2050 Infrastructure Starts Today
May 30th, 2016 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
As part of Infrastructure Week, one of the most compelling conversation topics was the future of infrastructure because to make it happen, the future really has to start being built today. If the trendiest topic today is the driverless car, what infrastructure has to be in place to make that work? If sensor technology is changing how we monitor everything from water to traffic, what will the infrastructure internet of things be able to replace? How can we plan for infrastructure that will lead to the future we want? While we all know that America has their hands full with today’s problems, we also must be realists – planning 2025, 2040 and 2050’s infrastructure starts by stopping endless debating and starting to implement great ideas today. This was the key take-away from the one of the Infrastructure Week events hosted by AEM with Congressman Garret Graves (Infrastructure Week Congressional Co-Chair), Mayor Sly James of Kansas City, Missouri, Ronald De Feo (CEO of Kennametal & Chair and AEM’s Infrastructure Vision 2050), Amanda Eversole (President of Center for Advanced Technology and Innovation), Steve Morrison (Amtrak Account Manager for Siemens Industry, Inc.), and Derek Woodgate (Chief Futurist at The Future’s Lab, Inc.). Mayor James had a great example of getting future infrastructure to work with the new Kansas City Streetcar Project. When they were going to put in a streetcar, they didn’t stop there – they looked at what else could be done while work was being done. This included replacing aging water pipes and installing new fiber. They also implemented new, versatile technology along the route. A great example of this is the kiosks around streetcars that will be able to help citizens with everything from simple answers to reporting incidents. The kiosks have allowed Missouri to use the data collected to create phone apps and fight crime. The project ended up almost completely paying for itself and creating jobs since companies are willing to pay for the data. When we stop thinking of infrastructure as just one project, like a Streetcar, and start taking in the larger view of what can be accomplished and enhanced, we’ll transform our infrastructure and our cities by 2050. Written with an assist by Infrastructure Week intern Nicole ErdelyiInfrastructure Week Events to Check Out
May 12th, 2016 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
There’s a great line up of events happening for Infrastructure Week! See what’s happening near you!Infrastructure Week Calendar of Events
Closing America’s Infrastructure Gap
May 9th, 2016 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Failure to Act – 2016 Report
- GDP
- jobs
- personal disposable income, and
- business sales.
State Legislatures Focus on Infrastructure and Professional Practice Issues
April 19th, 2016 | By: Maria Matthews
While infrastructure issues have remained at the forefront of 2016 state legislative debates, the activity seen during this session is much less impressive than the 2015 legislative season. However, in addition to tackling the question of infrastructure, some states have lumped in professional practice issues like “qualifications based selection” (QBS) as they contemplate their budgets and efficiencies.
Despite the fact that the increases in investment have come more slowly this session, ASCE and its members stepped forward on a number of bills to ensure the Society’s position was heard and bills were advanced, and halted, as needed. Here is just a taste of the activity we’ve been following from coast to coast:
- Alabama – Just a vote away from seeing a 6-cent per gallon increase. This will be the state’s first increase in nearly 25 years. The legislature here opted to pair the increase with the creation of the Alabama Transportation Safety Fund the recipient of the newly generated revenue. The Safety Fund has already been passed into law and is simply awaiting a final vote of its would-be funding source.
- Connecticut – Governor Dannel Malloy’s is looking to advance his Let’s Go CT! Plan, a 30 year vision for the future of Connecticut’s transportation system. As the legislature nears the end of its session it has yet to approve the “lockbox” ballot measure that is a critical component to protecting the state’s investment in its transportation infrastructure.
- Georgia & Kansas – While over 700 miles separate these state capitals legislators here seemed to be of like minds this session. Georgia introduced SB 366 a bill that would have eliminated QBS for transportation contracts. ASCE opposed this bill and it found itself stalled in the House Transportation Committee. The legislature is looking to study the impact of the bill this summer. Meanwhile in Kansas, a study was commissioned that encouraged legislatures to consider introducing a similar anti-QBS bill as a means of more effectively using state funds. ASCE is also opposing this concept and to date we have not seen a bill.
- Indiana – While the legislature did not pass Governor Mike Pence’s $1 billion transportation proposal, it did pass a transportation package. The plan ultimately passed, relies on transfers from the general fund and the Major Moves 2020 Fund as well as creating mechanisms to increase funding at the local level. In addition to addressing the funding question, the package also creates additional mechanism for distributing transportation funds to localities as well as commissions a study to develop a long term maintenance plan.
