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2013ARTBA ChairmanSteve Wright

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ON THE COVER

FEATURES COLUMNS

2013 ARTBA Chairman Steve Wright

Virginia’s Innovative Express Lanes

2013 Transportation Construction Market Outlook: Modest Growth

ARTBA’s First 110 Years From the Chairman

President’s Desk

The Branding Game

Q&A with Transportation Journalists

Member News

AEM Corner

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VOL. 24, NO. 6contentsThe official publication of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association

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StaffPUBLISHERT. Peter [email protected]

DEPUTY PUBLISHER Matt [email protected]

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Beth [email protected]

PUBLICATIONS EDITOR & GRAPHIC DESIGNERJenny [email protected]

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSTim Steinhilber Transurban general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project

Dr. Alison Premo Black ARTBA chief economist

Beth McGinn ARTBA director of public affairs and new media

Susan E. Colman, Esq.Of Counsel to Technology Law Group, LLC

Transportation Builder® (TB) is the official publication of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, a federation whose primary goal is to aggressively grow and protect transportation infrastructure investment to meet the public and business demand for safe and efficient travel. In support of this mission, ARTBA also provides programs and services designed to give its members a global competitive edge. As the only national publication specifically geared toward transportation development professionals, TB is the primary source of business, legislative and regulatory news critical to the success and future of the transportation design and construction industry.

Transportation Builder® (ISSN 1043-4054) is published bi-monthly by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). Postmaster: Send change of address to Transportation Builder®, c/o ARTBA, The ARTBA Building, 1219 28th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007. Telephone: 202-289-4434, Fax: 202-289-4435, Internet: www.artba.org; E-mail: [email protected]. Periodicals postage paid at Washington, D.C., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions are $105/year for ARTBA members, which is included in the dues; $120/year for non-members; and $200/year non-U.S. mailing addresses. Copyright ©2012 ARTBA. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

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Executive CommitteeChairman: Steve WrightWright Brothers Construction, Charleston, Tenn.

Senior Vice Chairman: Doug BlackOldcastle Materials, Atlanta, Ga.

First Vice Chairman: Nick IvanoffAmmann & Whitney, New York, N.Y.

Northeastern Region Vice Chairman: John KulkaHRI, Inc., State College, Pa.

Central Region Vice Chairman: Kathi HolstRoadSafe Traffic Systems, Romeoville, Ill.

Southern Region Vice Chairman: Thomas ElmoreEutaw Construction Company, Aberdeen, Miss.

Western Region Vice Chairman: Steve McGoughHCSS, Sugar Land, Texas

Vice Chairman At-Large: Scott L. CasselsKiewit Infrastructure Group, Omaha, Neb.

Vice Chairman At-Large: John Houle3M, St. Paul, Minn.

Vice Chairman At-Large: Jim AndogaAustin Bridge & Road, Irving, Texas

Vice Chairman At-Large: Michael DonninoGranite Construction Company, Lewisville, Texas

Vice Chairman At-Large: Ward NyeMartin Marietta Materials, Raleigh, N.C.

Vice Chairman At-Large: David S. ZachryZachry Construction Corporation, San Antonio, Texas

Treasurer: Tom HillSummit Materials, LLC, Washington, D.C.

Secretary: Pete RuaneARTBA, Washington, D.C.

ARTBA-TDF Board of Trustees Chairman: Leo Vecellio, Jr.Vecellio Group, Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla.

Contractors Division President: Bob AlgerThe Lane Construction Corporation, Cheshire, Conn.

Contractors Division First Vice President: Pete GetchellPKF-Mark III, Inc., Newtown, Pa.

Research & Education DIvision President: Dr.Teresa AdamsWisconsin Transportation Center, Madison, Wis.

AEM Representative: Ron DeFeoTEREX Corporation, Westport, Conn.

Materials & Services Division President: Mike FlowersAmerican Bridge Company, Corapolis, Pa.

Planning & Design Division President: David GehrParsons Brinckerhoff, Herndon, Va.

Public-Private Partnerships Division President: Thomas StonerH.W. Lochner, Clearwater, Fla.

Traffic Safety Industry Division President: Taylor Bowlden3M, Traffic Safety Systems Division, Washington, D.C.

Transportation Officials Division President: Eric SeibringPiatt County, Illinois Assn. of County Engineers, Monticello, Ill.

Council of State Executives: Chris RunyanOhio Contractors Association, Columbus, Ohio

Immediate Past ARTBA Chairman: Paul YarossiHNTB Holdings, Ltd., New York, N.Y.

Past Chairman’s Council Chairman: Jim MadaraGannett Fleming, Allentown, Pa.

Young Executive Leadership Council Chairman: David HarwoodTerracon, Olathe, Kan.

Joint Committee Representative: Matt CummingsAECOM, Philadelphia, Pa.


Editor’s Note:

Jenny Ragone, Publications Editor & Graphic Designer

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In this special issue of “Transportation Builder” we introduce you to 2013 ARTBA Chairman Steve Wright of Wright Brothers Construction Company. Beginning on page 16, we take a look at Wright’s personal story, his leadership style and his agenda for the year ahead.

As 2012 comes to close, we celebrate ARTBA’s 110th Anniversary on page 10 with a look at major milestones in the association’s history, and pictures of the projects and people who have helped shape the transportation design and construction industry over the last century.

With an eye toward the year ahead, ARTBA Chief Economist Dr. Alison Premo Black provides a look at what the 2013 transportation construction market holds for various sectors of the industry on page 24.

On page 22, ARTBA Director of Public Affairs & New Media Beth McGinn turns the tables on the news media, and interviews three top Washington, D.C., transportation reporters to find out which transportation-related bills will be addressed by the incoming Congress.

And as part of our ongoing look at innovative transportation projects taking place across the nation, we have story on page 20 about Northern Virginia’s new Express Lanes, which opened to the public in November.

As always, I hope you find this information informative. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments at [email protected].

Happy holidays!


In 1998, I flew to the Nation’s Capital to attend ARTBA’s Young Executive Lead-

ership Program (YEDP)—an intensive, multi-day seminar that introduces indus-try professionals to the federal legislative and regulatory processes, and ARTBA’s role in shaping transportation policy. The program was also focused on helping us prepare for a future as industry advocates.

