Water Infrastructure Tested as Transportation Funding Deadline Approaches
October 16th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Flash floods, water main breaks and lingering damage from dam failures in South Carolina due to flooding have drenched the news headlines this week. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the House is scrambling to come up with a plan for reauthorizing the surface transportation bill before the Oct. 29 deadline. Yesterday, the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) announced their latest bill, The Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, and scheduled the committee mark-up of the bill for Oct. 22. In response to the rapidly-approaching deadline, Rep. John Delaney wrote a letter to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster cautioning him that “continuing baseline funding levels will only lead to a further deterioration of our already failing infrastructure.” According to a new poll from AAA, 70 percent of Americans believe the federal government should invest more than it currently does for roads, bridges and mass transit systems. Likewise, only 38 percent of Americans believe that Congress is taking the necessary steps to meet the needs of our nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems. Meanwhile, flood damage in South Carolina and mudslides in California have dominated the headlines. In response to the widespread devastation in South Carolina two weeks ago, SCDOT reemphasized the state’s need for infrastructure funding. In California, extreme flooding caused by El Nino triggered a mudslide about 30 miles from Los Angeles. This incident shines a light on California’s vulnerable dams. According to the US Army Corp of Engineers, California has 1,594 dams and more than 50 percent are listed as high-hazard dams. The mudslide also resulted in road closings which inconvenienced drivers. Traffic headaches caused by overflowing water are not limited to natural disasters, as a water main break this week outside of Washington, D.C. demonstrated. The event flooded nearby roads with gallons of water, also causing 250 local residents to lose power. Whether dams or water mains, clearly the nation’s water infrastructure is aging and needs investment. With the October 29 deadline looming, Congress must work together to pass a long-term surface transportation bill and #Fix the Trust Fund.How long can 2015 infrastructure live off 1993 dollars?
October 2nd, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With the passage of short-term FAA funding reauthorization, New York releasing its state infrastructure report card and more states prioritizing their infrastructure needs, Congress must now turn its attention to passing a long-term transportation bill before Oct. 29. This week, Congress approved a six-month extension of current aviation funding and policy that will keep projects moving, maintain revenue collection and keep Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees on the job until a long-term bill can be enacted. While an extension is certainly not ideal, it is better than letting the funding expire. At the state level, New York this week released its inaugural infrastructure report card. While the Empire State received a C- overall, roads and bridges, received a D- and D+ respectively, illustrating the need for significant investment and repair. According to the report, “New York City-area drivers, which account for half the state’s population, each spend 53 hours per year just sitting in traffic.” New York isn’t the only state with infrastructure woes. In Arizona, budget shortfalls are resulting in the state’s inability to invest in its transportation needs. According to a recent article published in the Arizona Daily Star, The Arizona Department of Transportation will need about $88.9 billion in its 25-year plan to ensure “minimum acceptable conditions” for the state highway system. In Texas, funding for roads has become a priority in their upcoming election, as Proposition 7 would dedicate $2.5 billion of the general sales and use tax and 35 percent of the vehicle sales tax to the construction and maintenance of non-toll highways. With the deadline for renewing the Highway Trust Fund quickly approaching and more states realizing their need for long-term surface transportation funding, publications like Bloomberg and The Hill have emphasized the importance of the federal gas tax to generate funding. October 1 marked 22 years since the last federal gas tax increase. In July, the Senate passed a bill that provides six years of policy reforms and three years of funding to improve the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems. Now it’s time for the House to act. You can help by reminding your members of Congress to act quickly to #Fix the Trust Fund before the Oct. 29 deadline.A Simple Action’s Torturous Path
September 25th, 2015 | By: Infrastructure Report Card
