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Newsline Washington
ARTBA 2012 Chairman’s Message One of the reasons ARTBA is still in business after 110 years is because of Steve Wright, Wright Brothers Construction the consistent results it gets on behalf of its more than 5,000 members. The year 2012 was no different. Bolstered by the strong grassroots activities of ARTBA’s volunteer leaders, state contractor chapters, private sector firms and public agencies, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21) became the law of the land in July. ARTBA
december 24, 2012
ARTBA Challenges Proposed DBE Changes
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House Democrats Name New T&I Members House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) December 20 announced nine new Democrat members to the panel. Current Representatives André Carson (D-Ind.) and Janice Hahn (D-Calif.) will serve on the committee, as well as incoming freshman Representatives-elect Rick Nolan (D-Minn.), Continued on page 4 Follow ARTBA:
ARTBA December 21 submitted extensive written comments responding to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) sweeping proposed changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The proposal, published September 6, features approximately 30 potential DBE policy changes. Notable provisions include: requiring bidders to present DBE compliance or good faith effort documentation with their bid proposals; prohibiting
state agencies from using bidders or pre-qualification lists in goal setting; easing U.S. DOT’s ability to overturn state goal-setting and good faith effort decisions on subjective grounds; and possible abolition of the “regular dealer” designation for DBEs. U.S. DOT claims the proposal represents mere “administrative changes to improve program implementation.” ARTBA’s 16-page response challenges this premise and describes the widespread
effects, including project cost increases, that would result. The comments urge U.S. DOT to work more closely with industry and state agencies in developing these changes. ARTBA’s comments also reference long-standing issues in the DBE program such as lack of quantification for “unreasonable” differences in bids. As ARTBA states, “it is evident and unfortunate that the promulgators of these Continued on page 2
The next issue of the “Washington Newsline” will be published January 7, 2013.
ARTBA Washington Newsline
DBE Comments Filed Continued from page 1
proposed rules appear to maintain little or no understanding of the practical realities and business environment through which transportation contractors deliver the infrastructure improvements that continue to be so important to this nation.” ARTBA developed the comments through its DBE Committee, chaired by Scott Piefer of ZenithTech in Waukesha, Wis. Numerous ARTBA members and chapters offered valuable feedback on the “real world” ramifications of these draconian changes. Many also filed their own comments with U.S. DOT. With the comment period closing December 24, U.S. DOT will move to the next stage of the regulatory process and decide which of these proposals they intend to enact. ARTBA will be taking an aggressive and pro-active stance on this important matter, staying in close contact with our members, meeting with policy makers and utilizing all procedural options.
A Holiday Message from ARTBA
View ARTBA’s comments. For more information, contact ARTBA’s Rich Juliano.
Upcoming Events
2013
Visit our Events Page for more information. Project Management Academy February 4-6 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
July 25-26 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
P6 Scheduling Academy
ARTBA National Convention
Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-In
Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvationTM Workshop & Awards Program
February 6-8 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
June 3-5 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]
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25th Annual ARTBA P3 Conference
ART BA Washington Newsline
September 8-10 Milwaukee, Wis. [Add to Calendar]
October
Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase (LoTransTM 2013) October
5th Annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory Forum October, Washington, D.C.
Chairman’s Message also played a key role in the passage of a multi-year aviation bill that provides federal investment for airport construction projects. Many so-called “Washington pundits” said these legislative achievements would never happen, especially in an election year. We helped prove them wrong. MAP-21 will provide needed market and funding stability over the short term. It also contains many of the long-term policy reforms and program streamlining provisions that an ARTBA task force put forward in 2007. While many organizations were involved in the reauthorization push, I can unequivocally tell you that none devoted more time, energy and resources to it than ARTBA! On “the road to reauthorization,” our leaders and staff testified 25 times before congressional committees,
congressionally-chartered commissions and at executive branch hearings. Along the way and through the “Transportation Makes America Work Campaign,” we produced award-winning radio and television programs, facilitated ground breaking studies by the Harvard School of Public Health, the Pacific Institute of Research & Evaluation and the Texas Transportation Institute, and dedicated significant resources to the activities of industry coalitions. During 2012, we also had the industry’s back in the federal regulatory arena, fighting against excessive regulation. We filed detailed comments more than 25 times with federal agencies on issues such as MAP-21 implementation, clean air, clean water, storm water and wetlands regulations and sign retro-reflectivity.