I spent several days learning about how the decisions made in Washington, D.C. ultimately impact my business. On the last day, we visited Capitol Hill and spoke to our members of Congress about the importance of federal investment in high-ways, bridges and transit systems.

The experience left an indelible mark on me. I came away with a new awareness of the critical role that we, both as individuals and as an association, have to play in shap-ing the decisions that affect our livelihoods. Fourteen years later, I am humbled to be the first YEDP graduate elected as ARTBA chair, and to serve this wonderful organi-zation that has taught me so much.

As part of that service, I plan to push a straightforward agenda in the year ahead.

As this issue goes to press, there is a great deal of discussions about the so-called “fiscal cliff.” In December, Congress and the President will continue addressing the looming spending cuts and tax hikes set to take effect at the beginning of 2013. ARTBA will be advocating that increased transportation investment be a priority in any budget deal that might emerge.

Through the “Trans 2020: MAP-21 Pol-icy Promotion, Implementation & Fund-ing Enhancement Task Force,” ARTBA’s volunteer leaders are already consulting with the U.S. Department of Transporta-tion to make sure the provisions in the new law are implemented as intended. The task force is also charged with develop-ing a strategy for the next reauthorization legislation scheduled for 2014.

As one of the co-chairs of the ARTBA Strategic Planning Committee (SPC), I pledge to continue implementing key recommendations in the 2011 SPC report, with a special focus on innovation. This includes the Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvation™ Workshop and Awards Program, and hosting additional virtual events.

Implementation of the SPC report will also require the expansion of the “Trans-portation Makes America Work” (TMAW) grassroots lobbying and advocacy cam-paign—the primary vehicle for enhancing the industry’s image and building support for new investments in transportation. I respectfully ask you all to consider making a major financial commitment to TMAW in 2013.

I also plan to reach out to fellow contractors and help recruit new ARTBA members. Visiting with some of ARTBA chapter affiliates to get them more involved in supporting the association is also on my agenda. Our contractor chapters are critical partners in our grassroots mobilization efforts.

Finally, since the YEDP program is obviously near and dear to my heart, we will expand outreach activities to the industry’s rising stars and encourage them to pursue more leadership opportunities in ARTBA divisions, committees, and policy/advisory councils.

The year ahead will be busy, and there is much work to do as we prepare for the reauthorization of MAP-21. Please join me in helping make this agenda a reality!

The 2013 ARTBA Agenda

from ARTBA chairman Steve Wright


T. Peter Ruane,President & CEOARTBA

T here are estimates that candidates, political parties and interest groups

spent more than $4 billion leading up to the November 6 election. As you recover from the barrage of political advertising that likely blanketed your area, here are some thoughts on the election and how it will affect ARTBA’s advocacy agenda.

Bipartisanship will rule In the Nation’s Capital, we will be working with the same partisan structure as the last two years—namely, Democrats again con-trolling the White House and Senate, while the Republicans will keep their majority in the House of Representatives. Once again, ARTBA’s unique bipartisan approach to government relations will enable us to get “a seat at the table” no matter who is issu-ing the invitations. And don’t forget that MAP-21, the surface transportation law passed this summer, attracted strong sup-port from both parties in each chamber, so we have a willing audience on both sides of the aisle.

It is STILL about the economy The central issue for both the Obama and Romney campaigns was growing the econ-omy, creating jobs and getting America’s fiscal house in order. Despite the deep divisions evidenced in the campaign, there are certain priorities on which Americans seem to agree. Developing a comprehen-sive solution for the nation’s staggering transportation infrastructure challenges is one of these areas, and is wholly consistent with the economic and budgetary priorities shared by both parties.

We can start with a dedicated and sustainable transportation-related revenue source. That’s why ARTBA is an enthusi-astic participant in the deficit-reduction debate. We are working with our Capitol Hill champions to seize any revenue op-portunity that may arise as part of a “grand bargain.” Our goal is continued success of the user fee principle and long-term sol-vency of the federal Highway Trust Fund.

The devil will be in the details, and the rulemaking MAP-21 includes worthy national trans-portation policy goals and greater account-ability. So ARTBA is deeply engaged in the rulemaking process to ensure that the U.S. Department of Transportation implements the law as Congress intended, to help make the surface transportation programs more efficient.

We also expect a record level of regula-tory activity during the second Obama term, in areas like the Disadvantaged Busi-ness Enterprise program, worker safety and environmental compliance, among others. ARTBA will remain the key transportation construction industry advocate in these areas, too.

MAP-21 reauthorization is here President Obama and the newly-elected Congress will be responsible for developing

the next federal highway/transit bill when MAP-21 expires September 2014. They need to finish the job by providing the long-term reliable revenue stream neces-sary to ensure the nation’s highway, bridge and transit network promotes economic growth rather than impedes it. As always, ARTBA will be the strongest possible advocate for this outcome through our “Transportation Makes America Work! Campaign” and other venues.

With more than 80 new faces coming to Capitol Hill, you can help by meeting with your new members of Congress, as well as the returning “sophomores,” to educate them about the industry and your area’s transportation infrastructure needs.

So with the election over, that’s the context in which ARTBA will be working on your behalf in the coming months. As always, we deeply appreciate your help. Happy holidays to all, and stay tuned for a busy 2013!

With the Election Over, ARTBA’s Work Continues

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ARTBA Founder Horatio S. Earle (1855-1935).

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco was completed in 1937.

“Stuck in the Mud:” A corduroy road in Virginia, 1914.ARTBA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Granite block street paving in New York City, 1930.

Construction of the Whitehurst Freeway in Washington, D.C., 1949. Photo courtesy of the National Archives.

Interstate highway construction got underway quickly in Missouri. Photo courtesy of the Federal Highway Administration.


110 YEARS AGO a small group of influential Amer-icans heeded the

call from Michigan public official Horatio S. Earle and gathered at the Cadillac Hotel in New York City to launch what has become the nation’s oldest and highly influential transportation advocacy group: the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

Earle’s vision was to gain federal support for construction of a “Capital Connecting Government Highway System”—a paved road network that would “connect every state capital with every other state capital and with the United States’ capital, Washington.” That vision came to fruition in 1956 when Congress authorized funding and construction of the Interstate Highway System, which today stands, arguably, as one of the greatest accom-plishments ever achieved by a national association.

