New Bridge Data Support Subpar 2017 Grade
April 13, 2020
The American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) has released its annual Bridge Report based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 2019 National Bridge Inventory. 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 is decreasing,......
State DOTs Request $50 Billion In Emergency Relief Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
April 08, 2020
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to take hold over our nation, state departments of transportation (DOT) are beginning to see a dramatic revenue loss as Americans stay in quarantine. To combat these losses, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) urged Congress this week to provide $50 billion in......
U.S. Department of Transportation Releases Automated Vehicle Policy Statement
April 01, 2020
From the horse carriage to the invention of the automobile and now the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), technology continues to redefine how we move within the built environment. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to address these fundamental concerns by providing policy statements which provide a framework on CAV technology development......
COVID-19 Relief Package Includes Win for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
March 27, 2020
The nation’s ports got a little love in the recently passed CARES Act, the colossal stimulus package that provides COVID-19 relief. In this legislation is a long-time ASCE priority: a provision that would unlock the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) and help ports that need dredging work. ASCE strongly advocated for the bipartisan Full Utilization......
COVID-19 Stimulus Relief Package Must Address Drinking Water, Wastewater
March 25, 2020
Safe and accessible drinking water. Properly treated wastewater. Reliable electricity that keeps the lights on. Ports and airports to move goods through the country and overseas safely. Highways, bridges, and public transportation to get people to the grocery, pharmacy, or doctor. These systems are part of the critical infrastructure that is imperative during the response......
Congress Looks to Protect Aviation Infrastructure During COVID-19
March 24, 2020
With negotiations in Congress underway over a third economic stimulus bill that would address the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus), lawmakers have moved to address key components of our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure. ASCE and its coalition partners have taken this action due to the $10 billion in airport infrastructure emergency funds needed to......
Congress Looks to Protect Transit and Passenger Rail During COVID-19
March 23, 2020
With negotiations in Congress underway over a third economic stimulus bill that would address the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 (coronavirus), lawmakers have moved to address key components of our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure, such as transit, which has been severely impacted. Transit agencies across the nation are currently experiencing unique challenges. The Port Authority......
Civil Engineers Outline Most Pressing Infrastructure Priorities for COVID-19 Relief
March 20, 2020
The following is a statement by Tom Smith, Executive Director, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) on infrastructure investment in further COVID-19 stimulus packages: “In this time of crisis, it is crucial that we not forget about the systems that keep our economy moving and are so critical to public health and safety, including transit,......
COVID -19 Hits Infrastructure Sectors
March 20, 2020
With the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic now impacting all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico, life as we know it has ground to a halt. This has cascading impacts on the infrastructure sectors that engineers work on – from declining infrastructure revenue sources, such as state DOT and transit agency budgets, to delayed projects across the......
Maryland’s Infrastructure Grades Unveiled – Virtually
March 19, 2020
Maryland’s infrastructure has certainly improved in the past few years, particularly its roads and bridges—which fare better than the national averages. In fact, bridges are among the best in the nation. However, challenges remain with aging systems and its dense population. Today, the Maryland Section of ASCE released the 2020 Report Card for Maryland’s Infrastructure......