And we won three federal court cases— two before the U.S. Supreme Court—on Clean Water Act and wetlands permitting issues that had the potential to disrupt, or unnecessarily limit, future transportation development and projects. ARTBA also provided a full array of programs aimed at helping its members work more productively and profitably. Among them: new products and training for 4,000 safety professionals; policy discussions, networking and business development for more than 2,100 industry executives at 15 ARTBA meetings; and a first-ever virtual conference and innovation showcase. A special thanks to all ARTBA members for your continued involvement and leadership during 2012! View the complete 2012 Annual Report.
New Planning & Design Reports Provide In-Depth Look at State Markets
Products & Services 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
Newsline Washington
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:
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.”
ARTBA released its 2013 “Texas Transportation Planning & Design Market Outlook Report” December 12, the second in a series of in-depth state studies that provides industry firms and financial analysts with high-quality market intelligence for use in business and investment planning. Utilizing key business indicators, source documents and personal interviews, the reports provide a current trend and five-year forecast for state transportation department highway and bridge spending, planning and design work, and major airport construction, as well as economic demographics, bond ratings and capacity, and innovative financing and procurement status in the state. They also provide the latest business requirements for planning and design firms looking to do work in that state, and comprehensive list of other firms already doing work in that market. Reports for Florida and California will be released in the coming months. They are available to ARTBA member firms for $5,000 each for Texas and Florida, and $7,500 for California, or as a package of three for $16,000. Non-ARTBA members may purchase them for $6,000 each for Texas and Florida and $8,500 for California, or as a package of three for $19,000. View the Kentucky report. Contact ARTBA’s Sarah Crane for more information.
For more information on advertising, contact Peter Embrey at 202.289.4434. ARTBA Washington Newsline
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Overheard
“Given the precarious fiscal condition of the Highway Trust Fund, what happens if Congress leaves the fund on auto pilot until MAP-21 expires in late 2014? The answer is simple: a guaranteed, nearly 60 percent cut in FY 2015 federal highway investment to state governments from $40 billion level to $17 billion. In turn, this would jeopardize 625,000 U.S. jobs, with most potential losses occurring in 2015 and 2016. About one-third of these jobs would be in highway construction, with the others in supplier industries and throughout the rest of the economy.” ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane in “Politico” Dec. 18.
“I think the chances of a long-term financing fix are good within the next Congress..... From a transportation perspective, there will be pressure to do something because the program is going to run out of money, making it a good possibility that there could be a vehicle that deals with this issue. With Congressman Bill Shuster chairing the committee, who is very passionate about transportation, I think there will be a real push for a stable financing pattern.” Jack Schenendorf, Counsel for Covington & Burling, in “Politico” Dec. 18. 4
ART BA Washington Newsline
Legislative & Regulatory News New T&I Members Continued from page 1
Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.). Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) will also re-join the committee. Rahall said subcommittee assignments will likely be made in January. ARTBA encourages all of its members to reach out to their elected officials in the coming weeks to emphasize the importance of the nation’s transportation network to the overall economy.
Sandy Relief Bill Under GOP Microscope The $60.4 billion Hurricane Sandy disaster relief bill proposed by the Obama Administration and amended by Senate Democrats is facing tough scrutiny from House and Senate Republicans over the total size of the package, the immediate necessity of some of the relief provisions and directed spending towards programs that do not bear a direct relationship to the October 25 storm. GOP senators have proposed focusing only on the immediate repair needs of transit systems, Amtrak, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers and examining additional legislation in the next session of Congress to address future investments to mitigate such disasters. As such, Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) has filed amendments to the President’s relief proposal that would reduce the total investment to $25 billion.
