Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Vol. 1, No. 10 ● September 20, 2007
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the News Funding Issues
Safety Issues
Innovations Calendar
Economy
eRoadPro Index
U.S. Department of Transportation names six Interstates as "Corridors of the Future The U.S. Department of Transportation announced six interstate routes that will be the first to participate in a new federal initiative to develop multistate corridors to help reduce congestion. The selected corridors carry 22.7 percent of the nation's daily interstate travel. To implement their development plans, I-95 from Florida to the Canadian border will receive $21.8 million; I-70 in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio will receive $5 million; I-15 in Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California will receive $15 million; I-5 in California, Oregon and Washington will receive $15 million; I-10 from California to Florida will receive $8.6 million; and I-69 from Texas to Michigan will receive $800,000. Full Story |
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James McEvoy named new president/CEO of Wirtgen America Current president/CEO Stuart W. Murray announced that James McEvoy has been named president and CEO of Wirtgen America, Inc., effective Sept. 1, 2007. On that date, Murray took on new responsibility as president and chairman of Wirtgen, Inc., a holding company for all Wirtgen businesses in North America, and will focus on long-range opportunities for growth and special projects. Jeff Wiley, vice president of sales and marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president, sales and marketing, of Wirtgen America, and reports to McEvoy. Jan Schmidt is the new vice president, product support systems, for Wirtgen Group. Scott Lyons is product support manager. Former manager of marketing and facilities/Wirtgen advertising, Connie Murray, is retiring. Full Story
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Washington State DOT crews work to help fish passage
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Build America bonds proposal would raise $50 billion for transportation infrastructure needs Stephen E. Sandherr, chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America joined U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and John Thune (R-SD) to introduce Build America bonds legislation that would raise $50 billion over six years for roads, rails, bridges, water and other critical infrastructure projects. The proposed legislation would establish a commission to provide funding for "qualified projects" such as capital improvements to transportation improvement projects proposed by a state. The funding would provide a one-time boost in highway and transit funding above the amount the Highway Trust Fund currently supports. Full Story
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AGC supports user-fee increase to counter growing infrastructure crisis The Associated General Contractors of America has submitted a statement of support for the National Highway System Bridge Reconstruction Initiative that includes a potential increase to the federal excise on gasoline, which continues to be the most reliable, fair and easily administered user fee. Full Story
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U.S. releases additional $20 million to Mississippi to repair Hurricane Katrina-damaged highways Mississippi is receiving an additional $20 million in federal emergency relief funds for restoring local and county roads as part of the ongoing repairs to damaged highways and bridges from Hurricane Katrina. This installment of federal transportation dollars raises the amount Mississippi has received since the 2005 storm to rebuild its highway system to more than $1 billion. Full Story |
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U.S. announces more than $128 million in emergency repair funds More than $128 million in additional emergency relief funds is now available to pay for repairs to roads and bridges damaged by a variety of natural and other emergencies. The funds will go to seven states and other federal facilities, like parkways, to pay for damages caused by storms, floodings and earthquakes. Full Story
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Private investment vital to improve public infrastructure: new report Public infrastructure around the world urgently requires investment to make necessary safety repairs and maintenance. The private sector could provide a major part of the solution for governments struggling to fund these projects, according to Investing in Global Infrastructure 2007: An Emerging Asset Class, a report released by professional services provider Ernst & Young. The huge capital demands of large-scale infrastructure projects around the world - running into the trillions of U.S. dollars over the next decade - will likely create intense competition among governments to attract private investment. The report estimates private sources could account for 10% to 15% (US$240 billion to US$360 billion) of the capital needed for infrastructure projects annually worldwide. Full Story
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California allocates $674 million in new transportation funding The total value of the 35 transportation projects approved by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) is $674 million, of which $225 million is funded from Proposition 1B, $60 million from Proposition 42, and $389 million from the Public Transportation Account. The CTC had deferred action at its July meeting on these projects, pending approval of the 2007-08 state budget. Full Story
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State of New Jersey awards $78.75 million to counties The New Jersey Department of Transportation will award $78.75 million in county aid to fund street improvement, rehabilitation and safety projects in all 21 New Jersey counties. The funds will provide infrastructure improvements, property tax relief, new job opportunities and a better quality of life for New Jersey residents. Full Story
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Interested bidders invited to submit qualifications to operate Pennsylvania Turnpike In a move that could open the door to additional revenue to meet the state’s transportation infrastructure needs, a request for qualifications for potential bidders on a concession agreement to operate the Pennsylvania Turnpike will be posted online and circulated to the financial community and other interested parties. Potential bidders are required to respond to the RFQ by October 1. Full Story
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Tennessee announces $12 million in enhancement grants $12 million in transportation enhancement grants have been awarded to 32 Tennessee communities and one state university. The grants will assist local communities with the development of a variety of projects designed to enhance the state’s transportation infrastructure. Transportation enhancement grants are made possible through a federally-funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Full Story |
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ARTBA supports Oberstar bridge plan Repairing the nation’s bridges is the first critical step toward achieving the goal of a comprehensive national surface transportation program, the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) told a congressional panel September 5. Full Story
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Report finds New York state deck truss bridges are safe The New York State Bridge Task Force, chaired by the State Department of Transportation, has submitted a report finding that deck truss bridges throughout the state generally are structurally sound. After the completion of visual inspections on all 49 deck truss bridges in New York state, the report verified that there are no serious problems; however, five of the bridges had structural issues that require further investigation, including one that requires action within the next six weeks. Full Story |
