Washington Newsline July 4
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Transcript of Washington Newsline July 4
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Save the Date: ARTBA Foundation Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at TransOvation Workshop, Sept. 7
ARTBA Washington Newsline
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NewslineWashington
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2011 ARTBA National Convention in Monterey, Calif.Register Today!
Make your plans today to be
in Monterey for the 2011 ARTBA
National Convention, scheduled
for October 2-5. The new
program of events marketing
brochure has all the information
you need.
Among the headline speakers:
Dr. Robert Kriegel, a “New York
Times” and “Business Week”
best-seller, who will outline
strategies for gaining an edge by
not competing, but changing the
gam;, leading customers, not
following them; and rethinking
rules, redefining roles and
reinventing the game.
General session thought
leaders: Will Kempton,
Orange County Transportation
Authority chief executive
officer; Bert Sandman,
Transportation California
executive director; Jim
Earp, California Alliance for
Jobs executive director; Jim
Whitty, Oregon Department
of Transportation Office of
Innovative Partnerships &
Alternative Funding manager;
Robert Alger, The LANE
Construction Corporation
president & CEO; Geoffrey S.
Yarema, Nossaman partner; and
Bob Poole, Reason Foundation
director of transportation
President Stresses Infrastructure’s Economic Importance
In a broad ranging press
conference June 29, President
Obama took time to stress
the need for Congress to
act immediately on a multi-
year surface transportation
reauthorization: “Right now,
Congress could send me a bill
that puts construction workers
Reauthorization Developments Possible This Week
House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee
Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.)
has said he plans to release
his six-year federal surface
transportation program
reauthorization bill July 7. The
measure is expected to follow
the direction of the House
GOP Leadership to constrain
overall investment levels to
what incoming Highway Trust
Fund revenues can support—a
requirement that it is projected
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Navigation - Machine Guidance & Control - GNSS Positioning
View the BrochureView the BrochureView the Brochure
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Upcoming EventsVisit our Events Page for more information.
TransOvation 2011 WorkshopSeptember 6–9 Near Dulles Airport, Va.[Add to Calendar]
Transportation Development Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at TransOvation 2011September 7Near Dulles Airport, Va.[Add to Calendar]
ARTBA National ConventionOctober 2–5 Monterey, Calif. [Add to Calendar]
ARTBA Public-Private Partnerships ConferenceNovember 15–16 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
ARTBA REGIONAL MEETINGSNortheastern November 28–29 New York, N.Y.[Add to Calendar]
SouthernNovember 30–December 1 Tampa, Fla.[Add to Calendar]
WesternDecember 5–6 Los Angeles, Calif.[Add to Calendar]
CentralDecember 7–8Chicago, Ill.[Add to Calendar]
“Make Your Way to Monterey!”
$4 50
Monthly Retail Gasoline PricesApril 1993 to 2011
$3 50
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Dollars Per G
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Apr‐9
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Jun‐9
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Jul‐98
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Jul‐05
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Nominal Retail Gas Price Real Gas Price (1993 Dollars)
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Source: Energy Information Administration; The data is comparing the change in the cost of the average price of gasoline, all grades. For example, in April 2011 the cost of gasoline, in nominal terms, was $2.77 higher than the price in April of 1993. The eight year trend is an average monthly increase of 4 cents per gallon, per month.
policy. They will highlight how California
was able to dedicate more than $40 billion
for transportation improvements through
state/local ballot initiatives, and explore
future financing models like Oregon’s VMT
pilot program. They’ll also outline ways to
propel the P3 market forward.
The association is also pleased to
announce that Hollywood comedian
Larry Miller is returning for an encore
performance. Miller had the audience
rolling in the aisles during the 2007
convention in Florida. With all new
material, there is little doubt the veteran
stand-up comic will have everyone in
stitches again when he performs at the
Chairman’s Banquet on October 4. View
Larry’s video here.
Register today.
3ARTBA Washington Newsline
43.8%
of Pennsylvania’s Bridges are “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete”
Visit www.transportationcreatesjobs.org to see how your state compares.
September 6-9 | Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center | Leesburg, Va., near Dulles Airport
Workshop leaders and instructors:
Are You Ready to be an Innovator?
