U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao Joined by Jacksonville Officials to Formally Announce $25 Million BUILD Grant for Revitalization Projects
JACKSONVILLE – U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao today made the formal announcement of a $25 million grant to support the Bay Street Innovation Corridor and Urban Core Riverfront Revitalization projects in Jacksonville. Secretary Chao was joined by Congressman John Rutherford (FL-04), Congressman Al Lawson (FL-05), Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin Thibault, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, and Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) CEO Nathaniel F...
Changes to Key Infrastructure Funding Processes Proposed in Two New Bills
A proposal to raise the federal statutory cap on private activity bonds or PABs and making changes to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act or TIFIA funding program are the focus of two new pieces of legislation co-sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., (seen above) and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Tim Kaine, D-Va., respectively. Sens. Cornyn and Warner introduced the Building United States Infrastructure and Leveraging Development or BUILD Act on Feb. 6 that would rais...
Bill Revived to Eliminate Electric Vehicle Subsidy, Impose Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fee
Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., and Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., re-introduced a bill on Feb. 6 that Sen. Barrasso initially proffered last October in the waning days of the 115th Congress; legislation that seeks to end electric vehicle federal tax credits while imposing a fee on operators of all alternatively fueled vehicles – be they powered by electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, etc. – that will be collected over the next 10 years and paid into the Highway Trust Fund. [Above photo by the Departmen...
Report Encourages Electrification of Nevada’s Transportation System
A 69-page report funded by the Governor’s Office of Energy suggests that Nevada should plan to “electrify” its transportation system in part through electricity generated from solar and geothermal sources. [Above photo by the Nevada DOT.] “Electrifying the movement of goods and people around the state moves the needle forward on all of Nevada’s priorities for growth and livability – energy independence, clean energy, clean air, economic mobility, and an efficient transportat...
House T&I Committee Hearing Focuses on Infrastructure Needs
A variety of surface transportation funding mechanisms were debated during an all-day informational hearing held by the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Feb. 7, with a focus on the need to increase the federal fuel tax. “For years we have held hearings documenting the deterioration of our infrastructure – now we’ve run up a $2 trillion funding gap,” explained Chairman Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., (seen above) during his opening remarks. Photo via the U.S...
Trelleborg Assumes Full Ownership of North American Plastic Pipes Joint Venture
On February 5, 2019, Trelleborg, through its Trelleborg Industrial Solutions business area, assumed full ownership of the joint venture with Max Seal. This includes a manufacturing facility based in Tijuana, Mexico, that produces watertight seals for a variety of plastic and double corrugated wall pipe systems for water and wastewater. Since 2014, Trelleborg and Max Seal have been developing and manufacturing polymer-based sealing systems together. The operation has already been fully consoli...
Bentley Systems Announces Acquisition of SignCAD Systems, Leading Provider of Traffic Sign Design Software
Sign design solutions augment Bentley’s software portfolio to enable greater detail for digital twins of transportation assets EXTON, Pa. – Bentley Systems, Incorporated, the leading global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, today announced the acquisition of leading provider of software for traffic sign design and manufacturing, SignCAD Systems, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. SignCAD provides sign desi...
Vortex Companies Acquires The Ted Berry Company
HOUSTON - The Vortex Companies ("Vortex"), a leading trenchless rehabilitation industry solutions provider, has completed the acquisition of The Ted Berry Company (Ted Berry), a Maine based, New England area trenchless rehabilitation solutions provider, announced Mike Vellano, CEO of Vortex. Located in Livermore, Maine, The Ted Berry Company has built an excellent reputation for providing exceptional service leveraged by its team's depth of experience within the trenchless infrastructure reh...
Maryland Department of Transportation Honored at Annual Maryland Quality Initiative(MDQI) Conference in Baltimore
The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has received new honors for delivering outstanding transportation projects throughout the state. Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn and MDOT Business Unit executives last week proudly accepted 16 of 21 Maryland Quality Initiative (MdQI) Awards of Excellence presented for transportation-related planning studies and transportation projects completed in 2018. The MdQI consortium of public sector transportation agencies and private sector indust...
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Hears Pitch to Raise Gas Tax
By John Schneidawind, vice president of public affairs, ARTBA If the experience of newly elected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) is any indication, campaigning on raising the gas tax isn’t political suicide. It’s a path to victory. Speaking Feb. 7 before a hearing of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) under its new chairman, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Walz detailed how he won last November with a proactive stance on raising the state gas tax. He appeared at the hear...