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......
Despite Senate Transportation Action, House Stymies Progress
July 30, 2015
During the last two months, the Senate made good use of its time to craft a multi-year surface transportation bill with an increase in funding. As is often the way for Congress, it still came down to the wire. For over a week, the U.S. Senate has been in a mad dash to complete its......
Infrastructure That’s Changing the Game
July 14, 2015
Our nation’s aging infrastructure is facing big challenges. But congested roadways and overflowing sewers are only half the story. That’s why the American Society of Civil Engineers is releasing a new report about the innovative ways communities across the country are modernizing infrastructure. Infrastructure Game Changers highlights trends in energy, freight, transportation and water......
July 1 is a Green Light for OReGO Program
July 01, 2015
Contributed by Jason Magalen, P.E., M.ASCE, Oregon Section ASCE President 2014-2015 Oregon has a history of being a trailblazer when it comes to funding the cost of surface transportation. It was the first state to enact a fuel tax back in 1919 and didn’t stop there. Over the decades the state has completed a number of studies......
Can you hold your own on our infrastructure quiz? Let’s find out!
July 01, 2015
“Test your Infrastructure I.Q.” is a quiz to help you learn more about our nation’s infrastructure. The quiz is a fun, interactive tool and covers 16 categories of American infrastructure: energy, schools, public parks & recreation, transit, roads, rail, ports, inland waterways, bridges, aviation, wastewater, solid waste, levees, hazardous waste, drinking water and dams. If you......
Special Sessions Tackle State Infrastructure Needs
June 25, 2015
With summer upon us, many state legislators are finding themselves stuck in “summer school” in order to hammer out bills to address growing infrastructure needs. With the exception of a few states who meet year-round, most state legislatures will convene anywhere from 60 to 100 days. Unfortunately, this year many of states with short sessions......
Senate Committee Passes Surface Transportation Bill
June 24, 2015
Today, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) unanimously approved a six-year, $278 billion federal highway portion of the surface transportation authorization bill, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act. The DRIVE Act was unveiled earlier this week by EPW Committee leaders Chairman James Inhofe (R-OK), Ranking Member......
#FixTheTrustFund This Week: Keeping the U.S. from Driving into Potholes
June 22, 2015
The Highway Trust Fund (HTF) was set up in 1956 to fund the build and maintain a transportation network nationwide. Today, it is the national bank account for roads, bridges and transit that reimburses states for eligible projects. Inaction by Congress has put the Highway Trust Fund in jeopardy, and with a month left before......
June 19, 2015
This week the focus of Congressional tax committees was on how to properly fund our nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems. The federal Highway Trust Fund (HTF) is supported by current federal gasoline tax receipts, which have failed over time to keep up with current federal transportation spending. Therefore, the HTF is facing an $8 billion shortfall......
Win One (Gas Tax) for the Gipper
May 27, 2015
Summer reading lists of those in Washington, D.C. policy circles tend not to reflect titles that rank highly on the New York Times bestseller list. Case and point is a new work by Eno Center for Transportation senior fellow Jeff Davis, titled “Reagan Devolution: The Real Story of the 1982 Gas Tax Increase.” In the......