04_22_news

ARTBA Washington Newsline

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NewslineWashington

LaHood Defends Administration Budget Proposal

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A D V E R T I S E M E N T

ARTBA Sponsors “The Great Transportation Debate” in Nation’s Capital

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ARTBA Project Management Academy May 29-31 In Utah

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Top high school debate teams from Boston and Detroit went toe-to-toe April 19 at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., to argue the question, “Should the federal government substantially increase transportation infrastructure investment in the United States?” ARTBA Chairman Steve Wright, (pictured above with some of

the student debaters) president of Wright Brothers Construction in Charleston, Tenn., served as a judge at the event; a key initiative of ARTBA’s “Transportation Makes America Work” public affairs campaign.

Dubbed “The Great Transportation Debate,” it was a public exhibition match that kicked-off the National Association of Urban Debate League’s (NAUDL) annual,

weekend-long competition at Georgetown University where 76 inner-city high school students from across America debated the merits of federal investment in transportation, vying for the title of 2013 “Urban Debate National Champion.”

Throughout the 2012-2013 school season ARTBA

The ARTBA Foundation is taking one of its most popular training opportunities on the road, hosting a Project Management Academy (PMA) at the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Utah May 29-31.

The highly-acclaimed PMA provides transportation construction professionals with the next generation of project management skills needed to thrive in today’s challenging

Members of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee grilled U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood April 16 at a hearing on the Obama Administration’s FY 2014 budget proposal. While most of the issues members raised with LaHood were specific to individual congressional districts, LaHood fielded a number of questions on how the Administration plans to pay for the $214 billion in

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Upcoming EventsVisit our Events Page for more information.

Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-InJune 3-5Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

Young Executive Development ProgramJune 3-6Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

5th Annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory ForumJune 5 Washington, D.C.

25th Annual ARTBA P3 ConferenceJuly 24-26 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

ARTBA National ConventionSeptember 8-10 Milwaukee, Wis.[Add to Calendar]

Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvationTM

Workshop & Awards ProgramOctober 28-30 San Jose, Calif.

Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase (LoTransTM 2013)November 19-20

Regional MeetingsWestern: December 2-3, Austin, TexasCentral: December 4-5, St. Louis, Mo.Southern: December 9-10, Charlotte, N.C.Northeastern: December 11-12, Baltimore, Md.

2013

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The Great Transportation Debate

More than 15 professionals from academia, the federal government, transportation construction industry, news media, and private sector served as judges during “The Great Transportation Debate.”

and its chapter affiliates—AGC of New York, United Contractors (Calif.), and the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association—supported the program, which provides students in low-income school districts with opportunities to develop literacy, critical thinking, research, and communication skills and prepares them for college.

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Products & ServicesSupport Safety in April The ARTBA Foundation has two popular products you can purchase to show your commitment to safety and also help support the “Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Fund.”

Work Zone Awareness Safety Ribbons: These one-inch-by-three-inch adhesive ribbons are made from retro-reflective

orange tape and are the perfect accessory. Wear them on the jobsite or at meetings. Minimum order 15 ribbons per

page for $15. Work Zone Safety Awareness Wristbands: The Livestrong Foundation first made them famous and now their are replicas all over

the world. Wear your bright orange wristbands on the jobsite or at

meetings to show your support for work zone safety. Minimum order 20 wristbands per bag for $40.

To Purchase: www.artbastore.org

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Highly-Rated Professional Development Program Held in Utah

Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort in Utah.

market.Brigham Young University Professor, Dr.

Jay Newitt, an internationally recognized expert in construction scheduling will lead the session on “Planning & Scheduling,” which will cover scheduling systems, preparation and analysis, a case study on scheduling and an explanation of Critical Path Method.

Randall R. Park, P.E., project development director for the Utah Department of Transportation, will provide valuable insight into how private-sector transportation professionals can develop and cultivate positive working relationships with public officials.

