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ARTBA Announces Co-chairs for MAP-21 Funding/Implementation Task Force

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Transportation Construction Market Update Focus of July 31 Webinar

ARTBA Chairman Paul Yarossi, president of HNTB Holdings, announced July 24 the leaders of a new task force that will work to secure additional federal investment for the recently enacted highway and transit program law— MAP-21 —and work with federal, state and local agencies on the implementation of the new law.

Yarossi tapped Scott L. Cassels, president of the Kiewit

Register by August 1, Save $100! ARTBA P3 in Transportation Conference

Join ARTBA’s top economist and lobbyist July 31 for a live, 75-minute webinar detailing the likely impacts of the new highway/transit law—MAP-21—on the U.S. transportation design and construction market and your business.

Alison Premo Black, ARTBA’s chief economist will provide a

Nearly 100 transportation design and construction professionals representing every ARTBA division came together July 25-27 to learn about the latest industry trends and unlock the secrets to building an innovative project environment at this year’s TransOvation Workshop in Lansdowne, Va., which was led by world-renown engineers Ted Zoli, senior vice president, HNTB, John Hillman, president, HC Bridge Company and 3M’s Technical Director of Traffic Safety Systems Division, Raymond

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

Chiu. Chiu explained how 3M’s

culture of collaboration helped them evolve from making masking tape to reflective sheeting and Microsoft’s Director of Test, Ross Smith described how the worlds of video gaming and corporate America are colliding to produce more creative and productive workplaces.

Keynote speaker, Danny Forster of the Discovery Channel program, “Build it Bigger,” dazzled the audience with stories and pictures of

his travels across the globe in search of amazing feats of infrastructure and ingenuity, describing his decent four miles below the earth’s surface at a gold mine in South Africa and his walk, hundreds of feet above the Rambler Channel in Hong Kong, atop one of the world’s largest cable stay bridges.

Author and Fox News contributor James Pinkerton provided a candid assessment of the political and public relations challenges facing the

Innovation from the Ground Up at Successful ARTBA Workshop

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2012

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TransOvation WorkshopDISCOUNTED HOTEL RATE EXPIRES AUGUST 10.

Room Rate:$192 Single/Double

Reservations:1.800.Peabody or 901.529.4000

Contact: Ed Tarrant at 202.289.4434 with any questions.

industry and the need to sell the public on infrastructure investment, explaining, “If people want something, they will find a way to pay for it.”

Two main themes emerged from the three-day event: the need to challenge the norm and the need to change the narrative about transportation infrastructure.

Attendees put these ideas to practice in small groups where they worked to develop ideas for dramatically reducing fatalities on the nation’s roadways, which were presented to Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez on the final day. The results demonstrated how innovative thinking can lead to game-changing ideas.

2012 National Convention“Talkin’ in Memphis”

September 11-14Memphis, Tennessee

Register Today:www.artbanationalconvention.org

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Products & Services

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ARTBA Taps Distinguished Industry Leaders for New “Trans2020” Task Force

Connect with Industry Leaders: Advertise in ARTBA’s Digital Buyers Guide

Promote your firm’s products and services before a wide audience of material suppliers, manufacturers, design firms and contractors.

Contact ARTBA’s Peter Embrey for more information.

Infrastructure Group and executive vice president of the Kiewit Corporation, Robert E. Alger, president and CEO of Lane Construction, and Frederick G. (Bud) Wright, a Virginia-based transportation consultant and the former top FHWA executive, to co-chair “Trans2020,” the “MAP-21 Policy Promotion, Implementation & Funding Enhancement Task Force.”

“MAP-21 was a good first step,” Yarossi said in making the announcement. “Step

Cassels WrightAlger

two is ensuring the new law is properly implemented to focus federal dollars on meeting national transportation goals in a transparent and accountable way. The third—and critically important step—is getting Congress, finally, to step up and fund the federal transportation capital investment program properly with a sustainable and robust dedicated revenue stream.”

