Author Archive
The Excitement of Infrastructure
March 2nd, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver “proposed” a movie on the importance of infrastructure maintenance.
Tags: failure to act, gas tax, highway trust fund
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Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocates
February 28th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
For the first time, ASCE is formally recognizing an individual member and a team who are dedicated to saving America’s infrastructure and promoting ASCE’s Priority Issues through building relationships with lawmakers. The Outstanding Civil Engineer Advocate of the Year Award winners, Darren Benoit and the Louisiana Section, will be recognized for their achievements at ASCE’s Legislative Fly-In, an annual two-day event where ASCE members promote the civil engineering profession to their state’s U.S. Congressional representatives. Darren Benoit, of New Hampshire, has advocated on surface transportation, dam safety, and other issues at both the state and federal levels. Among his most notable accomplishments in years of building relationships with lawmakers and educating the public, Darren testified in front of the New Hampshire state legislature about the need for an increased investment in transportation funding. Last year, New Hampshire’s representatives and senators responded by raising the state’s fuel tax for the first time in two decades. In 2011, he led the New Hampshire Section of ASCE in its release of the Report Card for New Hampshire’s Infrastructure and has again taken the lead on updating the report. The Louisiana Section of ASCE began its advocacy efforts for better infrastructure throughout the state with the release of the 2012 Report Card for Louisiana’s Infrastructure. To follow up on the efforts of the Report Card, which gave the state’s infrastructure a GPA of “C-,” the Section joined forces with other like-minded groups to hold the first-ever Infrastructure Awareness Day at the state capitol. The event included a luncheon with lawmakers to discuss the importance of infrastructure and the need for increased investment. Four days later, state Sen. Robert Adley testified on his proposal to better fund transportation. Similarly, state Rep. Karen St. Germain has since proposed legislation that would transfer vehicle sales tax revenue to transportation, boosting investment by more than $400 million a year. Darren and the Louisiana Section, along with all our Key Contacts, represent ASCE’s Priority Issues to America’s lawmakers. Congratulations to Darren and the Louisiana Section for being our inaugural award winners. Keep up the great work!Tags: advocacy, advocacy profile, Advocate, advocate profile
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What Does the Foxx Say?
February 19th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
While it might not be as amusing as this, this week U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said that a quality transportation network is important to the future of the nation and he urged Congress to quickly adopt a multi-year surface transportation bill. Secretary Foxx did so as he rolled through a few southern states in a bus he named the Grow America Express, a nod to the name of the Obama Administration’s surface transportation authorization bill. Foxx made visits to multiple states to promote the administration’s plan, at times accompanied by Vice President Joe Biden in both North and South Carolina.
Pictured from L to R: David Crombie, E.I., A.M.ASCE (ASCE Tallahassee Branch Vice President), USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, and Jeremy Clark, P.E., M.ASCE (ASCE Tallahassee Branch President)
- Tallahassee, FL: David Crombie, E.I., A.M.ASCE (ASCE Tallahassee Branch Vice President) and Jeremy Clark, P.E., M.ASCE (ASCE Tallahassee Branch President)
- Charleston, SC: Chuck Black, P.E., M. ASCE (ASCE South Carolina Section, Eastern Branch Director)
- Columbia, SC: Edward Owens, P.E, M.ASCE (ASCE South Carolina Section President) and Petrina Butler, P.E., M.ASCE (ASCE Upstate South Carolina Branch President) and Jennifer Muster, P.E.,M.ASCE (ASCE Upstate South Carolina Branch)
- Charlotte, NC: Daniel Bridges, P.E, M.ASCE (ASCE North Carolina Section President)
- Raleigh, NC: Robert Cagle, P.E, F.ASCE (ASCE Region 4 Governor)
- Washington, DC: Veronica Davis, P.E, M.ASCE (ASCE Transportation Policy Committee member) and Robert Victor, P.E, F.ASCE (ASCE Committee on America’s Infrastructure member)
Tags: highway trust fund, surface transportation
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Moving Goods Moves the Economy
February 11th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate Commerce Transportation subcommittee held a hearing on the role of U.S. ports, titled “Keeping Goods Moving.” Recently, the west coast ports have experienced major backups. These delays and their economic impact could be a glimpse of things to come if we fail to modernize our freight transportation network to meet growing demands. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE), Chairman of the subcommittee, opened the hearing saying “To grow the economy and create new jobs, we need an efficient and reliable intermodal transportation network.” The testimony of representatives from BNSF, Cargill, the Coalition for America’s Gateways and Trade Corridors (CAGTC), and infrastructure consulting firm Moffatt and Nichol, demonstrated the need for a strong intermodal transportation system that works together to move goods along the supply chain. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), ranking member of the subcommittee, commented that “No region is an island” as he reiterated the importance of investing in infrastructure that effectively moves freight. During the testimony, Mr. John Greuling, representing the CAGTC pointed to how much more other countries, such as China and Canada, are investing in their transportation networks. The subcommittee’s exploration of this topic demonstrates the growing understanding that our infrastructure works as a system whose condition has huge implications for the nation’s economy. ASCE’s Failure to Act economic study on Airports, Inland Waterways and Marine Ports found that with a $15.8 billion investment per year until 2020, the U.S. can protect $270 billion in U.S. exports, $687 billion in GDP and 738,000 jobs annually. Congress should identify additional ways that freight mobility investments can be prioritized and funded to ensure that America’s economy can compete in the global marketplace. A fix to the Highway Trust Fund and increased investment levels for our nation’s transportation system would go a long way towards achieving this goal.Chime in on Wednesday to Fix the Trust Fund
February 9th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
As Congress continues the debate on the best way to #FixTheTrustFund and modernize America’s roads, bridges, and transit, USDOT Sec. Foxx and Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster are heading to Twitter for a bipartisan “townhall” to discuss surface transportation. The town hall, a first of its kind, will be Wednesday, Feb. 11 after Sec. Foxx concludes his testimony in from of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, around 12 p.m. ET.