Register: w w w . t r a n s o v a t i o n . o r g
Ted Zoli, world-renowned bridge engineer, HNTB
One of “Esquire” maga-zine’s “The Brightest: 16 Geniuses Who Give Us Hope.”
John Hillman, HC Bridge Company
2010 “Engineering News Record” Award of Excellence winner for his development of the Hybrid Composite Beam.
Darcy Winslow, Nike’s Sustainability Innovator
A “business rock star” who unleashed a wave of innovation at the world’s largest athletic apparel company.
Jerry Karel, 3M
Helps lead one of the most innovative com-panies on the planet.
Check out this 30 second clip on TransOvation: a two-and-a-half day workshop designed for young executives in transportation design & construction.
• Connect with the Industry’s Brightest Minds• Experience Cutting-Edge Products & Services• Make Transportation Projects More Sustainable
Products & ServicesNow Available: 2011 ARTBA “Transportation Officials & Engineers Database”
The ARTBA TO&E Database is your one-stop guide to key local, state, and federal transportation officials. Offered as an Excel spreadsheet, it includes contact information for more than 6,000 state and local transportation departments and authorities. The database connects you to the people, agencies and programs you need to get ahead and stay ahead. Individual segments of the directory are available by region, state and occupation.
Price: $475.00
Contact Peter Embrey for more information.
To learn more about other products and services available, visit the ARTBA Store today!
4 ARTBA Washington Newsline
Legislative & Regulatory News
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TRB Newsletter: June 28, 2011ARTBA is pleased to make available another service for members that highlights new research, technologies, industry best practices and information resources available to the transportation design and construction industry. This material comes from the Transportation Research Board. Read the most recent newsletter.
Fostering Innovation
“People are so goosey about anything that has a lot of zeroes in it and this is big spending. I think what a lot of Republicans have lost sight of is there are a few areas where we’re supposed to spend, and this is one of them.”
Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), in a June 29 story to “E&E Daily” on the path to reauthorization.
“We urge you to increase funding for all public transportation programs in your reauthorization proposal. Such funding is critically important to address the needs of the growing population of older adults and to help create more livable communities.”
AARP President Lee Hammond before the Senate Banking Committee on June 29.
“For many states, the short-term prognosis is dire. Altogether, 44 states and the District of Columbia are projecting budget shortfalls for 2012 amounting to $112 billion. The upcoming fiscal year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, will be “one of the states’ most difficult budget years on record.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce June 2011 “Enterprising States” Report
Overheard“ ”
to force investment cuts in
excess of 30 percent. Mica has
indicated his reauthorization
proposal will attempt to
consolidate programs to
focus on national priorities,
expedite the transportation
project review and approval
process, and encourage
increased use of public-private
partnerships. Unfortunately,
the reauthorization bill was
not included in a House floor
schedule for July and August
released by House Majority
Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.),
despite claims the House would
be focusing on creating jobs
over the summer.
Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid’s (D-Nev.) decision to
cancel the Chamber’s scheduled
recess for this week opens the
door for senators involved
in that reauthorization bill
to attempt to jumpstart their
process this week. Senate
Environment and Public Works
Committee Chairman Barbara
Boxer (D-Calif.) previously
said her committee’s multi-
year reauthorization proposal
would be released the week
of July 11. In contrast to the
House plan, the Senate bill will
attempt to not only preserve
existing highway and public
transportation investments,
but also adjust these levels for
inflation to maintain purchasing
power.
ARTBA will keep you
informed once it becomes clear
that either the House or Senate
is launching its reauthorization
campaign.
Obama Admin Tries to Dismiss ARTBA, Industry Allies from Wetlands Permit Suit
The U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) filed a motion
June 17 to bar ARTBA and 11
other trade associations from
participating in wetlands
litigation that could have far
reaching consequences for
transportation projects. The
litigation challenges the U.S.
Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA’s) withdrawal
of a previously issued Clean
Water Act (CWA) permit from a
West Virginia mining operation.
Revoking a valid CWA permit
could set a dangerous precedent
and make it difficult for
other industries, including
transportation construction, to
rely on their own permits.
In a highly unusual move,
the DOJ objected to the
associations’ June 3 “friend
of the court” brief citing
“openly partisan” arguments
by the groups. The DOJ is
not objecting, however, to
the efforts of anti-growth
Reauthorization Developments Possible This Week
back on the job rebuilding roads
and bridges—not by having
government fund and pick every
project, but by providing loans
to private companies and states
and local governments on the
basis of merit and not politics.