From the beginning, ARTBA has been a major leadership force in the development of federal transportation policy and legislation. The association’s 5,000+ private and public sector members have designed, built, and continue to manage the world’s most sophisticated and safest transportation network. Today, ARTBA continues to advocate strong federal investment in transportation to meet the public demand for safe travel and efficient movement of people and goods.

Below is a timeline of major ARTBA milestones over the past 110 years:

1902American Road Makers (ARM) constitution, drafted by Horatio S. Earle, approved February 13 at Cadillac Hotel in New York City.

1903First association convention held in Detroit, Mich.

1909First ARM “Road Show” (the forerunner of today’s CONEXPO-CON/AGG) held in Columbus, Ohio.

1910Name changed to American Road Builders Associa-tion (ARBA).

1915ARBA sponsors first “Pan American Good Roads Conference.”

1916ARBA successfully pushes first Federal-Aid Road Act.

1921ARBA secures increase in road construction funding with passage of Federal-Aid Road Act.

1923Association launches member magazine (today’s “Transportation Builder”).

1927ARBA-American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) Joint Committee established.

1934ARBA-supported Hayden-Cartwright Act is signed into law authorizing $200 million for highway projects.

1940Annual convention & “Road Show” in Chicago attracts 47,500.

1942ARBA helps form “The Road Gang” in Washington, D.C.


1945ARBA member Harry S. Truman elected U.S. President.

1948Record 300,000 attend ARBA “Road Show” in Chicago, Ill.

1956ARBA founder Earle’s vision of Interstate Highway Construction Program and the federal Highway Trust Fund established by law.

1966ARBA-advocated cabinet-level U.S. Department of Transportation created.

1968ARBA Board of Directors creates The Road Information Program (TRIP), which is headquartered in ARBA’s office.

1970ARBA-pushed federal Airport Trust Fund established.

1976ARBA-proposed federal 4-R bridge programs enacted.

1977Name changed to American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).

1979ARTBA Political Action Committee established.

1982ARTBA successfully pushes first federal gas tax increase for road construction in 23 years.

1985Association holds first-ever “National Conference on Highway Work Zone Safety” in Washington, D.C.

ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) established.

1986ARTBA Washington, D.C., event celebrates 30th anniversary of Interstate Highway Program.

1989ARTBA organizes “Building a Better America Through Transportation Construction” campaign to push for increased federal investment.

1991ARTBA-pushed highway/transit program bill (ISTEA) provides $155 billion in federal investment.

1993ARTBA files first environmental lawsuit to protect transportation construction industry market interests.

1994ARTBA Industry Advancement Fund (ARTBA-IAF) launched.

ARTBA holds second “National Conference on Highway Work Zone Safety” in Washington, D.C.

1995ARTBA successfully pushes enactment of National Highway System Designation Act.

ARTBA initiates “Alliance for Truth in Transportation Budgeting Coalition.”

President George W. Bush signing SAFETEA-LU in 2005.

President Bill Clinton signing TEA-21 in 1998.


1996ARTBA-TDF “Young Executive Development Program” established.

ARTBA initiates “Transportation Construction Coalition” (TCC).

1997 ARTBA’s official website (www.artba.org) launched.

1998ARTBA-led coalitions successfully push for record $218 billion federal highway/transit program bill (TEA-21).

ARTBA “PRIDE in Transportation Construction” campaign launched.

ARTBA and the Federal Highway Administration establish na-tion’s first National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse.

2000ARTBA-led coalition secures passage of AIR-21, increasing federal airport capital investment by more than 60 percent.

2001Association holds first-ever “International Conference on Roadway Work Zone Safety” in Saint Louis, Mo.

2002ARTBA celebrates 100th anniversary in New York City and Washington, D.C.

ARTBA “Transportation Makes America Work (TMAW) Campaign” launched.

2004ARTBA achieves long-time industry goal of ethanol tax reform, which results in an additional $2 billion annual revenue stream for transportation improvements.

2005ARTBA-pushed highway/transit program bill (SAFETEA-LU) signed by President George W. Bush.

2006ARTBA celebrates 50th anniversary of the Interstate Highway Pro-gram in Washington, D.C., with a gala dinner featuring General Colin Powell.

2007ARTBA hosts “National Traffic Management & Work Zone Safety Conference” at Intertraffic North America in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

ARTBA forward-looking, federally-led “Critical Commerce Corridors” goods movement proposal unveiled.

2009President Barack Obama signs the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, which provides an extra $48 billion for transportation improvements.

2010ARTBA-TDF “Transportation Development Hall of Fame” established.

2011ARTBA launches first-ever TransOvation™ Workshop, an interactive event aimed at fostering a culture of innovation within the industry.

2012The 27-month highway/transit program bill (MAP-21) signed into law by President Barack Obama.

ARTBA hosts first-ever “Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase” featuring “Best Practices in Work Zone Safety.”

The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Till-man Memorial Bridge connect-ing Arizona and Nevada above Hoover Dam was completed in 2010. It is the highest and longest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere, and boasts the world’s tallest concrete columns of their kind.


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There is a classic cartoon from “The New Yorker” magazine, published December 8, 1928, which can be very instructive as to how business owners look at protecting themselves and their businesses. In the cartoon, a mother and her young daughter are seated at the dinner table with plates of food in front of them. The mother says: “It’s broccoli, dear.” The young tyke snarls out in response: “I say it’s spinach, and I say the hell with it.”

It appears to be typical that the more often we are offered op-portunities to protect ourselves and our businesses, those things that—like broccoli and spinach—are “good for us,” the more often we dig in our heels and try to resist them. It costs time and money to protect ourselves, immediately and over time, and the excuse has always been: “We’ve not yet been on the receiving end of any complaints, so we must be doing something right. Why stir up a hornet’s nest?”

Well, the hornet’s nest can be stirred up at a moment’s notice, and the resulting stings can cost businesses far more than it would cost to protect themselves in advance. This is certainly true when you’re on the offense, but will most definitely be the case if you ever find yourself on the defensive. The legal process is fraught with a combination of objectivity and subjectivity. Even on a good day, when the law and the facts are resolutely on your side, you may still not get what you want, and the entire process is sure to be very expensive and time consuming.

The context here is the value of branding, and how businesses can create brands and protect them in order to enhance their stake in a very competitive industry. Simply put, the function of a trademark is to associate in the mind of the purchasing public the goods and/or services provided in connection with the mark with the source of those goods and/or services. When you are in the market for a car, you know the difference between a Ford and a Cadillac, or between a Hyundai and a Mazda. You know what to expect from each of those brands, because you recognize the source.

