ReportWire

Tag: Transportation

  • RTD’s A Line to Denver International Airport delayed because of signal issues

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    Travelers heading to and from Denver International Airport on the Regional Transportation District’s A Line train will see up to 30-minute delays because of a signal problem, agency officials said Tuesday.

    RTD canceled 24 trips and said the train is now running every 30 minutes, with eastbound trains leaving Union Station at 15 minutes and 45 minutes past the hour.

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    Katie Langford

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  • West Seattle Link light rail project balloons by billions of dollars

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    WEST SEATTLE – The West Seattle Link project could be getting a makeover in the name of cost savings. Sound Transit officials say labor, materials and infrastructure in the original estimate have ballooned by billions of dollars.

    On Monday night, Sound Transit officials talked to the West Seattle community about how they plan to cut costs for the West Seattle Link project.

    One of those is to eliminate the proposed Avalon Station altogether. That could stop the acquisition of some homes and other properties in the area. 

    Erin Rubin spoke at Monday’s forum. She owns Mode Music, a business that sits in the path of the future West Seattle Link light rail project.

    She’s been pushing for more funding to be able to move the business after learning that it would have to be demolished to make way for the rail line.

    To her relief, this spring, a law was passed at the state level that increased the funding for the reimbursement cap. She says there’s still a long way to go, and it will likely cost more than that to move an entire business due to inflation and other increased costs.

    Businesses that need relocation aren’t the only ones facing rising expenses. The West Seattle Link extension project itself has jumped in price. So much so, Sound Transit dedicated a team to look into cost savings. 

    “I was really excited that Sound Transit is so proactively looking at ways to speed things up and reduce the costs,” said Jess Zimbabwe, West Seattle resident.

    By the numbers:

    Brad Owen, executive director of capital delivery at Sound Transit, says the initial finance plan was initially forecast at $4.2 billion. The current cost estimate is at more than $7 billion.   

    Owen says costs have escalated since COVID, and construction costs and tariffs have driven them higher.  

    Some of the ideas the team came up with to save money on the West Seattle Link project include eliminating a third-mile of temporary tracks, called shoofly track. Those tracks, according to project directors, enable train service while the station and permanent tracks are under construction. By reducing the amount of temporary track, it improves costs by reducing the need for property extensions.

    Another idea included using modular construction for some aspects of the project. Owen said that means some materials would be constructed off-site and then trucked into the locations where they will be fully assembled.

    West Seattle Link project proposed cost cutting measures

    Other cost-saving measures proposed Monday night included using a simplified, less costly bridge design, and eliminating the Avalon Station, which Owen says will save on the acquisition of properties and construction costs.

    “You saw a lot of the opportunities that we showed you to potentially reduce the property we have to take,” Owen said. 

    “Overall, we don’t see much of a ridership drop in eliminating the Avalon Station,” said Jason Hampton, Commercial Director for the West Seattle Link Extension. 

    Officials said Monday night after reassessing, it’s now possible the West Seattle Health Club and swimming pool could be spared from demolition, but that is still up in the air.

    Owen said the Sound Transit Board will be looking over the issue of cost savings over the next 5–6 months, and staff will be updating the public on progress during construction meetings.

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    To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

    Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

    The Source: Information in this story came from Sound Transit and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

    West SeattleSeattleNewsTransportation

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    Jennifer.Dowling@fox.com (Jennifer Dowling)

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  • Olympic Pipeline shutdown forces Seattle flights to make unexpected fuel stops

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    SEATTLE – With Tuesday projected to be the busiest travel day of the year, some Washington passengers are already facing detours and delays due to ongoing aviation fuel supply issues linked to a shutdown of the Olympic Pipeline.

    At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Alaska Airlines passengers Jeanette and Aly Huckins, traveling to Orlando, learned early Monday their flight would first stop in Pasco to refuel.

    “Today is different,” said Jeanette. “We were hoping to have a straight flight to Orlando to see our daughters and grandkids but now we have to stop in Pasco to fuel so we can get to Orlando.”

    The diversion is particularly stressful for Aly, traveling with her dog, Miles.

    “It’s just his first time flying so I’m a bit worried about the extended stay and no potty break,” she told FOX 13.

    Miles the Dog

    Despite the disruption, Jeanette said Alaska Airlines has handled communications well. 

    “They sent me a text just this morning saying they were stopping at PSC and I didn’t know where that was, so I looked it up and it said Pasco,” she said. “I knew about the pipeline so I thought, okay.”

    Similar diversion chatter has surfaced online, including a flight bound for Fort Myers that reportedly stopped in Pasco as well. Max Chandrasekaran shared a few hours prior to his departure Alaska notified him his flight was diverting to Bozeman. 

    “It was a rapid approach into Bozeman, descending 3,000 feet per minute,” explained Chandrasekaran. “Time was of the essence, and Horizon Air and McGee Air Services teams on the ground did a fantastic job of refueling us within 30 minutes. Nobody left the plane. Some people on the flight flew from BZN to SEA to connect to DCA from Seattle, only to fly back briefly to Bozeman!”

    What they’re saying:

    Aviation expert Scott Hamilton says passengers inconvenienced by the refueling issue might actually be better off stopping over in small airports.

    “So you land in Billings or Pasco, you’re at the terminal in a hurry, you’re filled up in a hurry and you can taxi out quickly,” explained Hamilton. “That’s why I hope the airlines would avoid these hub airports like the plague.”

