State DOTs Reiterate Benefits of TIM Training at Safety Summit
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe value of traffic incident management or TIM training is threefold from a state department of transportation perspective: saving time, money, and, most importantly, lives. That’s the argument Jim Tymon, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, made at the third senior executive transportation and public safety summit sponsored by […]
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AASHTO Issues Second Coalition Rescission Repeal Letter
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials is leading a 42-organization effort calling on Congress to repeal the impending $7.6 billion rescission of highway contract authority scheduled to occur July 1, 2020 as mandated by the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation or FAST Act. “This group of diverse national associations that support investment […]
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A new study conducted for the Port of Los Angeles and unveiled at a November 12 press event in Washington D.C. indicates that tariffs resulting from the ongoing trade war between the United States and China threatens nearly 1.5 million U.S. jobs and more than $186 billion of economic activity nationwide. Those tariffs are increasing […]
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The U.S. Department of Transportation officially announced it has awarded $900 million through its Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development or BUILD discretionary grants program to fund 55 transportation projects in 35 states on November 12. [Above photo by the USDOT.] In a statement, the agency said its fiscal year 2019 BUILD grants are targeted […]
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House T&I Amtrak Hearing Airs State-Level Rail Concerns
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSA wide-ranging House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee hearing regarding Amtrak included growing concerns about the state-level impacts of the national passenger rail operator’s ongoing service cutbacks as part of a larger effort to reduce costs. [Above photo via Amtrak.] “Mr. [Richard] Anderson [president and CEO of Amtrak], all we are seeing are cuts. […]
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FRA Initiates Highway-Rail Crossing Action Plan Rulemaking
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSThe Federal Railroad Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking or NPRM on November 7 that would requiring 40 states and the District of Columbia to develop and implement highway-rail grade crossing action plans. That NPRM would also require 10 states previously required to develop highway-rail grade crossing action plans by the Rail Safety Improvement […]
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Virginia, Maryland Agree to Joint Bridge, Highway Effort
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSVirginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) (above at podium) and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) announced a bi-state, bipartisan accord on November 12 that seeks to create a new unified Capital Beltway (Interstate 495) highway system to replace the aging American Legion Bridge in part via public-private partnerships or P3s. [Above photo via the Virginia Governor’s […]
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The Ohio Department of Transportation received approval to invest an additional $398 million into new highway and road projects over the next four years; projects approved by its Transportation Review Advisory Council, known as TRAC, on November 6. [Above photo by the Ohio DOT.] “As Ohio’s economy continues to grow, we must be able to address […]
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California Offers New Funding for Housing, Transit, Active Transportation
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSSome $610 million in funding is being made available to help California communities build more housing as well as increase transit and active transportation options close to job centers and services – money augmented by the release of $279 million from a separate housing grant program. [Above photo by Caltrain.] “Sky-high housing costs are putting the […]
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Michigan DOT Deploys ‘Robot Boats’ for Bridge Inspections
editor@aashto.org November 15, 2019 0 COMMENTSTo improve the detection of streambed erosion and degradation around a bridge’s substructure, the Michigan Department of Transportation is deploying four unmanned surface vessels or USVs equipped with sonar and a topside camera; a vessel allows inspectors to take measurements and capture images while positioned safely on the shoreline. [Above photo by the Michigan DOT.] […]
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