March 01, 2019
The national transportation research group TRIP released a new report on February 26, 2019, stating that deteriorated roads and bridges, congestion, and lack of desirable safety features are costing Alabama motorists $5.3 billion per year in extra vehicle operating costs, which is about $1,846 per driver, due to the cost of lost time waiting in......
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,......
Senate Committee Examines Our Surface Transportation Needs
November 30, 2018
Senators returned from Thanksgiving celebrations with their family and friends last week refreshed and ready to tackle the infrastructure problems and potential solutions facing the country – starting with a committee hearing on Capitol Hill. “Addressing America’s Surface Transportation Infrastructure Needs”, a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on......
Infrastructure Proves to be Priority on Election Night
November 07, 2018
Infrastructure investment was again a prevailing theme on ballots in many states this past election season. The midterm election poised an opportunity for states to create new revenue streams as well as secure existing ones. Let’s recap what happened with infrastructure initiatives on state ballots: California rejected a repeal of the 10-cent gas tax increase......
Minnesota Earns a “C” in First Infrastructure Report Card
October 10, 2018
On Tuesday, October 9, civil engineers gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol for the release of the first-ever Report Card for Minnesota’s Infrastructure. The Report Card gave the state’s infrastructure an overall GPA of “C” and evaluated and graded nine individual infrastructure categories: aviation, bridges, dams, drinking water, energy, ports, roads, transit, and wastewater.......
Mississippi Special Legislative Session Addresses Funding Need for Bridges and Roads
August 30, 2018
Earlier this year, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) had to close nearly 500 bridges to ensure the safety of the traveling public and another 1,742 were posted with specific weight limits due to structural deficiency. In addition, 28% of Mississippi’s roads are in poor condition, 12.30% of bridges are structurally deficient, and the condition......
Congressman Curbelo Introduces Bill to Tax Carbon
July 24, 2018
Earlier this week, Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) introduced H.R. 6463, the Modernizing America with Rebuilding to Kick-start the Economy of the Twenty-first Century with a Historic Infrastructure-Centered Expansion Act, or the “MARKET CHOICE Act.” This bill would amend the tax code to add tax equal to $24 per metric ton of carbon dioxide (CO2), with......
California Transportation Investment at Stake in November
June 26, 2018
California legislators voted in the spring of 2017 to raise the state’s gas tax for the first time in 23 years. Gov. Jerry Brown praised the decision and signed the bill, SB1, into law, ushering in $5 billion worth of revenue to pay for roads, bridges, and transit projects that would increase safety, ease congestion,......
Preparing Infrastructure for Autonomous Vehicles
June 14, 2018
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works held a hearing entitled “Innovation and America’s Infrastructure: Examining the Effects of Emerging Autonomous Technologies on America’s Roads and Bridges.” The hearing explored questions regarding the feasibility and importance of autonomous technologies as it relates to infrastructure. The Senators’ questions were fielded by a......
U.S. Department of Transportation Released Grant Awards
June 13, 2018
Last week, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) attended an invitation only event with U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao announcing the Department’s release of nearly $1.5 billion in grants to fund the Infrastructure for Rebuilding America or “INFRA” program for freight, highway, and bridge improvements created by the Fixing America’s......