    He warned the timing couldn’t be worse.

    “Tomorrow and Sunday are the busiest travel days of the year before and after Thanksgiving busier even than the Christmas holidays,” said Hamilton. “You’re going to be looking at the potential for a lot of disruption, a lot of delays. You just have to hope that people will be understanding and they will be patient.”

    Hamilton emphasized that the refueling challenges are beyond the control of the airlines. He pointed to a difficult year for the industry, with multiple IT issues and federal government shutdown impacts further straining operations.

    “This has been a tough year for the airlines and of course for the passengers,” he said.

    Pipeline Remains Shut Down

    East of Everett, crews are working around the clock to resolve the problem. BP reports the Olympic Pipeline remains shut down, with 200 feet of line excavated, but the source of the leak has yet to be identified.

    Olympic Pipeline leak near Everett

    “What the governor has done is he’s created an emergency order to allow truckers to drive longer on the highway to bring in by tank truck as much fuel as they can,” noted Hamilton.

    Along with Gov. Ferguson’s emergency actions, federal lawmakers are now getting involved.

    Senator Maria Cantwell released a statement calling on BP for transparency, saying:

    “The fact that a blueberry farmer, not BP, first identified the spill, and that it is still not known for certain which of the two pipelines is leaking, raises significant concerns about the capabilities of the Olympic Pipeline’s leak detection systems and the adequacy of your inspection and maintenance programs.”

    What’s next:

    Jeanette Huckins summed it up with a hopeful note as she prepared to travel Monday.

    “I’m just glad we’re leaving on Monday,” said Jeanette. “I would feel bad if it impacted anybody. I’m hoping they get it figured out.”

    Sea-Tac Airport officials emphasize that while the airport is the landlord and ensures refueling infrastructure is operational, it does not control airline fueling processes, flight operations, or security line management.

    Hamilton says flight crews are preparing to assist frustrated travelers even though the delays aren’t of their making.

    MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

    Thanksgiving holiday travel underway at SEA Airport, could be record-setting travel season nationwide

    WA dirt biker falls down cliff during photograph, airlifted to Tacoma hospital

    Person killed after falling onto barge in Duwamish River in Seattle

    Pierce County, WA mom credits heart monitor for helping save her life from rare condition

    Who is Katie Wilson? A look at Seattle’s next mayor

    ‘Speechless’: Tacoma, WA aid group braces for SNAP surge as requirements tighten

    How to watch Seattle Mariners games in 2026 after ROOT sports shuts down

    To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

    Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

    The Source: Information in this story came from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, BP, Senator Maria Cantwell, and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.

    Seattle-Tacoma International AirportSeattleNewsTravelAlaska Airlines

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    Lauren.Donovan@fox.com (Lauren Donovan)

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  • Colorado weather: Will it snow during Thanksgiving travel?

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    The hundreds of thousands of Coloradans expected to travel for Thanksgiving this year can expect dry weather and clear skies — at least on their way out, according to the National Weather Service.

    No snow is forecast for the Denver area leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday, and limited amounts are expected in higher elevations, including on mountain passes, according to weather service forecasters.

    Colorado’s highest peaks, including Mount Zirkel in the Park Range of the Rocky Mountains, will see between zero and 8 inches of snow by 5 a.m. Thursday. The most likely snowfall on that mountain is closer to 1 inch, forecasters said.

    As of Monday morning, according to the weather service, other snow totals expected by Thursday morning included:

    • Trace amounts on Loveland Pass and at Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park;
    • 0.5 inches on U.S. 40’s Berthoud Pass west of Denver, on Milner Pass in Rocky Mountain National Park and at Winter Park;
    • And 1 inch on U.S. 40’s Muddy Pass near Steamboat Springs, Colorado 14’s Cameron Pass near Walden and U.S. 40’s Rabbit Ears Pass near Kremmling.

    Most of that snow is expected to fall Monday night into Tuesday morning, and will likely be gone before most travelers hit the roads, rails or air, according to weather service forecasters.

    Higher elevations, including Cameron Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass, also have a 20% chance of snow showers before 11 a.m. Wednesday, forecasters said.

    Chances for snow will return across Colorado following Thanksgiving Day, and winter weather could intercept many travelers on their way home, according to the weather service.

    The amount of snow expected to fall was still up in the air Monday morning, but hourly forecasts from the weather service showed a 40% chance of Denver seeing its first snow of the season over the post-holiday weekend.

    At that time, the strongest chance for snow in the Denver area fell between 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday, but snow showers could start as early as 11 p.m. Friday and continue into Sunday night, forecasters said.

    Multiple inches of snow are expected to fall on Colorado’s mountain passes starting at about noon on Friday, according to the weather service.

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    Lauren Penington

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  • Duffy identifies Chicago train victim as 26-year-old Bethany MaGee while blasting city’s ‘carelessness’

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    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy identified the woman set on fire aboard a Chicago train as 26-year-old Bethany MaGee, who suffered severe burns in the attack.

    Duffy blasted the city’s lax crime policies, saying the attack, allegedly carried out by a career criminal with 72 prior arrests, never should have happened.

    “It is devastating that a career criminal with 72 PRIOR ARRESTS is now accused of attacking 26-year-old Bethany MaGee on Chicago’s L train and setting her on fire,” Duffy said on X. “This would never have happened if this thug had been behind bars. Yet Chicago lets repeat offenders roam the streets.

