Hundreds of Florida transportation contractors descended upon Tallahassee last week to rally against a pending $160-million raid of the State Transportation Trust Fund and to encourage Gov. Charlie Crist to use his veto power to stop it. It�s the last hope to stop the transfer of funds, says Robert G. Burleson, president of the Florida Transportation Builders Association of Tallahassee. Photo courtesy FTBA Members of the Florida Transportation Builders Association made the choice clear to state legislators poised to cut approximately $160 million from the state's transportation fund. Photo courtesy FTBA This "road sign" conveyed FTBA's stance on raiding road
The Orlando Magic weren�t able to top Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in last year�s Finals of the National Basketball Association playoffs. Image courtesy the Orlando Magic This rendering of the new Amway Arena showcases the "entry beacon" that will serve as the building's focal point. Photo courtesy the City of Orlando A recent aerial photo of the Amway Arena project. The city-owned project is scheduled for completion by October. But when it comes to the $480-million, 875,000-sq-ft Amway Center, the Magic and their partners with the city of Orlando are pretty confident they’re going to the top
Editor’s Note: Portions of this article originally appeared on ENR.com. The warning shot came in a federal court in Louisiana, and it may signal the beginning of the end of one of the more costly aspects of the homebuilding boom of 2004-2007. Federal Judge Eldon Fallon in New Orleans ordered Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. to pay seven Virginia families a total of $2.6 million to remediate defective Chinese-made drywall in their homes. The case is the first of several class-action lawsuits filed against manufacturers of material that has proven to be a veritable nightmare—and source of odors—for thousands of homeowners.
The warning shot came in a federal court in Louisiana, and it may signal the beginning of the end of one more costly aspect of the homebuilding boom of 2004-2007. Federal Judge Eldon Fallon in New Orleans ordered Taishan Gypsum Co. Ltd. to pay seven Virginia families a total of $2.6 million to remediate defective Chinese-made drywall in their homes. The case is the first of several class-action lawsuits filed against manufacturers of material that has proven to be a veritable nightmare—and source of odors—for thousands of home-owners. + Image Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Photo: AP/Wideworld Consumer Product
The Florida Dept. of Transportation has hired a team of Kansas City, Mo.-based HNTB Corp. and Wilbur Smith Associates of Columbia, S.C., to serve as program managers for its Florida Rail Enterprise. The FRE is the newly launched agency that will oversee Florida's development of inter-city high-speed rail service. Related Links: Rail Advocates Have High Hopes for Future Funding Nazih Haddad, FRE’s chief operating officer, said HNTB and WSA will assist the agency’s staff on an ongoing basis in developing the state’s HSR program. The two companies had previously worked together as general consultants to the state in its long-term
The city of Orlando has approved the sale of an additional $69 million in bonds to partially plug a gaping funding hole in its originally $1.1-billion Community Venues building program and kick-start construction of the $250-million first phase of the city's new performing arts center. Image courtesy Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Center The city of Orlando has approved an additional $69 million in bonds to start construction of the $250-million first phase of its new performing arts center. Funding for the second piece of Orlando’s venues program had taken a hit when revenues from the tourist development tax plunged
Orlando has approved the sale of $69 million in bonds to partially plug a gaping funding hole in its originally priced $1.1-billion downtown building program and kick-start construction of the $250-million first phase of the city’s new performing-arts center. Photo: DPAC Performance center will go forward with mix of private funds and public bonds. Funding for the second piece of the city’s venues program shrank when the recession cut revenue from the tourist development tax (TDT). The city had originally budgeted $130 million for the project; to date, TDT has generated only $10 million. Roughly $70 million in Community Redevelopment
The city of Orlando has approved the sale of an additional $69 million in bonds to partially plug a gaping funding hole in its originally $1.1-billion Community Venues building program and kick-start construction of the $250-million first phase of the city’s new performing arts center. Photo: Orlando Magic The Amway Center, future home of the Orlando Magic, is scheduled for an October opening near downtown Orlando. Funding for the second piece of Orlando’s venues program had taken a hit when revenue from the tourist development tax plunged as a result of the recession. The city had originally planned to have
Private investors will be interested in high-speed-rail projects-if the federal funding stream remains consistent, experts say. Photo courtesy U.S. High Speed Rail Association Nazih Haddad, COO of the Florida Rail Enterprise, stated Florida will need further federal funds before it can proceed with its Tampa-Orlando HSR project. Related Links: Florida HSR Power Point Presentation at USHSR Conference In particular, advocates are hoping the $2.5-billion Tampa-Orlando line will prove the mode’s viability. However, that project still lacks about $1.2 billion in funding. The assurance of future federal funding is a key first step in attracting necessary private-sector investment, said Michael Cant,