Other topics include “Construction Documentation” led by Jad Davis, partner at the law firm of Kutak Rock LLP, and “Management & Leadership” taught by Dr. Jay Christofferson, department chair, construction management, Brigham Young University. Sessions on the “Economics of

Safety” and “Resource Management” are also on the agenda.

Registration is $2,000 for ARTBA members and $2,700 for non-members. More than 20 Professional Development Hours are available. Register, or contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions.

The ARTBA Women Leaders in Transportation Design and Construction (WLTDC) Council is now accepting nominations for its annual awards pro-gram, which honors “extraordinary efforts of individuals, companies and public agencies that have demonstrated leadership and dedication to in-novation in the transportation construction field as well as the promotion of women leaders within the industry.” The 2013 awards program includes three categories: • The Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award: Named after

ARTBA’s executive director from the mid-1920s, it is given to at least one woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and long-term service in the industry’s public or private sectors.

• The Glass Hammer Award: Honors at least one company in the trans-portation construction industry that has innovative programs and activities directed at successfully promoting women leaders within their organization.

• Future Industry Spotlight Award: Recognizes two women students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies at a U.S. college or uni-versity who have achieved an outstanding academic record and demon-strated extraordinary leadership skills within and outside the academic environment.

ARTBA membership is not required. Nominations must be received by close of business July 12. Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions. Win-ners will be recognized at a special September 7 awards luncheon during ARTBA’s National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.

Call for Nominations: ARTBA 2013 Women Leaders Awards

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“I’ve never had anybody come up to me and say: Hey, that 18.4 cents [per gallon] you

charge is ridiculous. They understand the need to put it on the roads…It’s not going to happen as a standalone. If we move a tax reform bill, I think there’s an opportunity for us to address this.”

House T&I Committee Chair Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), speaking at a “National Journal” event April 18.

“[Infrastructure is] one of the constitutional responsibilities that the federal

government has. And I think we’ve been neglecting it.”

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) quoted in “Politico” April 19.

Overheard“ ”

Legislative & Regulatory News

TRB Newsletter: April 16Highlighting new research, technologies, industry best practices and information resources available to the transportation design and construction industry.

A service of ARTBA’s multi-modal councils, it features current transportation developments making news across all modes and regions. Contact Sara Jones to become a subscriber or visit www.artbamultimodal.org.

Fostering Innovation

MultimodalNews

Shuster Reiterates All Options on the Table Regarding HTF Revenues

House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) continued to publicly call for a long-term solution

to the Highway Trust Fund’s structural revenue shortfall at an April 18 “question and answer” session with reporters and transportation industry representatives. Shuster specifically suggested an ongoing effort to advance a comprehensive reform of the U.S. tax code could be a vehicle for addressing the Trust Fund’s revenue challenges and restated that “all options should be on the table,” when it comes to solutions. Shuster also put the realities of a Vehicle Miles Traveled user fee into perspective, pointing out the time it would take to implement such a program and the large administrative costs of doing so compared to the current, motor fuels based user fee.

Simpson-Bowles 2.0 Retains Gas Tax Increase

The co-chairs of President Obama’s deficit reduction commission, former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Clinton Administration White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, released an updated plan to reduce the federal deficit by $2.5

trillion. Among the proposal’s recommendations is:

“Establish a Fast-Track Process to Pass a ‘Highway Bill’ that Brings Spending and Revenues in Line: The current highway bill is scheduled to expire after 2014, and was funded in part through temporary savings that will run dry around the same time. Policymakers must make the transportation trust funds solvent for at least a decade through some combination of spending and revenue changes. As an example, an 11- or 12-cent gasoline tax increase would be sufficient. Any reforms should represent structural changes to the funding our outlay streams —not one-time transfers or budget gimmicks.”

The original Simpson-Bowles plan from 2010 called for a 15-cent federal motor fuels tax increase phased in over three years. ARTBA has consistently pointed out to members of Congress that stabilizing the Highway Trust Fund with new revenues would both reduce the deficit and contribute to economic growth.