    “Chicago’s carelessness is putting the American people at risk,” he continued. “No one should ever have to fear for their lives on the subway.”

    CHICAGO WOMAN SET ON FIRE DURING ARGUMENT ON CTA TRAIN, POLICE SAY

    Bethany MaGee, who was critically injured in a Nov. 17, 2025, attack aboard a Chicago L train, holds a cat in an undated photo. (Bethany MaGee via Facebook)

    Authorities said the alleged attacker, 50-year-old Marcus Reed, has spent decades cycling through the criminal justice system and was out on bond at the time of the assault. Reed has been charged with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system, according to the criminal complaint.

    Federal prosecutors allege that Reed intentionally used gasoline and a lighter to set MaGee on fire aboard a CTA Blue Line train at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.

    U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Andrew Boutros said the woman was “minding her own business and reading her phone” while seated in the middle of the train car when Reed approached her from behind, doused her head and body with gasoline, and tried to ignite the liquid.

    The woman ran to the back of the car as he ignited the rest of the liquid in the bottle and then used it to light her on fire, according to the complaint.

    CHICAGO TRAIN ATTACK SUSPECT ORDERED BY JUDGE TO REMAIN IN CUSTODY AHEAD OF TRIAL

    Lawrence Reed mug shot.

    Lawrence Reed, 50, is charged with committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system, according to officials. (Chicago Police Department)

    Video allegedly showed Reed watching the woman, engulfed in flames, as she tried to put out the fire by rolling on the floor.

    Boutros said as the woman was rolling on the ground, desperately trying to put out the fire, no one came to her aid.

    When the train stopped at Clark and Lake, the complaint noted the victim, who was still on fire, managed to exit before collapsing on the platform.

    “When she finally stumbled down, two Samaritans came and put out the blaze that was all consuming her,” Boutros said.

    CHICAGO TRAIN FIRE ATTACK SHOWS WHY ‘DECARCERATION’ POLICIES ARE PUTTING LIVES AT RISK: EXPERT

    Lawrence Reed courtroom sketch.

    Lawrence Reed is pictured in a courtroom sketch of his detention hearing on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (L.D. Chukman)

    She suffered severe burns to her face and body and remains in critical condition, according to authorities.

    Prosecutors obtained photos showing Reed at a gas station about 20 minutes before the attack, where he was seen entering the store, paying the cashier and filling a small container with gasoline.

    Other images showed Reed inside the train holding a flaming bottle as he approached the victim.

    Reed allegedly exited the train after setting the woman on fire and walked away.

    CHICAGO PERSON OF INTEREST IN TRAIN FIRE ATTACK HAS 22 PRIOR ARRESTS, WAS FREED BY JUDGE: REPORT

    During Reed’s first appearance in federal court Wednesday, he allegedly shouted, “I plead guilty, I plead guilty, I plead guilty.”

    U.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally asked him if he knew the maximum sentence was life in prison, to which he responded, “It’s cool, it’s cool, it’s cool.”

    Following the hearing, ATF Special Agent in Charge Chris Amon commented on Reed’s violent criminal history and pending cases, adding he “had no business being on the streets.”

    “Reed had plenty of second chances from the criminal justice system, and as a result, you have an innocent victim in the hospital fighting for her life,” Amon said. “Because of the swift action of CPD, ATF and our law enforcement partners, there will be no other chances for Mr. Reed.”

    BLUE CITY SUSPECT WITH NUMEROUS PRIOR ARRESTS FEDERALLY CHARGED AFTER ALLEGEDLY SETTING WOMAN ABLAZE ON TRAIN

    McNally suggested a mental and medical evaluation, though Boutros noted Reed had not been declared mentally incompetent in connection with any of his prior charges.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Bond said Friday that Reed has spent 32 years cycling through the criminal justice system, beginning around age 18. He’s been arrested 72 times and has eight felony and seven misdemeanor convictions.

    Records show Reed has a lengthy criminal history, including a charge of felony aggravated arson from April 2020, after he allegedly started a fire at the Thompson Center, where Gov. J.B. Pritzker was holding a daily COVID-19 briefing.

    He also faced misdemeanor battery charges for punching multiple women in the face, seemingly at random, and slapping a 42-year-old man in the face at the Halsted CTA Blue Line platform, FOX 32 Chicago reported.

    CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

    In August, Reed was charged with aggravated battery after allegedly assaulting a woman at a psychiatric hospital, CWB Chicago reported. Despite prosecutors’ request to keep him detained, he was released with an ankle monitor.

    Fox News Digital’s Alexandra Koch and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

    Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital.

    Story tips and ideas can be sent to Greg.Wehner@Fox.com and on Twitter @GregWehner.

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  • Driver killed in westbound I-70 crash near Palisade

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    A 35-year-old man was killed Saturday morning in a single-vehicle crash on westbound Interstate 70 near Palisade, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

    The crash happened at 11:38 a.m. along I-70 near 35 8/10 Road, just north of Palisade in Mesa County, state officials said.

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    Katie Langford

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  • Olympic Pipeline: Crews working nonstop to repair Everett, WA leak

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    EVERETT, Wash. – Crews are working around the clock to repair a leak in the Olympic Pipeline that has stopped jet fuel delivery to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Right now, there is no timeline for the fix, and Governor Bob Ferguson issued an emergency declaration.