With the agreement by the House on September 16th to changes made by the Senate, H.R. 23, the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act Reauthorization of 2015, is on its way to the President’s desk and likely approval. The House action completes a six year path to reauthorization of a small government program that almost no one opposes. The measure reauthorizes and slightly modifies the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). The program ensures coordination on federal efforts to mitigate the impact of severe winds and will enhance cooperation among federal agencies including National Institute of Science and Technology, the National Science Foundation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The measure provides authorizations of $21.1 million a year for three years. ASCE was instrumental in the creation of NWIRP in 2004, working closely with the original legislation’s authors Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) and former Representative Dennis Moore (D-KS). ASCE members and staff worked closely with the sponsors, House Science Committee staff as well as numerous professional and industry groups over a five-year period to get the program created. The originating legislation authorized the program for five years to 2009. While a five-year effort to create a federal new program is to be expected, a six-year wait to reauthorize a program with board bipartisan support is not. It is however, an example of the current dysfunction of Congress. Such reauthorizations used to be routinely dealt with by Congress in a timely manner. Further proof of the breakdown of regular order is that is the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), which is NWIRP big brother, still waits for reauthorization. First created in 1977, NEHRP was the model for NWIRP, and has a long track record of innovation in earthquake hazards mitigation. Since its creation, NEHRP has been reauthorized on a regular basis by Congress, the last time in 2004 in the same law that created NWIRP. However, since the authorizations for the two programs expired in 2009, Congress has been unable to complete reauthorization of either program on until last week. While lacking any true opposition, legislation to reauthorize the programs have been side tracked or become victim unrelated partisan squabbles in four different Congresses. The greatest current obstacle for NEHRP has been the lack of a champion. NWIPR has the luxury of its original sponsor, Mr. Neuegbauer, who is now a senior member of the House Science Committee, as a champion. Neither the current Chair of the House Science Committee, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), nor the Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator John Thune (R-SD) have shown much interest in the program. Despite repeated efforts by ASCE and our colleagues in the NEHRP Coalition, no other champion has been identified. Details on both program are available at – http://www.nist.gov/el/nwirp/ & http://www.nehrp.gov/Highway Fund in Trouble by November 20th
September 23rd, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
GRAPH: Cash balance estimates of the Highway Account of the federal Highway Trust Fund; courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration
- October 29, which, following a July extension, is the new date to pass a renewal of the HTF authorization; and
- November 20, which is the projected date when federal funding will slow and be reduced to states.
Secretary Foxx to Congress: Raise Your Sights
September 9th, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx speaks at the National Press Club; 9/9/15 – Photo by ASCE
The High Cost of Underinvestment
September 4th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
It’s the last (unofficial) weekend of summer, and the Labor Day holiday traffic tends to shine a spotlight on the need to improve our transportation infrastructure. With Congress back in session on Tuesday, hopefully they take note of the ways our aging transportation network is holding us back. A predicted 35.5 million U.S. residents will travel at least 50 miles away from home over this weekend, according to AAA. While that’s the highest number seen since 2008, U.S. Travel found in a new survey that the hassles caused by failing surface and air travel infrastructure will keep 4.1 million potential travelers at home—costing the economy $1.4 billion in spending. This research again proves that our economy suffers when we do not make the investment in our infrastructure. In Washington State, Representative Rick Larson, joined commuters on public transit to see for himself how exasperating the morning commute is. As a senior member on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Larson is a leader in getting his fellow U.S. representatives to pass a long-term transportation bill this fall. Roads, bridges, and transit are not the only sectors of infrastructure that need investment; water infrastructure, including underground pipes and locks, are also in need of modernization. In Michigan, the recent shutdowns of one of the Soo Locks—a crucial passageway for nine million metric tons of a freight a month—exemplify how important projects are currently sidelined due to a dearth in funding. During the 20-day period that the 73-year-old MacArthur Lock was closed for repairs by the Army Corps of Engineers, more than 100 vessels — carrying iron ore, coal, grain and more — were delayed at least 166 hours. Out of Vermont is another story demonstrating the side effects of underinvestment in underground water infrastructure. The pipes that are failing range between 40 and130 years old, ass all are reaching the end of their useful design lives simultaneously. Jeff Wennberg of Rutland Public