Apr 27, 2009 9:28 AM, By Sean Kilcarr, senior editor, Fleet Owner

WASHINGTON. Despite the ongoing and overwhelming effort to distribute billions in transportation infrastructure from President Obama's economic stimulus package, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stated here yesterday that that effort won't distract his agency from its "number one priority" going forward-- improving highway safety.

"Safety of our transportation system is always going to be our number priority at the DOT," he emphasized during speech during the Dept. of Transportation's annual "Bring Your Child to Work Day" activities. "That safety focus is across all modes of transportation – trains, buses, airplanes and trucks."

LaHood said he remains focused on the "immediate goal" of getting $28 billion in highway infrastructure funding, $12 billion in transit system monies and $8 billion to develop a national "high speed rail" network into the hands of state governors and municipalities as fast as possible.

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