    SEA Airport possible impacts

    Gov. Ferguson’s office has said if things aren’t fixed by Saturday, the airport could be significantly impacted. BP, which operates the pipeline, told FOX 13 that crews are doing 24-hour excavation operations and are working closely with federal, state, tribal and local authorities. The pipeline leak is just east of Everett.

    “We have come a long way since the 90s, and I think you know, when you look at the recent failures of the Olympic Pipeline, they could have been a lot worse then, and they weren’t,” said Bill Caram, executive director of the Pipeline Safety Trust.

    The Pipeline Safety Trust is a watchdog organization that formed after the Olympic Pipeline explosion in Bellingham in June of 1999. That explosion killed three boys. When Caram heard about the recent leak, he was instantly reminded of what happened 26 years ago.

    What they’re saying:

    “After the ’99 spill, a lot of work went into this pipeline to make sure that something like that would never happen again,” Caram said. He adds, there have been significant improvements in safety since then, but more still needs to be done.

    “We still have a significant pipeline failure somewhere in America almost every day,” Caram said. “Despite all of that, we still are losing, you know, 10 to 12 lives each year somewhere across the country due to pipeline failure.”

    Department of Ecology shares photos of work on the Olympic Pipeline in the Everett, WA area in November 2025.

    The Department of Ecology shared these photos; one showed a boom placed in the ditch to soak up the fuel. The 400-mile pipeline transports gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to places like SEA Airport. As of Friday, the airport says, there were no impacts to flights.

    FOX 13 reached out to Delta Air Lines. In a statement, the company said it is closely “monitoring the fuel supply, and there are no operational impacts at this time.” Alaska Airlines also said it is working to mitigate potential impacts from the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak, and is also not currently experiencing any impacts. At Pipeline Safety Trust, its concern is elsewhere.

    “We’re much more concerned about, you know, if this were to contaminate water sources,” Caram said. Right now, the Department of Ecology says there is currently no concern about the leak reaching the Snohomish River.

    Between 2005 and 2023, there was only one significant problem on this pipeline, but since then, there have been four. 

    “To me, it’s just a hint that maybe some, you know, mismanagement or under maintenance, is starting to catch up with this pipeline, and I hope that’s not true, but it does give me pause,” Caram said.

    The cause and source of the spill is still under investigation. Officials are still working to determine how big the leak really is. They also say there is no ETA as to when it will all be cleaned up, and when the pipeline will reopen.

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    To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

    Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

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    Shirah.Matsuzawa@fox.com (Shirah Matsuzawa)

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  • Trump administration threatens Pa. over driver’s licenses ‘illegally’ issued to immigrant truckers

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    The U.S. Department of Transportation said this week it would withhold $75 million in federal funding from Pennsylvania if the state does not meet demands to address how it issues commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants.

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    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Electric Aviation Company Alleges ‘Corporate Espionage’ in Lawsuit Against Rival

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    Two next-generation aviation companies are facing off in a legal battle. 

    Joby Aviation is suing Archer Aviation over allegations that its rival misappropriated trade secrets that were stolen from Joby by a former employee. Joby filed the lawsuit Thursday. It comes as the two companies push to roll out electric air taxi service in the U.S.

    “Archer brazenly used that stolen information to interfere with Joby’s exclusive strategic partnership,” the complaint reads. “This is corporate espionage, planned and premeditated.”

    Both companies are developing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, meant to operate as air taxis. Santa Cruz, California-based Joby Aviation is targeting Dubai for the initial launch of its first air taxi service before rolling out in the U.S. cities like Los Angeles and New York, in partnership with Delta Air Lines. Archer Aviation is based in San Jose, California, and also aims to roll out its air taxi service in New York City, but in partnership with United Airlines. Both trade publicly on the New York Stock Exchange and have contracts with the Department of Defense for military applications of their technology.

    The lawsuit centers around Archer employee George Kivork, who had previously worked as Joby’s head of U.S. state and local policy. On his LinkedIn, Kivork describes his current role at Archer as general manager. Prior to Joby, he worked as a senior public policy manager at Lyft, in various roles for the city of Los Angeles, and as an attorney in the Department of Commerce’s Office of General Counsel.

    The lawsuit alleges that two days before Kivork left the company, he withdrew “dozens of files” from Joby’s systems, even sending some to his personal email. They allegedly contained confidential and proprietary information about “partnership terms, business and regulatory strategies, infrastructure strategies for vertiports and airport access, and technical information about Joby’s aircraft and operations.” Three weeks later, Joby alleges that Archer approached a major real estate developer that already has a strategic partnership with Joby, and pitched a deal that was “specifically calibrated to undercut Joby’s agreement with the Developer.”

    Archer Chief Legal and Strategy Officer Eric Lentel called Joby’s case “bad faith litigation” in a statement provided to Inc.

    “Joby alleges we used their trade secrets to win a ‘deal’ with a developer but the reality is that Archer has no deal with this developer and Mr. Kivork did not bring any Joby confidential information to Archer,” Lentell said. “Joby knows these facts and is now improperly attempting to achieve through bad faith litigation what it cannot accomplish through fair competition. Archer remains focused on building the future of advanced aviation in America.”

