Air travel and rail transport were early examples of deregulation bringing huge benefits to consumers and industries. Yet automobility, air travel, and freight rail, are increasingly threatened with further regulation that will reduce their ability to transport goods and people. CEI opposes these attacks by arguing for greater freedom in mobility and opposing perverse transportation industry regulations.
Transportation Issue Areas
Featured Posts

News Release
Transportation Sec Sean Duffy announces immediate review of CAFE standards: CEI analysis
CEI applauds U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for directing the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to commence an immediate review and reconsideration of all…

National Review
J. D. Vance’s One-Track Mind for Railroad Regulation
Ohio senator and GOP vice-presidential nominee J. D. Vance has something of a soft spot for unions, as evidenced by his co-sponsorship of the…

Blog
Free the Economy podcast: Paying for mass transit with Marc Scribner
In this week’s episode we cover California’s minimum wage for fast-food workers, overturning the FCC’s universal service fee, and pushing back on…
Search Posts
News Release
House Votes for Temporary Federal Aviation Administration Funding but Urgent Reforms Remain Undone
The House voted today to temporarily extend funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), putting off a vote on full funding and on a critical…
Blog
No Reason for Denying Puerto Rico a Jones Act Waiver
The Trump administration should immediately grant a Jones Act waiver to Puerto Rico and Congress should fully repeal the maritime cabotage prohibition.
Washington Examiner
For Gregg Harper, the Issue of Driverless Cars Is Personal
The Washington Examiner discusses the SELF DRIVE Act with Marc Scribner. Livingston Harper always wants to be on the move. At least that’s what his…
Foundation for Economic Education
London’s Uber Ban Sends it Back to the Dark Ages
When I lived in London in the 1990s, I had to use pricey Black Cabs to get around the city at night. However, heaven help…
Bloomberg BNA
Self-Driving Truck Feud Shows Tech’s Vulnerability in Jobs Debate
Bloomberg BNA discusses the pushback by unions on self-driving trucks with Marc Scribner. A Senate effort to regulate self-driving trucks is spotlighting larger concerns…
Bloomberg
Best Self-Driving Tech Going Nowhere as Rules Stall Under Trump
Bloomberg discusses V2V regulations on self-driving cars with Marc Scribner. The technology that gives cars superpowers to see around corners and through walls…
Politico
Morning Transportation Mailbag
Politico’s Morning Transportation covers CEI’s comments to the Senate Commerce Committee on the AV START Act. The libertarian Competitive Enterprise Institute wrote to…
The Washington Examiner
Hurricanes Present New Challenge to Trump’s Fast-Track Permit Plan
The Washington Examiner discusses the Trump administration’s infrastructure plan in the wake of recent hurricanes with Myron Ebell. The Trump administration, wanting to rebuild…
Blog
CEI Offers Recommendations to Improve Senate’s AV START Act
The draft legislation is another welcome early step from the federal government on self-driving vehicles.
The Washington Times
Congress Cannot Squander a Rare Opportunity for Reform
Rep. Bill Shuster wrote an op-ed in support of the 21st Century AIRR Act. If you believe Congress should focus on cutting taxes…
Blog
NHTSA Releases Improved Federal Automated Driving System Guidance
The Department of Transportation is putting its money where its mouth is in preventing overregulation of automated driving systems.
News Release
CEI Responds to NHTSA Self-Driving Car Guidance Updates
Marc Scribner of the Competitive Enterprise Institute responded today to the NHTSA announcement of updated guidance for self-driving cars: “The Department of Transportation’s…
Transportation Today
Flyers for Fairness Stumps for a Modernized ATC System
Transportation Today discusses the 21st Century AIRR Act with Marc Scribner. The average airline passenger in coach seating is being taken for a ride…
Bloomberg
Trump’s Regulators Ease the Path for Self-Driving Cars
Bloomberg discusses President Trump’s upcoming rules for self-driving cars with Marc Scribner. The Trump administration will alter the course set by the Obama administration on…
American Public Media
VIDEO: Marc Scribner Discusses the 21st Century AIRR Act on Marketplace
Marc Scribner, senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, discusses the 21st Century AIRR Act with Kimberly Adams on American Public Media’s Marketplace.
Washington Examiner
Bill Shuster Pushes Back Against Conservative Group’s Opposition to Air Traffic Control Privatization Bill
The Washington Examiner covers the American Conservative Union Foundation’s claim that the 21st Century AIRR Act would not privatize air traffic control. Read Marc Scribner’s…
Blog
American Conservative Union Statement Wrong on Air Traffic Control Reform
Spinning off air traffic control responsibilities into a nongovernmental nonprofit will save taxpayers more than $10 billion per year.
Politico
Member Up
Politico’s Morning Transportation covers a coalition, including CEI, advocating for legislation relating to self-driving cars. Lyft, Third Way, the American Council of the…
Blog
Does Global Warming Increase Motor Vehicle Fatalities?
A new study by retired Yale University epidemiologist Leon Robertson blames global warming for a 7 percent increase in U.S. road deaths in 2015 compared…
Blog
Fuel Economy Regulations Threaten Vehicle Safety
In 1992 a federal appeals court found that CAFE undercuts vehicle safety, by causing cars to be made smaller and light in order to meet…
Blog
Rideshare Drivers’ Future at Stake in Seattle
Recent events represent an existential threat to ridesharing in Seattle, and put drivers, passengers, and communities at risk of serious harm.
Blog
CEI Leads Coalition Urging Senators to Preserve Railroad Deregulation
The Senate Commerce Committee leadership should respect the indisputable gains of deregulation.
Greenwire
Harvey Amplifies Partisan Debate Over Flood, Zoning Rules
