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President Obama has reappointed Deborah Hersman to a third term as chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said his department would formally propose eliminating a requirement that truck drivers file daily inspection reports when they do not find any problems with their vehicles, a decision he said would save the industry $1.7 billion a year.

The Department of Transportation said it is immediately making available $7 million in emergency relief funds for three Northeastern states to help cover the costs of repairing roads damaged by flooding this summer.

Michigan has proposed a sweeping plan under which private companies would take over work currently handled by the state’s transportation department — from operating rest stops and freeway lighting to replacing, repairing and maintaining bridges along interstate highways.

President Obama said Thursday he plans to roll out a new infrastructure plan in the coming weeks and take it to the country to create jobs and make the American economy more competitive globally.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) has vetoed a transportation funding bill, saying the state Legislature did not fulfill his request to offset a loss of tolls from the Massachusetts Turnpike, the Associated Press reported.

The Texas House early Monday approved almost $1 billion in funding for major transportation projects statewide, the Associated Press reported.

The trade association representing the nation’s ports called on the U.S. Coast Guard to reconsider several proposals concerning the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, largely due to recent criticism by the Government Accountability Office.