In the two weeks since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, President Biden has led administration-wide work to provide support. We're working together to reopen the port, rebuild the bridge, and support the people of Baltimore. 🧵 1️⃣ Immediately standing up a Unified Command: The Coast Guard immediately deployed to support local emergency personnel. Federal agencies are working closely with Maryland to clear the wreckage in the channel and allow the Port of Baltimore to reopen as soon as humanly possible.

Since Day 1 of the Biden-Harris Administration, we have been working to improve rail safety and keep workers and communities safe.

🧵 Here's a look at some of the work we've done on rail safety: Through President Biden's bipartisan infrastructure package, we've awarded billions of dollars to modernize rail infrastructure and improve dangerous highway-rail crossings across the country.

Great discussion at the White House with @VP marking 33 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and hearing from advocates on how best to ensure everyone can move freely, fairly, and safely through our transportation systems. We're modernizing airports across the country, adding wheelchair ramps, accessible restrooms, and more.

This year alone, we funded dozens of projects that will improve accessibility — from the check-in counter to baggage claim and everything in between. transportation.gov/briefing-room/…

Transportation should connect, not divide, people from jobs, schools, and their greater community. We're announcing the next round of funding for our Reconnecting Communities program.

Here are some of the projects we announced in last year's round🔗

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/dc61e3… When I-30 paved through MacArthur Park & Hanger Hill communities in Little Rock, AR, it fractured the once-flourishing neighborhoods.

We're helping make these communities whole again with a $2M grant to study potential designs to cap the interstate.

ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional…

Across the country, work is underway to modernize our nation's aging airports and improve your traveling experience.

Americans deserve the best. Here are some projects that are making our aviation system safer, more sustainable, and accessible for all. The grant we awarded to Grand Forks International Airport will help extend and reconstruct a taxiway and runway - good news for passengers and for the economy in North Dakota. grandforksherald.com/news/local/gra…

It was humbling to stand alongside former U.S. Transportation Secretaries and the families of William T. Coleman, Jr., and Norman Y. Mineta this week as we renamed USDOT HQ after these great American leaders. William T. Coleman, Jr. was the first African American Secretary of Transportation and a lifelong advocate for equality. His leadership helped to shape our department continues to inspire our work today.

This week, I'm traveling to airports across the US to meet with our aviation safety community and highlight how we’re investing in America with projects to help keep American aviation the safest in the world. Our first stop is in Charlotte, NC where we're funding new end-around taxiways, decreasing the need for planes to cross active runways, improving safety & saving passengers' time.

This year alone, @CLTAirport received $43M in funding from the President's infrastructure package.

We're funding major improvements through the Airport Terminals Program that will help modernize airports, improve terminals, and meet growing passenger demand.

Here are a few examples. The improvements to Atlanta’s Concourse D will increase capacity and create a better experience for travelers, including travelers with disabilities. It’s part of the historic funding we’re delivering to airports across the country. thecentersquare.com/georgia/atlant…

The people of East Palestine deserve action. USDOT has been on the ground since day one, and today we’re announcing our drive to hold the freight rail industry accountable and to improve rail safety. abcnews.go.com/Politics/depar… Our drive includes immediate and ongoing actions by USDOT, a call for Congress to raise the bar on what is possible, and a demand for industry to immediately change certain practices. transportation.gov/briefing-room/…

In the wake of the East Palestine derailment and its impact on hundreds of residents, we’re seeing lots of newfound or renewed (and welcome) interest in our work on rail safety, so I wanted to share more about what we’ve been doing in this area: We are making historic investments on rail safety through funding in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, work that accelerates this year and continue in the years to come.

I continue to be concerned about the impacts of the Feb 3 train derailment near East Palestine, OH, and the effects on families in the ten days since their lives were upended through no fault of their own. It’s important that families have access to useful & accurate information: USDOT has been supporting the investigation led by The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Our Federal Rail Administration and Pipelines and Hazardous Materials teams were onsite within hours of the initial incident and continue to be actively engaged.

Earlier this year, we secured written agreements from US carriers (including Southwest) for better customer service for stranded passengers. Now we will hold them accountable to these commitments. Southwest’s cancellations this week are not weather related. Because of that, they are required to cover not only the costs of your ticket, but costs of meals, transportation, and hotels when you are stranded. Know your rights and what you are owed👇 transportation.gov/airconsumer/ai…

Sometimes an airline will offer you points or miles as compensation, but you are entitled to a cash refund when your flight is canceled.

When deciding whether to accept miles, it’s helpful to know their value, which varies, but often is estimated at 1 to 1.5 cents per mile. For example, my connecting flight got canceled last night. At first, the airline offered 2500 miles, which I estimate is worth about 30 bucks.

But I claimed the refund for the canceled portion instead, and it worked out to be $112.07.

"There's a crisis on our roadways.

3,000 people die every month. During the pandemic, it's gotten worse.

We would never tolerate this on any other mode of transportation, and we shouldn't here.

@USDOT is launching a plan🧵" Our National Roadway Safety Strategy is America's brand new comprehensive plan to significantly reduce injuries and deaths on our roadways.

As we head into 2022, I'm proud of the @USDOT team and the results this administration has delivered this year 🧵 When @POTUS took office, our transportation industry was still reeling from the pandemic. Jobs and transportation access were at stake.

The American Rescue Plan helped us keep the country moving.
whitehouse.gov/american-rescu…

The administration announced actions to increase trucking capacity to meet the unprecedented demand for the movement of goods. Here’s why it's urgent 🧵
bit.ly/3eiSUTG Trucking employment is 1% below where it was at the start of 2019. And this trend actually started *before* the pandemic.

The Americans who stand to benefit most from EVs are those who drive the most, often rural drivers - so we're working to increase charging availability across the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in a network of EV chargers so you don't have to worry about running out of charge on longer trips - and the law funds an upgraded electrical grid to support the increased demand.

The Biden-Harris Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force is working round the clock to alleviate bottlenecks, and we’re seeing some progress.

Here’s an update 🧵 Our economy is recovering. We’re seeing record movement of goods through our supply chain. FedEx plans to deliver 100 million more packages this holiday season than in 2019 and retailers like Walmart have said they are prepared for a strong holiday season.
newsweek.com/walmart-ceo-sa…

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is now the law of the land.

Here's what that means for you 🧵 If you drive, take the bus, fly, ride the train or if you travel in any way, shape, or form in the U.S., you're going to benefit from important upgrades across our transportation network.

Our hearts go out to all the families and communities that are hurting from Hurricane Ida’s devastation. We will continue to work as an administration to help communities respond to and recover from this disaster. .@USDOT has been taking steps to assist Louisiana, NY, and communities across the NE & SE, including an emergency declaration that assists in the delivery of food, fuel, power restoration equipment, and other necessities.
transportation.gov/briefing-room/…

Yesterday's floods in New York are a reminder of what is at stake if we do not build resilient infrastructure while meeting the climate crisis. Flooded highways pose a real danger to drivers just trying to get home. I'm thankful for the first responders who worked to rescue motorists yesterday.

https://twitter.com/NYPDSpecialops/status/1413241913105334283