Author Archive
D.C.’s Dunbar High School Goes Deep to Go Green
October 10th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Historic Dunbar High School, located in the heart of Washington, D.C., has gone deep to go green. While the new school building has all the outward qualities a student could want – a beautiful theater, a gym and pool, open space, and so much more – the most fascinating part of the school’s renovation is under the football field. Yes, the football field.
Designed by architects at Perkins Eastman, Dunbar is the largest urban geothermal system in the District at 850 tons of capacity and is essentially sourcing its heating and cooling from 362 wells dug 460 feet into the core of D.C. Using roof solar panels, two 20,000-gallon cisterns for reusing rainwater for toilet flushing, and radiant heating systems, Dunbar is set to achieve LEED Platinum certification for their new school facility.
Read more about the geothermal well system here.
Take a photo tour here.
Watch a video about the history of Dunbar High here.
Tags: stem, sustainability
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Shutdown Showdown Continues…
October 9th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
We are on day 9 of the federal government shutdown with no end in sight, and our nation’s critical infrastructure is starting to feel the impact. At a press conference yesterday Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman, Barbara Boxer (D-CA), joined transportation stakeholders to stress the effects the shutdown is having on the nation’s critical infrastructure. At this time the shutdown is stalling almost 130 highway and bridge projects in 35 states due to the furlough of more than 90 percent of Environmental Protection Agency employees who are responsible for the expedited review of hundreds of road projects. The expedited review process was a hallmark of last summer’s surface transportation authorization, MAP-21, but the current shutdown is defeating one of the legislation’s primary purposes: streamlining project delivery. Faring better are the nation’s critical lock and dam systems, although that might be debatable to unpaid employees. While hundreds of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel have been furloughed and operations like some of the recreational parks the organization runs are closed, the roughly 240 employees who operate the locks have been deemed essential, meaning they have stayed on the job. Keeping the nation’s lock and dam operators on the job once again illustrates the fact that our nation’s waterways are vital to our economy and overall quality of life. Unfortunately, while the locks remain open, the debate on the government shutdown has delayed any further progress on the Water Resources and Reform Development Act moving through the House. At this point the critical legislation is on the back burner until the shutdown is over and the debt ceiling is raised, meaning we do not expect to see WRRDA pass out of the House before late October or early November at the earliest. ASCE will continue to keep you updated on the impacts of the shutdown as the federal government remains shuttered!Tags: congress
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Government Shutdown Highlights U.S. Inability to Solve Big Problems as Gas Tax Reaches 20th Anniversary
October 1st, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Reston, Va. — The following is a statement from Gregory E. DiLoreto, P.E., P.L.S, D.WRE, president of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), regarding the current government shutdown and the 20th anniversary of the last federal gas tax increase: “Today marks the 20th anniversary since the federal gas tax was last raised to 18.4 cents per gallon in 1993. With the government shutting its doors today, this is a reminder of the pressing need for bipartisan solutions to America’s largest problems. “The shutdown of the federal government will have long-lasting negative effects on America’s already outdated infrastructure. With national parks closed, repair and replacement projects will be put on hold while parks lose needed revenue. We have furloughed one-third of the U.S. Department of Transportation employees, hurting our ability to asses, plan, and respond to needed surface transportation issues. This short-sighted shutdown creates economic uncertainty and halts continuing planning, forcing infrastructure projects to use stop-gap measures for long-term needs. “Regrettably, the shutdown is nothing new. The 20th anniversary of the federal gas tax shows that Congressional inaction has for far too long hurt American families and business. Given the growth and expansion of the U.S. over the last 20 years, one has to wonder the consequences of funding our 2013 infrastructure with 1993 dollars. “According to the Consumer Price Index, the costs of many household items have nearly doubled over the last 20 years. Some examples of the price differences between 1993 and today include:- A loaf of bread: 1993: $0.75, 2013: $1.41
- A pound of coffee: 1993: $2.50, 2013: $5.21
- A new car: 1993: $12,750, 2013: $31,252
ASCE Testifies Before Senate EPW
September 26th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
ASCE President Greg DiLoreto, P.E., P.L.S, D.WRE, F.ASCE, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee yesterday about the state of the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure. The hearing entitled “The Need to Invest in America’s Infrastructure and Preserve Federal Transportation Funding” brought together infrastructure heavyweights to discuss revenue solutions for the Highway Trust Fund.
During his remarks Mr. DiLoreto emphasized the need for Congress to identify a long-term funding solution for the nation’s surface transportation programs in order to guarantee increased revenues for the 2014 reauthorization bill. DiLoreto also outlined the current state of the nation’s infrastructure by referencing the 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure and explained to the panel the economic consequences of inaction.
