MY ETT News » infrastructure

Report: States misusing road funds

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:40:45 +0000

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
rebuild that road once it has deteriorated. And those numbers may only get worse. The report report adds that the American Society of Civil Engineers downgraded the quality of America’s roads to a D- in 2009, down from a D in 2008.

Better State Management Could Mean Better Roads, Report Says
According to a new report issued by Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense, most states are spending too much money on new road construction and road expansion and not enough on preserving the condition of the current infrastructure. The report, Repair Priorities: Transportation spending strategies to save taxpayer dollars and improve roads, states that the application of funds is leading to greater costs long-term while our roadways continue to deteriorate.

“Federal taxpayers have an enormous stake in seeing that our roads are kept in good condition,” said Erich W. Zimmermann, of Taxpayers for Common Sense, in a news release. “Billions of precious tax dollars were spent to build our highway system, and neglecting repair squanders that investment. Keeping our roads in good condition reduces taxpayers’ future liabilities.”

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Obama’s budget would provide $129B for DOT

Rhonda Flathman — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:48:59 +0000

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 previous authorization, in funding for sustainable and efficient transit options.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on Monday, Feb. 14, praised President Obama’s $129 billion budget for the U.S. Department of Transportation, saying that it would lay a new foundation for economic growth and competitiveness by rebuilding the nation’s transportation systems, enabling innovative solutions to transportation challenges and ensuring transportation safety for all Americans.

“President Obama’s budget for the Department of Transportation is a targeted investment in America’s economic success,” LaHood says. “If we’re going to win the future, we have to out-compete the rest of the world by moving people, goods and information more quickly and reliably than ever before. President Obama’s investments in rebuilding our crumbling roadways and runways, and modernizing our railways and bus systems, will help us do just that.”

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Report pitches long-term strategy to transportation

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 19:59:32 +0000

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
beneath the demands of expected growth in freight and increased traffic in the next quarter century–all of which can be addressed by a well conceived plan, according to the report’s authors.

Group Stresses Need for Long-Term Transportation Policy
As Rep. John Mica (R-FL) gets set to focus the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on drafting a new federal highway reauthorization bill, a new report from the National Transportation Policy Project warns against short-term thinking in favor of a more comprehensive long-term outlook for the bill.

“A sense of urgency remains regarding the need to provide direction for both short-term spending and longer-term transportation policy reform,” the report’s authors write.

Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of American Action Forum, and Martin Wachs, senior principal researcher, Rand Corp., argue in the report titled “Strengthening Connections Between Transportation Investments and Economic Growth,” that the bill, formally known as the Safe, Accountable, and Flexible Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), needs to take into consideration both funding mechanisms and long-term job growth rather than a short-term solution engaged to help to propel the economy out of its slow recovery from the Great Recession.

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Factors aligning to favor more “productive” trucks

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:04:10 +0000

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 25 years. But it’s not technology that’s holding these changes in check, says John Woodrooffe, director of the transportation safety analysis division at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). Countries from the United Kingdom to Mexico have implemented similar changes safely with little impact to infrastructure. The biggest hurdle in the United States is the political hold on policies that would affect this.

Concerns ranging from protecting the environment to traffic congestion and highway safety is generating support among policymakers for what’s being called more “productive” commercial trucks—those that are both larger and capable of carrying more freight.

“This is the rare occasion where concerns about the environment, fuel consumption and freight efficiency are all coming together at the same time,” said John Woodrooffe, director of the transportation safety analysis division at the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI).

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Demand for Tiger II funding overwhelms supply

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 15:51:52 +0000

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 also will give priority to projects that are expected to create and preserve jobs quickly and stimulate rapid increases in economic activity.

Transportation Funding Doled Out Based on Economic Impact Potential
Nearly 1,000 construction grant applications for more than $19 billion from all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia far exceeded the $600 million in Tiger (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II dollars the U.S. Department of Transportation can award for infrastructure projects ranging from highways and bridges to transit and ports. The DOT announcement followed the August deadline for submissions.

Last Feb. 17, DOT announced 51 grant awards from nearly 1,500 applications for Tiger I grants nationwide. The Tiger I requests were for almost $60 billion worth of projects, 40 times the $1.5 billion available under that program. “The wave of applications for both Tiger II and Tiger I dollars shows the backlog of needed infrastructure improvements and the desire for more flexible funds,” says U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This also shows the opportunities still before us to create jobs, to reduce congestion, make wise environmental choices and help generate lasting economic growth.”

