Those debating the form of a new federal economic stimulus package cannot ignore the struggling housing market. It is the single-largest component of the U.S. economy, and its positive and negative impacts reach into every nook and cranny. Housing’s long-term prospects are bright due to positive demographics, and the market has the proven ability to lead the nation out of recession as demonstrated several times since World War Two. The problem at the moment is that the financial wreckage caused by irresponsible financial institutions needs to be cleared out, the surplus housing stock reduced and consumer confidence restored. A carefully
We need a build-out. We need a buildup. We need a national makeover. But we must make certain that every bailout dollar, which we’re borrowing from our kids’ future, is spent wisely. So opined New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman on Dec. 24 on then President-elect Obama’s proposed stimulus package. Slide Show Source: Robert Wible & Associates Potential Annual Private Sectors Streamlining Savings in Regulatory Costs ENR readers know only too well the need for a build-up, especially of the nation’s long-neglected infrastructure. Elected officials know this as well, and everyone has their own list of “shovel-ready” projects worthy of
Recovery from natural and man-made disasters is often assigned in part to engineers, who we expect to answer the call to fix the problem. Knowing the inevitability of periodic catastrophes, the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (ACEC New York) strongly supports emergency responder legislation to prevent future misguided lawsuits against engineering firms for on-site conditions that are entirely outside their assigned responsibility. Unlike Good Samaritan Laws, which protect only unpaid volunteers from liability for work performed during state or national disasters, emergency responder legislation would provide design firms immunity from lawsuits that attempt to make engineers responsible
Your construction-picture issue was great. I have never seen anything like some of the pictures I viewed there. I respect the efforts of all involved to ensure safe practices were shown in all pictures. However, I note two safety questions about two of the pictures. On page 30, there is a great picture of underground construction in New York City. I enjoyed this picture immensely until I realized that the worker was standing on top of the rail. In my eight years at BNSF Railway, I learned that one should never step on the head of the rail. It is
The time is at hand when the construction industry must stand up and make its case for infrastructure projects to be an important part of any economic stimulus plan. There will be stiff money competition from other industries ranging from steel to auto manufacturing, but few can match construction’s quick startup of projects already in the pipeline, its speedy ramp-up of employment in a highly mobile workforce and its resulting economic benefits. There are grave doubts about the effectiveness of any stimulus package, so the scrutiny moving forward should be tough. Some economists say the tax-rebate checks early last year
There’s no getting around the fact that automobiles are among the leading causes of pollution. There are tens of millions of cars and trucks on American roads contributing significant amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. The question facing policy makers, scientists, and engineers is how to reduce the impact that our vehicles have on the environment. In Washington, the discussion revolves around how high to raise fuel efficiency standards and whether to offer tax credits to those who drive hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. And on the drawing boards of auto industry engineers and environmental scientists, new ideas for
These are difficult economic times. People are losing their jobs, consumer spending is down, banks are sitting on what money they have and private companies are standing pat. No one knows that better than the construction industry, whose market that was booming a year ago has gone bust. Yes, things are bad. We all know that. But there still is money out there. Despite the near-hysterical headlines, there now are water-cooler conversations about how, if you need something new, now is the time to buy. Stores are desperate to move product and are marking down prices to lure customers. The
The year ahead is shrouded in an economic fog that fills many in the industry with dread. Markets are tumbling, and no one knows where the bottom of the abyss lies. The usual reaction of many firms to the periodic downturns that plague construction is to cut training programs and shed employees—the craft, professional and support people that make construction possible. This has proven shortsighted in the past. It has been only a few months since many companies were complaining about labor shortages and doing almost anything to attract, train and retain the best talent. Those that succumb to the
Economic Stimulus Packages needed! Bail out big auto. Bail out Wall Street. Next, bail out big oil because oil prices are falling. With the national debt now at more than $10 trillion (69% of the Gross Domestic Product) and growing, massive foreclosures of idiotic and now not-so-idiotic mortgages, the credit system in shambles, unemployment moving to depression levels, an unfinished war that is a black hole for resources and an economic stimulus package that will not work, this country needs a plan. There are a number of reasons for the current economic problems. Some of the more popular candidates are
Book Reviews: 12/17/2008 Infrastructure Evaluation, Maintenance and Repair By W. Tom Witherspoon ADSC/International Association of Foundation Drilling 2008 354 pages; $62.50 With President-elect Barack Obama’s plans in the works for an Eisenhower-style stimulus package designed to fix the nation’s roads, bridges and railways—and giving a sick economy a shot in the arm at the same time—a handy book has arrived to help public agencies, civil engineers and contractors take care of the patient. Year after year, the pleadings of various engineering organizations in Washington usually end with the same conclusion: We are in a state of general disrepair, and hundreds
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