- Missouri – Now finds itself just one vote away from putting a 6-cent per gallon gas tax increase on the November ballot. While the bill, SB 623, seemed to have stalled early on in the session. It received a breath of fresh air when green-lighted by State Senator Doug Libla. The bill which originally included a 1.5 cent per gallon increase, saw the threshold increased to 6.5 cents per gallon and quickly made its way to the House.
- Nebraska – Building on its successful increase of the gas tax in 2015, the Nebraska Legislature returned this session with a desire to protect the additional revenue it will generate. It passed into law the Transportation Innovation Act which creates an Infrastructure Bank which will initially receive $50 million from cash reserves and an expected $400 million from the additional revenue generated thanks to the gas tax increase.
- West Virginia – The legislature here came close to seeing a 3-cent per gallon gas tax increase as it brought its session as a close in March. SB 555 picked up momentum back as the session entered its final two weeks but, did not have enough time to clear the House. We’re hopeful this momentum will tee up the legislature to introduce similar legislature upon their return in January 2017.
State Transportation Funding Moves Slowly in 2016
March 2nd, 2016 | By: Maria Matthews
“Transportation Funding” was named a top 5 issue by The Council on State Governments for the 2016 legislative session. However, unlike the eight states who raised the gas tax in 2015 (Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Washington) we have seen few states make the leap toward investing in infrastructure in 2016.
The first state to sign a major infrastructure funding bill into law this session is Rhode Island. The Rhode Works program aims to raise revenue that will allow the state to rebuild roads and bridges making Rhode Island more attractive to businesses. By assessing user fees to large commercial trucks it becomes the last northeastern state to adopt this revenue stream. Rhode Island Department of Transportation is hopeful the additional revenue will help them leverage federal dollars and enable the state to tackle maintenance and rehabilitation projects that will bring additional jobs.
While Rhode Island has already taken action, ASCE is keeping a close eye on many of the states that appear on CSG’s “States to Watch” list. Here is an overview of what we’re watching around the country:
- California – Like Oregon to its north, California is embarking on a Road Charge Pilot Program. It is currently seeking volunteers to participate in pilot program that will assess a fee based on distance travelled or period of time they use the roads, rather than gas consumption. The pilot kicks off in July 2016 and the findings will be used to develop a model that can be fully implemented statewide.
- Connecticut – Governor Dannel Malloy has been a longtime advocate for improving the state’s infrastructure. His Let’s Go CT! plan is a 30 year vision for the future of Connecticut’s transportation system. Investment in this plan hinges on the legislature’s ability to send a “lockbox” measure to the ballot.
- Delaware – A 10-cent per gallon gas tax proposal has again surfaced in Delaware. While this may conjure memories of Governor Jack Markell’s push back in 2014, the current proposal is to raise the tax for a single year and revisit the need to continue the tax in the future. This boost in revenue would come on top of the increase in driver’s fees passed into law in 2015.
- Indiana – This state came into the legislative session with Governor Mike Pence’s $1 billion transportation proposal last fall. Fast forward to recent weeks and the gas tax increase that could have been allocated toward these projects is now off the table. We are keep a close eye as proposed revenue streams change and bills continue to move forward as the legislature is in its final few weeks of session.
- Missouri – The legislature here once again finds itself debating a gas tax increase. The state finds itself having to make Tough Choices Ahead as it determines whether the current transportation revenue streams will generate enough income for the state to leverage federal dollars. The Governor is in favor of a gas tax increase however, opponents have been successful at keeping a bill from advancing in either chamber.
- Nebraska – Coming off a session that passed a 6-cent phased in increase of its gas tax, Nebraska is looking to do still more for statewide transportation infrastructure. The legislature is looking to create an Infrastructure Bank with the full support of the Governor. The bill is still making its way through the unicameral legislature.
- New Jersey – Here the legislature has already decided to put a measure on the fall ballot that will dedicate all gas tax revenue to transportation projects. This is just one of many steps needed to ensure the state’s Transportation Trust Fund (TTF) remains solvent. The state is currently projects the TTF could be insolvent by this summer and recent reports say the state has already reached its borrowing limit for new road and bridge repair work. We are hopeful Governor Chris Christie and the legislature will arrive at a compromise.