ARTBA held its annual Engineering Issues Breakfast at the Mid America Association of State Transportation Officials (MAASTO) regional conference in Lexington, Ky. July 18. ARTBA hosts either a breakfast or lunch event at each of the AASHTO regional meetings, bringing together members of the ARTBA Planning & Design Division with state DOT leaders for updates on transportation programs and opportunities in each of the states.

Pictured above (left to right):2012 ARTBA Planning & Design Division President Larry Peterson, senior principal, national transportation market director, Kleinfelder; Michigan - Greg Johnson, chief operations officer; Ohio – Jim Barna, chief engineer; Kansas – Jerry Younger, deputy secretary for engineering and state transportation engineer; Wisconsin - Mark Gottlieb, secretary; Indiana – Michael Cline,commissioner; Illinois - Ann Schneider, secretary; Iowa – Mitch Dillavou, director of engineering; Missouri – Dave Nichols, chief engineer; Minnesota – Michael Barnes, operations divisions director; (Not pictured: Kentucky – Mike Hancock, secretary and Steve Waddle, state highway engineer).

ARTBA will hold its final CEO Engineering Issues event, a luncheon, at the Southeastern Association of State Highway of Transportation Officials (SASHTO) meeting in Charleston, S.C. August 27, noon to 2 p.m. If you or others from your company would like to attend, please RSVP for this event by contacting Brie Johnson at bjohnson@artba.org or 202.289.4434.

ARTBA Hosts CEO Engineering Issues Events at AASHTO Regional Meetings Final Luncheon at SASHTO Meeting August 27

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Overheard

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TRB Newsletter: July 24 Highlighting 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: Caitrin Reed to become a subscriber.

Fostering Innovation

MultimodalNews

Legislative & Regulatory News

ARTBA Provides Comments to OSHA on Safe Backing Operations

ARTBA filed comments July 27 with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) providing insight into industry best practices gleaned through years of research, testing and training. ARTBA provided comments on how to prevent injuries and deaths from vehicles and mobile equipment backing into workers. OSHA will use the comments to learn more about jobsite injuries and solutions to prevent injury and death, including possible regulatory action. Among the information ARTBA provided, was use of Internal Traffic Control Plans, blind spot recognition and training, safe worker behavior, worker visibility, safe backing procedures, designating vehicle pathways, control of access and egress points, and use of proximity warning devices. These practices are derived from a new ARTBA training course developed in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health and OSHA. For more information on the course or ARTBA’s comments, please contact ARTBA’s Brad Sant at 202.289.4434.

U.S. DOT Announces $787 Million in Transit Grants

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) July 23 announced $787 million in State of Good Repair and Livability Program grants

for 255 projects located in 48 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. The grants will help fund a variety of improvements, including radio equipment, buses, maintenance vehicles and facilities, software, bus shelters, roadway improvements, and various streetscape and bike/pedestrian amenities. California was the top recipient state with just over $126 million in a variety of grants. View the project list.

U.S. DOT Begins Taking TIFIA Applications, $1.7 Billion Available

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced July 27 it will begin immediately accepting letters of interest for up to $17 billion in Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Infrastructure Act (TIFIA) Program credit assistance for transportation infrastructure improvements. The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) increased the authorization for the TIFIA program from $122 million annually to $750 million in

FY 2013 and $1 billion in FY 2014. The program can provide financing for up to 49 percent of a project’s total costs. To learn more about opportunities in the TIFIA program, register today for ARTBA’s 24th Annual Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation Conference taking place October 10-12 at www.artbap3.org. Read the full announcement from DOT.

Report Identifies Areas of Improvement for TIFIA Program

A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finds transportation project sponsors will continue to seek significant federal credit assistance through the TIFIA program. Further, the report concludes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) undertook several steps early in the program to monitor and assess credit agreements, but additional steps are needed now to better communicate with the public regarding decisions and ongoing evaluations of projects—particularly with regard to the selection criteria

“All you have to do is note that when money is cheap, that’s a good time to invest. And both education and infrastructure are investments in America’s future; we’ll eventually pay a large and completely gratuitous price for the way they’re being savaged.”

“New York Times” columnist Paul Krugman in a July 26 op-ed, “Money for Nothing.”

