Using the latest record numbers of vehicle miles traveled from the Department of Transportation, Secretary Ray LaHood emphasized the need for repairing the nation’s deficient roads and bridges. In 2010, Americans travelled three trillion miles, the most since 2007 and the third-highest ever recorded. The most traveled areas include the South Gulf area, a bloc of eight states ranging from Texas to Kentucky, which showed the greatest regional increase in Continue Reading

Just as happened in the first round of infrastructure funding requests, the demand of requests far exceeded the supply. Almost 1,000 applications for $19 billion of projects from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia exceeded the $600 million available, proof according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood that there is a serious need for highway improvements. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants will be awarded based on potential economic impact, energy efficiency and safety improvements offered. DOT says it Continue Reading

With federal funds for road repairs being sliced from state budgets, transportation and government officials are being forced to get creative in order to keep infrastructure viable and safe. Some states, like Pennsylvania, are angling to raise taxes on oil companies doing business there, as well as to increase a variety of license, registration and vehicle fees to raise the $1 billion to help repair the state’s 5,646 structurally deficient bridges and nearly 7,000 miles of highway in “poor” condition. Other states, like Arizona, are lobbying to open up rest areas to commercial businesses to help Continue Reading

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is taking steps to preserve historic bridges in the United States. The first of these is $9.4 million in grants to help rehabilitate and preserve 14 bridges in 10 states. Bridges tapped by the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program range from unique construction techniques to the Continue Reading