(AP/Getty Images)
A Bill to Reauthorize the FAA
At the same time, the air traffic control system's technology is sorely outdated. Many say the antiquated system is a factor in flight delays. But a bill to reauthorize the FAA and direct new funding for those improvements has been stalled in Congress. The measure expired in 2007 and the FAA has been running on temporary extensions since. Obama has said he will work with Congress to modernize the air traffic control system.
A New Era in Air Traffic Control
Meantime, air traffic controllers hired under President Ronald Reagan are retiring, leaving a gap officials are quickly trying to fill. While scrambling to hire and train new controllers, the controller's union is also locked in a contract fight with the FAA. In 2006, Obama introduced a bill that supported air traffic controllers in their negotiations with the FAA.
Some also worry controllers new to the job could make potentially catastrophic mistakes. While aviation has been remarkably safe in recent years, the No. 1 one concern in the aviation community remains a runway incursion. The FAA has taken steps during the past two years to begin to address the issue.
"One of the most pressing issues at DOT is labor peace with [the National Air Traffic Controller's Association]," a former transportation official told ABC News on Wednesday, explaining there is concern about whether LaHood would make that a top priority.
The Struggling Airline Business
This year the airlines imposed a host of new fees on travelers, relying on their customers to help them survive high oil prices. Though oil prices are down, the carriers have not removed the fees for everything from a second checked bag to a soda in flight. In the face of a struggling airline business, mergers are expected to be less likely in an Obama administration than they were under Bush. Obama has also said he will limit foreign ownership of U.S. airlines, a move labor groups fear could mean a loss of jobs.
Fuel Efficient Vehicles
With consumers shifting to smaller cars and trying to cut spending in the tight economy, making cars and trucks more fuel efficient is also expected to remain a top priority in the years ahead. For passenger cars, Peters has proposed increasing required fuel economy standards to 35.7 miles per gallon by 2015. For light trucks, DOT has proposed increasing fuel economy to 28.6 miles per gallon in the same period. Peters has also proposed incentives for companies that go above and beyond the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, known as CAFE standards. Obama has said it is one of his goals to put 1 million plug-in hybrid vehicles on road by 2015.
FAA's Airline Inspections
The agency that oversees the airlines came under fire this year when maintenance lapses at Southwest Airlines sparked a series of questions about how the FAA inspects the airlines to ensure they're safe for travelers. Ensuring the FAA does not get too cozy with the industry it regulates will continue to be a challenge for the next administration.
Congestion in the Skies
To reduce congestion in air travel, the Department of Transportation has plans to auction slots at New York-area airports, a hub where many of the country's delays originate. The plan for a slot auction is likely to face tough challenges under an Obama administration. The Bush administration has also pushed congestion pricing, a model through which people pay more to travel during peak hours to try to discourage travel during the busiest times.
Number of DOT Positions for Political Appointees
There are 105 political positions up for grabs at the Department of Transportation, 10 of which are at the FAA. Of the 10 political positions at the FAA, the top two are the FAA administrator and the deputy administrator.
At NHTSA, there are five political appointees, including the administrator, the deputy administrator, head of government affairs, head public affairs, and chief counsel.
ABC News' Sunlen Miller and George Stephanopoulos contributed to this report.
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