“We are a country at risk because we’ve ignored the gradual erosion of our manufacturing basis. We’ve ignored the need to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure.”

Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge July 24 discussing his recently-released report, “Preparing for 21st Century Risks: Revitalizing American Manufacturing to Protect, Respond and Recover.”

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employed by the DOT. As many TIFIA program

procedures will change as a result of MAP-21, it is vital the industry continue the dialogue with U.S. DOT to promote transparency and predictability. ARTBA and most of its Public-Private Partnerships Division Board were interviewed by GAO for the report.

Commerce Roundtable on Infrastructure Policy

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted a roundtable July 19 to discuss the recently-released Council on Foreign Relations report, “Road to Nowhere: Federal Transportation Infrastructure Policy.” The paper’s author, Rebecca Strauss, associate director, Renewing America Publications, emphasized the nation’s massive shortfall in transportation investment, noting that while MAP-21 increases TIFIA spending, major domestic spending priorities remain unchanged. “[The law] kicks the can down the road and creates a new fiscal cliff in 2014,” said Strauss, who encouraged investing in major infrastructure projects now while interest rates are low and identified state infrastructure banks and local option transportation taxes as potential funding mechanisms.

Center for American Progress Highlights Innovative Finance Models

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray

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Industry News

ARTBA News

Transportation Should Be in Party Platforms, ARTBA SaysARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane sent letters to Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Preibus July 10 and Democratic National Committee (DNC)Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schutlz (D-Fla.) July 17, calling on both party leaders to include language about transportation infrastructure in their policy platforms, which will be unveiled during national conventions in Tampa, Fla. and Charlotte, N.C. later this summer.

“A firm belief in the value of infrastructure is woven into the historic fabric of the Democratic Party,” Ruane

market forecast examining how the markets are faring in each of the 50 states and provide an updated economic forecast for the remainder of 2012.

ARTBA Senior Vice President of Government Relations Dave Bauer will discuss the law’s funding levels and policy provisions.

Both will also be available to answer any questions. Participants will receive the PowerPoint presentation, along with ARTBA’s comprehensive MAP-21 analysis.

Registration is $175 for ARTBA members and $200 non-members.

Register at www.artba.org/webinars.

Contact ARTBA’s Brie Johnson with any questions.

July 31 ARTBA Webinar

wrote to Wasserman-Schultz. “In 1806, Thomas Jefferson, America’s first Democratic president, authorized funding for the National Road, running west from Cumberland, Md., and all the way, ultimately, to Vandalia, Ill.” Ruane made a similar argument to the chairman of the RNC saying, “The policy platform of the first Republican National Convention, held at Philadelphia at 1856, placed heavy emphasis on infrastructure. That platform document included a call to begin building a transcontinental railroad to the Pacific, committing the federal government to ‘render immediate and efficient aid in its construction.’” View the letters to the RNC and DNC.

LaHood joined the Center for American Progress July 20 for a discussion on new infrastructure financing methods. The event, which focused on Chicago’s Infrastructure Trust (CIT), highlighted ways innovative financing of infrastructure projects could bring together the public and private sector to spur economic growth. CIT uses money from pensions, foundations, and the private-sector to fund projects that address critical infrastructure challenges. “We can’t leave our destiny to Washington’s dysfunction or Springfield’s budget-cutting,” said Emanuel. “The CIT helps create a much needed partnership between the government and the private sector, and an honest discussion about their respective jobs.” View the event video.

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Contractor Safety & Roadway Work Zone Safety Awards Deadline August 10

CONTRACTOR SAFETY AWARDS:The “Contractor Safety Award” is open to all ARTBA members in the Contractors Division and recognizes industry firms that have implemented outstanding employee health and safety programs. Successful applicants will demonstrate a low “OSHA Recordable Rate” as measured against benchmark statistics established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in three categories based on number of employee hours worked during the previous year: 1,000,001 or more employee hours; 500,001 – 1,000,000 employee hours; and 500,000 or less employee hours.

