U.S. Department of Transportation Released Grant Awards
June 13, 2018
Last week, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) attended an invitation only event with U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao announcing the Department’s release of nearly $1.5 billion in grants to fund the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or “INFRA” program for freight, highway, and bridge improvements created by the Fixing America’s......
States Wrap Up Legislative Sessions For 2018
June 07, 2018
As state legislatures across the country are wrapping up their sessions for 2018, lawmakers in several states acted this year to make investments to address their states’ infrastructure needs. In Colorado, Governor John Hickenlooper (D) signed a major bill to fund transportation infrastructure projects. The legislation calls for periodic transfers from the state’s general fund......
ASCE Helps to Push Missouri One Step Closer to New Transportation Revenue
May 24, 2018
Over the past five years, 26 states and the District of Columbia have raised new revenue to support their transportation systems. Last week, Missouri took a step closer to being state no. 27, when a 10-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase cleared the state legislature. The proposal now goes to the voters for approval on the November......
ASCE Gives Missouri Another C-
April 26, 2018
The 2018 Report Card for Missouri’s Infrastructure was released today and gave the state an overall grade of a “C-.” Eleven categories of infrastructure were assessed by ASCE’s Kansas City Section, with assistance from the St. Louis Section. Of the 11 categories, six were in mediocre condition and five were in poor condition. Aviation, bridges,......
This Week in Infrastructure: Gas Taxes & FTA Bus Grants
April 13, 2018
The start of pothole season is here, and it is clear that states are gearing up to take on the challenges that follow winter. To start the season of construction off right and in the weeks leading up to Infrastructure Week, states are reminding drivers about safe work zone practices through National Work Zone Awareness......
Congress Hosts Series of Disaster Recovery Hearings
April 12, 2018
This week Congress held multiple hearings offering status updates on post-disaster recovery efforts and lessons learned after 2017’s deadly hurricane season. It started off with a field hearing held by the House Committee on Homeland Security entitled “Houston Strong: Hurricane Harvey Lessons Learned and the Path Forward.” Witnesses included officials from the U.S. Army Corps......
Analysis of Federal Bridge Data Confirms ASCE Report Card Bridge Grade
February 02, 2018
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) released its Bridge Report based on the data in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 2017 National Bridge Inventory database. ARTBA’s Bridge Report confirms the “C+” grade given in ASCE’s 2017 Infrastructure Report Card. Both reports illustrate that while the overall number of bridges deemed structurally deficient......
President’s State of Union Lays Out Infrastructure Vision
January 31, 2018
President Trump unveiled his much-anticipated infrastructure plan for the nation in his first State of the Union address last night, asking Congress to produce a bipartisan package that generates at least $1.5 trillion in investment. He put an emphasis on need for federal dollars to be leveraged by state and local government funding, as well......
Engineers Encouraged by President’s Focus on Infrastructure During State of Union Address
January 30, 2018
The following is a statement by Kristina Swallow, PE, President, American Society of Civil Engineers on President Trump’s State of the Union address to Congress on Jan. 30, 2018: “A year into his Presidency, the American Society of Civil Engineers is pleased that President Trump has focused national attention on improving our roads, bridges, and......
Potholes: On the Street and in the News
January 26, 2018
Despite ringing in the New Year with a bomb cyclone, this January has been unusually warm across the country. We don’t need to turn to our Weather App to know that spring will be here before we know it. Instead, we can turn to the roads, where potholes are making their yearly pre-spring appearance thanks......