SMART Infrastructure Act Puts Public Safety At Risk
January 09, 2020
Bipartisan legislation is hard to come by these days in Congress, which is why the Sustainable Municipal Access to Resilient Technology in Infrastructure, or SMART Act, may look good at first glance, however; this bill could do more harm than good in terms of moving America’s infrastructure into the 21st century. Engineers design, build, and......
Congress Averts Shutdown Approving Sweeping Spending Deal
December 20, 2019
In the midst of the political turmoil and tensions on Capitol Hill and the deadline to fund the government looms, Congress simultaneously reached a bipartisan $1.4 trillion spending package that funds the government through September 2020. This spending package includes core infrastructure programs for fiscal year (FY) 2020. Congressional leadership developed two ‘minibuses’ (H.R. 1865......
FCC Moves to Cut Vehicle Safety Airwaves For Faster Wi-Fi; ASCE Urges Agency to Rescind Decision
December 13, 2019
The Following Post is Authored by Blaine Leonard, 2010 ASCE President, and the Transportation Technology Engineer at the Utah Department of Transportation, where he is responsible for planning and deployment of connected and automated vehicles. Most of us will end up spending a good deal of time driving this holiday season, whether it’s traveling to......
Why It’s Time to Reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program
December 05, 2019
Across the nation, we’re seeing more power outages caused by a variety of factors: climate change, increasing storms, heat, and windstorms. That’s right – large amounts of wind can cause power outages, as seen recently in Idaho and Washington. Luckily, we have a program that was created in 2004 by Congress after a five-year effort......
FCC Proposes Opening Up Auto Airwaves, Threat to Driver Safety
November 22, 2019
We may be getting excited about the holiday season, seeing family, and time off from work, but here’s what we are not looking forward to: the inevitable bumper-to-bumper traffic on the eve of Thanksgiving—and unfortunately, the car accidents on the road, keeping us stuck in traffic. These accidents and congestion prevent us from getting back......
November 21, 2019
State departments of transportation (DOT) might be able to breathe easier this weekend. Thanks to the efforts of ASCE members and government relations staff, the Society was successful in the repeal of the $7.6 billion rescission, or cancellation, of unobligated highway contract authority under the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) scheduled to take effect on July......
Construction Innovation Highlighted on Capitol Hill
November 21, 2019
Advanced digital construction methods can save money and create many opportunities for small businesses. It’s an exciting time for engineers, architects, and project managers as they look at new ways to build bridges, buildings, and other structures. New data and using digital models have caused construction sites to become safer and more efficient. However, only......
November 21, 2019
We rely on our infrastructure every day, but on Thanksgiving, it’s especially clear that our built systems play a critical role in supporting or lives. As you head to the airport, board a train, or get behind the wheel, consider the effort required to maintain and enhance the infrastructure that gets us to and from......
Proposal to Improve Bridge Inspection Program Announced
November 15, 2019
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently issued a proposal to the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) that would improve oversight of U.S. bridge inspections. The FHWA proposal addresses requirements set by the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Offering states the varying inspection methods in determining inspection intervals for bridges, each......
Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure Near Failing with D- GPA
November 13, 2019
In its inaugural Report Card for Puerto Rico’s Infrastructure, the ASCE Puerto Rico Section announced a near failing grade of a ‘D-‘ for the island’s infrastructure. The grades were announced in a press conference held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday, November 12. The Report Card graded eight categories of infrastructure: bridges (D+), dams......
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