Conservative groups like Heritage Action for America and the Club for Growth are urging lawmakers to oppose the bill in its current form for both the aforementioned content of the relief proposals and the fact that, as written, the legislation does not contain matching cuts in spending elsewhere in the federal government to keep the package deficit neutral.
U.S. DOT Approves $120 Million Loan for Dallas Transit U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood December 13 approved a $120 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will enable Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to advance construction on an extension of the Orange Line light rail project connecting Irving, Texas (former home of the Dallas Cowboys), to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The 35-year direct loan will be used to fund construction of a 5.17 mile segment and bring total U.S. DOT support for DART light rail to $796 million since 1996. Read more about DART.
ARTBA News LTAP/ TTAP Clearninghouse Launches New & Improved Website The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Clearinghouse, operated under contract by the ARTBA Foundation, launched a new website December 19, providing users with improved, userfriendly navigation, interactive map, informative pod casts and contemporary graphics. The Clearinghouse supports the National LTAP/TTAP program, which provides local road departments with information on issues such as congestion, workforce development, enhanced safety and security and environmental solutions. For more information contact ARTBA’s Carolyn Kramer.
Multimodal News
Fostering Innovation
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.
TRB Newsletter: Dec 19
Highlighting new research, technologies, industry best practices and information resources available to the transportation design and construction industry.
Nominate Someone for ARTBA-TDF’s 2013 “Hall of Fame” Class The ARTBA Foundation announced December 20 that it is now accepting nominations for the 2013 “Transportation Development Hall of Fame,” which honors individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to U.S. transportation development or demonstrated exceptional leadership over their lifetime. Anyone can nominate a candidate, and ARTBA membership is not required. Individuals can be living or inducted to the Hall posthumously. The selection process is extremely competitive, and only a very limited number of individuals will be inducted annually. A committee of judges that includes industry journalists will select the inductees, and winners will be honored at a special dinner in early June that takes place in the Nation’s Capital during ARTBA’s Federal Issues Program. Nomination forms must be received by close of business April 12, 2013. View the nomination form, or contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions.
Acclaimed Construction Management Expert to Lead P6 Scheduling Academy Acclaimed construction management expert Dr. Jay Newitt of Brigham Young University will lead ARTBA’s February 6-8 P6® Scheduling Academy. The course provides in-depth instruction on Primavera Project Planner (P6®) software and other “tricks of the trade” to help efficiently track key aspects of transportation projects, such as people, materials, operational benchmarks and payment schedules. The same week, February 4-6, ARTBA Foundation’s “Transportation Builder Institute” will also be hosting its annual Project Management
Academy (PMA), which covers the latest innovations in seven core subjects: construction documentation; resource management; planning and scheduling, economics of safety; industry ethics; client relations; and management and leadership. Registration: PMA is $2,000 for ARTBA members ($2,700 for non-members.); P6 is $1,700 for ARTBA members ($2,100 for non-members). Register for both and save $1,000. You also have the option to register for just one. Up to 32 ARTBA Professional Development Hours are available.
View the full program schedule. Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions at 202.289.4434, ext. 304.
Dr. Jay Newitt of Brigham Young University
N.Y. Thruway Selects Tappan Zee Team The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors December 16 selected the Tappan Zee Bridge Constructors consortium to build a new eight-lane bridge crossing the Hudson River north of New York City to replace the aging Tappan Zee Bridge. The winning team of Fluor Enterprises, American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast, and Traylor Brothers, will complete the $3.1 billion design-build project—the
largest transportation designbuild project to date in the U.S.—in five years and 2.5 months. According to Thruway Board Chairman Howard Milstein, “the design-build process produced a savings of at least $1.5 billion compared the amounts estimated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and our own original estimates.” In 2011, the authority unsuccessfully requested up to $2 billion in direct loans from the federal TIFIA program
based on an estimated $6 billion total project cost. It has once again submitted a request for assistance in FY 2013 but FHWA has not yet committed to credit assistance for the project. The Tappan Zee Bridge Constructors were unanimously selected by the board for having a proposal that was “at least 20 percent lower than other bidders, requires less dredging, and can be completed faster than the other proposals.” Learn more about the project.