Administration Budget Proposal

general fund transfers proposed to offset its’ recommended increases in transportation investment over the next six years. LaHood reiterated the Obama Administration’s desire to offset the increased transportation investments, including an up-front $50 billion in supplemental FY 2014 funding, with savings from ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Republicans and the Obama Administration disagree on whether reduced spending in this area can be used to offset increased spending in other parts of the federal budget.

In response to a question from House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Latham (R-Iowa) on whether or not Congress can expect a rail reauthorization proposal from the Administration, LaHood said, “I believe that when you all finish working on certainly guns and immigration, you will see a bold plan put forth by this administration, which will include funding.” While the question was raised in the context of rail reauthorization, many have taken this to mean the Obama Administration will put forward a multi-modal funding proposal at some point in the near future.

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ARTBA Urges President to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline

ARTBA urged President Obama in an April 16 letter to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline project that would transport oil from Canada to Texas. ARTBA stressed Keystone’s potential for creating much-needed jobs in the transportation construction sector. Further, the association noted that a Wisconsin-based ARTBA member has already been awarded a contract for constructing 371 miles of pipeline, but construction cannot begin until the entire project is approved.

Additionally, ARTBA, along with 17 other construction

ARTBA News

Download a PDF copy of the digital “Washington Newsline.”

House Members Push to Expedite Delivery of Water Resource Improvements

The House Water Resources & Environment Subcommittee April 16 held its first hearing on legislation to reauthorize and reform the federal port and waterway development programs. Subcommittee Chairman Robert Gibbs (R-Ohio) said one of his priorities for the legislation will be to improve the amount of time it takes for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to study and deliver water infrastructure projects. Gibbs noted, “In what used to take the Corps 3 or 5 years to study, it has now become the norm for the Corps to take 10, 12, or 15 years to produce a study.” Witnesses at the hearing expressed frustration with the Corps approval process and emphasized the need to adopt a system that better plans, manages, and funds important water resource projects. Those testifying underscored the importance of boosting investment in these vital transportation facilities and the critical need for this legislation.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved its version of a Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) March 20, but the measure has not yet been scheduled for consideration by the full Senate. House T&I Committee Chairman Bill Shuster said separately last week a House counterpart was likely in “late spring-summer.” ARTBA is continuing to urge members of both chambers to move forward with WRDA legislation as soon as possible that increases investment in water infrastructure improvements and accelerates the delivery of these critical projects.

associations sent an April 17 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry supporting a recent draft environmental impact statement which found the Keystone project would have both minimal environmental effects and significant economic benefits. In a related development, the House Energy and Commerce Committee April 17 passed legislation allowing the Keystone XL Pipeline project to begin without presidential approval. Both of ARTBA’s letters supporting the Keystone XL Pipeline can be found on the “regulatory” section of www.artba.org.

ARTBA Participates in Port Conference

Experts from the port and intermodal arena gathered in Miami last week to call attention to the shortage of funds for infrastructure projects. The “Infocast Port and Intermodal Finance and Investment Summit” brought together leaders from across the country April 16-18 to discuss and propose solutions regarding the shortage of financing for critical port projects that would

help provide needed capacity increases in the U.S. freight network.

With the coming changes in the Panama Canal, and resulting increases in cargo shipments, U.S. ports have been working to make sure their facilities are able to handle the increased volumes. While Congress debates new port and waterway legislation, ports have been busy exploring alternative financing solutions through public-private partnerships (P3s) and other alternative options.

ARTBA Ports & Waterways Council Executive Director Kenyon Gleason outlined the important work the association is doing in the freight policy arena. Gleason focused on ARTBA’s efforts to push for a national freight program and its work to help ensure optimal implementation of the 2012 federal surface transportation law’s freight policy provisions. He also outlined the need for grassroots political involvement and the valuable role the industry can play in educating elected leaders to make sure the industry’s voice is heard.

