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ARTBA Chairman’s Message: Register for 2013 FIP
More Details on President’s Infrastructure Plan
Nearly 100 new members of Congress took office this past January. They come from diverse backgrounds—from professors and journalists to law-enforcement officers and war veterans. And most have little knowledge of how the nation’s transportation programs are financed, how they operate, and how they help support job creation. Yet, these are the men and Continued on page3
FHWA Enacts ARTBA-Supported Rule on Emergency Rebuilding Efforts Continued on page 4
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) published a final regulation February 19 allowing transportation projects being repaired as a result of emergency situations (such as a tornado, hurricane or manmade disaster) to be treated as categorical exclusions (CEs) for environmental review purposes. A CE is used when impacts to the environment are minimal and involves less Follow ARTBA:
The White House February 20 released a brief summary of President Obama’s infrastructure proposal announced in the State of the Union address. The document outlines a three-prong plan to invest in a “fix-it-first” policy, attract private investment through a “Rebuild America Partnership”, and cut red tape to speed federal reviews and permitting timelines for infrastructure improvements. The “fix-it-first” proposal calls for a total of “$50 billion in
frontloaded transportation infrastructure investment.” According to the White House, $40 billion of that total would be directed towards “reducing the backlog of deferred maintenance on highways, bridges, transit systems, and airports nationwide.” It is unclear how the remaining $10 billion would be allocated. However, the Administration has previously sought creation and capitalization of a national infrastructure bank with $10 billion. The White House
document renews that call for a national infrastructure bank, but does not attach a price tag to the entity. Obama also calls for a new “America Fast Forward” bonds program, which appears to be a more flexible version of the “Build America Bonds” program enacted in the 2009 America Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The plan also incorporates the implementation of the MAP-21 reforms to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Continued on page 4
Nominate your firm’s “rising stars” for the 2013 ARTBA Young Executive Development Program ARTBA Washington Newsline
$500 PRIZE in ARTBA Student Transportation Video Contest ARTBA is looking for students who are interested in creating an original, two-tofour minute video exploring issues relating to the U.S. transportation network. Past videos have addressed how transportation infrastructure is built and paid for, impacts of traffic congestion, new transportation technologies, public perception of transportation development, and how transportation might look in the future. Sponsored by ARTBA’s Research and Education Division (RED), the 2013 Student Video Contest has two categories: elementary through high school, or college and graduate school. Winning entrants will receive a $500 cash prize and have their videos screened during ARTBA’s September 8-10 National Convention in Milwaukee. Deadline for submissions is August 15. Entries will be judged by ARTBA’s top volunteer leaders. Contact ARTBA’s Lital Shair for more information.
View this three minute video of the 2012 ARTBA Student Video Award Winner: “Modernizing Transportation Technology.”
Upcoming Events
2013
Visit our Events Page for more information. Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-In June 3-5 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
Young Executive Development Program June 3-6 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
25th Annual ARTBA P3 Conference July 24-26 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
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ARTBA National Convention September 8-10 Milwaukee, Wis. [Add to Calendar]
Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvationTM Workshop & Awards Program October 28-30 San Jose, Calif.
Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase (LoTransTM 2013)
November 19-20
5th Annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory Forum October Washington, D.C.
Regional Meetings
Western: December, Austin, Texas Central: December, St. Louis, Mo. Southern: December, Charlotte, N.C. Northeastern: December, Baltimore, Md.
2013 Federal Issues Program women who will ultimately decide the fate of the next surface transportation reauthorization bill when MAP-21 expires in September 2014—about the time when the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) falls in a deep financial hole. Over the next few months, the federal budget and spending priorities will be hotly debated in Congress, and your elected officials will have a voice in that discussion. It’s our collective responsibility to make sure these lawmakers have all the facts about the importance of transportation investment to the U.S. economy. That is why your participation in ARTBA’s June 3-5 Federal Issues Program (FIP)
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& Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-in is so important. Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents in order to make well-informed policy decisions on programs that impact their congressional districts and ultimately your company or organization. They must understand the dire effects in their states and districts if Congress fails to take action to address the long term financial solvency of the HTF. The timely reauthorization of MAP-21 must be a congressional priority! Attendees will receive market updates and forecasts by ARTBA’s expert economics team, and briefings from select congressional staff. They will also meet with top federal agency staff to discuss proposed regulations.
New to this year’s FIP is a June 3 gala dinner, hosted by the ARTBA Foundation, to induct the 2012 and 2013 Hall of Fame classes, announce the winners of the 2013 Globe (environmental) and PRIDE (community and public relations) Awards, and present the 2012 “ARTBA Award”—the association’s highest honor. It’s a special evening you don’t want to miss. I hope to see you in the Nation’s Capital later this spring.