    Archer has been under legal scrutiny before. In 2021, autonomous eVTOL company Wisk Aero sued Archer for alleged intellectual property theft. The company similarly claimed that Archer had acquired the confidential information through a former employee, TechCrunch reported. The two eventually settled in 2023, and per terms of the dispute, Archer agreed to use Wisk as an autonomous partner, according to CNBC. As of 2023, Wisk is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Boeing.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Chloe Aiello

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  • Some air traffic controllers left out of shutdown bonuses

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    Only 776 air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown will receive $10,000 bonuses while nearly 20,000 other workers will be left out, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Federal Aviation Administration says only 776 of the nearly 20,000 air traffic controllers and technicians who had to work without pay during the shutdown will receive bonuses

    • The announcement Thursday means thousands without perfect attendance during the shutdown won’t receive the $10,000 bonuses that President Donald Trump suggested.

    • Many controllers called out of work as they dealt with the financial pressure of not getting a paycheck

    • Some got side jobs, but others simply couldn’t afford the child care or gas they needed to work

    • Their absences forced delays at airports across the country and led to the government to cut some of their flights at 40 busy airports

    A number of controllers started calling out of work as the shutdown dragged on longer than a month and they dealt with the financial pressure of working without a paycheck. Some of them got side jobs, but others simply couldn’t afford the child care or gas they needed to work. Their absences forced delays at airports across the country and led the government to order airlines to cut some of their flights at 40 busy airports.

    President Donald Trump suggested the bonuses for those who have stayed on the job in a social media post, but he also suggested that controllers who missed work should have their pay docked. FAA officials haven’t publicly announced plans to penalize controllers.

    Thousands of FAA technicians also had to work during the shutdown to maintain the equipment that air traffic controllers rely on. At least 6,600 technicians were expected to work throughout the shutdown but more than 3,000 others were subject to be recalled to work.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the bonuses acknowledged the dedication of these few workers who never missed a shift during the 43-day shutdown. In a post on X he described it as “Santa’s coming to town a little early.”

    “These patriotic men and women never missed a beat and kept the flying public safe throughout the shutdown,” Duffy said in his formal announcement.

    The National Air Traffic Controllers Association union said only 311 of its more than 10,000 members will receive the bonuses. The union said these workers with perfect attendance deserve recognition but so do the others.

    “We are concerned that thousands of air traffic controllers who consistently reported for duty during the shutdown, ensuring the safe transport of passengers and cargo across the nation, while working without pay and uncertain of when they would receive compensation, were excluded from this recognition. More than 311 of these dedicated professionals were instrumental in keeping America moving,” the union said in a statement.

    The Professional Aviation Safety Specialists union said the thousands of technicians it represents worked hard to keep the aging computer and radar systems controllers use operating during the shutdown, and they should all be recognized — not just the 423 getting bonuses.

    “It took many hands to ensure that not one delay during the historic 43-day shutdown was attributed to equipment or system failures,” the union said in a statement.

    Democratic Rep. Rick Larsen questioned why all the controllers and others who worked to keep flights moving during during the shutdown won’t get bonuses.

    “For the Trump administration to not give a bonus to every single one of these hardworking women and men is wrong; they all deserve a bonus and back pay,” said Larsen, who is the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee.

    The controllers union said they hope to work with Duffy to find a way to recognize all the other air traffic controllers who worked during the shutdown.

    Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that any TSA officers who went “above and beyond” while working without pay would get $10,000 bonuses, but she never specified how many will qualify beyond the handful of checks she handed out to officers at a news conference.

    The FAA was already critically short on air traffic controllers before the shutdown. Duffy had been working to boost controller hiring and streamline the years of training required in the hope of eliminating the shortage over the next several years.

    Duffy has said that some students and controllers quit and more experienced controllers retired during the shutdown. Many controllers already work 10-hour shifts six days a week because the FAA is so short on staffing.

    As more controllers missed work, the FAA ordered airlines to cut flights to relieve pressure on the system. Duffy said repeatedly that FAA safety experts became worried as the absences grew because of reports from pilots concerned about controllers’ responses and a number of runway incursions.

    Since the shutdown ended, controller staffing has improved significantly and airlines were allowed to resume normal operations this week..

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    Associated Press

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  • US Transportation Department Endorses a Female Crash Test Dummy That More Closely Resembles Women

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    The U.S. government on Thursday released a new crash test dummy design that advocates believe will help make cars safer for women.

    The Department of Transportation will consider using the dummy in the government’s vehicle crash test five star-ratings once a final rule is adopted, the agency said in a news release.

    Women are 73% more likely to be injured in a head-on crash, and they are 17% more likely to be killed in a car crash, than men.

    The standard crash test dummy used in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration five-star vehicle testing was developed in 1978 and was modeled after a 5-foot-9 (175-centimeter), 171-pound (78-kilogram) man. The female dummy is smaller and has a rubber jacket to represent breasts. It’s routinely tested in the passenger or back seat but seldom in the driver’s seat, even though the majority of licensed drivers are women.

    The new female dummy endorsed by the department more accurately reflects differences between men and women, including the shape of the neck, collarbone, pelvis, and legs. It’s outfitted with more than 150 sensors, the department said.

    Some American automakers have been skeptical, arguing the new model may exaggerate injury risks and undercut the value of some safety features such as seat belts and airbags.

    Lawmakers and transportation secretaries from the past two presidential administrations have expressed support for new crash test rules and safety requirements but developments have been slow.

