In the News

Annual study shows traffic congestion worsening in large and small cities

Traffic congestion continues to worsen in American cities of all sizes, creating a $78 billion annual drain on the U.S. economy in the form of 4.2 billion lost hours and 2.9 billion gallons of wasted fuel—that's 105 million weeks of vacation and 58 fully-loaded supertankers. These are among the key findings of the Texas Transportation Institute's 2007 Urban Mobility Report.   Full Story

TRIP: Relieving congestion will require comprehensive set of transportation strategies

Alleviating increased traffic congestion, as detailed in the Texas Transportation Institute’s new urban mobility report, will require that regions adopt comprehensive approaches to congestion that include measurable congestion-reduction targets and a mechanism for insuring that investments are adequate and are steered toward the most productive strategies for reducing congestion.  Full Story

Alaska's "Bridge to Nowhere" abandoned

Some called it a bridge to the future. Others called it the bridge to nowhere. Alaska decided the bridge really was going nowhere, officially abandoning the project in Ketchikan that became a national symbol of federal pork-barrel spending. While the move closes a chapter that has brought the state reams of ridicule, it also leaves open wounds in a community that fought for decades to get federal help. The $398 million bridge would have connected Ketchikan, on one island in southeastern Alaska, to its airport on another nearby island.   Full Story

AASHTO awarded SAFETEA-LU funding for Environmental Excellence Center

AASHTO competed for and has been awarded $3.1 million in SAFETEA-LU funding over the next three years for a Center for Environmental Excellence. The Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) provides that the goal of the center is "To provide technical assistance, information sharing of best practices, and training in the use of tools and decision-making processes that can assist states in planning and delivering environmentally sound surface transportation projects."  Full Story

Small PennDOT sign shop keeps drivers headed in right direction

They are everywhere … stop signs, yield signs, deer crossing signs and many other types of highway signs helping to guide drivers. PennDOT replaces between 80,000 and 90,000 highway signs every year and each one is produced by a 15-person shop in Harrisburg.  Full Story

New TxDOT Executive Director selected

Amadeo Saenz, a transportation engineer with 29 years state experience, including leadership roles in Pharr and Austin, is the new executive director of the Texas Department of Transportation, becoming the first Hispanic to head the agency in its 90-year history. Saenz, 51, was named to the state’s top transportation position today by the Texas Transportation Commission. He becomes the 19th person to head the transportation agency since it was created in 1917.  Full Story

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Funding Issues

Delaware increases tolls, motor vehicle fees

The increases will help provide additional revenues to fund a transportation program needed to maintain existing infrastructure. The last major increase to Delaware Department of Transportation revenues was in 1995. Since then the demand for improvements and the cost of delivering services and projects has increased significantly. As a result, revenues have not kept pace with inflation.   Full Story

California transportation commission allocates $625 million in new transportation funding

The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $625 million in new transportation funding for 114 projects throughout the state, including $123 million from Proposition 1B, the voter-approved transportation bond. The remaining funding allocated comes from the State Transportation Improvement Program, the State Highway Operation and Protection Program, and the Traffic Congestion Relief Program.  Full Story

Senate finance committee approves highway trust fund fix

The Senate Finance Committee on Sept. 21 unanimously approved legislation, “The American Infrastructure Investment and Improvement Act,” that will generate new revenues for the Highway Trust Fund’s (HTF) Highway Account to ensure the SAFETEA-LU investment commitments are fulfilled.   Full Story

Kansas transportation projects jeopardized by potential federal funding shortfall

In anticipation of a potential significant shortfall in the federal Highway Trust Fund in fiscal year 2009, Kansas Department of Transportation leaders have begun making contingency plans. Although no changes have been made in the scope or schedule of projects remaining to be constructed under the 10-year 1999 Comprehensive Transportation Program, a significant cut in federal funds could result in projects being delayed or eliminated.  Full Story

Maryland plans to invest $400 million in Transportation Trust Fund

Governor Martin O'Malley outlined plans to increase the state's corporate income tax rate by 1%, to make higher education more affordable for Maryland's working class families and to address the state's $40 billion in unmet transportation needs.  Full Story

Mn/DOT announces apparent bid winner for I-35W Bridge project

The Minnesota Department of Transportation today selected Flatiron Constructors, Inc./Manson Construction, a joint venture, as the apparent bid winner to build the Interstate 35W replacement bridge as a design-build project.

Flatiron, headquartered in Longmont, Colorado, and Manson, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, were selected over three other companies, including Ames/Lunda, and C.S McCrossan and Walsh Construction/American Bridge.  Full Story

North Carolina Transportation Board considers more than $85 million in highway contracts

The N.C. Board of Transportation considered awarding contracts totaling $85.2 million for highway improvement projects in 23 counties at its meeting Thursday, October 4, in Raleigh. The contracts are for projects in Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Hertford, Jackson, Lenoir, Martin, Moore, Nash, Pitt, Randolph, Robeson, Rowan, Swain, Tyrrell and Wake counties.  Full Story

Virginia authorized to accelerate $33.9 million in federal transportation spending