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Crushed returned concrete as aggregates for new concrete - final report now available A RMC Research & Education Foundation report evaluates the effects of the use of crushed concrete aggregate (CCA) on fresh and hardened concrete properties by comparing these properties to concretes containing virgin aggregates. The report includes guidance for ready-mixed concrete producers on a methodology for the appropriate use of CCA in concrete. It is estimated that the ready-mixed concrete industry could save approximately $300 million annually through the use of crushed returned concrete as aggregates, and solve an important environmental issue at the same time. Full Story |
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Minnesota DOT asks farmers to leave some corn rows standing for winter As summer temperatures linger, Minnesotans may find it difficult to think of winter, let alone prepare for it. The Minnesota Department of Transportation, however, encourages farmers to consider leaving standing cornstalks in their fields this fall to minimize the amount of blowing snow across rural highways this winter. Mn/DOT will pay farmers $1.50 more than the current price for corn. Mn/DOT uses standing cornstalks as snow fences to reduce snowdrifts on areas known for having consistent blowing and drifting problems. Full Story
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I-70 truck-only lanes to be studied in Missouri Rebuilding Interstate 70 across Missouri to include truck-only lanes will be studied as part of a new federal program. The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that the interstate is among six nationwide in its "Corridors Of The Future" program that will look at innovative ways to reduce congestion and improve freight delivery. The program calls for the Interstate 70 corridor through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio to add four dedicated truck lanes. Full Story
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South Dakota DOT seeks nominations for Transportation Hall of Honor Nominations for the South Dakota Transportation Hall of Honor, which recognizes individuals who have made a lasting or valuable contribution to the state’s air, highway or rail transportation, are due September 28. All nominees should have retired for at least one year from the job in which the contribution was made. Full Story |
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ARTBA National Convention October 9-12, 2007 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Get connected with great people, great ideas, innovations and solutions while getting up to speed on the “Critical Commerce Corridors” (3C) proposal. Plus, discover how emerging technologies can help move America faster. http://www.artbanationalconvention.org National Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety Conference October 9-12, 2007
— Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Connecting
national transportation leaders with people at all levels of
government and private industry to find solutions to help improve
the safe movement of traffic under many different roadway
conditions. Intertraffic North America 2007 October 10-12, 2007 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL: The world's largest and most influential trade show brand for infrastructure, traffic management, traffic safety and parking is returning to North America for its second edition. http://www.northamerica.intertraffic.com Virginia's Commonwealth Transportation Board sets public meetings Nine public meetings will be held throughout
Virginia this fall so that citizens may review and comment on
potential (candidate) transportation projects and programs to be
included in the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s (CTB) Six-Year
Improvement Program for Fiscal Years 2009-2014. CTB members will
host the meetings, and representatives of the Virginia Department of
Transportation and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public
Transportation will be present to provide information and answer
questions. Candidate projects include interstate highway, primary
road, rail, bicycle, pedestrian and public transportation
initiatives. HMA Energy and Recycling Symposium October 22-23 — Austin, TX: Volatility in energy costs, uncertainty in the supply streams for asphalt cement and aggregates, and the need to deliver high-quality pavements at reasonable cost are among the challenges currently faced by highway agencies and the industry. To help meet these challenges, the National Asphalt Pavement Association is hosting an HMA Energy and Recycling Symposium. Advance registration for the symposium is $250 through October 1 and $300 thereafter. On-site registration is $350. For questions, contact Carol Metzger, NAPA’s Assistant Meeting Planner, at 301-731-4748. http://www.hotmix.org National Partnership for Highway Quality Highway Quality Conference November 13-14, 2007 — San Diego, CA: Special presentations will explore Private Sector Views of Quality; Public Sector Views of Quality; Return on State Quality Partnerships; Measuring Project Quality from A Customer Viewpoint; Innovative Workforce Training Concepts; Announcement of NPHQ’s 2007 National Achievement Award winners; and Award Winners/Success Stories. Questions? Contact NPHQ’s Executive Director Bob Templeton at (512) 301-9899; email btemplenphq@aol.com. http://www.nphq.org Governors Highway Safety
Association (GHSA) 2007 Annual Meeting American Council of
Engineering Companies (ACEC) Fall Conference National Roadside Vegetation
Management Association (NRVMA) Annual Meeting |
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For our full events calendar, go to http://www.betterroads.com/calendar |
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Manufacturing and Trade Inventories and Sales U.S. total business sales for July were $1,123.8 billion, up 1.1% from last month. Month-end inventories were $1,419.0 billion, up 0.5% from last month. 9/14/07 U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services The nation’s international deficit in goods and services decreased to $59.2 billion in July from $59.4 billion (revised) in June, as exports increased more than imports. 9/11/07 Quarterly Financial Report - Manufacturing, Mining and Trade Manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits averaged 8.4 cents per dollar of sales for the second quarter of 2007, up 0.2 (+/- 0.1) cents from the average of 8.2 cents of the first quarter of 2007. 9/10/07 Construction Spending Total construction activity for July 2007 ($1,169.1 billion) was 0.4 percent below the revised June 2007 ($1,173.2 billion) figure. For more details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending. 9/4/07 Economy At A Glance: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm |
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Compiled by Larry Green, news editor, Better Roads. To contact Larry about the newsletter content, send e-mail to . Interested in being a sponsor of our newsletter? Contact your sales representative for more information. Click here for list of contacts.
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September 2007 Issue Highlights:
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WSDOT
and contractor Tri-State Construction have been working through the
summer season to eliminate barriers to fish passage on Swamp Creek
and Catherine Creek. Some culverts under SR 92, I-5 and I-405 have
design flaws that make it harder for fish to travel through them.