    U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, and Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat from Illinois, both released statements welcoming the female crash test dummy announcement.

    “Any progress here is good because there’s simply no good reason why women are more likely to be injured or die in car crashes,” Duckworth said.

    Fischer introduced legislation, the She Drives Act, that would require the most advanced testing devices available, including a female crash test dummy. Duckworth is a co-sponsor.

    “It’s far past time to make these testing standards permanent, which will help save thousands of lives and make America’s roads safer for all drivers,” Fischer said.

    The department said the new specifications will be available for manufacturers to build models and for the automotive industry to begin testing them in vehicles.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Nov. 2025

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  • Olympic Pipeline shutdown: Jet fuel leak in Everett, WA could impact SEA Airport

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    EVERETT, Wash. – Work is underway to repair a pipeline that delivers jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a leak prompted it to be shut down.

    Timeline:

    The Olympic Pipeline fuel leak was reported on Nov. 11 in an agricultural field several miles east of Everett. Now, over a week later, a 24-hour effort is underway to excavate, contain, clean and repair the leak. There is no timeline for when the pipeline will resume delivering fuel.

    Olympic Pipeline leak site

    Olympic Pipeline leak site (via BP)

    Washington Governor Bob Feruguson issued an emergency declaration to ensure adequate fuel is delivered to Sea-Tac Airport during the pipeline shutdown. The governor’s office said airport operations would be “significantly affected” if it doesn’t start back up by Saturday.

    No flights at SEA Airport have been affected yet. However, in anticipation, Gov. Ferguson waived the number of hours jet fuel tanker operators can drive while ensuring safe-driving measures remain in place.

    The pipeline temporarily restarted on Sunday, Nov. 16, after a successful leak test. Fuel deliveries resumed to the airport, but the pipeline was shut down again on Monday due to additional leakage at the response site.

    The Olympic Pipeline transports refined petroleum products to sites in Seattle, SeaTac, Tacoma, Vancouver, and Portland. The system consists of two pipelines, including a 20-inch pipeline and a 16-inch pipeline. The 16-inch pipeline is the one that leaked.

    What they’re saying:

    The Washington State Department of Ecology issued the following statement regarding the fuel leak response:

    “Our cleanup includes using a vacuum truck and adsorbent materials, along with cleaning up contaminated soil. Responders are still determining the amount spilled.”

    Alaska Airlines also released a statement regarding possible impacts at Sea-Tac International Airport:

    “We are working to mitigate a potential impact from the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak. We are not currently experiencing any disruption to our operation at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

    “To ensure our scheduled service is maintained without significant disruption, we are preparing contingency plans, which include fuel management strategies such as tankering in fuel on inbound flights to Seattle, assessing tech stop options along certain routes to conserve fuel, and maintaining and expanding our trucking operation to bring in additional fuel supply.

    “We remain in close communication with Olympic Pipeline, refineries, and our airport partners and will communicate if we begin to see operational impacts.”

    SEA Airport says multiple airlines have been working on contingency plans if the pipeline shutdown persists.

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    The Source: Information in this story came from the Washington State Department of Ecology, the Port of Seattle, BP, and Flight Aware.

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  • Opinion | Trump Says Arms Are Going to Taiwan

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    One of the biggest questions in global affairs is whether President Trump is chasing a grand bargain with Beijing’s Xi Jinping—and at what cost to the United States. So it’s good news that the Administration is showing that America won’t be bullied from defending its Pacific interests, with an arms sale to our friends in Taiwan.

    The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of a $330 million potential arms sale for the island democracy. Items include spare parts for fighter jets and transport aircraft, as well as U.S. technical and logistics support. But more important than the details is that this marks the Administration’s first sale to Taiwan in Mr. Trump’s second term. Rumors had spread this year that Mr. Trump was withholding arms for Taiwan as he wooed Mr. Xi on a trade deal.

    Copyright ©2025 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

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  • Why Does This NYC Subway Station Smell ‘Christmassy’? It’s an Ad

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    NEW YORK (AP) — A trip through New York City’s crowded subway system usually offers a pungent mix of industrial and bodily aromas.

    But inside a stretch of the Grand Central station this holiday season, the air smells of vanilla and fresh pine.

    The scent is part of a novel advertising campaign for Bath & Body Works, which is pumping the fragrance into the 42nd Street shuttle train platform through November.

    Many commuters don’t pause to take notice of the diffusers that have been attached to a steel girder over the platform, and along the walls of a connecting tunnel. Those who look up can see them releasing visible bursts of vapor. Bath & Body Works estimates that 20 to 30 pounds (9 to 14 kilograms) of fragrance will be dispersed by the end of the month, when the campaign ends.

    “It smells better than the normal New York City tunnels that we normally smell here,” commuter Jerome Murray said. “So yes, I appreciate it.”

    The area is one of the busiest parts inside the transit hub, with people moving quickly as they transfer to and from the Times Square shuttle every four to five minutes.

    Commuter Kelly Rodriguez, 23, described the smell as “a pine scent, very Christmassy” — a note given by many riders. Kathleen Baptiste, 60, added that it reminds her of “fabric softeners.”

    The scent is subtle enough that some riders said they missed it as they traveled through the space. If you didn’t see the poster explaining that it is a Bath & Body Works ad campaign, it could be easy to mistake for another rider’s perfume.