This is no different than the goods and services you provide in the transportation construction industry. You are smart to want a brand that identifies you as the go-to company, among all your competitors. It is tempting to brand yourselves with a mark that describes what you have to offer, but descriptive marks are the weakest and least enforceable of all, and the U.S. Patent and Trade-mark Office won’t give you the time of day. Most of all, descriptive marks will not make you distinctive in your marketplace.

When you’re considering a brand for your company, you would be wise to do two things at the very start. First—you know this already—a company name search must be done to determine whether an entity name is available in your particular state. Sec-ond—often ignored—a comprehensive trademark search should be done to see if there are any similar marks already registered, pending applications for registration, or marks simply being used in the marketplace without registration (“common law rights” le-gally protectable) that may interfere with your mark. The standard for trademark infringement is “likelihood of confusion” with a mark that has a date of first use senior to yours.

The clearance of a company name to do business in a particular state does not mean that your trade name doesn’t infringe some-one else’s mark. That’s why these two separate searches need to be done. Without a trademark search, you could be on the receiv-ing end of a lawsuit for infringement, costing time and certainly money, which will entrench you in a process that will drain away resources.

If you already have a brand or a set of brands and haven’t been hit by an infringement lawsuit yet, consider yourselves lucky. The way not to keep looking over your shoulder is to take stock of your brands, which will include not only your company name but also the marks associated with what you provide. If you haven’t had a comprehensive search performed on your portfolio of marks, get one done. It will also identify whether you can go on the offensive yourself against an interloper. Damages in an infringement suit can include lost profits.

Consider registering your brands in the U.S. Patent and Trade-mark Office, if you have not already done so, and your search gives you the green light. Registration will allow you to protect your brand in all 50 states, even if you aren’t doing business in all of them. That’s not a bad deal, and could be very good for business.

For a company to remain competitive, it must know and protect its brands. How you present yourselves in your marketplace and within your industry is vitally important for how you will survive and thrive in any economy. It ought to be abundantly clear by now that the broccoli and spinach which companies have so tirelessly avoided for so long are too good for them to be rejected altogether. After all, spinach, like knowledge, is power.

Know How to Win the Branding Gameby Susan E. Colman, Esq.

Mercedes-Benz, Caterpillar Inc, and 3M are ranked in the top 100 brands of 2012, according to the 13th an-nual “Best Global Brands Report” from Interbrand, a brand consulting company.

Susan E. Colman is Of Counsel to Technology Law Group, where she engages in technology and telecommunications litigation: 202.885.5533 or [email protected]. ©2012 All Rights Reserved.


BORN TO BUILD ROADS

2013 ARTBA Chairman

by Beth McGinn


Road building is in Steve Wright’s blood. In 1961, his father, Robert, and uncle, James, started Wright Brothers Construction in Tennessee with the goal of making a living in an industry they were passionate about. They began the company with a single bulldozer, dig-ging ponds for local farmers and helping other contractors on small road projects.

The company scored its first contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation in 1967, and went on to help build the major north-south corridor known as I-75 during the 1970’s. Fifty-one years later, Wright Brothers Construction runs a fleet of 300 pieces of heavy equipment, employs 350 people and provides big grading, excavating, highway and heavy construction services all across the southeastern United States.

When Steve was four, he could often be found running around the job site in denim overalls eager to help his father and uncle. By the time he was 10, he wanted to operate equipment. Like the generation before him, he had a passion for “digging in the dirt,” and following in the family business came naturally.

“When I was a little boy, my dad and my uncle were in this business and I was fascinated by it,” Wright explains. “I always knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. My goal was to be the low boy driver. I thought that driving one of those trucks up and down the road was as great as it could get.”

Steve got his chance in 1978, when he joined the family business.

He held many positions, from laborer to equipment operator, eventually climbing to the rank of chief executive officer. His leadership during the past decade has been pivotal to the company’s growth, but he credits that success to the influence of his father and uncle, as well as to the hard work of his company’s employees.

BORN TO BUILD ROADS


Faith, Family & WorkAs someone who grew up in a family-owned business, Steve Wright understands the crucial role employees play in a company’s success. His deep religious faith and strong commitment to family values have also helped shape his leadership style.

The company promotes a culture of what he has referred to as a “balance between faith, family, and work.”

Last year, Wright Brothers launched a corporate chaplains’ program with the goal of tending to the spiritual needs of employ-ees working far from home. The company has also established a confidential e-mail prayer system, where employees will pray for the needs of fellow colleagues who are facing life’s many physical and emotional challenges.

Steve has also offered seminars to employees to help them understand how to best manage their own personal finances and prepare for their family’s financial future.

“In my opinion, our single biggest asset over the last 51 years has been the amazingly talented and dedicated people who have worked here and their families who have supported them,” Wright said. “No business is better than those who work there; no matter what you hear on TV, an ‘army of one’ won’t go far in the construction business.”

ARTBA HistoryWright’s election as chairman marks an important milestone in ARTBA’s 110-year history.

He is the first graduate of the ARTBA Foundation’s “Young Executive Development Program” (YEDP) to become chairman. Created in 1996, the YEDP is annual event that introduces the industry’s “young guns” to the federal legislative and regulatory processes, and ARTBA’s role in shaping policy in the Nation’s Capital. More than 430 people have graduated since its inception.

Wright believes deeply in giving back to the industry that has given him so much and his leadership in ARTBA spans a decade.

He has served as the association’s senior vice chairman, first vice chairman, southern region vice chairman, Contractors Division president, 2011 Strategic Planning Committee co-chair, 2007 Long-Range Planning Committee co-chair, and Environmental Committee chairman.

He is past president (1998) of the Tennessee Road Builders Association (TRBA), ARTBA’s state chapter affiliate.

“I think the thing that people ought to know about Steve is the real passion he has for the industry. He has been in it his whole life and his passion for it is infectious,” explained friend and TRBA Executive Vice President Kent Starwalt.

The Agenda A key component in Wright’s agenda relates to MAP-21—the highway and transit investment law. Members of the ARTBA “Trans 2020: MAP-21 Policy Promotion, Implementation & Fund-ing Enhancement Task Force” are working with the U.S. Depart-ment of Transportation to make sure the provisions in the law are implemented as intended. The task force is also charged with developing a strategy for the scheduled 2014 reauthorization.