Now it’s up to you to ask your questions about transportation investment and voice your support for a long-term funding solution. To get the conversation rolling, here are some key facts from the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure that would make great tweeting material. To join in the conversation, use #StuckInTraffic anytime between now and Wednesday.
- One in nine U.S. bridges is structurally deficient.
- 45% of Americans don’t have access to public transportation.
- 42% of major urban highways are congested, costing the economy $101B a year.
- 32% of America’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition.
- Americans spend nearly a week’s worth of vacation time—34 hours—stuck in traffic each year.
- If we don’t improve our transportation infrastructure, each family’s budget will lose $1060 a year by 2020.
- If we don’t improve our transportation infrastructure, America will lose 877,000 jobs by 2020.
Tags: bridges, congress, highway trust fund, roads, surface transportation, transit
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ASCE Endorses an UPDATE to the Gas Tax
February 5th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
Twenty-two years ago ‘I Will Always Love You’ was the top song on the Billboard charts, a loaf of bread cost $0.75, and Unforgiven won the Oscar for Best Picture. A lot has changed since then, yet the gas tax rate that funds our transportation system has remained the same. Yesterday, the American Society of Civil Engineers stood with Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) in support of a bill that would change that.
Rep. Blumenauer, along with more than 20 cosponsors, introduced the “Update, Promote, and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials” (UPDATE) Act. UPDATE offers a long-term, sustainable solution to fix the Highway Trust Fund by increasing the gas tax to recoup the purchasing power it has lost due to inflation since 1993. The bill proposes the gas tax to be raised 5 cents per year for the next three years, then tie it to inflation.
With one in nine bridges in the U.S. structurally deficient and congestion on 42 percent of America’s urban highways, our country is in need of an increased investment in our transportation system.
ASCE’s Executive Director Tom Smith joined representatives from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Trucking Associations, and other groups to support the bill. In his remarks, Smith said:
“The federal motor fuels tax, which funded the creation of America’s Interstate Highway System, hasn’t been increased in over 20 years and has lost more than one-third of its purchasing power. Essentially, we’re trying to pay for 2015 infrastructure with 1993 dollars.
“This bill will provide long-term, sustainable funding to meet identified needs and revitalize our nation’s transportation network for decades to come.”
Without Congressional action, the Highway Trust Fund’s authorization expires in May, and the funding will run out in the summer—during the height of road construction improvement season. Rep. Blumenauer’s bill would ensure the trust is restored in the Highway Trust Fund, by allowing states to effectively plan long-term projects knowing the federal government will be a continued partner in funding.
Tags: gas tax, highway trust fund, surface transportation
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USDOT Proposes We Move Beyond Traffic
February 3rd, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
With the frequency of short-term funding and authorization patches for the Highway Trust Fund lately, it may seem that a long-term outlook for our transportation system is not top-of-mind. However, the U.S. Department of Transportation yesterday started a conversation to get Americans talking about where our transportation network should go in the next 30 years. The Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx, joined Google’s Eric Schmidt for a Google Talk to discuss these challenges and opportunities. Watch the full conversation, which includes questions ranging from pedestrian safety to high-speed rail. Sec. Foxx also introduced the draft of Beyond Traffic: A Blue Paper, which is now available for review and open for comments. During the drafting process, ASCE members shared their ideas during visioning workshops. The blue paper identifies three strategies to decrease traffic and enhance our transportation system. Sec. Foxx shares them in his letter to the reader (p.iii-vi):- Take better care of America’s legacy transportation systems
- Build what is new and necessary, while considering how it can adapt in the future
- Use technologies and better design approaches that will maximize our old and new transportation assets
Tags: Airports, highway trust fund, Mass Transit, ports, rail transportation, transportation
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States Head to the Hill to Talk Transportation
January 29th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
Among several transportation-related Congressional hearings this week, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works hosted U.S. DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx, the governors of Alabama and Vermont, and the South Dakota DOT secretary to discuss the need to fix the Highway Trust Fund. Sec. Foxx told the committee, “Gridlock in Washington is now creating gridlock on Main Street.” In his testimony, he identified the challenges of operating a federal program that continually has short-term policy and funding extensions, concluding that these tactics are “Literally killing [the states] will to build.” The state representatives offered their unique perspectives on how short-term surface transportation bills hinder their ability to effectively plan and executive projects. Gov. Robert Bentley (AL-R) talked about why the federal government needs to continue as a trusted partner “so that states can plan for and make infrastructure improvements,” and emphasized that “A long-term federal