    The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s subways and buses, says this is the first ad campaign of its kind inside the transit network, which is seeking to generate new revenue streams. Hoping to avoid any blowback, the agency tested a pilot of aroma-based ads last year in stations in Queens and Brooklyn to review the safety and gather feedback, according to Mary John, the agency’s director of commercial ventures.

    John says the agency has not received any complaints so far.

    Jamie Sohosky, Bath & Body Works’ chief marketing officer, said the retail chain chose “Fresh Balsam” for the campaign because it is one of the brand’s most iconic holiday scents and a long-running seasonal favorite. Grand Central, she said, was a natural choice, since huge numbers of riders pass through while connecting to other trains.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Nov. 2025

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  • Gov. Ferguson declares emergency after airport fuel pipeline leak

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    SEATTLE – Washington state’s governor declared an emergency Wednesday to ensure adequate jet fuel is delivered to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after a leak shut down a major fuel pipeline.

    The order temporarily waives and suspends state regulations limiting the number of hours commercial vehicle operators can drive when transporting jet fuel, Gov. Bob Ferguson’s office said in a news release. The proclamation ensures safe-driving measures are in place, the release said.

    SEA Airport

    The air traffic control tower is seen at the distance as Alaska Airlines planes sit at the gates at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, in SeaTac, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

    The Olympic Pipeline was shut down on Nov. 11 because of a leak north of Seattle, between the cities of Everett and Snohomish. Operators notified the state of the leak and were working with state and federal agencies to contain, clean and repair it, the governor’s office said.

    There was no estimate for when the pipeline would resume delivering fuel normally. But if it doesn’t start back up by Saturday, the governor’s office said airport operations would be “significantly affected.” The office did not share details on what that impact would look like.

    The airport “has limited fuel on hand to sustain operations,” the governor’s office said, and since last week, airport officials have told incoming flights to fuel up to capacity before arriving because of the pipeline shutdown.

    The 400-mile-long (644-kilometer-long) Olympic Pipeline is operated by BP Pipelines North America, Inc. It carries gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products from refineries in northwest Washington to points in Washington and Oregon. It is the primary way petroleum is delivered to fuel distribution terminals in the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades.

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    The Source: Information in this story came from the Associated Press.

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  • Private Air Provider XO Introduces Corp. Program

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    Private aviation group Vista has introduced a corporate membership program for its XO subsidiary, the company announced Tuesday. 

    XO Corporate is “designed for corporations, executives and teams that require frequent, flexible private air travel,” according to Vista, also the parent company of Vistajet,

    A corporate membership requires a $500,000 deposit, and the account can be replenished as needed “without committing to a multi-year plan.” The membership never expires and is fully refundable.

    The membership provides access to more than 2,000 aircraft worldwide; real-time pricing and instant booking in the XO app, website or through a dedicated XO advisor; multi-user accounts and simultaneous flights; guaranteed recovery and departures; 24/7 customer service; and an enhanced loyalty program, wherein a corporation can receive up to a 4 percent loyalty credit, plus additional credits based on annual flying. Each flight contributes to rewards, with more flights generating higher benefits, according to the company.

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  • Air New Zealand to Revamp Loyalty Program

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    Air New Zealand’s Airpoints loyalty program will be renamed as “Koru” beginning April 2026 and gain two new status tiers for a total of five, the carrier announced Tuesday. 

    Koru Bronze will be the new base tier for those without status, who will be able to earn Airpoints and Status Points, according to Air New Zealand. 

    Koru Silver, Gold and Platinum tiers will replace Airpoints Silver, Gold and Elite, and the qualifying Status Points will remain the same for each category—450, 900 and 1,500, respectively, according to Air New Zealand. Members will receive all current benefits, plus some new ones. 

    An additional benefit for Silver includes five bonus Status Points (currently called Frequent Flyer Status Boost) for every 10 qualifying flights with the carrier. Currently, only Gold and Elite members earn bonuses.

    Gold and Platinum members will have access to the new Status Points Top-Up, a feature that will offer members “just shy” of requalifying up to 30 Status Points for Gold and up to 50 Status Points for Platinum to retain their respective tiers. This benefit is available once every three years. 

    Platinum members also will have enhanced Status Rewards and access to the new Koru Premier Lounge at Auckland International Airport, when it opens.

    The new top tier will be Koru Black, which will require 3,200 Status Points, including 1,920 from qualifying flights in a year. Benefits will include all Platinum offerings, plus 40 Status Points per 10 qualifying flights and a top-up amount of up to 70 Status Points. They also will receive three recognition upgrades, two short-haul recognition upgrades per year and eight valet parking vouchers. Koru Black members also will have their points “upweighted” by 60 percent, versus 10 percent for Silver, 30 percent for Gold and 50 percent for Platinum.

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  • Triangle traffic headaches: What’s being done about them

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    Look anywhere in Triangle, and it won’t take long for you to see the signs of a growing region. Cranes tower over downtown Raleigh and Durham, expanding the skyline. Crews clear another swath of trees to make room for another townhouse development.

    Another sign of the rapid growth: Heavy congestion on the Triangle’s roads.

    We asked our viewers and followers to share their biggest Triangle traffic headaches. You shared many trouble spots:

    • The stop-and-go traffic along Interstate 40 between Raleigh and Durham,
    • the long-delayed widening project on I-440 in west Raleigh,
    • the tangle of traffic that chokes the Durham Freeway near the I-885 and N.C. 147 interchange.