ARTBA Leader Helps Launch Work Zone Awareness

With a theme of “Roadway Work Zone Safety: We’re All in This Together,” National Work Zone Awareness Week kicked-off April 16 with a news conference at a road construction site near ARTBA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The annual program, which is co-sponsored by the ARTBA Foundation-managed National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, draws public attention to the more than 600 people killed and 40,000 injured annually in accidents at these sites.

Manuel Rodrigues, vice president of Metro Paving Corp., the contractor managing the project, represented ARTBA at the event, during which victims and their families placed ceremonial black ribbons on orange safety cones and observed a moment of silence for those who lost their lives helping to build and repair U.S. roads.

The 2013 Work Zone Awareness Week highlighted the complexities of work zones, especially in urban areas, and the need for greater awareness and better planning on the part of everyone affected by work zones, including state agencies, road workers, drivers, bicy-clists, motorcycles, pedestrians, emergency response, law enforce-ment and utility workers.

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ARTBA Director of Public Affairs Beth McGinn recently interviewed NTSB Chair Debbie Hersman

Beth McGinn: Late last year, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unveiled its annual “Most Wanted List,” which identifies the top 10 transportation safety challenges for 2013. Can you explain to our readers the goal of the list as it relates to policy making and improving safety for American travelers?Chairman Debbie Hersman: The issues on the Most Wanted List reflects what the NTSB believes are the most important safety concerns that need to be addressed in a given year—and they focus on areas where we think we can have the greatest impact on improving safety and saving lives. Also, when we see a safety issue emerging from our recent investigations and safety recommendations, we can put the issue on the Most Wanted List to increase awareness. The strength of the program comes from our ability to raise awareness, stimulate conversation and to challenge decision makers to action.

BM: “Preserving the integrity of transportation infrastructure” was among the categories identified for improvement this year. Why did NTSB choose to add this issue to the list? DH: The state of our transportation infrastructure deserves greater awareness as a serious safety issue. And when lawmakers are debating where and how to spend dollars on infrastructure improvements, safety should have a seat at the table. A lot has happened since the early 20th century, when many of our rail lines were built and since the 1950s, when the national highway system was approved and thousands of pipe-line miles were laid. Materials have im-proved, technology has advanced, and we have learned a lot about safety through our investigations. We have seen that as a nation, we don’t always provide sufficient guidance for the owners and inspectors of bridges, pipelines and other infrastructure across the coun-try. While some assets must be replaced, with proper inspection and maintenance however, other parts of our transportation infrastructure can age gracefully and retain their structural integrity.

BM: Has the NTSB made any specific recommendations in this area? DH: Yes, the NTSB has recommended strengthening inspection requirements and standards. We have recommended that a risk-based priority be assigned to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of each structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridge. Many of these recom-mendations were a direct result of NTSB’s investigation of the I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis.

BM: While the “Most Wanted List” covers all transportation modes, six of the top 10 issues focus on highway travel. How did you decide which categories would be chosen? DH: We start with our investigations and their associated safety recommendations and then we look at areas of transporta-tion safety that need more attention. We’ve made great strides in making commercial airline travel safer. But if you look at the numbers, Americans are dying and being injured on our roadways. The NTSB’s mission is to make transportation safer. To do that, we have to focus our energies,

our resources and our advocacy on making our infrastructure safer and changing the culture of driving.

BM: If our nation’s policy makers and thought leaders take away one thing from this important discussion, what do you hope it will be? DH: I agree with President Obama’s idea of “Fix it First.” We should focus our limited infrastructure dollars on fixing our aging bridges, pipelines and other transportation facilities. Our infrastructure is being tested. We know that when these tests are failed, the results can be tragic. By investing in existing infrastructure, our critical assets will last longer and we can focus precious resources where new investment is most needed.

NTSB Chairman Debbie Hersman“The NTSB’s mission is to

make transportation safer.”

7ARTBA Washington Newsline

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