washington newsline july 4

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ADVERTISEMENT Save the Date: ARTBA Foundation Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at TransOvation Workshop, Sept. 7 ARTBA Washington Newsline JULY 4, 2011 Newsline Washington Continued on page 4 2011 ARTBA National Convention in Monterey, Calif. Register Today! Make your plans today to be in Monterey for the 2011 ARTBA National Convention, scheduled for October 2-5. The new program of events marketing brochure has all the information you need. Among the headline speakers: Dr. Robert Kriegel, a “New York Times” and “Business Weekbest-seller, who will outline strategies for gaining an edge by not competing, but changing the gam;, leading customers, not following them; and rethinking rules, redefining roles and reinventing the game. General session thought leaders: Will Kempton, Orange County Transportation Authority chief executive officer; Bert Sandman, Transportation California executive director; Jim Earp, California Alliance for Jobs executive director; Jim Whitty, Oregon Department of Transportation Office of Innovative Partnerships & Alternative Funding manager; Robert Alger, The LANE Construction Corporation president & CEO; Geoffrey S. Yarema, Nossaman partner; and Bob Poole, Reason Foundation director of transportation President Stresses Infrastructure’s Economic Importance In a broad ranging press conference June 29, President Obama took time to stress the need for Congress to act immediately on a multi- year surface transportation reauthorization: “Right now, Congress could send me a bill that puts construction workers Reauthorization Developments Possible This Week House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) has said he plans to release his six-year federal surface transportation program reauthorization bill July 7. The measure is expected to follow the direction of the House GOP Leadership to constrain overall investment levels to what incoming Highway Trust Fund revenues can support—a requirement that it is projected Continued on page 2 Navigation - Machine Guidance & Control - GNSS Positioning Continued on page 4

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ARTBA Washington Newsline for July 4, 2011

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Washington Newsline July 4

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

Save the Date: ARTBA Foundation Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at TransOvation Workshop, Sept. 7

ARTBA Washington Newsline

J U L Y 4 , 2 0 1 1

NewslineWashington

Continued on page 4

2011 ARTBA National Convention in Monterey, Calif.Register Today!

Make your plans today to be

in Monterey for the 2011 ARTBA

National Convention, scheduled

for October 2-5. The new

program of events marketing

brochure has all the information

you need.

Among the headline speakers:

Dr. Robert Kriegel, a “New York

Times” and “Business Week”

best-seller, who will outline

strategies for gaining an edge by

not competing, but changing the

gam;, leading customers, not

following them; and rethinking

rules, redefining roles and

reinventing the game.

General session thought

leaders: Will Kempton,

Orange County Transportation

Authority chief executive

officer; Bert Sandman,

Transportation California

executive director; Jim

Earp, California Alliance for

Jobs executive director; Jim

Whitty, Oregon Department

of Transportation Office of

Innovative Partnerships &

Alternative Funding manager;

Robert Alger, The LANE

Construction Corporation

president & CEO; Geoffrey S.

Yarema, Nossaman partner; and

Bob Poole, Reason Foundation

director of transportation

President Stresses Infrastructure’s Economic Importance

In a broad ranging press

conference June 29, President

Obama took time to stress

the need for Congress to

act immediately on a multi-

year surface transportation

reauthorization: “Right now,

Congress could send me a bill

that puts construction workers

Reauthorization Developments Possible This Week

House Transportation and

Infrastructure Committee

Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.)

has said he plans to release

his six-year federal surface

transportation program

reauthorization bill July 7. The

measure is expected to follow

the direction of the House

GOP Leadership to constrain

overall investment levels to

what incoming Highway Trust

Fund revenues can support—a

requirement that it is projected

Continued on page 2

Navigation - Machine Guidance & Control - GNSS Positioning

View the BrochureView the BrochureView the Brochure

Continued on page 4

Page 2: Washington Newsline July 4

2 ARTBA Washington Newsline

Continued from page 1

Upcoming EventsVisit our Events Page for more information.