Department of Transportation Celebrates 50 Years of Safety Innovation
February 8th, 2016 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Established by President Lyndon Johnson, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is now celebrating 50 years of making transportation safer for the traveling public. This month marked the 50th anniversary, where USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx and six former USDOT Secretaries gathered together in D.C. to share the changes they’ve seen in transportation since the department began. When asked what the most significant advancement in transportation was, all pointed to safety efforts and innovations – whether adding seat belts, eliminating drug abuse, or enhancing the operation of transportation systems. In 50 years, we’ve come a long way, and we’re looking forward to where the next 50 years take us.D.C. Infrastructure Report Card Gives C- Overall, Lowest Grade to Levees
January 14th, 2016 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The 2016 Report Card for D.C.’s Infrastructure is an independent review of the current state of infrastructure needs, capability and funding in D.C. by the National Capital Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Report Card was written over the past year by ASCE members from the D.C. region who assigned the grades according to the following eight criteria: capacity, condition, funding, future need, operation and maintenance, public safety, resilience, and innovation. The report grades the infrastructure assets and is not a reflection of the agencies and professionals who work every day to solve infrastructure issues. It is a tool that shows the condition and importance of D.C.’s vital infrastructure assets that support our daily life or can interrupt our lives if we don’t maintain them. To put it another way, if you drive or ride in D.C., if you drink the water or flush a toilet in D.C., or if you just want infrastructure that works – this Report Card is for you. In the 2016 Report Card for D.C.’s Infrastructure, ASCE assessed 11 categories of infrastructure and found that 3 of them earned poor D grades, 6 earned mediocre C grades, and 2 earned B grades. Levees earned the lowest grade in the Report Card at a D-. Levees protect the capitol area from flooding as well as the Anacostia Bolling base, and both have earned “Unacceptable” ratings creating a need for emergency repairs and an additional $5 million would be needed to finish the work to protect the capitol area. Transit received a D grade due primarily to the condition of Metro system and the safety implications of a lack of consistent funding and focus on maintenance. While bright spots exist with new Metrobuses, Circulator bus success, and an innovative Capital Bikeshare, with 85% of D.C.’s commuters using Metro, it should be clear that this should be a priority not only in D.C. but also for each stakeholder in this system. While we know D.C. Roads are congested, the D+ grade for roads is in large part due to DDOT needing 4 times its current maintenance budget. For every dollar of need, there’s only a quarter to spend. School facilities earned a grade of C- with more than 49 schools reporting at least one “poor” condition structural element, impacting more than 14,000 students. However, almost half of D.C. schools have been modernized which show a tremendous leap in the right direction and a clear investment in D.C.’s future. Energy earned a C with $3 billion needed for electricity upgrades and $650 million need to replace 50-year old natural gas pipelines. Both water and wastewater were given grades of C+. With pipes’ median age being about 79 years old, we shouldn’t be surprised that there are 400 to 550 pipe breaks each year, but we’re starting to replace 1% per year and renew the clean drinking water infrastructure residents use. Wastewater work is happening right now to expand the capacity of our system that will not only prevent neighborhood flooding but improve the quality of the Anacostia River. Solid Waste earned a grade of C+. Our city’s growth is requiring an increase of trucks to take away our waste. While 10% more of it is recycled than a decade ago, we still need to make progress to reach the long-term goal of 45%. We have more Parks per person in D.C. than almost any place in the U.S. yet 50% of D.C.’s open spaces have challenges leading to a C+ grade. Rail received a B- grade due to the significant private investment of CSX in their rail infrastructure and the Virginia Avenue Rail Tunnel allowing 400,000 freight carloads to pass through D.C. While more capacity is need for rail and passengers, future plans being set today could serve D.C.’s needs and improve our congestion. Finally, D.C. Bridges received a B-, one of the highest grades, showing tremendous progress in reducing the structurally deficient bridges from 8% to 3% in just 3 years. The future will require consistent maintenance of older bridges reaching the end of their lifespan, but improvements like this show that diligent management, maintenance, and investment together create the changes we need to see. The Report Card shows us the condition and needs in a letter grade, but what is very clear when you read this report is that innovative solutions to our challenges, like DC Water’s Clean Rivers Project, are going to shape D.C.’s future if we let them. Yes, we have infrastructure challenges, but there are solutions to each of them and some are already on the way and some we need to support to make reality. We’re also going to need to get back to the basics – maintenance needs to be as essential to our budgets as water for hot coffee in the morning. With innovation and maintenance, we can prepare for the future and modernize the infrastructure that will serve us and future generations.Read the full 2016 Report Card for D.C.’s Infrastructure.
