clear guidance on the treatment of risk and uncertainty. Optimism Bias should now be applied to both capital costs and risk assessment, meaning that there is no need for a contingency allowance.

Changes to reporting indicators - a new summary table has been introduced, which summarises an option's impact against all the STAG Criteria and the Government's Purpose. New indicators have also been introduced for each criterion which reports monetary impacts, but the BCR and NPV remain the key indicators.

Queensland is not immune to the threat of terrorism faced by the rest of the world and the whole of Australia. The July 2005 terrorist attacks in London showed that public transport can be a terrorist target. All Australian states and territories have agreed on priorities for strengthening surface transport security. These include making the travelling public more aware of risks and avenues for reporting suspicious items or behaviour.

The Queensland Government has put in place a public transport security package, initially focussing on south-east Queensland, to keep public transport safe. The package consists of:

1. Public awareness campaign
2. Security programs for public transport operators and workers
3. Independent risk reviews of public transport
4. Consulting with peak bodies and unions to raise awareness.

The public awareness campaign started in south east Queensland in September 2005. The campaign asked the travelling public to report suspicious items, or behaviour, to transport staff or by calling the national security hotline on 1800 123 400f. The advertising campaign appears widely on buses, trains, ferries, bus stops, bus interchanges, train stations and ferry terminals.

The Transportation, Delivery and Relocation Solutions Schedule 48 meets GSA's customer needs via a variety of transportation services. Specifically, Schedule 48 provides the following:

1. Domestic Express and Ground Routine Shipping.
2. Employee and Office Relocation Services.
3. Local Courier Services.
4. Rental Supplemental Vehicle Program.
5. Transportation Consulting Services and
6. Ground Passenger Transportation Services.

FMP provides a framework for fulfilling the domestic freight shipping requirements of federal agencies. The program offers rate management services nationally for general commodity freight transportation. FMP provides:

* Online booking of FMP shipments through TMSS.
* Significant savings off commercial rates.
* Over 450 participating Transportation Service Providers.
* Expert assistance and guidance available from transportation management Associates.
* Standards/requirements of Standard Tender of Service (STOS).

CHAMP stipulates provisions for transporting household goods, privately owned vehicles, and unaccompanied air baggage of relocating federal employees to domestic and international destinations. CHAMP provides:

* Online booking of CHAMP shipments through TMSS.
* Economical advantages through significant savings off commercial rates.
* Over 250 participating Transportation Service Providers.
* Strict Transportation Service Provider approval process.
* Standards/requirements of Household Goods Tender of Service (HTOS) and
* Expert assistance and guidance from GSA's transportation management associates.

GSA offers freight and household goods transportation services for federal civilian agencies. Transportation options are accessed through GSA's internet based TMSS system. TMSS provides:

* Comprehensive online freight and household goods transportation.
* First web based transportation system with an approved electronic bill of lading.
* Shipment booking online feature.
* Volume discounted negotiated government rates.
* Efficient transportation system that streamlines the transportation process and
* Ease of use.

Since 1980, most trucking has been deregulated. In 1994 the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization Act was passed and contained language to effectively eliminate state authority to regulate intrastate commerce. Economic regulation of intrastate commerce formerly included regulation of entry, price and routes. This federal legislation basically preempted states rights to prescribe routes. The application of this law was challenged in a couple of instances and one case went to the Supreme Court in 2002. The case was City of Columbus,Petitioners v.Ours Garage and Wrecker Service.

The Supreme court decision says : "We hold that $14501(c) does not bar a State from delegating to municipalities and other local units the State's authority to establish safety regulations governing motor carriers of property, including tow trucks. A locality, as $14501(c) recognizes, is a "political subdivision" of the State. Ordinarily, a political subdivision may exercise whatever portion of state power the State, under its own constitution and laws, chooses to delegate to the subdivision. Absent a clear statement to the contrary, Congress' reference to the "regulatory authority of a State" should be read to preserve, not preempt, the traditional prerogative of the States to delegate their authority to their constituent parts."

The Supreme Court decision goes on to say "Local jurisdictions can establish a truck route with specific delegation of authority from the state to do so; however, local regulation that is not genuinely responsive to safety concerns garners no exemption