Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Your 5-minute Guide to Industry News & Trends
Vol. 1, No. 16 ● December 20, 2007
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Arkansas statewide long-range transportation plan available The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has made available the final version of The Arkansas Statewide Long-Range Transportation Plan: 2007 Update. The Update describes the conditions and needs of the transportation systems in Arkansas and is used as a policy guide for identifying highway and transit improvement projects. The Update includes public involvement procedures that describe the methods and processes the department will use to ensure opportunities for public review of transportation planning programs. Full Story |
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Seven Caltrans employees earn Medal of Valor Seven employees of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) were honored in an early-December ceremony when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger awarded them the Medal of Valor for performing extraordinary acts of heroism. The Governor's Medal of Valor is the highest honor the state can bestow on its employees. The Caltrans recipients were among 31 state employees who received awards and public recognition for their courage and concern for others in life-and-death situations. Full Story
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Colorado DOT creates new engineering program area for I-70 mountain corridor projects The Colorado Department of Transportation has created a new engineering program area to better address the increasing transportation developments along the I-70 west mountain corridor. CDOT Region 3 Resident Engineer Peter Kozinski and Region 1 Resident Engineer Bill Scheuerman have been re-assigned to head the new Western Slope I-70 Mountain Corridor residency. Full Story
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Texas DOT creating advisory committees for input on Trans-Texas Corridor Advisory committees are being developed to provide public input on where the Trans-Texas Corridor should be located and what it should look like. The committees will enhance public involvement during ongoing Trans-Texas Corridor environmental studies and provide guidance on how the corridor can be developed to best serve local communities. Separate committees will be established for both TTC-35 and I-69/TTC and will each have up to 24 members; this may include property owners, business owners, representatives of local governments, technical experts and other interested citizens. Committee members are expected to be named early next year. Full Story
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The Iowa Department of Transportation's Historic Photo Collection is a compilation of transportation-related photos gathered by DOT employees, recovered from vintage postcards, or donated to the department. It is one of the few collections of historical transportation photos of its type in Iowa and the Midwest. Full Story
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Ralph Carpenter retiring as Connecticut Commissioner of Transportation Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell has announced that Department of Transportation Commissioner Ralph J. Carpenter is retiring after nearly 30 years of outstanding state service. The governor has asked former Commissioner Emil H. Frankel to return to that role on an interim basis while a national search is conducted for a new commissioner. Full Story |
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California Transportation Commission allocates new Proposition 1b investments The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated a round of new investments from Proposition 1B, the $19.9 billion transportation bond approved by voters in 2006. “These projects will relieve traffic congestion, improve air quality and, more important, enable Californians to spend more time with their friends and families instead of being stuck in traffic,” stated Caltrans Director Will Kempton. Full Story
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Tennessee DOT announces second round of diesel retrofit grant projects The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) is now accepting applications for the second round of diesel retrofit grant projects. This program aims to reduce emissions from older diesel engines in air quality nonattainment areas, which are areas of the state that do not meet federal air quality health standards. Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Tennessee’s grant program with the National Leadership Recognition Award. The department will award a total of up to $1 million in competitive grant funds to those qualifying. Full Story |
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South Carolina DOT inspects bridges following North Carolina earthquake The December 7 earthquake in western North Carolina prompted inspection teams from the South Carolina Department of Transportation to check bridges in the upstate area. The inspections were completed just prior to noon the same day, and no damage or movement was reported on of any of the structures. Full Story
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Washington State DOT worker injured while clearing accident debris WSDOT Incident Response Driver, David Ball, suffered injuries in a collision on I-5 in Fife when he was struck while clearing debris from the roadway. Ball had closed the left, southbound lane of the freeway and exited his truck, which was equipped with a lighted arrow board, to clear debris from a previous collision when another vehicle struck his truck with such force that he was hit by his own rig. Full Story |
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MoDOT hopes to "beet" Mother Nature this winter MoDOT is hoping to "beet" Mother Nature this winter by using an anti-icing product made from sugar beets to help keep the roads clear. In addition to its tried and true snow removal equipment and materials, the department has been testing a product called Geomelt that helps cut down on the amount of salt used. MoDOT has been testing the product in the northwest and Springfield area districts for the past couple of years with success. The mixture reduces the corrosive properties of salt and improves its effectiveness. Full Story |
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Baker named Consultant of the Year by Utah Department of Transportation The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has awarded the Michael Baker Jr. engineering unit of the Michael Baker Corporation with its "Consultant of the Year" Award. Baker was chosen because of its involvement in the I-15 NOW project - a three-year, nine-and-a-half-mile, design-build interstate reconstruction project through Ogden, Utah, that includes widening of roads; improvement of drainage, utilities and structures; construction of 26 bridges and 17 retaining walls; and improvements of six interchanges. Full Story
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ARTBA 2008 “Globe” Environmental Awards call for nominations The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is now accepting nominations for the 2008 “Globe Awards.” This annual competition honors U.S. transportation construction industry excellence in environmental protection and mitigation. The “Globe Awards” competition is structured into two categories – project awards and process awards. Full Story
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Call for Nominations: ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation looking for outstanding programs The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) has issued a call for nominations for its annual “PRIDE Awards,” which honor “excellence in community relations and public education that enhance the image of the U.S. transportation construction industry.” Full Story
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North Carolina DOT Announces 2007 Wildflower Award winners The North Carolina Department of Transportation has announced the winners of the 18th Annual Wildflower Awards. The awards recognized the efforts of NCDOT staff to carry out North Carolina’s wildflower program and enhance the overall appearance and environmental quality of the state’s highways. The NCDOT Wildflower Program began in 1985 and is coordinated by the department’s Roadside Environmental Unit, which installs and maintains more than 2,000 acres of wildflowers along North Carolina’s highways. Full Story |
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U.S. International Trade in Goods and Services The nation's international deficit in goods and services increased to $57.8 billion in October from $57.1 billion (revised) in September, as imports increased more than exports. 12/12/07 Monthly Wholesale Trade: Sales and Inventories October 2007 sales of merchant wholesalers were $369.8 billion, up 0.7 percent from last month. End-of-month inventories were $403.7 billion, virtually unchanged from last month. 12/11/07 Quarterly Financial Report - Manufacturing, Mining and Trade Manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits averaged 5.7 cents per dollar of sales for the third quarter of 2007, down 2.7 (+/- 0.1) cents from the average of 8.4 cents of the second quarter of 2007. 12/10/07 Economy At A Glance: http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm |
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December
2007 Issue Highlights:
Visit
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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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Iowa
DOT offers online historic photo collection
