Photo courtesy New York State Thruway Authority Under presidential designation, new Tappan Zee Bridge project received expedited, collaborative permitting with high-level federal and state agency representatives meeting weekly. Related Links: Support for Environmental Review Reforms Gains Momentum Streamlining Smoothes Progress on Maryland Highway Project New California Streamlining Law Gets Mixed Reviews New York State's New Design-Build Law a Sign of the Times? Fourteen years ago, the New York State Thruway Authority proposed a plan to replace the then-44-year-old Tappan Zee Bridge, a 6,014-ft-long, seven-lane crossing carrying Interstates 87 and 287 over the Hudson River. That proposal followed decades of Band-Aid
Related Links: Webcast of 3/12/14 House subcommittee hearing on DOT budget Webcast of Senate subcommittee 3/13/14 hearing on DOT budget House and Senate appropriations committee members have criticized some parts of the Dept. of Transportation's fiscal year 2015 budget and praised others. Republicans seemed more critical than Democrats.During DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx's March 12 appearance before the House transportation-housing subcommittee, Rep. Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), the full committee's chairman, blasted the proposal's new transportation trust fund and its hike on the airport passenger facility charge. He called them "budget gimmicks that Congress has time and again said no to."Foxx also said
Related Links: Detailed GSA FY15 Budget Request Obama FY15 Budget a Mixed Bag (ENR 3/10/2014) After Congress drove the General Services Administration's new- construction account down to just $50 million in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, the agency's building program is rebounding.GSA construction appropriations leaped to $506 million this year. President Obama's 2015 budget plan would boost that program 47%, to $745 million, and hike GSA's renovations account 13%, to about $1.3 billion. On March 4, GSA Administrator Dan Tangherlini told reporters, "There are still vital investments that need to be made."But 2015's total non-defense discretionary cap is barely above
Related Links: EPA Federal Register Notice on New Stormwater Rule March 6, 2014 EPA Will Revise Flawed Effluent Rule for Construction Sites (ENR 2/4/2013) Contractors will have greater flexibility in controlling stormwater discharges from construction sites under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new revisions to its effluent guidelines.The final rule, to take effect on May 5, addresses concerns industry groups have had with the rule since it was implemented in 2009, especially its numeric discharge limit of 280 nephelometric turbidity units for construction sites in which 20 or more acres are disturbed at one time.A 2012 settlement in a lawsuit
Related Links: FTA Proposed FY15 Capital Grant Report, Project Profiles Obama Rolls Out $302B, Four-Year Transport Bill Proposal (ENR 3/10/2014 issue) Transit agencies found much to smile about in President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, which seeks to boost the Federal Transit Administration's total budget by 63%, to $17.6 billion. "This is a terrific proposal for public transportation," says Rob Healy, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) vice president for government affairs.For design and construction firms, a particular focus is the $2.5 billion Obama is seeking—up 29% from 2014—for FTA capital investment grants, which fund new starts. But the request
Chart by ENR/McGraw Hill Construction President Obama's budget request would boost funding for highway and transit programs and GSA's federal buildings accounts. It would slice funds for Environmental Protection Agency water infrastructure, Dept. of Defense construction, Army Corps of Engineers civil works and Dept. of Energy defense environmental cleanup. Related Links: Obama Rolls Out $302B Transportation Bill Proposal DOT FY2015 Budget Details New Finance Panel Chair Wyden Will Be Key Player on New Transportation Bill President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget request would give big boosts to federal highway and transit programs as well as to General Services Administration federal
AP Wideworld President Obama visits St. Paul, Minn., transit facility shortly before unveiling his proposal. It includes $72 billion for transit over four years. Related Links: White House Summary of Obama Transportation-Bill Plan House Ways and Means Release on Chairman Camp's Tax-Reform Plan The drive for a new federal surface-transportation bill has shifted into a higher gear with President Obama's new $302-billion, four-year proposal and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp's proposed tax-code overhaul that includes $126.5 billion over eight years to shore up the faltering Highway Trust Fund.Construction industry and state transportation officials, deeply worried Congress won't
Related Links: White House fact sheet on transportation proposal Obama Feb. 26 speech on transportation proposal (White House transcript) House Ways and Means release on Camp's tax-reform proposal (links to draft text, summary, cost estimate) President Obama has plunged into the suddenly hotter discussion over a new surface-transportation bill, unveiling the outline of a proposed $302-billion, four-year highway-transit reauthorization measure.Obama’s plan, announced on Feb. 26, came about two hours after House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) released his proposal to provide a $126.5-billion, eight-year infusion to the ailing Highway Trust Fund.Construction and transportation industry officials welcomed the
Photo Courtesy of Office of Sen. Ron Wyden The Oregon Democrat was a prime architect of the 2009-10 Build America Bonds program. Wyden also has proposed various types of tax-credit bonds for infrastructure. Related Links: Boxer Seeks To Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) In State of the Union, Obama Urges Quick Hill Action on Infrastructure Bills (enr.com 1/29/2014) Wyden Calls for DOE Review of Contractor Handling of Whistleblowers As the debate over a new highway-transit bill heats up, construction and transportation officials are keeping a keen eye on Sen. Ron Wyden (D), the Finance Committee's new chairman.
Related Links: Transcript of Feb. 24 oral arguments Briefs in Case The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Feb. 24 in a significant environmental case in which the justices appeared to be split on whether the Environmental Protection Agency had the authority to develop greenhouse gas regulations for powerplants, refineries, and other “stationary sources.”The justices did not appear willing to revisit the court's 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA decision, which said that EPA could regulate greenhouse gases if the agency found that they endangered public health.Instead, the case before the court on Feb. 24 centers on a narrower question of whether
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