TransOvation 2011 WorkshopSeptember 6–9 Near Dulles Airport, Va.[Add to Calendar]

Transportation Development Hall of Fame Gala Dinner at TransOvation 2011September 7Near Dulles Airport, Va.[Add to Calendar]

ARTBA National ConventionOctober 2–5 Monterey, Calif. [Add to Calendar]

ARTBA Public-Private Partnerships ConferenceNovember 15–16 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

ARTBA REGIONAL MEETINGSNortheastern November 28–29 New York, N.Y.[Add to Calendar]

SouthernNovember 30–December 1 Tampa, Fla.[Add to Calendar]

WesternDecember 5–6 Los Angeles, Calif.[Add to Calendar]

CentralDecember 7–8Chicago, Ill.[Add to Calendar]

“Make Your Way to Monterey!”

$4 50

Monthly Retail Gasoline PricesApril 1993 to 2011

$3 50

$4.00

$4.50

$2 50

$3.00

$3.50

Gallon

$

$2.00

$2.50

Dollars Per G

$1.00

$1.50

$0.00

$0.50

Apr‐9

Nov‐9

Jun‐9

Jan‐9

Aug‐ 9

Mar‐

Oct‐9

May‐

Dec‐ 9

Jul‐98

Feb‐9

Sep‐9

Apr‐0

Nov‐0

Jun‐0

Jan‐0

Aug‐0

Mar‐

Oct‐ 0

May‐

Dec‐ 0

Jul‐05

Feb‐0

Sep‐0

Apr‐0

Nov‐0

Jun‐0

Jan‐0

Aug‐ 0

Mar‐

Oct‐1

Nominal Retail Gas Price Real Gas Price (1993 Dollars)

93 93

94 95 95 96

96 ‐97

97 8 99 99 00 00

01 02 02 03

03 ‐04

04 5 06 06 07 07

08 09 09 10

10

Source: Energy Information Administration; The data is comparing the change in the cost of the average price of gasoline, all grades.  For example, in April 2011 the cost of gasoline, in nominal terms, was $2.77 higher than the price in April of 1993.  The eight year trend is an average monthly increase of 4 cents per gallon, per month.   

policy. They will highlight how California

was able to dedicate more than $40 billion

for transportation improvements through

state/local ballot initiatives, and explore

future financing models like Oregon’s VMT

pilot program. They’ll also outline ways to

propel the P3 market forward.

The association is also pleased to

announce that Hollywood comedian

Larry Miller is returning for an encore

performance. Miller had the audience

rolling in the aisles during the 2007

convention in Florida. With all new

material, there is little doubt the veteran

stand-up comic will have everyone in

stitches again when he performs at the

Chairman’s Banquet on October 4. View

Larry’s video here.

Register today.

Page 3: Washington Newsline July 4

3ARTBA Washington Newsline

43.8%

of Pennsylvania’s Bridges are “structurally deficient” or “functionally obsolete”

Visit www.transportationcreatesjobs.org to see how your state compares.

September 6-9 | Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center | Leesburg, Va., near Dulles Airport

Workshop leaders and instructors:

Are You Ready to be an Innovator?

Register: w w w . t r a n s o v a t i o n . o r g

Ted Zoli, world-renowned bridge engineer, HNTB

One of “Esquire” maga-zine’s “The Brightest: 16 Geniuses Who Give Us Hope.”

John Hillman, HC Bridge Company

2010 “Engineering News Record” Award of Excellence winner for his development of the Hybrid Composite Beam.

Darcy Winslow, Nike’s Sustainability Innovator

A “business rock star” who unleashed a wave of innovation at the world’s largest athletic apparel company.

Jerry Karel, 3M

Helps lead one of the most innovative com-panies on the planet.

Check out this 30 second clip on TransOvation: a two-and-a-half day workshop designed for young executives in transportation design & construction.