At the opening of the hearing Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) raised the idea of replacing the gas tax with a “percentage fee that is paid for at the refinery level” and went on further to state that she is leaning toward doing away with the gas tax and replacing in with a sales tax. The suggestion was received with a grain of salt from panelists, who continued to urge that an increase in the gas tax is the fastest way to bring revenues back into the Highway Trust Fund. ASCE and others on the panel believe that all funding options must be considered for the long term viability of the Highway Trust Fund, however if revenue is not raised by 2015 transportation programs across the country will experience a 92% cut.
Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman and Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT) spent his time during the hearing to share with the panel that he would like to mark up a tax reform bill this year that would include a fix for the Highway Trust Fund. Baucus also acknowledged that tax reform will likely not happen this year and therefore stated that another temporary transfer from the General Fund might be required. Baucus also made it clear that he thought fixing the Highway Trust Fund “could be an engine that pulls a train here” — in other words, moving as a stand-alone — “because people do want to solve this, and they know it has to be solved.”
At the opening of the hearing Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) raised the idea of replacing the gas tax with a “percentage fee that is paid for at the refinery level” and went on further to state that she is leaning toward doing away with the gas tax and replacing in with a sales tax. The suggestion was received with a grain of salt from panelists, who continued to urge that an increase in the gas tax is the fastest way to bring revenues back into the Highway Trust Fund. ASCE and others on the panel believe that all funding options must be considered for the long term viability of the Highway Trust Fund, however if revenue is not raised by 2015 transportation programs across the country will experience a 92% cut.
Highways and Transit Subcommittee Chairman and Finance Committee Chairman, Max Baucus (D-MT) spent his time during the hearing to share with the panel that he would like to mark up a tax reform bill this year that would include a fix for the Highway Trust Fund. Baucus also acknowledged that tax reform will likely not happen this year and therefore stated that another temporary transfer from the General Fund might be required. Baucus also made it clear that he thought fixing the Highway Trust Fund “could be an engine that pulls a train here” — in other words, moving as a stand-alone — “because people do want to solve this, and they know it has to be solved.”
State Leaders KEEP looking at transportation funding solutions
September 20th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
This year we’ve seen policymakers at the state level take the lead on tackling the issue of infrastructure funding as several states moved to increase gas taxes (Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming). And, this week state leaders are in Kansas City at the Council of State Governments (CSG) National Conference discussing a variety of issues with transportation and infrastructure high on their list of priorities. Legislators and DOT officials from around the country packed the room for CSG’s Transportation Policy Committee meeting to discuss how states can address infrastructure financing and funding challenges, including challenges with implementation of MAP-21. Dave Nichols, P.E., Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation told attendees that a “lack of action at the federal level has forced states to take matters into their own hands.” ASCE’s 2013 Report Card was highlighted during the session. Larry Frevert, P.E., a member of ASCE’s Committee on America’s Infrastructure which developed the Report Card, spoke to the group about the Report Card and the economic impact of infrastructure investment. Mr. Frevert’s presentation was very well received as he covered a variety of helpful information in the Report Card for state legislators. The CSG Transportation Policy Academy also passed two resolutions during their meeting. The first calls on Congress to pass the next federal surface transportation authorization bill prior to the expiration of MAP-21 on September 30 2104. The second resolution expresses support for a recent National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL) proposal that Congress create a $20 million program to support state level pilot programs to explore transportation funding alternatives to fuel taxes.WRRDA Clears First Hurdle
September 19th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee unanimously approved the $10 billion Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRDA), H.R. 3080, today. The mark up of the legislation went smoothly with limited debate on amendments. During mark-up several members of the committee provided amendments to speed up the expenditure of funds out of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, however each was withdrawn from consideration after it was made known that they would not pass through the full House. During the hearing Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) drove the message home that “WRRDA is the most policy and reform focused legislation of its kind in the last two decades”. He went on further to state that the “bill contains no earmarks and makes reforms needed to increase transparency, accountability, and Congressional oversight of federal water resources development. At its heart, WRRDA is about jobs and improving America’s competitiveness. A strong water transportation network is critical to keeping pace with other nations that are improving their own infrastructure networks and gaining ground in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.” WRRDA would seek to increase the amount of money spent from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, require the Army Corps of Engineers to send Congress annual reports on proposed activities, and set up a process to deauthorize $12 billion in programs. It also would include provisions to speed up the environmental review process, such as limiting feasibility studies to three years and federal costs of a study to $3 million, and establishing a process to elevate issues that could delay the process to agency heads. At this point WRRDA has not received much push back from conservative groups that often publicly criticize infrastructure spending bills. In fact, many of those groups, which have the ear of the most conservative members of the House, have praised WRRDA’s reforms, while admitting they would preferred to have seen them go further. This lukewarm reception will benefit WRRDA as it is considered by the House in early October.Tags: congress, transportation, water infrastructure
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WRRDA Up!