In addition, as Congress and the President continue to discuss the so-called “fiscal cliff,” Wright says: “We will make sure that our industry has a strong voice in any future discussions over the U.S. budget and spending priorities.”

Other items on Wright’s agenda: boosting membership develop-ment, particularly among contractors; continued implementa-tion of the recommendations put forward by the 2011 Strategic Planning Committee, which he co-chaired, with special focus on innovation; and building financial support for the next phase of the ARTBA “Transportation Makes America Work” grassroots lobbying and advocacy campaign.

The expansion of the YEDP is also part of his focus. “As the first graduate of the YEDP to become ARTBA chairman, this program is near and dear to my heart,” Wright says. “We will work to engage the industry’s rising stars in ARTBA’s divisions, committees, and policy councils.”

An AdvocateAs a national and state policy advocate for many years, Steve is uniquely prepared to help educate elected officials about the transportation infrastructure challenges facing the nation.

“Steve Wright made a very big difference in my career in Congress,” commented U.S. Representative Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.). “I didn’t know much about road building, other than I knew we need roads and bridges. Steve sat down with me and explained to me what it was like to build a road, what it was like to maintain a road, and more importantly, what it was like if you didn’t maintain a road. So Steve has helped educate me about the needs for our infrastructure system in this country and he embodies what’s great about America.”

As he tackles the challenges ahead, Steve Wright will no doubt be guided by his strong work ethic and firm faith. His company’s value proposition is simple: Get the job done, and done right. He will carry this same value proposition with him as he implements his agenda as ARTBA chairman in the year ahead.

Beth McGinn is ARTBA director of public affairs & new media: [email protected].


2012 Chairman Paul Yarossi, HNTB, passing the gavel to the new 2013 Chairman, Steve Wright, Wright Brothers Construction.

Steve Wright and his wife, Lou Ann.

Steve Wright and his family: (from left to right) son-in-law Lucas Salyer; daugher Mary Salyer; wife Lou Ann Wright; and son Rob Wright.


The 495 Express Lanes are now a reality for commuters who use northern Virginia’s congested Capital Beltway.

“The showcase for the entire East Coast,” as Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton dubbed them, are two new lanes running down the middle of Virginia’s Capital Beltway in each direction for 14 miles, from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road.

Built under an innovative public-private partnership between the commonwealth of Virginia, toll road manager Transurban, infrastructure developer Fluor and road builder Lane Construc-tion, the Express Lanes are “high-occupancy toll lanes,” a new concept to Virginia also known as “HOT lanes.” Vehicles carrying one or two people pay a toll to use the Express Lanes, while ve-hicles carrying three or more people and an E-ZPass® FlexSM travel at no charge.

The Lanes opened on November 17—more than a month early and on budget—after four years of construction. The project included three new interchanges offering access to the heavily populated Tysons and Merrifield areas of northern Virginia, and the upgrade of aging infrastructure including the replacement of more than 50 bridges and overpasses over that stretch of I-495.

The project, which received funding in 2007 and broke ground in 2008, logged more than five million safe work hours through September 2012—an accomplishment that far exceeds industry standards.

A model of public-private partnership “It is amazing to me that a project so complex—that was done on a road that gets well over 200,000 vehicles a day—that VDOT and its partners have been able to manage it and move it forward as quickly as they have,” Connaughton said.

Connaughton and others have hailed the project as a model of innovation, free enterprise and cooperation that has come together, during a time of scarce transportation dollars, to deliver travel solutions and choices to the millions of people who live in northern Virginia and travel through the heavily congested area.

The project also has been hailed for helping to boost Virginia’s economic fortunes in a time of recession. Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) praised the project for boosting the economy and creating jobs while the lanes were being built. Construction supported more than 16,000 jobs and generated nearly $3.5 million of economic impact for Virginia.

In September, AAA Mid-Atlantic hailed the impending opening of the 495 Express Lanes, predicting that the Washington, D.C.—area would soon step off their top 10 list of “worst commutes in the nation” thanks to the new travel option.

Tolling technology installed, testedA key element of the last stage of construction was installation and testing of the tolling technology. The new lanes have no tollbooths to slow down traffic. All tolling is done electronically using E-ZPass®, and anyone who wants the option to travel toll free as an HOV-3 carpool must use a new electronic toll collection device, the E-ZPass Flex. The Flex transponder can switch between toll-paying mode and HOV-3/toll-free mode.

“It’s a high-tech wonder,” Connaughton said.

Test vehicles cruised the new lanes in advance of opening to make sure the overhead electronic gantry system functioned effectively. The tolling and traffic management system is essential to the success of the 495 Express Lanes and a critical project com-ponent to deliver faster and more predictable travel to drivers.

Virginia’s Innovative Express Lanes Open EarlyNew “HOT lanes” hailed as a model of partnership delivering desperately needed congestion relief

by Tim Steinhilber

The 495 Express Lanes project added three new interchanges to the Capital Beltway in Virginia. Shown here, the Westpark Bridge Connec-tor connects the Express Lanes directly to Tysons Corner. The project also worked closely with the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project as the two were sometimes only a few feet apart. Reflected here with the Metro’s infrastructure coming over the Beltway and across Westpark Drive. Photo courtesy: 495 Express Lanes.


Clear signage identifies the Express Lanes, the entry and exit points, and the toll price, which varies according to traffic conditions to help ensure vehicles on the Express Lanes maintain a free flowing speed.

Customer education programSignage is just one small part of a massive community outreach initiative to educate commuters and travelers about the new 495 Express Lanes. So much is new about the lanes that a customer education program has been in place since the beginning of this year. The outreach is aimed at educating the market about HOT lanes as well as the new interchanges and the specific “rules of the road” such as the E-ZPass requirement, the double-white lines, and how the lanes will be operated and policed for violators.

Residents and travelers are learning about the lanes through social media including Facebook and Twitter, the project’s website www.495ExpressLanes.com, brochures and handouts, briefings to local officials and large employers, promotional events at local malls and festivals, and several contests.

The contests were designed to encourage northern Virginians to get E-ZPass. One contest gave away a MINI automobile and other contests have offered one or two free weeks of travel on the Express Lanes to those who open a new E-ZPass account.

