Public-Private Partnerships, A Tool in the Toolbox
January 23, 2018
Partnerships between public agencies – federal, state, and local – and private companies are an increasingly popular infrastructure financing policy tool. As public budgets continue to be squeezed; public-private partnerships (P3s) allow planners and policymakers more breathing room to invest. P3s can be an effective financing mechanism through tools such as municipal and private activity......
States Are Back in Session and Infrastructure Is on the Agenda
January 22, 2018
All eyes are on the federal government as the country waits for President Trump to unveil his long-awaited infrastructure plan. In the meantime, we have seen state after state step up and do their part to fill in the investment gap. Some states, such as Oregon and California, have recently implemented gas taxes to fund......
U.S. Chamber: An Infrastructure Bill with a User Fee Increase is Our 2018 Priority
January 19, 2018
On January 18, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted business leaders, policymakers, association presidents, investors and workforce leaders for the “America’s Infrastructure Summit: Time to Modernize.” In conjunction with the Summit, the U.S. Chamber released a set of recommendations for policymakers to consider as they begin developing a comprehensive infrastructure package. These recommendations included the......
Federal Investment in Infrastructure: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship
January 12, 2018
America’s infrastructure network is the backbone of our economy. Every day, our roads, bridges, rails, inland waterways, transit systems and more move millions of people and goods from origin to destination. Infrastructure enables us to get to work, school, and leisure activities, and facilitates trade. The role infrastructure plays in supporting the economy and preserving......
Congressional ‘Problem Solvers’ Propose Infrastructure Solutions
January 11, 2018
On Wednesday, the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of 24 republican and 24 democrat U.S. House Members released “Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure,” a report detailing points of bipartisan consensus on policies to improve the nation’s infrastructure. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) led the Infrastructure Working Group that identified places of agreement......
Must Haves for a Federal Infrastructure Bill
January 10, 2018
The anticipation for the Administration’s Infrastructure Proposal is mounting, as reports indicate Republicans discussed it at a retreat at Camp David and the White House hosted a bipartisan meeting to share more about what they will release. To address our nation’s infrastructure needs, we need an additional $2 trillion worth of investment across all levels......
December 29, 2017
Between the release of the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, the implementation of a gas tax in states across the country, and waiting for President Trump’s highly-anticipated infrastructure plan, 2017 has been a full year for ASCE. Take a look at our 5 most read blog posts from 2017: 1. Legislation to Create National Infrastructure Bank Reintroduced......
Driving In A Winter Wonderland: States Prepare Infrastructure For Winter Conditions
December 22, 2017
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Or maybe you’re hoping to escape the cold this holiday season? No matter what your perfect holiday looks like, each winter we turn on our TVs and check our weather apps to see snow and hail coming down across America. These storms create poor visibility for drivers, icy roads, and......
The Transportation of Tomorrow: Self-Driving Vehicles
December 15, 2017
General Motors, Alphabet Inc., and other innovators are racing to the finish line with the latest in transportation technology: autonomous vehicles. This week Florida, Montana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota made headlines for showing interest in this new technology, with some cities heading to the streets for a test-drive. Across the country, we are seeing what was......
Legislation Advocates for Resilient Re-Building
December 13, 2017
The Safe Building Codes Act, which has been introduced in various of forms in the past several Congresses, has become particularly relevant because of the hazard events of 2017. The goal of the legislation is to amend the Stafford Act to enhance existing mitigation programs by encouraging states to voluntarily adopt and enforce nationally-recognized model......