Plans for an envisioned 23-mile rail transit extension to northern Virginia’s Dulles International Airport have taken a step forward, with the Federal Transit Administration’s Dec. 3 approval of a $900-million, multiyear commitment for the project’s $2.6-billion first phase. The deal isn’t done yet, however. The proposed funding commitment needs approval by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters as well as the Office of Management and Budget and would be subject to a 60-day congressional review. In addition, it would be up to congressional appropriations committees to provide annual installments of the $900 million. Click to enlarge image Federal Share for First

The Federal Highway Administration has reached agreement with former Central Artery/Tunnel project management consultant Bechtel/Parsons Brinckerhoff over a fatal Interstate 90 tunnel plenum collapse that culminated in January with a $407.1-million settlement with the U.S. Attorney and the Massachusetts Attorney General. As part of the deal, the two firms will not be debarred from federal work but must implement further quality-assurance measures on future large federally funded projects. Photo: NTSB Falling Interstate 90 tunnel plenum panels killed local woman, sparking investigations. Related Links: FHWA Agreement Bechtel Infrastructure Corp, Frederick, Md., paid out $357.1 million in the settlement and Parsons Brinckerhoff

An economic stimulus package is coming, and President-elect Barack Obama has made it clear that infrastructure will be part of it. Obama is not saying how large the plan or its public-works share will be but anxious state and industry officials are assembling lists of projects they would like the stimulus to fund, hoping the password to get those projects included is “ready to go.” Photo: Guy Lawrence / ENR President-elect’s program includes roads, schools, energy upgrades. Related Links: Utah, Florida Lead List For Highway Stimulus Plans Infrastructure advocates’ eyes lit up on Dec. 6 when Obama in a radio

After three years of delay, design is under way on a key component of one of the nation’s largest airport intermodal construction projects. But costs have risen, and Miami-Dade County must incorporate a $30-million cost increase into what could be a $342-million price tag for an automated people-mover system to link the airport with an intermodal center and consolidated car rental facility. The Miami-Dade Aviation Dept. last year rejected three design-build-operate-maintain bids, submitted in 2005, for noncompliance and nonresponsiveness. After negotiations, one of the bidders, a joint venture of Parsons Corp., Pasadena, Calif., and Odebrecht-USA, Coral Gables, Fla., got the

After a year that had many firms on track for record revenue in transportation, the economic crisis that now spans the globe has raised fears that many future projects could be derailed in the coming months. Although market observers see significant continued demand for transportation work, future funding streams remain uncertain as governments grapple with sagging tax revenue, private developers retrench and the credit market threatens public-private partnerships. Photo: Parsons Brinckerhoff The North London Railway Infrastructure project, part of a $14-billion program to expand railways around London, will complete in 2011. Photo: PCL PCL has several projects under way in

As the incoming Obama administration and congressional Democrats work on an economic stimulus plan, state transportation officials say there are more than 5,100 jobs-creating highway projects worth $64.3 billion that could get under way quickly if funding became available. The $64-billion total in the report, released Dec. 5 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is more than triple the sum contained in a survey AASHTO conducted in January. President-elect Barack  Obama has signaled that public-works funding, including aid for highways, is likely to be part of a stimulus plan expected to be proposed in January. But

Costa Rica-based Constructora Meco, S.A. submitted a $36.7-million bid, the lowest of six offerings submitted for the third of four dry excavation contracts as part of the Panama Canal Third-Lane Expansion Project. Barring a successful protest or reversal based on technicalities, the firm is the apparent winner. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) will now review the submissions to determine the lowest-priced bid that meets all of the requirements stated in the request for proposals. The winning bid is expected to be announced before the end of the year. Constructora Meco’s bid is 4% below a $38.2-million bid by Constructora Urbana,

Plans for a $5-billion rail transit extension towards northern Virginia's Dulles International Airport have cleared an important hurdle, with the Federal Transit Administration's Dec. 3 approval of a $900-million, multi-year funding commitment to the project's $2.6-billion first phase. The deal isn't done yet, however. The proposed commitment still needs approval by U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters and the Office of Management and Budget. Sarah Echols, a U.S. DOT spokesperson, said, "The department is continuing to review this complex project to ensure it meets all statutory requirements and additional conditions agreed to by the project sponsors." Such reviews traditionally take about

Call it a double-edged sword, a perfect storm or—stealing a quote from Charles Dickens—American Public Transportation Association President William Millar describes the state of transit as, “The best of times, the worst of times.” From California to the Carolinas, the acceptance of and desire for transit systems is unprecedented. Voters in November approved more than 20 pro-transit ballot initiatives, most notably Proposition 1B in California that calls for $9.95 billion for a high-speed rail system stretching from Sacramento to San Diego. Slide Show Photo: California High-Speed Rail Authority Photo: Joseph Caserto/ENR But transit owners, designers and builders have no easy

Intraparty politics are threatening infrastructure in Illinois, where state legislators remain deadlocked over a mammoth capital bill to fund road, transit, school and other projects.