The entire northern Virginia market is being targeted through print, radio and online advertising as well as on-road advertis-ing in the form of bus signage, truck wraps and gas tank toppers. Specific targeted audiences include commuters, major employers, transit, vehicle fleets, cab companies and rental car companies.

Communications to the community will continue into next year to help ensure that travelers understand how to use the Express Lanes.

At long last, beleaguered commuters in the Washington, D.C.-area, typically resigned to endless commutes and 55-mph inter-states that resemble parking lots, can find some relief. Thanks to the 495 Express Lanes, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova said as the lanes prepared to open, drivers can “enjoy a comfortable, dependable and quick commute.”

495 Express Lanes on-road testing during the summer of 2012. The test vehicles drove the Express Lanes to test the on-road equipment as well as the systems in the back office. Photo courtesy: 495 Express Lanes.

Tim Steinhilber is Transurban general manager for the 495 Express Lanes Project: [email protected].


Keith Laing, staff transportation reporter, “The Hill Newspaper.”

Nathan A Hurst, staff writer, transportation, “Congressional Quarterly Roll Call.”

Kathryn A. Wolfe, senior reporter, transportation, “POLITICO”

Interviewed by ARTBA’s Beth McGinn

Beth McGinn: As people who make a living following transportation issues on Capitol Hill, what do you see as the major transportation-related legislation on the congressional radar screen during the 113th Congress? Keith Laing: It’s always tough to accu-rately predict what Congress will or won’t do, but the incoming House Transporta-tion Committee chairman, Rep. Bill Shus-ter (R-Pa.), has already said it’ll be a busy two years for the panel. Among the bills he has said the transportation committee will consider are a renewal of the Passenger Rail Investment Act (PRIA), which is the legislation that made President Obama’s high-speed rail push possible, and a bill to deal with inland waterways, which is important to shippers. In the Senate, you might see a renewal of the push to create a national infrastructure bank after the chal-lenges transportation systems in New York and New Jersey faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Kathryn Wolfe: The biggest transporta-tion bill the 113th Congress will have to handle is undoubtedly the next surface transportation bill. Additionally, next year at least, we likely will see an attempt to pass a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, and some attempt to move an Amtrak reauthorization.Nathan Hurst: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has already set some early

Beth McGinn is ARTBA director of public affairs & new media: [email protected].

&Q A

markers for the 113th Congress by staring the process of getting a WRDA bill going in her Environment and Public Works Committee, and Rep. Bill Shuster, who will take over for John Mica (R-Fla.) as chair-man of the House Transportation and Infrastructure

Committee, has said it’s going to be a top priority as well. And in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy and all of the needs that disaster created, that’s probably a great place to start, especially given that the 112th Congress was successful in reauthorizing surface transportation programs and the Federal Aviation Administration—both major accomplishments after a long period of partisan stalling for both pieces of legislation. An Amtrak and rail program reauthorization is also important, and both Mica and Shuster have teed up a lot of the more granular issues that’ll have to be dealt with there.

But overall, the biggest challenge is by far stabilizing and expanding the funding stream for all modes of transportation, and in particular for roads, bridges and transit. MAP-21 was an enormous lift for legislators and not just because it was the first “no earmarks” highway bill—it had to serve not only as a significant update to critical transportation policy but also as a band-aid for a Highway Trust Fund badly wounded by the mix of high fuel prices, Americans driving less and increasing fuel efficiency mandates.

BM: What odds do you give for Congress reauthorizing MAP-21 before it expires in 2014, or do you see more extensions on the horizon? KL: That depends on what we see in the first couple months of this new Congress.

Passing MAP-21 took three years of extensions of the last transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, so a repeat is definitely not out of the question. Lawmakers have been sounding the right notes of getting right back to work on the next transporta-tion bill as soon as the next Congress gets underway, but the funding challenges that bedeviled MAP-21 still do not have clear solutions. KW: On the surface transportation bill, how easy or hard it is will be highly dependent on whether policy makers can figure out a way to finance the needs of the system. If, for instance, a deal on the impending fiscal cliff includes some kind of gas tax increase or other financing plan, then the debate over the surface transpor-tation bill becomes, relatively speaking, a lot easier—focused on how the money should be spent and what other policies should be included. Even in the best case scenario, the chances of needing exten-sions are high considering the recent past. Even under better fiscal circumstances, the last few surface transportation bills have required serial extensions—SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21’s predecessor, still required about 33 months worth of extensions.NH: I think that’s a question best answered after we see if there’s enough momentum to get that fix for the Trust Fund taken care of. Shuster and others have already said that’s a top priority, and given the short-term outlook, it’s a critical problem that needs attention before the finer policy points are dealt with. If a sustainable funding solution can be reached ahead of the last possible minute, legislators have already said they want a reauthorization that gives longer-term assurance for road planners and builders, and there’d be enough time to work out a bill to that effect. Absent a funding fix, though, it’s hard to see avoiding extensions.


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T he U.S. transportation construction infrastructure market is expected to show modest growth in 2013, increasing three percent from $126.5 billion to $130.3 billion. That’s the key

finding in ARTBA’s annual economic forecast which we released on November 30.

Growth is expected in highway and street pavements, private work for driveways and parking lots, airport terminal and runway work, railroads, and port and waterway construction. We predict the bridge market, which has shown substantial growth over the last 10 years, to remain flat next year.

The federal surface transportation program, combined with state and local government transportation investments, are the most significant drivers of the national transportation infrastruc-ture construction market.

Let’s take a closer look at the 2013 numbers.

MAP-21’s ImpactsThe pavements market will be sluggish in 2013, growing 2.8 percent to $58.4 billion. This includes $47.7 billion in public and private investment in highways, roads and streets, and $10.7 billion in largely private investments in parking lots, driveways and related structures.

With no new real federal funding in the 2012 MAP-21 surface transportation law, still recovering state and local tax collections and modest new housing starts, the pavements market will be un-even across the nation. Pavement work is anticipated to be down in 25 states. Growth above a five percent range is expected in 19 states. Major markets California and Texas will be down slightly from 2012, but will actually be returning to a normal baseline level after several major project awards over the past several years.

