Tag: DOTs: Page 301

Roadbuilding

In North Carolina, gas tax is now set by a formula rather than the price of fuel

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed SB20 into law March 31, creating a transportation-funding plan that sets a base motor fuels tax amount that isn’t solely tied to the wholesale price of fuel. “This bill will allow us to build roads, strengthen bridges and fix potholes so people can get to their jobs, go to school, […]

April 2, 2015

Roadbuilding

ODOT seeks public comments on 2016-2019 transportation improvement plan

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is accepting comments from the public on its 2016-2019 Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) through April 10. The STIP, which available for download here, is a four-year plan that includes details of the state’s federal- and state-funded transportation projects and is used as a guide by the Federal Highway […]

April 2, 2015

Roadbuilding

PHOTOS: Big Bertha’s 2,000-ton front end lifted to the surface. How the world’s largest tunneler was raised

[imagebrowser id=225] After a year of slumber and almost a month after chewing her way into a 12-story repair pit, Big Bertha, the world’s largest tunnel-boring machine, is finally under repair in Seattle. Crews worked for the better part of March to disassemble the machine’s front end before lifting the machine’s cutterhead and body shield panels—a […]

April 1, 2015

Construction Equipment

California Transportation Commission approves $325.8 million in transportation improvements

The California Transportation Commission has approved funds for 142 transportation projects across the state, including roads and bridges as well as biking and pedestrian projects. The funds allocated total $325.8 million, with $132 million from the State Highway Operation & Protection Program for 54 infrastructure and state highway projects. California Department of Transportation director Malcolm […]

April 1, 2015

Roadbuilding

With warmer weather comes start of several road and bridge projects for Wisconsin DOT

Roughly $150 million worth of road and bridge projects are beginning this week in the Northwest Region of Wisconsin, encompassing 45 projects in the 20-county area. Most of the projects will be completed by the fall this year, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports. Some of the projects include: U.S. 53 in Barron, Washburn and […]

April 1, 2015

Roadbuilding

How DOTs could use drones to assess infrastructure damage from natural disasters

Researchers from the University of New Mexico (UNM), San Diego State University, and BAE Systems are working on a prototype drone system that could be used to detect and map transportation infrastructure damage as a result of natural disasters. The benefit is the speed at which these machines can reach a disaster area, which many […]

March 31, 2015

Roadbuilding

At 237.8 billion miles in January, American driving habits underscore the need for long-term transportation funding

Americans drove an estimated 237.3 billion miles in January, nearly 5 percent more than the same month last year, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) most recent monthly “Traffic Volume Trends” report. “These data make it clear that traffic volumes are growing nationwide,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “To keep our highways safe […]

March 31, 2015

Roadbuilding

DOT chief Foxx sends revised transportation bill to Congress

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx submitted a revised Grow America Act to Congress March 30. It suggests a 45-percent increase in proposed investment in surface transportation projects as part of President Obama’s $478 billion transportation reauthorization bill spanning six years. During a recent tour stop to promote the act, Foxx said the U.S. is in the […]

March 31, 2015

Roadbuilding

Texas awards first batch of Prop 1 contracts totaling more than $52 million

The Texas Transportation Commission awarded contracts for nine projects in seven Texas Department of Transportation’s (TxDOT) districts, representing more than $52 million in road project work. The funding comes from the state’s Proposition 1 funding program, approved by Texas voters last year, and representing $1.74 billion available for transportation projects in 2015. The seven districts […]

March 30, 2015

Roadbuilding

Transportation funding solution still elusive during infrastructure forum

The need for updating and maintaining U.S. infrastructure work is a clear, agreed-upon issue, but the means of providing funds is still divisive, as evidenced by a recent infrastructure forum put on by the National Journal. During that forum last week, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) discussed […]

March 26, 2015

Roadbuilding

TRB to hold webinar on “creative ways” to fund transportation

The Transportation Research Board is planning a webinar April 15 to discuss potential new means for funding transportation infrastructure projects, such as cooperative ownership models, roadway usage charges, and transportation utility fees. Scheduled presenters for “Creative Ways to Consider Funding Future Transportation” include Carole Turley from the University of California at Los Angeles and David Ungemah […]

March 26, 2015

Roadbuilding

Senate rejects amendment seeking to fund infrastructure by closing corporate tax loophole

A $478 billion transportation funding amendment to the 2016 budget put forth by Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was struck down March 24, according to a report by The Hill. In a 52-45 vote, the Senate ended the amendment that would have pulled funds from a repatriation measure to collect tax dollars from overseas profits […]

March 25, 2015