Highway Fund in Trouble by November 20th
September 23, 2015
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recently announced that the Highway Account of the federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) will become insolvent by November 20, 2015 if Congress fails to provide additional revenue. The HTF also has a Transit Account that will become insolvent by May 27, 2016. USDOT deems the Highway Account to......
Congress returns, infrastructure needs pile on
September 11, 2015
Congress is back in session and has a lot of approaching deadlines, including both the surface transportation reauthorization and federal aviation administration reauthorization about to expire. With Labor Day and summer traffic behind us it is critical for Congress to invest in our surface transportation needs so that our nation’s roads don’t fall into even......
Secretary Foxx to Congress: Raise Your Sights
September 09, 2015
In yet another sign that summer is officially over, members of Congress have returned to Washington, D.C. to conduct their fall business. Greeting them with a clear message was U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx. “I urge [Congress] to look at the needs of their constituents – to focus on results, and not......
The High Cost of Underinvestment
September 04, 2015
It’s the last (unofficial) weekend of summer, and the Labor Day holiday traffic tends to shine a spotlight on the need to improve our transportation infrastructure. With Congress back in session on Tuesday, hopefully they take note of the ways our aging transportation network is holding us back. A predicted 35.5 million U.S. residents will......
Congress’ Infrastructure To Do List for Fall
September 03, 2015
Summer comes to an end next week as Congress returns to the Capitol after a five-week recess. Deadlines will be the theme this fall, with the first being the Oct. 1 funding deadline to keep the government open. The second important deadline for ASCE is Oct. 29, when MAP-21, the surface transportation bill, expires. With......
#Game Changer Trend – Accelerated Bridge Construction
September 02, 2015
Accelerated bridge construction We all know the feeling of frustration when traffic slows to a crawl as you see the telltale signs of traffic cones and reduced lanes up ahead. Large bridge replacement or rehabilitation projects mean that disruptive construction zones can last months into years. Accelerated bridge construction is a design and......
Summer days driftin’ away, infrastructure needs remain
August 28, 2015
This weekend’s 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is an enduring reminder of the importance of infrastructure, and the need for increased investment to properly maintain it. As the anniversary neared, many media outlets recounted the damages of Katrina in light of the need for a sound flood protection plan in many coastal cities. ASCE’s Managing......
States DIY to Fix Infrastructure
August 21, 2015
In these last weeks of August, while Congress is on recess, there has been a great deal of dialogue and action among states regarding their need to fund their local transportation needs. This week, AP released an article expressing states’ reactions to the lack of federal funding for state transportation projects. Several states are taking......
#GameChanger Trend – Next Generation Pavement
August 19, 2015
The United States has more than two million miles of paved roads. Maintenance is a continual issue for local and state transportation agencies, but new pavements being developed are more sustainable, less costly, and yield other benefits such as capturing stormwater runoff. There are several innovative pavement types that are gaining traction, including: ......
Congress needs a touchdown; no more field goals!
August 14, 2015
Football season has unofficially launched, and hopefully from now on punts will remain on the field and outside of Congress. While Congress is back home for summer recess, many states are expressing their opinions about the lack of federal funding as more infrastructure needs rise to the surface. In Nebraska, Senator Deb Fischer and Transportation......