State DOTs Continue Battling Aftereffects of Hurricane Ida
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSFrom Louisiana and Mississippi to Pennsylvania and New York, state departments of transportation remain at the forefront of recovery efforts from Hurricane Ida – a Category 4 storm that has caused an estimated $50 billion-plus in damages to date. [Above photo by the Louisiana DOTD] Louisiana took the brunt of the storm and its 150-mile […]
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Focus Sharpening on Surface Transportation Security Needs
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSSecuring surface transportation modes during disasters, including cyberattacks and pandemics, remains a major focus among federal, state, and local governments as well as among industry stakeholders. [Above photo by the NYC Transit Police] According to the Transportation Research Board – which is holding a Conference on Transformative Times in Transportation Security in November – while one size […]
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The Federal Transit Administration recently issued a notice of funding opportunity of NOFO for $2.2 billion in competitive grants for transit systems requiring additional COVID-19 pandemic-associated fiscal support. [Above photo by the MBTA] Those grants – provided by the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan or ARP, signed into law by President Biden in March – are […]
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ETAP Podcast: Lower Rolling Resistance Cuts Emissions
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSIn this episode of the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast, Mark Hoffman – assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Auburn University – and Karl Bohnenberger, his research assistant, explain how reducing the amount of energy required to keep a vehicle tire rolling can help lower greenhouse gas or GHG emissions. [Above photo via […]
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Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) has named Ryan Anderson (seen above) as the new commissioner of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. He replaces John MacKinnon, who retired on September 3 after a nearly three-year stint as commissioner. “He [Anderson] is widely respected across northern Alaska for cultivating positive relationships with all impacted stakeholders […]
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To communicate traffic information and navigation details regarding the $56 million I-15 Virgin River Bridge replacement project to motorists, the Arizona Department of Transportation helped develop a free mobile application for Apple and Android devices. [Above photo by the Arizona DOT] Designed by Kiewit Corporation, the contractor for the I-15 bridge replacement project, the new […]
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Tennessee “Smart Corridor” Project Installing HD Cameras
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSBetween now and the summer of 2022 over 300 ultra-HD (4K) traffic cameras will be installed along a section of Interstate 24 in Tennessee as part of the multiphase I-24 Smart Corridor project. [Above image via Vanderbilt University] Undertaken by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Vanderbilt University, the Arizona-based Southwest Research Institute, and consulting firm Gresham […]
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WVDOH Begins Repair Work on Wheeling Suspension Bridge
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe West Virginia Division of Highways – part of the West Virginia Department of Transportation – recently awarded a nearly $18 million contract to repair and rehabilitate the historic Wheeling Suspension Bridge (seen above) located in Wheeling, WV. [Above photo by the WV Governor’s Office] The contract calls for to Advantage Steel & Construction, LLC, […]
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Maryland DOT Releases Draft of Six-Year Capital Budget
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSThe Maryland Department of Transportation recently released a draft of its fiscal 2022-2027 Consolidated Transportation Program or CTP; a $16.4 billion six-year capital budget that is $1.2 billion higher compared to the $15.2 billion final FY 2021-2026 CTP released in January. [Above photo by Maryland GovPics] That beefed up budget reflects an increased focus on […]
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Minnesota DOT Seeking to Reduce Winter Road Salt Use
editor@aashto.org September 10, 2021 0 COMMENTSWhen it snows in Minnesota, drivers want the roads and bridges cleared – now. However, simply dumping mass amounts of salt on the roads is an outdated practice for the Minnesota Department of Transportation. [Above photo by the Minnesota DOT] Now, however, the agency is taking a new strategic – and more environmentally friendly – […]
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