2013 Transportation Construction Market Outlook: Modest Growthby Dr. Alison Premo Black

Value of Transportation Construction Put in Place

135.3

124.1 126.5

130.3 131.8

Bill

ions

of 2

012

$

Source: ARTBA forecast of U.S. Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place

2010 2011 2012(e) 2013(f) 2014(f)


Real Value of Highway & Street Pavement Work, Private Parking Lots & Driveways

2010 2011 2012(e) 2013(f) 2014(f)

10.3

51

Bill

ions

of 2

012

$

Source: ARTBA forecast of U.S. Census Bureau Value of Construction Put in Place

Pavement Private parking lots, driveways

9.5 10.2 10.7 11

47.547.746.647

Dr. Alison Premo Black is ARTBA chief economist: [email protected].

The forecast uses an ARTBA econometric model that

takes into account a number of economic variables

at the federal, state and local level. It is measuring

the public and private value of construction put in

place, published by the U.S. Census Bureau. The

ARTBA estimate of the private driveway and parking

lot construction market is based on data from the

U.S. Census Bureau’s “Economic Business Census.”

There are at least two developments related to MAP-21 that could lead to additional construction market activity in the short term and strengthen the market in 2013 and 2014.

First, the law’s restructuring of the federal highway program offers state transportation departments more flexibility in their use of federal funds. This could result in slightly increased investment in highway, bridge and pavement work above the forecast in some states.

Second, MAP-21’s expanded federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program could also boost construction activity in some states.

Hurricane SandyWhile the economic costs are still being calculated, it’s fair to say that major reconstruction work along the East Coast in states that were affected by Hurricane Sandy will also be a market factor in 2013 across all modes. Additional federal, state and local emer-gency funds for rebuilding this infrastructure will be a boost as projects get underway.

Bridges & TunnelsAfter a four-year run of significant market growth—reaching a record high $28.5 billion in 2012—the bridge and tunnel construction market will cool off in 2013, likely remaining flat at about $28.2 billion. Our forecast shows projects in eight states—California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington—will continue to account for about half of the U.S. market activity in this sector. With a number of major bridge projects on the horizon, however, the bridge and tunnel sector should rebound smartly in 2014.

Ports & WaterwaysOne very bright spot will be U.S. port and waterway construction, which will jump nearly 25 percent to $2.65 billion—driven largely by expanded sea trade expected with completion of the Panama Canal improvement project in 2015. Increased market activity is anticipated in California, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

Airport Runways & TerminalsAirport runway and terminal construction is expected to show growth in 28 states, with sector growth overall of 4.5 percent, reaching $12.5 billion. Market-driving states include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. Funding for airport projects is anticipated to increase over the next five years, largely tracking growth in passenger enplanements.

Railroads, Light Rail & SubwaysThe U.S. railroad construction market, driven largely by private investment in Class 1 freight tracks and structures, is expected to grow just under five percent in 2013, reaching $10.4 billion from $9.9 billion in 2012.

The uncertainty caused by the 33-month long delay in pas-sage of MAP-21 will be felt in the subway and light rail markets. Construction activity is projected to be down by eight percent. There will be some bright spots, however. Based on recent contract awards, these states will be moving forward on key transit projects: California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Massachu-setts, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.

The overall subway and light rail market should rebound in 2014 with the federal funding certainty brought with enactment of MAP-21.

The “Wild Card” A major wild card in this forecast: the so-called “fiscal cliff ”—the dire financial situation set to occur at the beginning of 2013 if Congress and the President can’t agree on tax and spending reforms. Although the “fiscal cliff ” would not directly impact federal highway investment to the states, it could affect state and local finances, and thereby cause governments to pull back or delay projects. Such action in turn would have negative consequences on the highway construction market. Individual businesses may also delay capital and hiring decisions amid the uncertainty. As this issue goes to press, it remains to be seen if the two sides will compromise and agree on a solution.


member news

1987 ARTBA Chairman Denver Collins, Jr. (1932-2012)1987 ARTBA Chairman Denver Collins, Jr., president of Marshal C. Rardin & Sons, a highway construction firm based in Akron, Ohio, passed away November 29.

Denver’s participation and leadership in state and national associations as a strong transportation advocate spanned more than 50 years. He was a past president and honorary life member of the ARTBA-affiliated Ohio Contractors Association and a long-time TRIP national director.

His extraordinary leadership in ARTBA included service as a long-time director, regional vice chairman, senior vice chairman, chairman of the ARTBA Long Range Planning/Finance Committee and Past Chairman’s Council, and co-chair of the ARTBA 100th Anniversary Committee. Related to that milestone, Denver and his

family became major sponsors of the ARTBA Foundation’s commitment to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s “America on the Move” permanent transportation exhibition in Washington, D.C.

Denver knew he wanted a career in the industry early in his life. When he was 10, he was featured in a local newspaper as the youngest bulldozer operator in the state. By the time he reached high school, his used his equipment operator skills on projects such as the Ohio Turnpike, the Central Interchange in Akron and the Route 8 Bridge over the Little Cuyahoga River.

He earned his B.S. in civil engineering from The Ohio State University in 1956. He was then commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Combat Engineers. Upon returning from the service, he began working for Marshal C. Rardin & Sons. He—and those he worked with—were able to grow the firm from a small subcontractor into a heavy highway construction company that built over 60 miles of new highway, primarily in Summit and Stark counties.

Denver was predeceased by his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Karen. He leaves his son, Denver (Chris) Collins, daughter, Sharen (Lanny) Nowak, and grandchildren Mary, Denver, John, and Thomas Collins and Katie Nowak, along with many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Denver Collins, Jr., Scholarship Fund at Ohio State University, College of Engineering, 470 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1275.

ARTBA sends its condolences to the entire Collins family.

CH2M HILL Supports Opening of I-495 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia

(Alexandria, Va.)—On Saturday, November 17, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and private partners opened the 14-mile corridor of new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on the Virginia side of I-495 (the Capital Beltway). CH2M HILL played a significant role in helping deliver the nearly $2 billion project, as a 50 percent partner in the general engineering consultant joint venture team. The firm has been providing services to VDOT since 2008 for the I-495 Express Lanes, as well as on four other major transporta-tion improvement projects.

“The CH2M HILL Team played a significant role in helping VDOT and its partners, Transurban and Fluor, deliver the I-495 Express Lanes to drivers ahead of schedule and on budget,” remarked John Lynch, VDOT’s Regional Transportation Program Director. Lynch continued, “The range of services and expertise that CH2M HILL has brought to the Virginia Megaprojects Program has been critical to VDOT’s successful management of $5.4 billion of transportation improvement projects that are fundamentally changing travel in Northern Virginia and providing travelers with new options.”