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has received an additional $33.9 million in federal transportation spending authority reallocated to Virginia from other states. VDOT and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will allocate this additional spending to fund $8.2 million in congestion-management projects in the Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia areas, $11.2 million in transit projects statewide and $14.4 million for bridge projects around the commonwealth. Each September, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reviews all states’ ability to spend allocated federal highway dollars as the federal fiscal year draws to a close. States that have not obligated their federal dollars must return that spending authority to FHWA. That authority is then redistributed to states that have obligated all of their federal allocations and have additional eligible projects ready to move forward.  Full Story

Safety Issues

Studded snow tires legal in Idaho until April 30

Motorists traveling on Idaho highways can use studded tires to improve vehicle handling. The use of studded tires is legal from Oct. 1 through April 30. While it is legal to use the tires, the transportation department advises against it unless extreme conditions warrant. Studded tires are snow tires with small metal cleats embedded in the tread. Driving on studded tires may cause undue wear on bare roadways. All-season tires with good tread or "studless" tires are good alternatives for most winter driving conditions.  Full Story

Innovations

New Missouri tools give motorists the Driving Edge

Permanent electronic message boards, an online traveler information map and around-the-clock customer service are three new tools the Missouri Department of Transportation is offering to help motorists get where they're going quickly and safely.  The resources are part of MoDOT's new Driving Edge initiative, an umbrella program that provides highway information before travel, along the way and around the clock. Under the Driving Edge, 48 electronic message boards have been installed along Interstates 70 and 44 to inform motorists about road closings, accidents, hazardous road conditions and even Amber Alerts on missing children.  Full Story

Oregon DOT targets small businesses with statewide contracting program

The Oregon Department of Transportation is launching a program aimed at increasing contracting opportunities for Oregon small businesses. Successfully piloted in the Portland metropolitan area, the Small Contracting Program for Professional and Technical Services is being launched statewide. The Small Contracting Program simplifies the procurement process so that firms can register to be selected as prime consultants for ODOT contracts valued at $74,990 or less annually. Once a small business has completed the RFQ process, it is added to a list of firms eligible to be selected for agency work in a variety of disciplines.   Full Story

TxDOT website receives technology award

In September, the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and practices in state and local government, awarded TxDOT one of its 2007 Digital Government Achievement Awards in the Government-to-Citizen State Government category for the redesign of the website last year.  Full Story

VDOT meets or exceeds all project completion and budget goals for first time

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reached a major milestone in its performance by meeting or exceeding all on-time and on-budget project performance goals for Fiscal Year 2007. It marks the first time in the agency’s history that all of those targets were met or exceeded. For the fiscal year, 80 percent of all construction and maintenance contracts were completed both on schedule and within budget. The agency also surpassed the statewide construction quality compliance goal with a 91.9 percent rating.  Full Story

Whoaaa! stop signs try humor in Illinois

A big red sign that says "Stop" sometimes isn't enough to get everyone to stop. Maybe a laugh will get their attention. Chicago's Oak Lawn suburb has installed second stop signs beneath the regular ones at 50 intersections with messages, including "WHOAAA" or "Stop ... and smell the roses." The new signs are red octagons, just like the real stop signs, but instead of just "Stop" they say "Stop ... right there pilgrim" and "Stop ... in the naame of love." Naame? Think of the drawn-out pronunciation in the hit by the Supremes.  Full Story

Calendar

Public invited to learn about the Hoosier Heartland Corridor Project

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will hold a series of three public information meetings regarding the State Road 25 Hoosier Heartland Corridor project in Tippecanoe, Carroll and Cass Counties. The Hoosier Heartland Corridor is one of the largest projects in the $12 billion Major Moves construction program.  The project will improve mobility, enhance safety and spur economic development along this transportation corridor.  Major Moves fully funds a decade of critical highway projects in Indiana.  When Major Moves is complete in 2015, more than 200 new construction and 200 major highway preservation projects will have been built.

http://www.state.in.us/rde/xfw/in_pre/newsroom.incdetailContent=166_11602.htm&backEnabled=true

Primavera Project Planner (P3) Scheduling Academy
November 14-16, 2007 - Washington, D.C.

The ARTBA P3 Scheduling Academy focuses on key construction management skills that are essential to any individual in the transportation design and construction industry, providing participants with a clear understanding of effective application for advanced scheduling methodologies.

http://www.artba.org/news/press_releases/2007/09-27-07.htm

Connecticut DOT announces session schedule for updating its long-range transportation plan

Over the coming months, the Connecticut Department of Transportation will be updating the state's current Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRP).  The LRP is a policy and information document that discusses Connecticut’s transportation system and its future through 2035. The department will be hosting listening sessions at various locations in the state and is inviting all interested parties, including Connecticut’s residents, local and regional businesses, visitors and commuters, to attend a session convenient for them and submit their ideas.

http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?A=1373&Q=396704

For our full events calendar, go to http://www.betterroads.com/calendar

Economic Indicators

Construction Spending

Total construction activity for August 2007 ($1,166.7 billion) was 0.2 percent above the revised July 2007 ($1,164.4 billion). For details: http://www.census.gov/constructionspending 9/28/07

New Home Sales

Sales of new one-family houses in August 2007 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 795,000. This is 8.3% below the revised July 2007 figure of 867,000. 9/2707

Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $11.3 billion or 4.9 percent to $219.5 billion. 9/26/07

Economy At A Glance: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm

Compiled by Larry Green, news editor, Better Roads.  To contact Larry about the newsletter content, send e-mail to .

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