Chao Resigns as Transportation Secretary

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned her position in protest after a violent mob overran the Capitol after being incited by President Trump, according to The Hill. Chao is the first Cabinet official, and the highest-ranking member of the administration, to resign in the wake of Trump’s incendiary rally and its violent aftermath.

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Cell Phones and Mobile Equipment Don’t Mix

Cell phone use while operating mobile equipment is a form of distracted driving and is extremely dangerous. MSHA and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers have jointly developed the following safety alert as a project within the alliance between the two organizations. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that cell phones are involved in 6,000 auto fatalities each year. Operating mobile equipment has inherent risks…

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Nearly 59,000 Bridges Still Structurally Deficient

There’s good news and bad news to report about the condition of America’s bridges. There were 2,574 fewer structurally deficient bridges in 2015 compared to the number in 2014. The bad news is there are still 58,500 on the structurally deficient list – and at the current pace of bridge investment – it will take at least 21 years before…

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Outlook/Forecast 2016: All Systems Go, Full Speed Ahead

WITH A NEW HIGHWAY BILL IN PLACE, THE FUTURE NOW LOOKS VERY BRIGHT FOR THE AGGREGATES INDUSTRY. By Mark S. Kuhar and Josephine Smith It goes without saying, 2015 went out with a bang, and looking ahead to 2016, it is all systems go, full speed ahead. In a major victory for the aggregates industry, both chambers of Congress voted to…

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AASHTO Touts Build America Transportation Investment Center

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) said it is pleased with the unveiling of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC). The center is a resource for states, municipalities and project sponsors looking to utilize federal transportation expertise, apply for federal transportation credit programs and explore ways to access private capital in…

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House Appropriations Committee Unveils Transportation Bill

The House Appropriations Committee released the text of its draft appropriations bill for the U.S. DOT for fiscal year 2016, according to the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA). This legislation authorizes the highway program at $40.3 billion, the same amount as the last three years. Without more revenue going into the Highway Trust Fund, spending is limited to…

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More Than 61,000 Bridges Need Significant Repair

An analysis of the recently-released 2014 U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) National Bridge Inventory database finds good news and bad news when it comes to the most heavily traveled U.S. bridges. The good news is that there are more than 2,000 fewer structurally deficient structures than there were in 2013. The bad news is that it means more than…

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