Three dozen emerging leaders in the transportation design and construction industry completed an intensive introduction to federal legislative and regulatory issues May 15-17 during the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Foundation’s Industry Leader Development Program (ILDP). The annual event, held in conjunction with ARTBA’s Federal Issues Program and the Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In, also featured policy discussions…
Read MoreTag: Federal Highway Administration
Feds Announce Natural Disaster Funding for Roads and Bridges
As part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s coordinated approach to helping states repair and rebuild roads and bridges that have been damaged by catastrophic events, including increasingly frequent extreme weather events, the Biden-Harris Administration announced that it will provide $749 million in Emergency Relief Program funds to 39 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. These extreme weather…
Read MoreNSSGA’s Johnson Goes to Bat for Bhatt
President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the agency on highway policy will be considered by The Environment and Public Works Committee. Shailen Bhatt has been nominated for the top post at the Federal Highway Administration. Favorable backing from the panel would advance Bhatt’s nomination to the floor of the chamber during the post-election lame duck session. The National Stone, Sand…
Read MoreHighway Construction Costs Jumped At Least 7.3% in 2021
The Federal Highway Administration released the last highway construction cost inflation data for calendar year 2021, and the 12-month average of the National Highway Cost Construction Index (NHCCI) was 7.3% higher than the 12-month average for calendar year 2020, according to an analysis from the ENO Center. A 7.3% per year sustained cost increase has the potential to be devastating –…
Read MoreFHWA Increases Funding for Safer, More Walkable Streets Program
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced new guidance and increased funding that can help state and local governments carry out projects that create safer, more walkable streets, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, Safe Routes to School programs, and other local community projects. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Biden nearly doubled funding for the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside,…
Read MoreThe End of the Beginning
The year 2021 was truly a momentous one. The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was a long-time coming, but it means we are going to see long-overdue improvements to the nation’s roads and bridges, and that is going to require a lot of aggregate. As we enter 2022, producers do so with high anticipation. However, the…
Read MoreCivil Engineers Sound Alarm Bells on Condition of Infrastructure
Our country’s infrastructure received a nearly-failing D+ grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The report card was released as the aggregates and construction industries gathered in Las Vegas for the 2017 National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) Annual Convention and ConExpo-Con/Agg.
Read MoreMiles Traveled Vs. Gas Tax
Sept. 6, 2016 – With $14.2 million in grants awarded to seven states, The Federal Highway Administration has started to roll out its small FAST Act-funded program to test out vehicle miles traveled as a replacement for the gas tax. Concerns over electronic reporting, privacy and fairness to rural areas have held back any plans for nationwide use of a VMT…
Read MoreAmericans Using Roads at Record Levels
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) says that if Congress needs another reason for enacting a robust, multi-year highway and public transit investment bill, a new report from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides one – vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in the U.S. continue to climb and are on pace for a record-setting year.
Read MoreTRIP Report Details Ohio’s Transportation Challenges
Ohio’s transportation system faces challenges in the form of deteriorated roads and bridges, high rates of rural traffic fatalities, increasingly crowded roads, and insufficient funding to proceed with projects needed to support economic development. Increased investment in transportation improvements at the local, state and federal levels could improve road and bridge conditions, boost safety, increase roadway efficiency and support long-term…
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