Part of the problem behind deteriorating infrastructure in some states could be the states’ spending habits, according to a new report. Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense found that states tend to focus their money into building new roads, rather than the upkeep of existing ones. The result is continued disrepair that in many cases will be even more expensive to fix the longer it’s put off. According to the report, the American Assn. of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that every $1 spent on road repair results in between $6 and $14 to Continue Reading

The first of President Obama’s six-year funding plan for the U.S. Department of Transportation is drawing high praise from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The $129 billion budget will address infrastructure needs, such as repairing bridges and repaving roads, while also supporting the development of electric buses and high-speed rail lines that both boost efficiency and reduce emissions. The administration’s six-year proposal would provide $336 billion, a 48 percent increase over the previous authorization, to rebuild roads and bridges, and $119 billion, a 128 percent increase over the Continue Reading

President Obama delivered a tall order in his State of the Union address a few weeks ago, by stating his intention to “redouble” infrastructure rebuilding efforts in the country. And as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prepares to draft a new highway authorization bill, some groups are lobbying for the government to think big picture instead of short-term. A new report from the National Transportation Policy Project suggests that ideally funding and long-term job growth are tied together in the solution to the country’s aging infrastructure that, if not addressed, will crumble Continue Reading

Don’t be surprised if larger trucks able to carry more freight become a reality sooner rather than later, according to speakers at the “Moving the World: The Future of Freight Transportation” conference held last week in Washington, D.C., especially with political attitudes and environmental concerns shifting in favor of such changes. Not only would the move reduce emissions as trucks make fewer trips, but also another positive is that by hauling more freight at a time, congestion on the roads would be alleviated. And that benefit would address the long-term prediction that freight is expected to double in the next 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

Been stuck in traffic lately? If you think it’s bad now, a new report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) says it’s only going to get worse in the next two decades. With 1.8 million more trucks expected to hit the highways in the next 10 years and for every 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

The first phase of infrastructure improvemets to boost efficiency of Canada’s trade with North America and Asia is underway. The development of a four-lane divided expressway and upgrades to Highway 75 around CentrePort Canada is just the beginning of a multi-pronged plan to move trade more effectively across the country and into the Asia Pacific Gateway, as well as the United States and Mexico. The project calls Continue Reading

In an effort to reduce surface transportation congestion, the U.S. Department of Transportation introduced a new initiative to boost cargo movement on America’s marine highways. Under the initiative, rivers and coastal routes that can efficiently move cargo will be identified, all with the benefit of bypassing congested roads and reducing Continue Reading

The Department of Transportation recieved requests for more than 40 times the amount of the $1.5 billion it doled out to TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants, but the government agency said those projects it OK’d would create jobs and spur lasting economic growth, reduce gridlock for Continue Reading