That’s pending in Congress
right now.”
He also responded to a
reporter’s question on the
economy, stating “I think it’s
important for us to look at
rebuilding our transportation
infrastructure in this country.
That could put people back to
work right now—construction
workers back to work right now.
And it would get done work that
America needs to get done. We
used to have the best roads, the
best bridges, the best airports.
We don’t anymore. And that’s
not good for our long-term
competitiveness. So we could
put people to work right now and
make sure that we’re in a good
position to win the future, as well.”
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President Stresses Infrastructure’s Economic Importance
5ARTBA Washington Newsline
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“environmental” groups to
intervene in the litigation.
ARTBA and its industry
allies responded June 27 and
arguments on the DOJ’s request
to exclude ARTBA and its allies
will be heard in federal court
August 1. The DOJ’s opposition
as well as ARTBA’s reply can be
found in the “legal advocacy”
section of www.artba.org.
Congress Passes 20th
FAA Extension Congress passed and
President Obama last week
signed the 20th extension of the
Federal Aviation Administration
authorization bill—now more
than three years overdue. This
most recent extension will run
through July 22.
U.S. DOT Provides $1.6 Billion in New Starts Grants
The Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) June
27 announced $1.58 billion in
“New Start” grants, which are
designed to speed delivery of
large-scale bus and light-rail
projects. The largest grant
of $215 million goes to New
York City to help build a 3.5-
mile commuter rail tunnel
connection between Queens,
Long Island, and Manhattan.
New York tops all states with
a total of $430 million in this
round of New Starts grants.
Other states receiving grants
include: Alaska; California;
Colorado; Connecticut;
Florida; Hawaii; Minnesota;
Texas; Utah; Virginia; and
Washington. More information
on selected projects is available
here.
ARTBA News
Awards Honor Women Leaders
ARTBA has launched
the “Women Leaders in
Transportation Design &
Construction Awards” program
to honor extraordinary efforts of
individuals, companies and
public agencies that have
demonstrated leadership and
dedication to innovation in the
transportation construction
field as well as the promotion
of women leaders within the
industry.
Nominations, available at
www.artba.org/womenleaders,
must be received by close of
business July 29. Winners will
be recognized September 7 at
a gala dinner during ARTBA’s
TransOvation Workshop held
near Dulles Airport in Virginia.
The awards program is a
signature initiative of the
association’s Women Leaders
in Transportation Design &
Construction Council, which
promotes leadership and career
advancement for women in the
industry through mentoring,
recognition, educational
activities and networking.
Contact Allison Wenograd
with questions.
Transportation from the Eyes of Tomorrow’s Leaders
ARTBA’s Research and
Education Division has
launched a national student-
produced video contest to
document and demonstrate,
from a young person’s
perspective, views on
transportation infrastructure,
finance, operations and long-
term needs. Two winners will
• Recent transportation and
urban design/development
patterns
Entrants should create an
original two (2) to four (4)
minute
video.
Winners
will also
receive a
new iPad
and be
announced
to national
and trade media outlets. For
more information, contact Dan
Hadley.
be selected from a nationwide
pool of submissions—with the
top videos shown at ARTBA’s
National Convention in
Monterey, California.
Students of all ages are
encouraged to offer their
perspective on transportation
issues in the United States.
Some suggested topics include:
• U.S. Transportation
Infrastructure 101
• How infrastructure is built
and paid for
• What are the costs
and financing needs of
transportation infrastructure
• What are the impacts of
congestion and changing
travel demands
• What are “man on the street”
impressions of the industry
versus reality
Happy Birthday Interstate!As we celebrate America’s 235th birthday today, we also mark the 55th birthday of one of our nation’s greatest feats—the Interstate Highway System (IHS). President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into law 55 years ago last week, ushering in an unprec-edented commitment to moving America forward. Today, we see the IHS struggling to meet the de-mands of a growing population and the goods movement of the world’s largest economy.
Please take time to celebrate the IHS and America by exercising your 1st Amendment right and responsibility to petition your elected officials.
Use the ARTBA Grassroots Hotline at 888.448.2782 and tell them to pass a robust multi-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs this year!