Support Builds for Senate’s $1.2T Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSFollowing the release of the full legislative text of the $1.2 trillion “Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act” or IIJA in the Senate on August 1 – a bill clocking in at 2,702 pages – a large number of transportation industry organizations sent a letter to Congress calling for its passage. [Above photo by the Architect […]
READ MORE
AASHTO Suggests Changes to Section 401 of Clean Water Act
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recently sent a five-page letter providing feedback on changes proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. [Above image via the EPA] Specifically, the EPA seeks to “reconsider and revise” the Section 401 certification rule – which became active in […]
READ MORE
Five southern state departments of transportation won regional awards for eight transportation projects on August 3 during the annual meeting of the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. [Above photo of Victoria Sheehan announcing regional award winners by the Florida DOT] This is the first of four regional contests within the national America’s Transportation […]
READ MORE
Fuel Efficiency, Electric Vehicle Mandates on the Horizon
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan on August 5 to mandate an 8 percent annual increase in fuel efficiency for passenger cars and light trucks between model year 2024 and 2026. [Above image via the Office of Senator Debbie Stabenow] That dovetails with an executive order issued by […]
READ MORE
GHSA Issues BIPOC-Focused Traffic Safety Recommendations
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Governors Highway Safety Association issued a set of 10 recommended actions State Highway Safety Offices or SHSOs and other traffic safety groups follow to improve “equitable outcomes” for Black, Indigenous and People of Color or BIPOC communities. [Above image via GHSA] Those 10 recommendations – developed by consulting firm Kimley-Horn – seeks to help eliminate racial […]
READ MORE
A study led by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital found that “hands-free” cellphone laws are associated with fewer driver deaths. However, more targeted cellphone laws – such as calling-only and texting-only bans, among others – are not. [Above image via Wikimedia Commons] The researchers said that could […]
READ MORE
The Idaho Transportation Department is working to digitally record and catalogue a statewide inventory highway “assets” that includes signs, guardrails, American’s with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps, sidewalks, among other items. [Above photo via the ITD] Dubbed the “Statewide Asset Attribute Inventory” or SWAAI, it will eventually encompass all of the assets within Idaho’s 12,000-lane-mile state highway […]
READ MORE
ITR Concession Company LLC – manager of the Indiana Toll Road – and eX² Technology, LLC, recently completed a two-year $34 million project to install a fiber optic communications system as part of ITRCC’s Intelligent Transportation System expansion project that is significantly boosting motorist safety along the 157-mile tolled highway. [Above photo by ITRCC] The […]
READ MORE
Florida Providing $250M in Fiscal Support to Ports Statewide
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Florida Department of Transportation is helping distribute $250 million to help ports statewide recover from revenue declines in 2020 – sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic – as well as fund infrastructure investments. [Image via the Florida DOT] “Not only are Florida ports a key economic driver for their surrounding communities, but also for our […]
READ MORE
Caltrans Releases Draft of 2021 Interregional Transportation Plan
editor@aashto.org August 6, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe California Department of Transportation has opened the public comment period for the draft of its 2021 Interregional Transportation Strategic Plan or ITSP; a policy framework to guide Caltrans and its partner agencies on developing and prioritizing transportation projects connecting California’s distinct regions. [Above photo by Caltrans] Updated every five years, the draft 2021 ITSP focuses […]
READ MORE