• Connect with the Industry’s Brightest Minds• Experience Cutting-Edge Products & Services• Make Transportation Projects More Sustainable

Products & ServicesNow Available: 2011 ARTBA “Transportation Officials & Engineers Database”

The ARTBA TO&E Database is your one-stop guide to key local, state, and federal transportation officials. Offered as an Excel spreadsheet, it includes contact information for more than 6,000 state and local transportation departments and authorities. The database connects you to the people, agencies and programs you need to get ahead and stay ahead. Individual segments of the directory are available by region, state and occupation.

Price: $475.00

Contact Peter Embrey for more information.

To learn more about other products and services available, visit the ARTBA Store today!

Page 4: Washington Newsline July 4

4 ARTBA Washington Newsline

Legislative & Regulatory News

Continued from page 1

TRB Newsletter: June 28, 2011ARTBA is pleased to make available another service for members that highlights new research, technologies, industry best practices and information resources available to the transportation design and construction industry. This material comes from the Transportation Research Board. Read the most recent newsletter.

Fostering Innovation

“People are so goosey about anything that has a lot of zeroes in it and this is big spending. I think what a lot of Republicans have lost sight of is there are a few areas where we’re supposed to spend, and this is one of them.”

Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), in a June 29 story to “E&E Daily” on the path to reauthorization.

“We urge you to increase funding for all public transportation programs in your reauthorization proposal. Such funding is critically important to address the needs of the growing population of older adults and to help create more livable communities.”

AARP President Lee Hammond before the Senate Banking Committee on June 29.

“For many states, the short-term prognosis is dire. Altogether, 44 states and the District of Columbia are projecting budget shortfalls for 2012 amounting to $112 billion. The upcoming fiscal year, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, will be “one of the states’ most difficult budget years on record.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce June 2011 “Enterprising States” Report

Overheard“ ”

to force investment cuts in

excess of 30 percent. Mica has

indicated his reauthorization

proposal will attempt to

consolidate programs to

focus on national priorities,

expedite the transportation

project review and approval

process, and encourage

increased use of public-private

partnerships. Unfortunately,

the reauthorization bill was

not included in a House floor

schedule for July and August

released by House Majority

Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.),

despite claims the House would

be focusing on creating jobs

over the summer.

Senate Majority Leader Harry

Reid’s (D-Nev.) decision to

cancel the Chamber’s scheduled

recess for this week opens the

door for senators involved

in that reauthorization bill

to attempt to jumpstart their

process this week. Senate

Environment and Public Works

Committee Chairman Barbara

Boxer (D-Calif.) previously

said her committee’s multi-

year reauthorization proposal

would be released the week

of July 11. In contrast to the

House plan, the Senate bill will

attempt to not only preserve

existing highway and public

transportation investments,

but also adjust these levels for

inflation to maintain purchasing

power.

ARTBA will keep you

informed once it becomes clear

that either the House or Senate

is launching its reauthorization

campaign.

Obama Admin Tries to Dismiss ARTBA, Industry Allies from Wetlands Permit Suit

The U.S. Department of

Justice (DOJ) filed a motion

June 17 to bar ARTBA and 11

other trade associations from

participating in wetlands

litigation that could have far

reaching consequences for

transportation projects. The

litigation challenges the U.S.

Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA’s) withdrawal

of a previously issued Clean

Water Act (CWA) permit from a

West Virginia mining operation.

Revoking a valid CWA permit

could set a dangerous precedent

and make it difficult for

other industries, including

transportation construction, to

rely on their own permits.

In a highly unusual move,

the DOJ objected to the

associations’ June 3 “friend

of the court” brief citing

“openly partisan” arguments

by the groups. The DOJ is

not objecting, however, to

the efforts of anti-growth

Reauthorization Developments Possible This Week

back on the job rebuilding roads

and bridges—not by having

government fund and pick every

project, but by providing loans

to private companies and states

and local governments on the

basis of merit and not politics.

That’s pending in Congress

right now.”

He also responded to a

reporter’s question on the

economy, stating “I think it’s

important for us to look at

rebuilding our transportation

infrastructure in this country.

That could put people back to

work right now—construction

workers back to work right now.