Works, responded to these infrastructure needs by pointing to the funding issue, “There’s no problem here with any of this infrastructure that can’t be fixed. It can all be fixed. The question is, who is going to pay for it and how soon?” While infrastructure needs may vary across the nation, the source of funding remains the biggest obstacle. In a recent poll conducted by the Mineta Transportation Institute, 61 percent of U.S. residents would support a 10-cent increase in the 18.4 cents-per-gallon gas tax if it is dedicated to transportation projects. As Congress returns to Washington tasked with finding three more years of funding for the DRIVE Act, and passing the bill through the House, hopefully this poll research will encourage them to find the political will to raise the gas tax as a way to #FixTheTrustFund.Congress’ Infrastructure To Do List for Fall
September 3rd, 2015 | By: Infrastructure Report Card
Summer comes to an end next week as Congress returns to the Capitol after a five-week recess. Deadlines will be the theme this fall, with the first being the Oct. 1 funding deadline to keep the government open. The second important deadline for ASCE is Oct. 29, when MAP-21, the surface transportation bill, expires. With a D+ cumulative GPA, the topic of America’s infrastructure should be at the top of their to-do lists. Congress has several opportunities to address some of the nation’s infrastructure needs in the coming weeks. Here’s what to watch: 1. Transportation Before the U.S. Senate adjourned for August recess, they passed the DRIVE Act, a six-year surface transportation bill. The DRIVE Act would end the current cycle of short-term program extensions and increase federal funding for surface transportation programs. The U.S. House of Representatives has until a new deadline of October 29 to act to pass their own multi-year bill before the current law expires. ASCE has been focused on communicating with House members on the need to act quickly and pass a long-term bill. You can help by contacting your House members and urging them to #FixTheTrustFund. 2. Appropriations for Federal Infrastructure Programs So far this year, the House has only passed six of 12 annual appropriations bills and the Senate has not yet passed a single one. There is an Oct. 1 deadline to complete this year’s appropriation. Among the major dilemmas holding up the appropriations process are disagreements over the overall funding amounts for the federal government, policy riders that bog down spending bills and fundamental differences on what level to fund federal environmental, healthcare and military programs. While it’s difficult enough for Congress to fund popular established bipartisan programs like the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving funds (which are facing 23% cuts), newer programs, like the Levee Safety Initiative, have not received any funding since the Water Resources Reform & Development Act (WRRDA) passed. If these programs do not receive appropriations, then the progress made by creating them becomes stagnant and no real progress is made in addressing the infrastructure the legislation aimed to improve. With only 12 days to debate the remaining appropriations bills and take full chamber votes, Congress will resort to passing a short-term extension of federal government programs at the same funding levels as last fiscal year. These patches – also known as continuing resolutions – have become the common fallback solution where such large disagreements – even among members in the same party – impede the “regular order” appropriations process from working. 3. STEM and Science To ensure we have enough engineers to be stewards of our nation’s infrastructure in the future, we need to educate today’s students in STEM. Congress will return with competing legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA); the last version was known as the No Child Left Behind Act, which would make changes to STEM education policies. The House version, known as the Student Success Act (H.R. 5), has been a purely partisan affair from the beginning, and passed the House with no Democratic Support. The Senate version, known as the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (S. 1177), is a bipartisan compromise measure which passed that chamber with wide support. The House bill makes significant cuts to educational programs and places no emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs. The Senate bill includes a focus on improving learning in the critical STEM subjects. ASCE, as a founding member of the STEM Education Coalition, strongly favors the Senate bill. It remains to be seen if House Republicans will be willing to compromise enough to move the legislation. Also facing the House/Senate divide is legislation to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act, which authorizes most of the nation’s non-medical, civilian research and development programs. The House passed H.R. 1806, the America COMPETES Act Reauthorization, earlier this year along the same partisan divide on their education bill. The House bill has been strongly condemned ASCE and other engineering, scientific, academic, and industry groups for making cuts to several areas including geosciences, as well as altering the National Science Foundation’s time-tested peer review method of awarding grants. The Senate Commerce Committee is meanwhile struggling to reach a bi-partisan compromise. Both pieces of legislation are long overdue and needed going forward, however if past performance is any indication then success is unlikely. This summer the Senate demonstrated that they can make infrastructure legislation a priority by passing the DRIVE Act. Now it’s time for that momentum to carry into the fall. Tell your members of Congress to make infrastructure a priority through the Save America’s Infrastructure phone app for iPhone and Android or online.States DIY to Fix Infrastructure
