CR Secures Federal Funding, Extends FAST Act For One Year
President Trump signed a continuing resolution or CR that funds federal government programs on October 1 – the beginning of fiscal year 2021 – through December 11 and extends current surface transportation funding reauthorization after it cleared the Senate late on September 30 by a vote of...
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $460,000 for Emergency Repairs to Infrastructure Destroyed by Wildfires in Washington State
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $460,000 in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) repair damages from recent wildfires. This funding will help the state address urgent repair needs and restore important transportation links for residents. Washington experienced hot and dry weather conditions leading to multiple ongoing...
Study: State DOTs Could Gain Revenue From Solar Arrays
The Ray – a corporate venture devoted to roadway technology testing – and the Webber Energy Group at the University of Texas-Austin recently released a study that indicates state departments of transportation could generate roughly $4 billion in “economic value” by establishing solar energy arrays in highway rights-of-way (ROW) locations. [Above photo by the Federal Highway Administration.] According to the Webber Energy Group’s analysis, most states are home to more than 200 miles of inte...
USDOT Announces $320.6 Million for Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has selected 50 projects in 29 states to receive competitive grant funding under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program. The projects selected include a wide variety of railroad investments that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of freight and intercity passenger service. “This $320.6 million federal investment will upgrade U.S....
More U.S. Engineering Firms See Improved Finances Since COVID, But Uncertainty Grows for Future Markets, New ACEC Business Impact Survey Show
Washington, D.C. – Despite the challenging economy, an increasing majority of U.S. engineering firm leaders (68%) say their firm’s finances have improved or at least remained the same since COVID-19 paralyzed the marketplace in March—a significant increase over the 58% who affirmed the same in May, according to the latest ACEC Research Institute Business Impact Survey. “Six months into the pandemic and uncertainty is still the watchword for the engineering industry,” said ACEC Research Insti...
Help students stay in school during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond
CHICAGO - The financial impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have made it much harder for students to realize their dreams. Learning resource provider OneClass surveyed more than 10,000 students this spring and found some disturbing trends: 56% of respondents said they can no longer afford tuition. 49% of respondents said they have to find new financing. 7% said they are switching gears, leaving school to try something else. “Student need was high before the pandemic and is now d...
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $5 Million in Emergency Relief for Roads and Bridges Damaged by Wildfires in Oregon
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $5 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help the Oregon Department of Transportation repair infrastructure damage caused by wildfires. “We hope this federal support will help Oregon communities recover more quickly from the devastating wildfires,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao. Starting September 7, strong winds...
USDOT Announces $1 Billion to Upgrade American Infrastructure
WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary Elaine L. Chao today announced that the Trump Administration will invest $1 billion in American infrastructure through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. The funding has been awarded to 70 projects in 44 states. “This Administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, and this $1 billion in BUILD grants will repair, rebuild, and revitalize transportation systems across Ameri...
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces $1.3 Million for Emergency Repairs to Infrastructure Destroyed by Wildfires in Lassen National Forest
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today announced the immediate availability of $1.3 million in “quick release” Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) begin repairs to several bridges and a section of trail in and around the Lassen National Forest damaged by recent wildfires. “We hope this federal support will help communities recover more quickly from the devastating...
Caltrans Announces $1.6B for Transportation Projects, $1.2B Funded by SB 1
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) has allocated more than $1.6 billion for transportation projects throughout the state, including about $1.3 billion for State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) projects, Caltrans’ “fix-it-first” program aimed at preserving the condition of the State Highway System. Project funding is derived from state and federal gas taxes, including $1.2 billion from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017. The state’s...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
TriMet’s Banfield Type 1 Substation Replacement Project
February Issue 2026
