FRA Providing $272M in Grants to 10 Rail Projects
The Federal Railroad Administration is disbursing more than $272 million in grant funding to 10 rail projects in 10 states through its Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair or SOGR program to help to repair and rehabilitate railroad infrastructure around the country. [Above photo from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.] “This funding will make a significant contribution to freight and passenger rail-related capital projects in our communities, help our nation’s rai...
FEMA Gives Florida DOT $1.12M for Hurricane Cleanup
The Federal Emergency Management Agency issued more $1.12 million via its public assistance program to the Florida Department of Transportation on August 13 to cover the costs of collecting and disposing of debris left that clogged public rights-of-way in the wake of Hurricane Irma nearly two years ago. [Above photo from the Florida DOT.] Between October 18 and Dec. 16, 2018, the Florida DOT and its contractors gathered, hauled away and/or disposed of 34,778 cubic yards of vegetative debri...
Transportation Awards Given to Seven Southern State DOTs
Seven southern state departments of transportation won regional awards for 10 transportation projects on August 20 from the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. [Left to right above: Carlos Braceras, AASHTO’s 2018-2019 president; Kevin Thibault, secretary of the Florida DOT; and Jim Tymon, AASHTO’s executive director.] This is the last of four regional America’s Transportation Awards competitions. The three highest-scoring projects from each regional competit...
New Regional State DOT Association Leaders Elected
Four regional state department of transportation associations elected new leaders for 2019-2020: Mark Lowe (top left in above photo), director of the Iowa DOT, and Craig Thompson, secretary of the Wisconsin DOT, will serve as president and vice president, respectively, of the Mid America Association of Transportation Officials. Victoria Sheehan (bottom left in above photo), commissioner of the New Hampshire DOT, and Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, commissioner of the New Jersey DOT, will serv...
National League of Cities Report Backs Congestion Pricing
A new 24-page report issued by the National League of Cities on August 7 recommends congestion pricing as a key tool for “solving the growing infrastructure crisis in American cities, towns, and villages.” [Above photo by the New York City Department of Transportation.] The report – en...
Traffic Congestion Keeps Climbing, Says Latest Urban Mobility Report
Gridlock on America’s roadways is increasing, according to the 2019 Urban Mobility Report published by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute – in part due to job growth that is “exacerbating” the nation’s traffic woes. The United States added 1.9 million jobs from 2016 to 2017, TTI note in its report – slower growth than the 2.3 million-plus growth in four of the five previous years, but more than enough keep pushing vehicle traffic volumes upwards. [Above photo by the Oregon Department o...
DOE Disburses $59M for Advanced Vehicle Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy awarded 43 advanced vehicle technology research projects a combined total of $59 million in funding on August 16; projects focused on developing lithium-metal solid state batteries, new materials and designs for advanced electric motors, and the combination of new powertrain materials with new combustion regimes to significantly improve fuel economy. Under Secretary of Energy Mark Menezes noted in a statement that the “ultimate goals” of those projects – which ar...
Report: Cost of Congestion to Hit $200B in 2025
If more Americans are working, a new report confirms, more of us are also tied up in traffic. The picture is painted clearly in the 2019 Urban Mobility Report, published by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI). Along with illustrating the problem, researchers also stress the same straightforward solutions they’ve long advocated: more of everything — roads, transit, squeezing as much efficiency out of the existing system as possible, reducing demand through telework, better balancing dema...
IAM 2019 North American Conference Announced
The IAM Chapters for Canada and the United States co-hosting their inaugural North American Conference in Chicago, IL on October 1 -3. This event will bring together asset management practitioners, asset owners, vendors and the Who’s Who of the asset management industry. We have World renown speakers presenting relevant topics that are sure to address the issues and questions you have with regards to optimizing your asset management journey: Keynotes: David McKeown, former IAM CEO...
Call for Abstracts Now Open for the National Stormwater Symposium 2020
The Water Environment Federation Stormwater Institute (SWI) in cooperation with the Ohio Water Environment Association and Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky is now soliciting submissions for abstracts, workshop proposals, and session proposals for the: National Stormwater Symposium 2020 March 15–17 Cincinnati, Ohio This symposium focuses on Excellence in Sustainable Stormwater Management and is designed to deepen the technical knowledge of professionals involved with stormwa...
Stormwater Interview with Robert Page, P.E., Vice President, HNTB
TriMet’s Banfield Type 1 Substation Replacement Project
February Issue 2026
