July 17, 2019 – Those of us who travel a lot have come to rely on the app Waze for directions, road conditions and where the next speed trap is. Now, Waze’s latest update will give drivers more information about how much money they should expect to spend on tolls. While Waze has always known where the toll roads are, and…
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The 1919 Cross-Country Convoy
July 15, 2019 – Here is a great little story from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). One hundred years ago this month, a U.S. Army convoy consisting of 81 vehicles, 24 officers, and 258 enlisted men set out on a 3,251-mile transcontinental journey, primarily as a way to test the ability of the military to move…
Read MoreWashington Post Calls for Gas Tax Increase
July 12, 2019 – The Washington Post Editorial Board called on Congress to increase the federal user fee on gallons of gasoline to support infrastructure. The column suggests that there may be growing public support for lawmakers to increase this fee to fund infrastructure. According to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), the Post reported that 31 of 50 states have increased motor…
Read MoreAn All-Star Article
July 10, 2019 – Last night, Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game was played here in Cleveland on a beautiful summer night. Progressive Field looked great, which ties in nicely with the article, “How Concrete And Steel Built Baseball,” by Vince Guerrieri. It chronicles how in the early part of the 20th century, ballparks became bigger, fancier and sturdier, with wooden edifices being replaced…
Read MoreStatement About Concrete Is Not Quite True
July 8, 2019 – During the recent Democratic debate, former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper claimed that the worst polluter in CO2 is China, then the United States, and then it’s concrete and it’s exhalation. Experts like Jeremy Gregory, executive director of Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), have demonstrated that statements like Hickenlooper’s do not provide…
Read MoreVulcan Rocks Out the Quarry
July 5, 2019 – Vulcan Materials knows how to rock a quarry. Its Rock Out the Quarry event was held in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Friday, June 28: a fun-filled evening replete with live music, fireworks, food, and activities for all ages. From great entertainment and food, to bounce houses and games for children, there was something for everyone to enjoy. The music…
Read MoreOH a Gas Tax Increase
July 3, 2019 – There is a bit of fireworks this 4th of July in Ohio. A 10.5-cent and 19-cent statewide jump in price for gas and diesel fuel, respectively, went into effect thanks to a tax increase contained in the state’s latest transportation budget. The hike puts the total tax at 38.5 cents for gas and 47 cents for diesel. Since 2005, the…
Read MoreGranite Touts Telematics
July 2, 2019 – Granite’s 2018 Sustainability Report, available on its website, focuses on many aspects of the company’s business. One interesting part is the inclusion of telematics and how it factors into its sustainability efforts. In the section “Using Telematics to Reduce our Carbon Footprint,” the company said one of its goals is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions/fuel consumption associated with…
Read MoreHighways With a THUD
July 1, 2019 – The House of Representatives last week passed a major spending package, HR3055, containing $87.7 billion in Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations for Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD). This “minibus” package – composed of four other appropriations bills in addition to THUD – was the second of three packages considered by the House for FY 2020, and passed the chamber…
Read MoreWorkforce Development Grants Available July 1
July 28, 2019 – New reforms to strengthen the Perkins career and technical education (CTE) program will go into effect July 1. Approved by Congress and signed into law last year, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2353) updates the federal education grant program to help more students gain the skills they need for in-demand jobs. Under the…
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