transportation reauthorization will provide certainty,” connecting transportation investment to economic development. Gov. Peter Shumlin (VT-D) focused on how smaller states, such as his, have fewer funding resources and therefore depend on the federal government to fund projects through the Highway Trust Fund. He stated that “When there is uncertainty about funding…we’re in a terrible position of having to dig for cash that we didn’t anticipated we would need” or putting projects on hold. South Dakota DOT Secretary Darin Bergquist echoed the two governors’ sentiments, speaking about the challenges specifically in his state caused by a smaller population and longer winter. “States cannot do it alone,” he said. “We need a strong federal program.” This hearing is one in a series centered around the Highway Trust Fund and the law that governs it – MAP-21 – which is set to expire in May if Congress does not act.Tags: highway trust fund, surface transportation
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Senator’s 2020 Vision For America’s Infrastructure
January 27th, 2015 | By: Becky Moylan
Aging infrastructure, graded at a D+ national GPA, is no secret. In fact, it is the news each and every day. From a water main break that hindered a morning commute in DC, to the potholes that inhibit safe driving, Americans across the country are experiencing inconveniences and challenges because of deficient roads, bridges, water pipes and other infrastructure. Furthermore, we have an investment shortfall across our major infrastructure sectors of just over $200 billion a year. Underinvesting in these vital systems costs us more in the long run. Today, Sen. Sanders shared his bill as a vision to better fund infrastructure and address the backlog of needs. As the new ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee, Sen. Sanders is taking the opportunity to introduce a $1 trillion, five-year plan for the nation’s infrastructure. The measure would inject an additional $75 billion a year into the Highway Trust Fund, create a national infrastructure bank and expand financing and grant programs. Additionally, it would fund freight and passenger rail improvements, airports, water projects, ports and inland waterways and national parks, along with broadband and electric networks. ASCE’s Casey Dinges joined the Senator from Vermont to share our vision of what needs to happen to improve our nation’s infrastructure. During his remarks, Casey said “By taking steps to invest in our nation’s infrastructure, the U.S. can protect $3.1 trillion in GDP, $1.1 trillion in U.S. trade value and 3.5 million jobs and a little over $3,000 a year per family. Without these investments, infrastructure – the backbone of our nation’s economy – will continue to decline and Americans will pay the price.” With the need to #FixTheTrustFund looming ahead, this bill is a positive step in the conversation and a good reminder that inaction is not an option.Tags: #fixthetrustfund, aviation, bridges, report card, roads, transportation
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San Francisco Strengthens Water Pipelines Against Earthquake Vulnerabilities
December 23rd, 2014 | By: Becky Moylan
With a D+ cumulative grade for our nation’s infrastructure and the federal Highway Trust Funding heading toward a fiscal cliff in May 2015, the great infrastructure innovations happening around the country are often overlooked. The recently updated 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure highlights 20 new successful projects and initiatives that each improve our nation’s dams, bridges, roads, drinking water delivery system and other infrastructure. One such groundbreaking project is the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s Water Safety Improvement Program. While utilities nationwide are grappling with aging infrastructure, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is making prudent and sustainable investments in their regional water system. For nearly a century, the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System has been providing 2.6 million residents and businesses in the San Francisco Bay Area with reliable, high-quality drinking water. Not only is the system past its useful life, but major pipelines cross over three of the nation’s most active fault lines, making the system vulnerable to interruption in the event of an earthquake. For the SFPUC, rebuilding the water system was a race against time. The Water System Improvement Program (WSIP) launched in 2004 to make the water system more reliable and seismically safe. The $5 billion capital program is one of the largest infrastructure programs in the country, consisting of more than 80 projects in seven California counties. With the WSIP over 80% complete, the Hetch Hetchy Regional Water System is already significantly more redundant and seismically reliable due to the miles of new pipelines and critical tunnels installed to ensure water delivery within 24 hours of an earthquake. The WSIP also includes the Tesla Treatment Facility, which uses ultraviolet-light arrays to disinfect and treat water and is the largest ultraviolet treatment plant in California, as well as the five-mile long Bay Tunnel, which will be the very first tunnel under the San Francisco Bay. Through the WSIP, the SFPUC has invested $300 million in habitat restoration and watershed protection. The WSIP has been nationally recognized as an award-winning program, receiving 26 honors from the American Society of Civil Engineers, American Public Works Association, and others. With this program, the SFPUC has been able to improve system redundancy and service delivery for future generations. Check out the other infrastructure success story case studies by downloading the tablet app for your Android device or iPad. The update also includes the latest state data and updated videos, charts and graphs.Tags: Drinking Water, Report Card for America's Infrastructure
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