Developers in the Driver’s Seat on Transportation

The lack of a coordinated vision to set federal transportation priorities means real estate interests aggressively lobby Congress for earmarks to fund pet projects ranging from new highway exits to a high-speed rail line. More than 100 real estate development interests — including giant homebuilders such as Lennar Corp. as well as municipal authorities — spent $5.5 million on federal transportation lobbying in 2009. Read More

Main Street Chases Transportation Money

As the nation’s transportation law came up for renewal last fall, more than 650 cites and counties were paying federal lobbyists to help deliver money from Washington. That number grew by 80 percent since the last such deadline. Most of those local governments would like an earmark, but they’re also looking for a brand new policy. Billions are on the line. Read More

The Transportation Lobby Top 10

The next massive federal transportation bill is both stalled and in need of new funding. To keep the pressure on, the transportation lobby is turning to plenty of beltway lobbying firms. These ten represent more than 400 of the interested parties. Read More

A Lobbying Free-for-All

Almost 1,800 special interests spent at least $45 million over the first six months of this year to “help” Congress draft a new transportation bill. Who are they? Check out our story and the accompanying interactive map. Read More