Two major transit agencies signed a first-of-its-kind agreement to recognize one another’s certified small and minority owned businesses—an effort aimed at bringing more equity to contracting for transportation projects, Lillianna Byington reports.
The agreement was signed on Monday by the Chicago Transit Authority and the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, and transportation officials are pushing for the model to be scaled up to the national level.
Phil Washington and John Porcari, co-founders of Equity in Infrastructure Project, both told Bloomberg Government yesterday the agreement has national potential, particularly as the surge in money from the bipartisan infrastructure law (Public Law 117-58) rolls out.
“We need a national certification database to relieve the administrative burden of small businesses to get certified in every state,” Washington said. “Right now, the administrative burden is so arduous for small, women-owned, minority owned, veteran-owned businesses to get certified.”
Washington’s Uncertain FAA Confirmation: That same Phil Washington remains President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Federal Aviation Administration, despite pushback in Congress. Biden resubmitted the nomination last week, to restart the process after Washington failed to be confirmed last year.
“We’ll see what happens,” Washington yesterday told Bloomberg Government’s Lillianna Byington. “I’m honored by the initial nomination and the renomination, and if it happens, that’s great. If it doesn’t happen, I’m not going to die in a ditch over it either.”
Washington said he hopes he’ll get a nomination hearing and that he believes he’s done everything he needs to do. Biden first nominated Washington in July of last year to lead the agency, but the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee didn’t schedule his hearing in the last Congress. Republicans have scrutinized his aviation experience and ties to a Los Angeles search warrant.
The uncertainty comes as the aviation industry faces criticism for the recent increase in flight cancellations—a challenge the Transportation Department has been pushed to help prevent. Washington, who is CEO of Denver International Airport, said he called for an after-action review to talk with the three largest airlines at his airport about what happened and how to do better in the future.
