Midwest Polar Vortex Impacts Critical Infrastructure
February 01, 2019
This past week, a blast of polar air covered much of the Midwest, closing schools and sending staff home early—causing businesses and restaurants to close shop before the end of the day. Piercing the Midwest with record low temperatures, infrastructure systems were also strained. Rail lines were snapped and gas-fed heaters ran alongside the rails......
ASCE Supports Public Financing Tools to Fund Key Infrastructure Projects
January 31, 2019
This month, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), an ASCE coalition partner and lead of the Public Finance Network (PFN), released a report entitled, “Understanding Financing Options Used for Public Infrastructure.” For well over a century, state and local governments and public entities across our nation have used tax-exempt bonds as a means to provide......
January 23, 2019
This afternoon, the Georgia Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released the 2019 Report Card for Georgia’s Infrastructure. Fourteen infrastructure categories were given an overall grade of “C+.” In 2014, the state received a cumulative GPA of a “C.” The following state’s transportation categories, bridges (“C+”), roads (“C+”), and transit (“D+”), saw grade increases......
Business Leaders Ready to Support Infrastructure
January 16, 2019
President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thomas Donohue delivered his annual State of American Business address last week and called for significant action to modernize our infrastructure as a vital tool that is integral to opportunity and must treated with great urgency. This announcement coincides with strong voter support – the latest......
President Signs Earthquake Program Reauthorization
December 20, 2018
On December 11th, President Trump signed S. 1768, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which reauthorizes the federal program to improve the nation’s earthquake preparedness for five years. The legislation is the first reauthorization of the NEHRP in 15 years and the program has operated without an authorization since October of 2009. In addition......
House Panel Examines Federal Energy Management
December 13, 2018
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy recently held a hearing entitled, “Public Private Partnerships (P3s) for Federal Energy Management.” Committee members discussed the current status, challenges, and opportunities for increasing energy efficiency savings and conservation in federal facilities and programs, which would be done through the primary U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)......
New Report Affirms Higher Gas Tax is Needed to Restore Our Interstates
December 07, 2018
On Thursday, December 6, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Committee for a Study of the Future Interstate Highway System, and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) released a congressionally mandated report, “Renewing the National Commitment to the Interstate Highway System: A Foundation for the Future.” Norman R. Augustine, formerly of Lockheed Martin Corporation,......
Montana Infrastructure Earns a “C”
December 06, 2018
Today, civil engineers in Montana released the 2018 Report Card for Montana’s Infrastructure at the State Capitol. Montana earned an overall grade of a “C,” meaning the state’s infrastructure systems are generally in mediocre condition. The Report Card graded ten categories: bridges, drinking water, dams, energy, rail, roads, schools, solid waste, stormwater, and wastewater. Rail......
ASCE Gives Thanks for Infrastructure Successes
November 21, 2018
It’s that time of the year again – turkey, time off work to be with family and friends, and traveling headaches due to crowded airports and traffic on the highways. This week, millions of people around the country are traveling by way of plane, car, train, or bus to visit their loved ones near and......
Congress Returns: ASCE’s Lame-Duck To-Do List
November 16, 2018
When Congress returns on Tuesday, November 21, they face a post-election “lame-duck” session, facing a funding deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown and other lingering issues. Additionally, both parties are conducting leadership elections this week, parts of which will linger into weeks ahead. Party leadership, new Committee Chairs, and Ranking Members will all need......
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