The growth of road freight and the more widespread use of private vehicles have made transportation the second area of priority for Beijing's energy conservationists.

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And in the case of the Department of Transportation and the FAA, top priority is safety.

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In fact, highway construction has often taken priority over building mass transportation systems.

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"It is our priority to ensure that America's transportation system is the safest in the world, " LaHood said.

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Louisiana's emergency operations plan called for the secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development to appoint a coordinator to organize and coordinate transportation services, maintain information about resources and allocate those resources to the highest-priority missions, according to documents obtained by CNN.

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For local transportation system managers, inspecting and ensuring the structural integrity of standing infrastructure is the top priority following a disaster.

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At the top of his list that includes tax breaks, visas for animal trainers and transportation to Disney theme parks, was a request for Congress to help his company's highest priority: HR2589, a bill to extend the soon-to-expire copyright on Mickey Mouse -- Disney's most precious asset.

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Our top priority should be strengthening the economy, and that includes preserving critical investments in things such as education, transportation and medical research that create jobs.

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