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.Infrastructure in the News: A Major Bill Goes to Conference
November 6th, 2015 | By: Olivia Wolfertz
With the Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act of 2015 moving to conference committee and elections on Tuesday, news headlines have been buzzing with wishes and concerns for our nation’s infrastructure. The House has officially approved the Surface Transportation Reauthorization & Reform Act, a six-year bipartisan bill that will provide flat-level funding. The bill must now be reconciled with the Senate’s DRIVE Act in a conference committee working toward a deadline of Nov. 20—when the current short-term extension expires. This decision has sparked many concerns that the bill only continues with the status quo rather than increasing investment to improve our infrastructure. While there are many economic reasons for investing in infrastructure, the safety reasons are equally critical. The New York Times noted that much of our infrastructure—from dams to roads—is operating beyond its intended design life and that modernization will allow for newer design standards, while also enhancing safety. Infrastructure safety concerns are not limited to roads, but expand to bridges, dams and railroads. The House of Representatives has adopted an amendment directing the U.S. DOT to develop a full strategy to address “structurally deficient” and “functionally obsolete” bridges within the next year. A multi-year surface transportation bill is an important step in addressing our nation’s infrastructure needs. With that being said, flat funding won’t be enough to adequately modernize our infrastructure.Dams in 26 States Are Getting Some TLC
December 30th, 2014 | By: Infrastructure Report Card
While the average person might think it’s just about farms, the Farm Bill funding for dams was perhaps one of the most unsung wins for infrastructure in 2014. The 2014 Farm Bill that Congress passed in the summer provided USDA with $262 million to distribute to states for rehabilitating dams. The funding provided rehabilitation assistance for 150 dams in 26 states. This increased the typical annual investment in rehabilitation 20 times over! Dam infrastructure’s role in flood management, water supply, and agricultural productivity is critical to the economy. Here’s a quick breakdown of the Watershed Rehabilitation assistance by state:| Project Name | Assistance Provided |
| Arizona | $98,137,300 |
| Texas | $33,842,975 |
| Oklahoma | $26,420,000 |
| West Virginia | $14,200,099 |
| Utah | $12,655,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $11,380,500 |
| Massachusetts | $8,976,000 |
| Nebraska | $7,515,236 |
| Virginia | $7,285,000 |
| Mississippi | $5,675,000 |
| Colorado | $2,940,000 |
| New York | $2,900,000 |
| Tennessee | $2,300,000 |
| Kansas | $1,751,000 |
| Oregon | $1,374,000 |
| Kentucky | $1,163,000 |
| Ohio | $708,000 |
| New Mexico | $600,000 |
| Wyoming | $543,103 |
| Connecticut | $450,000 |
| Arkansas | $445,500 |
| North Dakota | $294,000 |
| Nevada | $280,000 |
| Idaho | $249,000 |
| Georgia | $225,000 |
| New Hampshire | $50,000 |
Tags: congress, dams, Farm Bill, safety, states
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