And it would get done work that

America needs to get done. We

used to have the best roads, the

best bridges, the best airports.

We don’t anymore. And that’s

not good for our long-term

competitiveness. So we could

put people to work right now and

make sure that we’re in a good

position to win the future, as well.”

Continued from page 1

President Stresses Infrastructure’s Economic Importance

Page 5: Washington Newsline July 4

5ARTBA Washington Newsline

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

“environmental” groups to

intervene in the litigation.

ARTBA and its industry

allies responded June 27 and

arguments on the DOJ’s request

to exclude ARTBA and its allies

will be heard in federal court

August 1. The DOJ’s opposition

as well as ARTBA’s reply can be

found in the “legal advocacy”

section of www.artba.org.

Congress Passes 20th

FAA Extension Congress passed and

President Obama last week

signed the 20th extension of the

Federal Aviation Administration

authorization bill—now more

than three years overdue. This

most recent extension will run

through July 22.

U.S. DOT Provides $1.6 Billion in New Starts Grants

The Federal Transit

Administration (FTA) June

27 announced $1.58 billion in

“New Start” grants, which are

designed to speed delivery of

large-scale bus and light-rail

projects. The largest grant

of $215 million goes to New

York City to help build a 3.5-

mile commuter rail tunnel

connection between Queens,

Long Island, and Manhattan.

New York tops all states with

a total of $430 million in this

round of New Starts grants.

Other states receiving grants

include: Alaska; California;

Colorado; Connecticut;

Florida; Hawaii; Minnesota;

Texas; Utah; Virginia; and

Washington. More information

on selected projects is available

here.

ARTBA News

Awards Honor Women Leaders

ARTBA has launched

the “Women Leaders in

Transportation Design &

Construction Awards” program

to honor extraordinary efforts of

individuals, companies and

public agencies that have

demonstrated leadership and

dedication to innovation in the

transportation construction

field as well as the promotion

of women leaders within the

industry.

Nominations, available at

www.artba.org/womenleaders,

must be received by close of

business July 29. Winners will

be recognized September 7 at

a gala dinner during ARTBA’s

TransOvation Workshop held

near Dulles Airport in Virginia.

The awards program is a

signature initiative of the

association’s Women Leaders

in Transportation Design &

Construction Council, which

promotes leadership and career

advancement for women in the

industry through mentoring,

recognition, educational

activities and networking.

Contact Allison Wenograd

with questions.

Transportation from the Eyes of Tomorrow’s Leaders

ARTBA’s Research and

Education Division has

launched a national student-

produced video contest to

document and demonstrate,

from a young person’s

perspective, views on

transportation infrastructure,

finance, operations and long-

term needs. Two winners will

• Recent transportation and

urban design/development

patterns

Entrants should create an

original two (2) to four (4)

minute

video.

Winners

will also

receive a

new iPad

and be

announced

to national

and trade media outlets. For

more information, contact Dan

Hadley.

be selected from a nationwide

pool of submissions—with the

top videos shown at ARTBA’s

National Convention in

Monterey, California.

Students of all ages are

encouraged to offer their

perspective on transportation

issues in the United States.

Some suggested topics include:

• U.S. Transportation

Infrastructure 101

• How infrastructure is built

and paid for

• What are the costs

and financing needs of

transportation infrastructure

• What are the impacts of

congestion and changing

travel demands

• What are “man on the street”

impressions of the industry

versus reality

Happy Birthday Interstate!As we celebrate America’s 235th birthday today, we also mark the 55th birthday of one of our nation’s greatest feats—the Interstate Highway System (IHS). President Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into law 55 years ago last week, ushering in an unprec-edented commitment to moving America forward. Today, we see the IHS struggling to meet the de-mands of a growing population and the goods movement of the world’s largest economy.

Please take time to celebrate the IHS and America by exercising your 1st Amendment right and responsibility to petition your elected officials.

Use the ARTBA Grassroots Hotline at 888.448.2782 and tell them to pass a robust multi-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation programs this year!