Tag: Highway Trust Fund: Page 17

Roadbuilding

TRIP: Ohio’s roads and bridges face $11.6 billion shortfall for improvements

The Road Improvement Program’s (TRIP) recent analysis of Ohio’s transportation system finds the state will see an $11.6 billion shortfall in funding for improvements for roads, highways and bridges through 2017. The report indicates 24 percent of the major locally- and state-maintained urban roads are in poor condition, with 41 percent being in a mediocre or […]

June 18, 2015

Roadbuilding

Senate Dems threaten to block all short-term highway plans

Democrats in the U.S. Senate dropped an ultimatum on Republicans Tuesday, threatening to block any short-term extension of highway funding in favor of a long-term solution. The Hill reported Democrats are giving the GOP 45 days to agree on a long-term fix instead of another short-term patch—which would be the 34th short-term extension since 2008. “We […]

June 17, 2015

Roadbuilding

Pelosi hints at approval for trade package if Republicans support long-term transportation funding

The trade adjustment assistance (TAA) bill shot down by members of the House last week might get support from Democrats if Republicans were to get behind bigger transportation funding efforts, according to Nancy Pelosi (D-California). The Hill reported the House Minority Leader feels the failure of the TAA, with a vote of 126-302, might not […]

June 16, 2015

Roadbuilding

House Ways & Means to “explore new ideas” for long-term financing of Highway Trust Fund

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing June 17 to discuss long-term financing for the Highway Trust Fund (HTF), with the plan to “explore the feasibility of various ideas” for sustainable solutions. “The roads and bridges that keep our economy moving rely on a highly unsustainable financing system,” Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) […]

June 15, 2015

Roadbuilding

Lee again files bill to get rid of the federal gas tax

As the future of federal transportation funding remains up in the air, two Republican lawmakers have filed a bill that would take the federal government out of the road business permanently. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Florida) filed a bill that would gradually get rid of the federal gas tax used to support the Highway […]

June 12, 2015

Roadbuilding

House passes $55 billion spending bill for transportation and housing

The House of Representatives narrowly passed a spending bill Tuesday night to fund transportation and housing projects. The $55.3 billion bill passed 216-210, according to a report from The Hill. All House Republicans but 31 voted for the bill, while only three Democrats voted in favor. Last week, President Barack Obama threatened to veto the bill if […]

June 11, 2015

Roadbuilding

University of Florida wins 2015 National Student Steel Bridge Competition

The Southeastern Conference has racked up yet another championship, but this time in something other than sports. The University of Florida (UF) won the overall 2015 National Student Steel Bridge Competition hosted by the University of Missouri and held in Kansas City May 22-23. UF bested a field of 47 university engineering student teams from the […]

June 10, 2015

Roadbuilding

USDOT sees TIGER funding requests hit $14.5 billion with only $500 million available

The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program has seen $14.5 billion in requests since Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the opening for competitive grants back in April. Problem is, only $500 million is available by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for this round, which means requests were 29 times that amount. This clearly shows […]

June 5, 2015

Roadbuilding

Transportation reauthorization bill amendment would give states flexibility in funding bridge projects

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York) has put forth an amendment to a transportation reauthorization bill currently before the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works that would make “local bridge projects eligible for federal funding through the National Highway Performance Program.” Gillibrand’s amendment would not create additional funds, but would instead “redirect existing dollars to restore […]

June 4, 2015

Roadbuilding

Obama threatens to veto $55 billion Republican transportation bill

Transportation funding remains in limbo after a recent patch, and President Barack Obama is threatening to veto a $55 billion bill because it isn’t enough of an increase over current funding levels. According to The Hill, the White House said the president would veto the Republican bill if it made it to his desk. The […]

June 3, 2015

Roadbuilding

Poll: Infrastructure a mixed priority for likely Iowa Caucus attendees

Infrastructure spending has been a hotly debated topic as of late, but it still isn’t as high a priority as one might think amongst likely Iowa Caucus attendees. And even more perplexing, the issue is divided in priority between those who identify as Republicans and Democrats. In a recent Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics Iowa Poll, […]

June 3, 2015

Roadbuilding

DC’s Arlington Memorial Bridge needs millions to return to peak condition

Emergency repairs on Arlington Memorial Bridge are costing $3 million, but that’s nothing compared to what it would cost to restore the bridge back its glory days. The Washington, D.C., bridge is so plagued with rust and broken concrete among other problems that it would cost upwards of $250 million to permanently fix, CBS Washington […]

June 3, 2015