ROADWAY WORK ZONE SAFETY AWARENESS AWARDS:The “Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Award” is open to all individuals and organizations and recognizes employee and public outreach campaigns, training programs and innovations in technology that demonstrate excellence in promoting safety in roadway construction zones.

Awards will be presented September 12 at a lunch during the ARTBA National Convention in Memphis, Tenn.

Questions? Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi at (202) 289-4434 or visit www.artbatdf.org.

ARTBA Foundation Honors Seven Private Sector Firms & Public Agencies for Project Innovations

Five private sector firms and two public agencies received the ARTBA-TDF’s inaugural “TransOvation Awards,” July 26 which honor innovative transportation infrastructure-related products, services, technologies and techniques introduced that provide a high return-on-investment by improving safety, saving users and taxpayers time and money, or making transportation infrastructure more environmentally sustainable.

Winners included Copper Hills Constructors & the Utah Department of Transportation for their use of Modified CMGC Contracting, a new project delivery method that reduced construction time on the 35-mile Mountain View Corridor by nearly a year; The Lane Construction Corporation for its creation of a temporary interstate bridge structure that improved safety for motorists and workers, saved taxpayer money and accelerated construction during the widening of I-85 in Cabarrus County, N.C; and Schnabel Engineering & the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) for a breakthrough study on sustainable reuse of dredged material (DM) that could have major consequences for the dredging, design and construction of America’s ports and harbors.

ARTBA Foundation Honors Women Leaders in Transportation Construction

The ARTBA Foundation presented four individuals with its annual “Women Leaders in Transportation Design and Construction Awards” during a gala dinner held in conjunction with the TransOvation Workshop in Lansdowne, Va. July 26. The “Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award,” named after ARTBA’s executive director from the mid-1920s, honors outstanding leadership and long-term service in the industry’s public or private sectors and was presented to Dr. Katherine F. “Katie” Turnbull, executive associate director of the Texas Transportation Institute and Karen Schurr, PE, lecturer at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and former engineer for the Nebraska Division of Roads.

The “Future Industry Spotlight Award,” recognizing college or graduate students with outstanding academic records and demonstrated leadership skills was given to Carrie Mohlman, a graduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, pursuing a M.S. in civil engineering and Danielle Soriano, a senior at the University of Florida working toward a B.S. in civil engineering.

ARTBA Women Leaders in Transportation Design and Construction Chair Dr. Melissa Tooley, Texas Trans-portation Institute (TTI), presenting Dr. Katherine Turnball, executive associate director, TTI (right) with the “Ethel S. Birchland Lifetime Achievement Award.”

ARTBA Chairman, Paul Yarossi, president, HNTB Corp., present-ing the “TransOvation Award” to represen-tatives of The Lane Construction Corp., (from left to right) Ryan Lowder, senior project engineer; Mike Grey, project manager; and Troy Carter, project manager.

ARTBA Chairman, Paul Yarossi, president, HNTB Corp., presenting the “TransOvation Award” to (from left to right) Michael Rosco, director of busi-ness development, Schnabel Engineering and Joe Borzillo, regional sales manager, Phoenix Services.

ARTBA Chairman, Paul Yarossi, president, HNTB Corp., present-ing the “TransOvation Award” to Bret Barton, project manager, Copper Hills Constructors, a Granite, Kiewit, W.W. Clyde Joint Venture.

Carla Julian of Granite Construction presents the “Future Industry Spotlight Award” to University of Florida student Danielle Soriano (left).

Carla Julian of Granite Construction presents the “Future Industry Spotlight Award” to University of Nebraska-Lincoln student Carrie Mohlman (left).

October 10 -12, 2012Renaissance Downtown Washington, D.C. Hotel

The 24th Annual ARTBA P3s in Transportation Conference is the private infrastructure investment community’s premier oppor-tunity to connect with hundreds of key decision makers, project sponsors, private sector finance executives, consortium leaders

and officials from all levels of government.

For more information, contact ARTBA P3 Division Manager Hank Webster at hwebster@artba.org or 202.289.4434.

P3 Conference Early Bird Rate Expires August 1

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