State of Our Union Will Strengthen With Infrastructure Investment
January 13th, 2016 | By: Becky Moylan
President Obama delivered his final State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. Among the goals he set out was the need to build a “21st century transportation system.” He went further, posing the question of how we can utilize technology to solve our nation’s challenges. Modernizing our transportation network and offering innovative solutions to improve our nation’s infrastructure are key to improving America’s “D+” infrastructure. Infrastructure #GameChangers identifies the top trends in technology and innovation that are advancing infrastructure. While the President did not get into the specifics, these gamechangers demonstrate that America can find innovative solutions to our nation’s infrastructure challenges. From transforming wastewater into energy today to autonomous and connected vehicles in the future, improving our nation’s infrastructure will take ingenuity and investment. Check out more of the ways that technology is solving our nation’s infrastructure challenges. In just over a year, the American Society of Civil Engineers will release the 2017 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, providing an assessment of the state of our infrastructure. In the meantime, it’s up to our elected leaders at the federal, state, and local levels to continue prioritizing investment into the backbone of our economy.2015 State Government Relations Year in Review
January 6th, 2016 | By: Maria Matthews
2015 once again proved that states are where the action is! Gavel to gavel, ASCE kept a watchful eye on legislative sessions in all 50 states, worked on ballot initiatives in 4 states, and travelled coast to coast educating members on how to engage elected officials, and reaching out to legislators to spread the message of the critical needs of our infrastructure. Here are just some of the highlights from the past year:-
Tracking 1,300+ Bills: ASCE identified 54 priority bills in 31 states as well as tracked 1,308 bills and 308 regulations during the 2015 session. Login with your ASCE Member credentials to see the bills in your state at www.asce.org/multistate
ASCE Members at Illinois State Drive-In (April 2015)
- Increasing State Transportation Revenues: ASCE Sections in 8 states (Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington) supported legislative efforts to successfully raise revenue for transportation infrastructure.
- Protecting Professional Licenses: ASCE opposed bills in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Nevada, and Washington that would do away with all professional licenses. ASCE also worked with the Indiana Section to urge their Governor to reject elimination of professional licensure.
- Holding State Capital Events: Legislative advocacy days were hosted at the capitols of Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia.
State Advocacy Captain Training (June 2015)
- Training ASCE State Leaders: ASCE State Government Relations Staff held the first State Advocacy Captain training in June with members from 11 states and a second in November bringing members from 10 additional states into the fold.
- Educating State Legislators: ASCE exhibited with the Washington Section at the National Conference of State Legislature’s Annual Legislative Summit and partnered on the Unmanned Aircraft Systems policy initiative. ASCE also sponsored two Council of State Government Transportation Policy Academies for state legislators and participated in the spring and summer National Lt. Governors Association meetings.
FAST Act Summary Part Three: Transit
December 14th, 2015 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
This is the third in a series of summaries over the next few weeks on the contents of the newly-passed five-year federal surface transportation authorization law, Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The first part explored the law’s funding and the future fiscal health of the Highway Trust Fund. The second part described the highway program elements of the law. The final forthcoming section will focus on the policy changes to federal passenger rail programs. The FAST Act provides $305 billion for highway, transit and railway programs. Of that, $60 billion is for transit, which represents an 18% increase in public transportation funding over the law’s five-year duration. Most of the percentage bump in transit investment will occur in the first year with the program seeing an immediate nine percent increase. Here is what the transit investment levels look like over the life of the bill:- (Pre-FAST Act) Fiscal Year (FY) 2015: $10.7 billion
- (Post-FAST Act) FY16: $11.8 billion
- FY17: $12 billion
- FY18: $12.2 billion
- FY19: $12.4 billion
- FY20: $12.6 billion
- Creates a new Bus and Bus Facility Discretionary grant program to address capital investment. This program is funded at $268 million in the first year, rising to $344 million in the last year. The program also includes a 10 percent rural set-aside and a cap that no more than 10 percent of all grant funds can be given to a single grantee;
- Creates an expedited project delivery pilot program in the Capital Investment Grant program for projects with less than 25 percent federal funding and those which are supported through public-private partnerships;
- Focuses on the need to address resilience in state and local planning by urging a reduction on the natural disaster vulnerability of existing transportation infrastructure;
- Directs USDOT to review the safety standards and protocols used in public transportation. The Secretary will then evaluate the need to establish additional federal minimum public transit safety standards; and
- Makes $199 million available to assist in funding the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology.