Greenwire discusses Houston zoning laws with Marc Scribner. Did regulations help Houston weather the impact of Hurricane Harvey, or did they hinder the city’s…
The Guardian
Self-Driving Cars Must Have Technology to Prevent Use in Terror, Lawmakers Say
The Guardian discusses the House’s passage of the SELF DRIVE Act with Marc Scribner. Self-driving vehicles will need to be equipped with cybersecurity…
Ars Technica
House Passes Law to Accelerate Adoption of Self-Driving Technology
Ars Technica discusses the House’s passage of the SELF DRIVE Act with Marc Scribner. The House of Representatives on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation…
The New York Times
Self-Driving Cars’ Prospects Rise With Vote by House
The New York Times discusses the House’s passage of the SELF DRIVE Act with Marc Scribner. Lawmakers in the House took a major…
News Release
CEI-Led Coalition Opposes Price Controls on Freight Railroads
Today, a coalition of free market groups led by the Competitive Enterprise Institute sent a letter to Senate Commerce Committee and Surface Transportation Subcommittee leaders…
Letters
CEI Leads Coalition Letter on Reciprocal Switching
View Full Document as PDF Dear Chairman Thune, Chair Fischer, and Ranking Members Nelson and Booker: As you return to work following…
News Release
CEI Commends Congress for Supporting Self-Driving Car Technology
Self-driving cars can offer consumers massive safety and mobility benefits. The SELF DRIVE Act isn't perfect, but it's a big step in the right direction.
Blog
SELF DRIVE Act to Face House Floor Vote
Congress needs to move forward on self-driving cars.
Washington Examiner
No, Houston’s Regulation Policy Didn’t Make Hurricane Harvey Flooding Worse
When a major American city is under eight feet of water, it’s a distasteful time to play politics. That hasn’t stopped multiple media commentators looking…
Washington Examiner
Blame Harvey’s Torrential Rain, Not Development, for Massive Flooding, Planning Experts Say
Washington Examiner discusses development in Houston in regards to Hurrican Harvey with Marc Scribner. Houston’s relaxed approach to development should not be blamed for…
Investor's Business Daily
With Angry Politics Dominating, Trump’s Smart Infrastructure Reforms Go Almost Unnoticed
Investor’s Business Daily cites 10,000 Commandments while Talking about President Trump’s infrastructure plan. Reform: Lost amid all the political name-calling last week, President…
Blog
Conservative Air Traffic Control Reform Opponents Continue Campaign of Falsehoods
Recently, I noted how corporate jet lobby National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) had attempted to trot out “Hero of the Hudson” Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger…
Blog
Will Politicians Let Unsubsidized Bike Share Compete?
The problem with monopoly bike-share contracts is that they are designed to benefit everyone except consumers and taxpayers.
Deseret News
Task Force Considering New Revenue Models for Transportation Infrastructure
Deseret News covers Marc Scribner’s testimony before the Utah Transportation Governance and Funding Task Force. Utah lawmakers are trying to account for potential…
Blog
Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards Are Inefficient: Study
The federal government’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program is a highly inefficient method for reducing either motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions or U.S. oil…
Blog
EPA to Revise Greenhouse Gas Rules for Refurbished Trucks
EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt this week approved a petition to revise the agency’s heavy truck greenhouse gas emission standards rule.
Blog
More on ‘Sully’ and Private Jet Air Traffic Control Subsidies
Despite his status in public life, Sully does not represent the interests of American air travelers and is out of step with current airline pilots,…
Blog
What Is the Future of Surface Transportation Finance and Governance?
The fuel tax is becoming an increasingly unstable source of dedicated user revenue.
Salt Lake Tribune
Will Self-Driving Cars, Taxis Make Mass Transit Obsolete?
The Salt Lake Tribune covers Marc Scribner’s testimony before the Transportation Governance and Funding Task Force in Utah. Utah officials have long planned…
Comment
Testimony of Marc Scribner Before the Utah Transportation Governance and Funding Task Force
View Full Document as PDF Chairs Harper and Schultz, and members of the task force, thank you giving me the opportunity to…
The Hill
Senators Eye Ticket Fee to Overhaul Airports
The Hill covers the Senate’s attempt to raise the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap for airports and CEI’s endorsement of the measure. President…
Blog
‘Sully’ Wrong on Air Traffic Control Reform
We urge Sully to do his homework and to critically assess the false, anti-consumer claims he is parroting on behalf of the corporate jet lobby.
Ars Technica
You Still Cannot Vape on US Inbound, Outbound Flights
True Viral News covers CEI’s objection to a DOT ban on electronic cigarettes on flights. A divided federal appeals court is upholding a…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Airport Ticket Fee Boost Gets Lift in Congress
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution covers CEI’s support of increasing the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) cap. Airports including Atlanta’s are pushing for an increase in…
Blog
California Legislature Moves to Replace Federal Electric Vehicle Subsidies
Thanks to the federal government, purchasers of electric vehicles are given a $7,500 tax credit.
Blog
Time to Fix our Nation’s Aviation Systems
The time to systemically improve our nation’s aviation infrastructure is now.
Blog
House Energy & Commerce Committee Considers Self-Driving Vehicle Legislation
This bill improves on the definition of “automated driving system” in a manner that likely ensures its constitutionality.
Blog
Senate Appropriations Committee to Consider Airport Fee Increase
The Senate Appropriations Committee will consider a provision that would increase the airport passenger facility charge cap from $4.50 to $8.