Steve Wright 2013 ARTBA Chairman President Wright Brothers Construction
2013 ARTBA Federal Issues Program & Transportation Construction Coalition Fly-In
Products & Services
Featuring the ARTBA Foundation Awards Dinner
JUNE 3-5 Hyatt Regency Washington
2013 ARTBA Media Kit Available
builder®
July-August 2012
Special Report: ARTBA Analysis MAP-21
TransportationBuilder
July-August 2012
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TRANSPORTATION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYERS' GUIDE
2012 ADVERTISEMENT
2013 MEDIA KIT “Transportation Builder” magazine Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide Web & Digital Advertising Opportunities
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2013 Sponsorship & Partner Program
AUGUST 6, 2012
ARTBA Continues Push for Transportation in Party Platforms Both the House and Senate adjourned last week for a recess that will carry through both parties’ political conventions (August 27-30 in Tampa, Fla., for the GOP and September 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C., for Democrats) and last until September 10. As such, both parties are developing their political message for the last few months of campaigning before November and are
Room Discount for ARTBA National Convention Ends This Week
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Senate Introduces Bipartisan Coal Ash Legislation A bipartisan group of 12 Republican and 12 Democratic senators introduced August 2 the “Coal Ash Recycling and Oversight Act” to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash—used extensively in transportation construction projects—as a “hazardous substance.” The legislation, introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) builds upon a Continued on page 2 Follow ARTBA:
View the 2013 Federal Issues Program schedule of events and sponsorship opportunities.
The deadline for receiving the discounted $192 hotel room rate at the 2012 ARTBA National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. ends Aug. 10. The Peabody Memphis Hotel is a magnificent Forbes FourStar, AAA Four-Diamond, historic property, which has been described as “legendary, charming, elegant and grand.” In addition to top-notch speakers and networking opportunities, this year’s convention features a spectacular program of
events for spouses of ARTBA members. Spouses will have the opportunity to tour “Blues City,” learn about its past, and visit important cultural landmarks, such as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and Sun Studio and Stax Museum, where legends such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Tom Petty made music history. The program also includes a historical tour along the Mississippi River aboard the newly-refurbished Island Queen.
Attendees and their spouses will also have the opportunity to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis. The full program is available at www. artbanationalconvention.org. Contact ARTBA’s Ed Tarrant for information, or call the Peabody Memphis Hotel at 901.529.4000 to book your room. Reservations made after August 10 will be on a spaceavailable basis.
August 10 Deadline: Contractor Safety & Roadway Work Zone Safety Awards ARTBA Washington Newsline
2013 Media Kit
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View the 2013 ARTBA Media Kit online for the full range of advertising and other opportunities in our “Transportation Builder” magazine, “Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide,” and the “Washington Newsline.”
• Build your brand. • Increase awareness of your firm’s products and services before key decision makers. • Connect with current and potential customers. • Invest in the future of the transportation design and construction market. • Play a leadership role in your national association.
View all the 2013 ARTBA meeting sponsorship opportunities. To become a sponsor, fax this form or contact Ed Tarrant at 202.289.4434.
For more information on advertising, contact Peter Embrey at 202.289.4434. ARTBA Washington Newsline
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Overheard
“When you guys have to go out here to Reagan Airport and wait in line three hours to get through security, you’re going to be pissed, and so is everybody else.” Former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles in a “Politico” article predicting public reaction to automatic budget cuts slated for March 1.
“Taken as a whole, this would be the first significant and sustainable transportation revenue in the commonwealth since 1986 — a desperately needed infusion postponed for too long. And like many compromises, it will be a bitter pill for both parties” Feb. 21 “Washington Post” editorial about the proposed final Virginia transportation investment plan.
“A higher gas tax would help fix crumbling highways while also generating money that could help offset the impact on low- and middle-income families. Increasing the tax, as part of a bipartisan budget deal, with a clear explanation to the public of its role in lowering oil imports and improving our air and highways, could be among the most important energy decisions we make” Feb. 22 “New York Times” op-ed, “The Case for Higher Gasoline Tax,” by M.I.T. Research Scientist Valerie J. Karplus. 4
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Legislative & Regulatory News The President’s Plan
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Innovation Act program. The Administration’s fact sheet, however, does not contain specifics on how to fund this plan. The President has frequently supported using savings from the winddown of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to reinvest in America—a so-called “Peace Dividend.” That concept has encountered resistance on Capitol Hill because spending for the wars has not been offset in the budget and so added to the national debt. It remains unclear if Congress will seek to act on the President’s proposal. ARTBA continues to emphasize that a long-term solution to the Highway Trust Fund’s structural revenue shortfall should be part of any infrastructure initiative.
Emergency Rebuilding Efforts
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regulatory burden than more cumbersome reviews, such as environmental assessments (EAs) or environmental impact statements (EIS). The difference in time involved in a CE as opposed to an EA or EIS is years and can even be as much as a decade in some instances. FHWA’s new rule marks the beginning of the agency’s efforts to implement the new surface transportation authorization law, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century” (MAP-21) Act, which specifically focuses on expanding the use of CEs for transportation improvements. ARTBA has consistently championed the greater use of CEs, as they have the potential to remove years from the environmental
review and approval process for transportation projects and ARTBA specifically recommended many of the reforms included in MAP-21. ARTBA also urged FHWA and FTA, in comments submitted November 30, 2012, to ensure that once a project is designated as a CE, it is not held up by further unnecessary reviews or other bureaucratic “red tape,” allowing recovery efforts to proceed as quickly as possible. View ARTBA’s comments.