    One spot people mentioned more often than any other was the I-40/U.S. 1 interchange between Raleigh and Cary. Drivers trying to get on or off I-40 West have about 600 feet to weave across heavy traffic.

    “That’s when you [tell] your passenger, ‘Hey, do you see anybody coming? Check all windows,’” said driver Ginia Cooper-Gay, who said it’s a tricky interchange to navigate. “You need a co-pilot!”

    Chris Lukasina is the executive director of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO), the group of Triangle-area municipalities making plans for how our region will deal with growth in the decades to come. He says the DOT is going to get rid of that tricky interchange and replace it with a much better design.

    “That will provide some relief for a lot of folks and make getting through that interchange a lot easier,” he said.

    They’re also planning to keep lanes open during construction. It’s great news for drivers, but here’s the catch: It won’t be ready until 2030 at the earliest.

    Lukasina says identifying transportation problems is the easy part. The hard part is figuring out how to pay for it.

    “We have to have a long-range plan, but we also have to have a budget,” he said. “We have to stay within that budget.”

    Future transportation improvement plans

    The NCDOT has hundreds of projects on the books for the Triangle area. They’re spelled out in the State Transportation Improvement Plan, which outlines construction funding and priorities for transportation projects across the state. The state analyzes potential projects and assigns a score to each, weighing safety, congestion and local priorities. A project’s score is the main factor that determines if and when it will get built, but budget limits also affect the scheduling.

    There are some major projects under construction right now that should provide some significant relief.

    The I-440 widening project between Walnut Street and Wade Avenue now is expected to be finished in spring 2026. The last section of N.C. 540 connecting I-40 near Clayton with I-87 in Knightdale should be finished in late 2028. Milazzo says his group also is advocating for improvements to Glenwood Avenue between I-540 and I-440.

    Another big innovation in transportation is under construction in Raleigh. The city describes Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a “high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers fast and efficient service.” Dedicated lanes and traffic signal priority will allow buses to run reliably approximately every 15 minutes.

    Joe Milazzo, executive director of the Regional Transportation Alliance, which advocates for transportation projects on behalf of the business community, calls it “buses resembling trains.”

    “It is a great solution, provides flexibility, also provides that transit priority so people can rely on it,” he said.

    Raleigh’s first BRT corridor is under construction along New Bern Avenue, linking the city’s east side. Other BRT routes will connect with northern, southern and western Raleigh. The city expects the buses to start rolling as early as 2028. Eventually, it will connect with downtown Cary.

    Durham and Chapel Hill also are planning to build a BRT system in the coming years. Milazzo says connecting those systems will provide a flexible solution for people to get around the sprawling region.

    “[BRT would be] at least an alternative for some trips,” he said.

    Lukasina said a commuter rail could be a piece of the puzzle in the future. Wake and Durham counties’ transit plans propose studying commuter rail in the region. That would put passenger cars on existing railroads, shared with freight traffic, focusing frequent service during the weekday commute.

    GoTriangle studied commuter rail in 2023, finding big benefits but also significant challenges in building it within the timeframes and budgets of the counties’ transit plans. Instead, CAMPO is working with the NCDOT to explore ways to enhance passenger rail service that would connect the Triangle’s cities and towns.

    Lukasina says another major upgrade eventually coming to the Triangle the idea of “managed freeways,” using technology to manage traffic flow. It would allow officials to adjust speed limits and lane use dynamically to keep traffic flowing as well as possible.

    “Helping to avoid those bottlenecks or minimize the time we have those bottlenecks out there will really help improve the traffic flow,” Lukasina said.

    It’s just roads that have to be expanded and improved Milazzo says keeping up with the Triangle’s growth means upgrading all forms of transportation. A big focus for the Regional Transportation Alliance is pushing for improvements at RDU. The new runway and expansion of Terminal 2 are major steps to accommodate growing numbers of passengers.

    “Airport expansion never ends, because this market never stops growing,” Milazzo said.

    As the Triangle grows, Milazzo said the business community wants these projects take “less ‘forever.’” He says as frustrating as the Triangle’s highway headaches can be, they are a sign of a healthy region.

    “Having growth is a wonderful thing. It certainly beats the alternative for a market,” he said. “We all would like to see things go faster, but if we work together and keep focused on it, we can get the solutions we want.”

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  • Seattle airport security checkpoint 6 reopens

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    SEATTLE – There is more relief for airline passengers coming to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday as security checkpoint 6 finally reopens following months of renovations. 

    Just in time for the busy holiday season, and days before Thanksgiving travel begins to ramp up, SEA formally reopened the checkpoint five months after previously opening a new checkpoint back in June. 

    Checkpoint 6 at SEA Airport

    What’s next:

    Checkpoint 6 was temporarily closed for a year for construction as part of the SEA Gateway Project, an effort to expand screening capacity and improve passenger flow through the terminal. The redesigned checkpoint adds the following:

    • Larger space with more efficient layout
    • Expanded recompose area
    • New furniture
    • Digital wayfinding
    • Infrastructure improvements
    • Enhanced security screening operations

    Checkpoint 6 will have general, pre-check and CLEAR lines and is north of Checkpoint 5 at the west side of the pre-security area.

    Checkpoint 6 at SEA Airport

    Dig deeper:

    The improvements are part of the SEA Gateway Project.

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