August 21st, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
In these last weeks of August, while Congress is on recess, there has been a great deal of dialogue and action among states regarding their need to fund their local transportation needs. This week, AP released an article expressing states’ reactions to the lack of federal funding for state transportation projects. Several states are taking the initiative to raise billions of dollars through higher fuel taxes, vehicle fees, and bonds to repair aging bridges and roads that will relieve traffic congestion. According to the AP, at least half of our states have now passed transportation funding measures since 2013. “I don’t know of a state that’s not having the conversation about raising revenue for transportation,” said Iowa Transportation Director Paul Trombino III. In 2015 alone, 14 states have raised their gas taxes to fund their state infrastructure projects, and others are considering similar measures. In addition to legislative action, states are beginning to take more creative approaches to funding their infrastructure. In Michigan, some residents are taking matters into their own hands and have raised more than $4,400 filling potholes themselves. Other initiatives to make up for lacking federal funds include House Bill 4608, which would move $60 million from Indian Gaming Compact into the Michigan Transportation Fund. While Michigan serves as a good example of frustrated citizens working together to do whatever is necessary to improve their roads, it’s not the only state that is fed up with infrastructure conditions. Tennessee, California and others are also taking measures to raise money for roads. And roads are not the only issue that our drivers are facing—as water main breaks continue to erupt throughout our major cities and suburbs. In order to see improvement, it is essential that Congress work diligently in the next three months to find a long-term funding solution for surface transportation. You can write your representative a letter or call their office and share the message to #FixTheTrustFund by the Oct 29 deadline.Congress needs a touchdown; no more field goals!
August 14th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
Football season has unofficially launched, and hopefully from now on punts will remain on the field and outside of Congress. While Congress is back home for summer recess, many states are expressing their opinions about the lack of federal funding as more infrastructure needs rise to the surface. In Nebraska, Senator Deb Fischer and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx hosted an event focused on transportation projects in the states. The secretary expressed encouragement that the Senate passed a long-term funding bill at the end of July, while still pressed for the need of more funding. In order to ensure that state projects continue, Nebraska’s Department of Roads established a yearlong agreement with the Federal Highway Administration that “will allow Nebraska to initiate maintenance and rehabilitation projects more easily throughout the 100,000 miles of roads and 15,500 bridges that cross the state.” Nebraska isn’t the only state expressing frustration with of the uncertainty of federal transportation funding. Pennsylvania, the state with the highest number of structurally deficient bridges in the country, is likewise struggling to invest in much-needed projects. Wyoming is unable to carry out many of their projects without more federal funds, as they receive 66 percent of their capital program budget from the federal government. The Mississippi Bridge is in need of upgrades, but the project is sitting on the sidelines because while Illinois is ready to start the project, Missouri cannot contribute its half of the funds. Bloomberg View also published an editorial this week pleading Congress to pass a long-term bill with reliable funding, and endorses raising the federal gas tax to match inflation. While dwindling federal transportation funding stalls progress on state highway projects, highways are not the only category of infrastructure that needs federal funds. In Tennessee, the replacement lock for the Chickamauga Dam is in limbo because it has not been able to get funding fast enough to get the project completed. This is just one of many examples of the importance of the federal role in infrastructure investment. While your U.S. Representative is back in the district, take a few minutes to send a letter or call their office and share the message to #FixTheTrustFund by the Oct 29 deadline.Despite Senate Transportation Action, House Stymies Progress
July 30th, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Sens. Inhofe (R-OK) and Boxer (D-CA) led Senate efforts on approving the DRIVE Act