Sequester Cuts Appear Imminent Members of Congress and President Obama spent much of last week trading blame for the roughly eight percent across-the-board cuts in defense and non-defense discretionary spending scheduled to go into effect at the end of this week. While there still may an 11th hour effort to halt or delay the sequester process, the prospects for such a measure at this stage do not appear positive. As we have reported in the past, the core federal highway, transit formula, and airport infrastructure programs are exempt from the sequester cut. The transit capital program and aviation operational activities, however, would be subject to the reductions. In recent days, some have suggested Congress may attempt to provide the Administration with flexibility to choose which programs to cut as opposed to forcing a broad-based application. Such a move, if successful, would mean any currently protected programs could be subject to reduction. We will keep you apprised as this fluid situation continues to evolve.
IndustryNews Motor-Vehicle Deaths Up in 2012 Motor-vehicle deaths increased five percent from 34,600 in 2011 to 36,200 in 2012, according to preliminary data from the non-profit National Safety Council. The estimated annual mileage death rate also increased four percent, from 1.18 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles travelled (VMT) in 2011 to 1.23 deaths per 100 million VMT in 2012. A December 2012 estimate by the federal government’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also found a similar trend in motor vehicle fatalities, although the two entities use slightly different criteria. Both studies emphasize the need to make strategic investments in the nation’s surface transportation infrastructure to design and construct safer facilities.
Multimodal News A service of ARTBA’s multimodal councils, it features current transportation developments making news across all modes and regions. Contact Sara Jones to become a subscriber or visit www.artbamultimodal.org.
2013 Award Deadlines
2012 1 st Place PRIDE Award Winner: APAC Missouri
2012 1 st Place Globe Award WInner: Wright Brothers Construction Company
PRIDE Awards: Honoring excellence in community relations & public education that enhance the image of the U.S. transportation construction industry. Deadline: March 29
Globe Awards: Honoring U.S. transportation construction industry excellence in environmental protection & mitigation Deadline: April 12
Hall of Fame Class: From left to right: 2011 ARTBA Chairman Bill Cox with 2011 Hall inductees Jim Lammie, Denney Pate, and John Wight on behalf of Enoch Needles
Hall of Fame: Honors individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraodinary contributions to the U.S. transportation development. Deadline: April 12
March 15 Deadline for the 2013 Young Executive Development Program; Nominate Your Firm’s Rising Stars Today! The ARTBA Foundation is now accepting nominations for its 18th Annual Young Executive Development Program (YEDP) June 3-6, in Washington, D.C. The YEDP introduces young transportation design and construction executives to the federal legislative and regulatory processes and features sessions on highway/transit financing, economics, environmental, regulatory and legal issues, public-private partnerships and industry innovation. The program is held in conjunction with ARTBA’s annual Federal Issues Program (FIP) and Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) Fly-In, allowing participants to meet with their congressional delegation about pending transportation issues. Up to 30 professional development hours (PDH) available. More than 430 young executives from nearly 200 companies, public agencies and state contractor organizations in 40 states and Washington, D.C., have completed the program, including 2013 ARTBA Chairman, Steve Wright, Wright Brothers Construction. Admission is competitive. Nominees should be under 40 years of age and have at least three years of experience in the industry. View a full list of eligibility requirements. As an added incentive, the individual who nominates the most accepted applicants to complete the program will win an iPad. Download the application. Contact ARTBA’s Sara Jones with any questions.
ARTBA Washington Newsline
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Register Now! Feb. 28 Webinar 60 Minutes to Help You Better Understand OSHA’s Work Zone Inspection Directive FEBRUARY 28 1-2 p.m. EST A new directive from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) means the agency is likely to step up its inspections of roadway work zones. Are you prepared if agency officials arrive unannounced at your job site? A February 28 webinar hosted by ARTBA is designed to make sure you are. Two leading OSHA officials—Director of Construction Services Dean McKenzie and Regulatory Analyst Blake Skogland—will provide background about conducting inspections on and near highway and roadway work zones, including hazards to look for, such as proper use of temporary traffic control, flagging, noise, dust, illumination, personal protective equipment, scaffolds and fall protection. They will also address the directive’s provisions that compliance officers use OSHA’s General Duty Clause—5(a)(1)—to cite for industry recognized hazards for which there are no specific OSHA standards, including setting and retrieving cones and drums, workers crossing open traffic lanes, and wearing of high visibility apparel. These 60 minutes are “a must” for anyone with oversight responsibilities in the roadway construction industry! SPEAKERS: Dean McKenzie, director of construction services (OSHA) Blake Skogland, regulatory analyst (OSHA) PRICE: Member: $125 Non-Member: $175
REGISTER NOW or contact Brie Johnson or Brad Sant at 202.289.4434 for more information. 6
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