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AASHTO: Freight growth leading to transportation crisis

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:30:42 +0000

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 two trucks adding one more in 20, drivers should anticipate more frustration on the road–not to mention higher costs for food and other goods, according to the report. To attempt to head off these problems, the AASHTO identified key projects in 30 states that would help improve efficiency and productivity.

The transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis, according to a new report by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. In 10 years, an additional 1.8 million trucks will be on the road, and in 20 years, for every two trucks today, another one will be added, resulting in more bottlenecks and higher costs for food, goods and manufacturing equipment, the report says.

AASHTO’s “Unlocking Freight” report analyzes America’s freight system and finds its highways, railroads, ports, waterways and airports require investments well beyond current levels to maintain – much less improve – their performance. AASHTO says the report identifies key projects in 30 states that would improve freight delivery and dependability, and offers a three-point plan to address what is needed to relieve freight congestion, generate jobs and improve productivity.

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FHWA announces $9.4M for historic bridges

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 19:19:00 +0000

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 oldest covered bridge in one Oregon county. Additionally, the FHWA will research ways to improve load testing and treatment for preserving and restoring historic bridges.

FHWA to Preserve Historic Bridges Through Funding, Research
The Federal Highway Administration announced more than $9.4 million in grants under the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program to rehabilitate and preserve 14 bridges in 10 states. The selection included the Blair Covered Bridge in Grafton County, N.H., which exemplifies one of the earliest examples of “pre-stressing” – a construction technique which allows a bridge to carry a greater load or span a greater distance – and the Layng Covered Bridge, one of the oldest covered bridges in Lane County, Ore.

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Road work for Canada’s inland port begins

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:11:21 +0000

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 for developing 20,000 acres in the northwest corner of Winnipeg into a thriving logistics hub, which includes the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and a modern network of highways and railways that connect to national and international trade gateways and corridors serving Asia, Europe and North America.

WINNIPEG — Construction is underway to improve road conditions around CentrePort Canada, the 20,000-acre inland port in Winnipeg.

The work includes the start of the first stage of development for the four-lane divided expressway known as CentrePort Canada Way and upgrades to Highway 75.

These improvements are designed provide better, more efficient highway access to CentrePort Canada and nearby assets including Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and the Canadian Pacific Weston Rail intermodal facility, and ensure that trade moves more effectively across Canada and into the Asia Pacific Gateway, as well as south through the Emerson border crossing, and into the United States and Mexico.

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Government to promote waterways to cut emissions, reduce highway traffic

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:33:07 +0000

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 greenhouse gas emissions. The Maritime Highway Initiative as it’s called has its roots in a 2007 law to establish a short sea transportation system. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced $58 million in grants for projects to support the startup or expansion of Marine Highways services.

DOT to Establish Maritime Highways to Reduce Congestion, Emissions

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday, April 7, unveiled a new initiative to move more cargo on the water rather than on U.S. highways. Under the “America’s Marine Highway” program, DOT’s Maritime Administration will help identify rivers and coastal routes that could carry cargo efficiently, bypassing congested roads around busy ports and reducing greenhouse gases.

“For too long, we’ve overlooked the economic and environmental benefits that our waterways and domestic seaports offer as a means of moving freight in this country,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told transportation professionals at the 7th annual North American Marine Highways and Logistics Conference in Baltimore. “Moving goods on the water has many advantages. It reduces air pollution. It can help reduce gridlock by getting trucks off our busy surface corridors.”

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DOT awards $1.5B in Tiger grants to 51 projects

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:55:47 +0000

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 the traveling public, and provide Americans with more safe, affordable and environmentally sustainable transportation choices. Projects funded will include improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities.

DOT Awards Grants to 51 Innovative Transportation Projects

One year to the day after President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Wednesday, Feb. 17, announced Recovery Act awards to states, tribal governments, cities, counties and transit agencies across the country to fund 51 innovative transportation projects.

The TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Discretionary Grant Program was included in the Recovery Act to spur a national competition for innovative multimodal and multijurisdictional transportation projects that promise significant economic and environmental benefits to an entire metropolitan area, a region or the nation. Projects funded with the $1.5 billion allocated in the Recovery Act include improvements to roads, bridges, rail, ports, transit and intermodal facilities.

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