As a key member of VDOT’s I-495 Express Lanes team, CH2M HILL provided various services including construction engineering and inspection, design engineering review, transportation research and planning, traffic engineering, and environmental investigations, quality control and public relations. CH2M HILL’s contributions helped the collective team to achieve many impressive results, includ-ing:• 100 complex engineering design packages approved in 100 days.• Construction of 58 new bridges and overpasses and reconstruction of 12 interchanges, using 1.4 million tons of asphalt and

21,400 tons of steel.• More than 8.7 million hours worked “in the field” with an incident rate significantly below the industry average.• Strong, proactive community engagement keeping residents and travelers safe and informed, including issuing nearly 300 traffic

alerts and news releases; e-mailing news alerts reaching 70,000 bi-weekly; publishing the popular Virginia Megaprojects news-papers reaching approximately 550,000 households; and participating in more than 930 community events, public meetings and employer briefings.

For more information, visit www.ch2mhill.com.


“

“

“

“

“

”

”

”

”

”

One thing becomes clear when you sift through all of the materials being distributed by industry groups about the new highway and transit law, MAP-21. ARTBA’s government affairs team provides the most timely—and accurate—information on transportation policy and politics.

Paul YarossiPresident – HNTB Holdings, Inc.

When others were ready to fold, ARTBA kept the pressure on Congress to get something done. They fought hard to help get MAP-21 across the finish line.

Göran LindgrenPresident & CEO – Volvo CE North America

No organization in Washington was more dedicated to protecting the interests of transportation construction professionals during the surface transportation reauthorization process than ARTBA. On key federal legislative and regulatory matters, ARTBA is always focused on securing the best possible outcome for the industry.

Bill CoxPresident – Corman Construction

There are a ton of industry groups out there, but the MAP-21 reauthorization process has proven to me that none have the information and expertise of ARTBA. Their knowledge, reach and insight into what’s happening at the federal level are unparalleled.

Steve McGoughChief Operating Officer – HCSS

Before, during, and after the passage of MAP-21, no other organization in the construction industry came close to matching ARTBA’s reliable and accurate information on federal transportation issues.

Steve WrightPresident – Wright Brothers Construction

Industry Leaders Agree. ARTBA Delivers Transportation Policy Results!

www.artba.org


AEM corner

Making Progress Depends on Fixing the Debt

America’s equipment manufacturers have a wide-ranging policy agenda for the coming months, especially for transportation improvements. However, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Board of Directors, led by new chair Stuart Levenick of Caterpillar Inc., hope for real progress hangs on the country’s ability to solve the looming fiscal crisis.

In November during the 2012 AEM Annual Conference, the AEM Board of Directors called on Congress to adopt a balanced solution that decreases spending; includes comprehensive and pro-growth tax reform that broadens the base, lowers rates, raises revenues and reduces the deficit; and invests in infrastructure and education. Doing so will stabilize markets and free up capital so American manufacturers can once again have the opportunity to grow their businesses and hire, AEM noted.

Upgrading deteriorating infrastructure is a priority for AEM. Fixing infrastruc-ture supports equipment manufacturers and the jobs they create and enhances the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing by providing better access to domestic and international markets, AEM noted.

White Paper Looks at Long-term Highway FundingAEM recently released a new white paper, “MAP-21 and Transportation’s Fiscal Cliff,” (http://www.aem.org/PDF/Map21.pdf). The paper was authored by Jack Schenendorf, a transportation policy veteran who served 25 years on the staff of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

The paper examines the benefits gained from passage of MAP-21 and what needs to be done in the coming months to avoid an adverse effect on infrastructure investment in 2013 and 2014.

It has been distributed to all Members of Congress, the Washington transporta-tion community, the Department of Transportation, governors, and newly elected officials.

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) provides trade and business develop-ment services for companies that manufac-ture equipment, products and services used world-wide in the agricultural, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors.

“I Make America” Campaign Builds Grassroots SupportAEM’s “I Make America” campaign continues to make a difference as more than 22,000 supporters have joined the campaign nationwide since its inception in September 2010.

“I Make America” is a national grass-roots campaign dedicated to dramatically increasing jobs for those who grow and build America. In addition to tactics aimed

at increasing the campaign’s supporter database, “I Make America” focuses on converting supporters into action takers, which was especially important during the highway bill debate and votes.

A newly launched “I Make America” website (www.imakeamerica.com) high-lights the industry’s position on priority issues such as infrastructure investment.

The campaign is also creating social media contests to keep supporters engaged in the campaign, staffing AEM member company onsite campaign sign-ups, and executing an email campaign to attract new supporters. It will also conduct new industry research to be used for outreach to both media and policymakers in 2013.

AEM will continue to stress that Amer-ica’s aging and deteriorating infrastructure system requires substantial investment and improvements, and that the strength of the U.S. economy, private sector job growth and global economic success are depen-dent on an improved infrastructure system.


ADVERTISER INDEX

Promote your company’s products and services in “TB!”

Contact ARTBA’s Peter Embrey at 202.289.4434 or [email protected]

Check out our rates in the 2013 media kit available at www.transportationbuilder.org

Advertise with “Transportation Builder”

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CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT & MATERIALS

Wirtgen America www.wirtgenamerica.com.....................IFC

Heritage Construction www.thgrp.com............................................5

Volvo Construction Equipment www.volvoce.com.........................................9

Corman Construction Inc. www.cormanconsruction.com.................14

Stowers Machinery Corporation www.stowerscat.com.................................14

J.D. Abrams www.jdabrams.com...................................14

Caterpillar Inc. www.cat.com.............................................BC

HIGHWAY SAFETY PRODUCTS & RESOURCES

Roadway Safety + Training Program www.workzonesafety.org.............................7

Work Zone Safety Clearinghouse www.workzonesafety.org...........................23

LTAP www.ltap.org...............................................28

Trinity Highway Products www.highwayguardrail.com................. IBC

SOFTWARE HCSS www.hcss.com...............................................5

INSURANCE Liberty Mutual www.libertymutual.com...........................30

STAY CONNECTED WITH ARTBA

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