Here are five things worth knowing today: 1. President Barack Obama will nominate Gregory Nadeau to head the Federal Highway Administration, the White House said Friday. Nadeau would replace Victor Mendez, who was named deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation in July. Bangor Daily News has more. 2. “Never.” That was Acting Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn’s response to the question, “When will tolls go away, as promised?” According to the Daily Herald, Blankenhorn said existing tolls are going to be the future of Illinois transportation funding.3. Connecticut is trying to come up with ways to raise money to operate its transportation system. The state is looking into selling more advertising and leasing naming rights as potential ways to raise a small portion of money. In addition, the state is also considering sponsorships of highway rests stops and other DOT services, WTNH reported. 4. The ATA’s executive vice president and chief of national advocacy will discuss the future of the U.S. trucking industry at a logistics workshop next month. The event is sponsored by Furniture/Today and the American Home Furnishings Alliance. Read more about the workshop in Furniture/Today. 5. The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) reported it will need approximately $80 billion over the next 10 years to address the needs of the state’s highway system. Caltrans said that is a projected funding shortfall of nearly $60 billion with available revenue.