September 11th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (H.R. 3080) with much fanfare today. As the title proves, the bill is one of the most policy and reform focused Water Resources Development Acts (WRDA) to be introduced in the past few decades. Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) and Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-WV) joined the Water Resources Subcommittee Chairman Bob Gibbs (R-OH) and Tim Bishop (D-NY) to unveil the legislation this afternoon. The bill marks a movement toward bipartisan legislation coming out of the House T&I Committee once again. WRRDA works to consolidate or eliminate duplicative studies, requires concurrent reviews, and streamlines environmental reviews in order to cut the time for project approvals from approximately 15 years on average to 3 years. The legislation also has language that would allow for the reauthorization of the National Dam Safety program, which would include a public awareness component. The legislation however does not create an independent National Levee Safety program, but instead would allow the Corps to assist states in creating their own programs. Additionally, similar to the Senate bill, the House WRRDA bill would incrementally increase expenditures out of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, with the goal to spend 80% of the funds annually by 2020. ASCE is pleased to see that the House is taking the steps necessary to pass a WRDA bill this year and looks forward to working with the Committee to see the bill through until passage. In the meantime mark your calendars for the T&I Committee mark-up of the bill on September 19th!They’re Back
September 10th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
Congress returned from its August recess yesterday to a mountain of unfinished business. With 22 days remaining in the fiscal year, Congress plans to go all in and be in session for nine of them. Nine days to:
United States Capitol Building (Photo credit: Jack’s LOST FILM)
- Avoid a government shut down by passing a FY 2014 budget;
- Address the federal debt limit or face a default on federal debt;
- Reach agreement on the farm bill which expires September 30th; and
- Syria.
FutureStructure – Looking at the Future of Infrastructure and Us
September 6th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
What do we want and need from our infrastructure in a hyper-connected, modern world? ASCE has partnered with Governing magazine and others to consider what “FutureStructure” means and how we can get there. The goal of FutureStructure is to help public sector leaders think more like system engineers and get past the constraints of today’s often haphazard and siloed approaches. Last week, ASCE headed to Chicago to join the conversation about this new framework for thinking through and solving the infrastructure challenges and possibilities of an integrated, fully connected, and modern future. What does a 21st century city- and community-building approach consist of you may ask?- cities as systems that are connected, well integrated and smarter — with greater responsiveness to community needs;
- smart, connected and integrated infrastructure that makes more efficient use of resources and improves the quality of life for the people who use it;
- new job skills that will be needed to develop, build, deploy and operate these connected systems
This Week’s Top 5 Infrastructure Stories
September 6th, 2013 | By: America's Infrastructure Report Card
ASCE Report Card Chair Writes for PBS on Infrastructure’s Present and Future Expanding cities, global businesses, and an interconnected world mean that people need to travel to more places than ever before. Cities cannot prosper in isolation, and businesses cannot thrive if they cannot move goods effectively. As our nation continues to grow, so too must our basic infrastructure. Today, our roads, bridges, and transit systems are not keeping pace with America’s rapid change—meaning we are not positioning ourselves for the future. Maine House Majority Leader Backs Infrastructure Investment Maine wins when we make smart investments in our future. The recent State House approval of a bipartisan jobs and infrastructure bond package was just such a win. Looking ahead, we must next consider funding for research and economic development. Afraid of Heights!: Man Looks for Scariest Bridges The United States has seen a golden age of magnificent bridges built since the 1930s, O’Donnell says, and now the nation will likely focus on maintenance. Transportation and civil engineering groups have been warning for years about the consequences of neglecting U.S. bridges. Chair of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rides the Future Google’s not the only entity testing self-driving cars on actual US roads. Today, Bill Schuster (R-PA), the congressman who chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, took a 33-mile trip in an autonomous vehicle built by Carnegie Mellon University and funded by General Motors. The 2011 Cadillac SRX ferried the Pennsylvania congressman from the town of Cranberry to Pittsburgh International Airport earlier this morning, while a cameraman broadcast his journey to the web. Infographic: Commuters Have Changed, So Must Our Infrastructure The percentage of U.S. workers who drove to work in a private vehicle grew from 62.7 percent in 1960 to 84.4 percent in 2011, according to Census Bureau data. Only around 9 percent commuted using a carpool in 2011, half the percentage of workers that carpooled in 1980.
