Tom Ichniowski

Wide-Ranging Senate Water Resources Bill Advances

May 4, 2016

A Senate committee has approved an $11-billion water-resources bill authorizing funds for 27 new Army Corps of Engineers projects. But in a striking change from similar past measures, the new one has an array of drinking-water and wastewater provisions, too, including a new trust fund.

Construction Economics

Construction March Spending Up Vs. Feb., Year-Earlier Levels

Tom Ichniowski

May 2, 2016

No Comments

Commerce Dept. report says value of construction finished in March increased just 0.3% from February but rose 8% year over year.

Infrastructure Funding

Senate Committee Approves $11B Water Resources Bill

The measure authorizes $5 billion for 27 new Corps of Engineers projects, plus aid for Flint

Tom Ichniowski

April 28, 2016

No Comments

Panel adds two Corps projects in California to earlier list of 25, also approves aid for cities like Flint, Mich., suffering drinking-water problems.

Senate Passes FAA Bill, Focus Shifts to House

Tom Ichniowski

April 27, 2016

No Comments

Congress is making headway on reauthorizing Federal Aviation Administration programs: The Senate approved a measure that hikes airport construction grants a solid 12% but only for one year.

Signals Bright for 2017 Corps Civil Works Budget

Tom Ichniowski

April 27, 2016

No Comments

Judging from figures in spending bills making their way through Congress, the Army Corps of Engineers civil-works program is in line for a modest fiscal year 2017 funding increase that will nudge the total to a new high.

Airports

Senate Approves FAA Bill With Boost for Airport Grants

Tom Ichniowski

April 19, 2016

No Comments

Senate measure has larger 2017 increase for construction grants than House committee's version.

Appropriators Give Corps a Boost, But Trim DOD, VA

Tom Ichniowski

April 15, 2016

No Comments

Senate and House appropriations panels recommend record FY 2017 levels for Corps civil works program, but reductions for DOD, VA construction.

DOT Steps Up Pace on FAST Act

Tom Ichniowski

April 13, 2016

No Comments

After a slow start, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation is stepping up its work in distributing funding from the $305-billion, five-year Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act to state and local agencies.

Economics