Download a PDF copy of the digital “Washington Newsline.” ARTBA Washington Newsline
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ARTBA Chairman 1902-2012 In this last installment relating to ARTBA’s 110th anniversary, we feature the names of the association’s 87 chairmen.
Horatio S. Earle
Henry G. Shirley
James R. Madara
Kenneth R. Rezendes
James L. Skelly
David R. Kraemer
Enoch R. Needles
Nello L. Teer, Jr.
John W. Wight
Thomas W. Hill
Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer
Leo A. Vecellio Jr.
1902-1903 Horatio S. Earle1
1921 Michael J. Faherty1
1932 Thomas H. Cutler1
1953-1954 Robert M. Reindollar2
1904-1910 James H. MacDonald1
1922 Henry L. Bowlby1
1933-1934 H.C. Whitehurst1
1955-1956 J.N. Robertson1
1911 Harold Parker1
1922 Thomas J. Wasser1
1935 William MacDonald3
1957-1958 Julian R. Steelman4
1912 Nelson P. Lewis1
1923 Frank Page1
1936-1937 William T. Chevalier4
1959-1960 Nello L. Teer, Jr.3
1913 Samuel Hill1
1924 J.H. Cranford3
1938-1939 Murray Van Wagoner1
1961-1962 Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer1
1914 W. A. McLean1
1925 William H. Connell1
1940-1941 Hal G. Sours1
1963-1964 Boyd S. Oberlink4
1915 Geoerge W. Tillson1
1926 Henry G. Shirley1
1942 C.J. Sherlock1
1965 John P. Moss3
1916 E.A. Stevens1
1927 Charles M. Babcock1
1943-1944 Carl W. Brown1
1966 J. Burch McMorran1
1917 A.W. Dean1
1928 R. Keith Compton1
1945-1946 James L. Skelly3
1967-1968 Robert S. Holmes5
1918 H. Eltinge Breed1
1929 Frederick A. Reimer2
1947-1948 James T. Callaway5
1969 Robert G. Bartlett1
1919 Arthur H. Blanchard2
1930 W. A. Van Duzer1
1949-1950 Enoch R. Needles2
1970 Ralph E. Heffner3
1920 George P. Coleman1
1931 William R. Smith3
1951-1952 Paul B. Reinhold4
1971 Edward H. Holt4
Robert G. Bartlett
Paul Yarossi
Wilbur S. Smith
Richard R. Stander
David H. Burrows
Robert E. Hirschman
Denver Collins, Jr.
Charles A.
John C. Lanford
Machemehl, Jr.
Steve Wright
1972 E.J. Peltier2
1985 Robert E. Hirschman3
1997 Max R. Sproles, P.E.2
2010 William Cox3
1973 Ray W. Burgess1
1986 Gary L. Godbersen4
1998 David R. Kraemer3
2011 Paul Yarossi2
1974 J.L. Cone, Jr.3
1987 Denver Collins, Jr.3
1999 Stan F. Lanford, Jr.3
2012 Steve Wright3
1975 James A. Nelson4
1988 Daniel J. Spigai2
2000 John W. Midgley, P.E.1
Divisions:
1976 J.C. Landen6
1989 M.O. Brenden3
2001 John W. Wight7
1977 Wilbur S. Smith2
1990 Charles A. Machemehl, Jr.5
2002-2003 Thomas W. Hill5
1978 Richard R. Stander3
1991 John C. Lanford3
2004 Richard Wagman3
1979 A.B. Long, Jr.3
1992 John P. Rutter3
2005 Gene McCormick2
1980 William B. Eline4
1993 James R. Madara2
2006 Michael Walton8
1981 David H. Burrows3
1994 Kenneth R. Rezendes3
2007 Leo A. Vecellio Jr.3
1982 James A. Caywood2
1995 William G. Mulligan4
2008 Charles Potts5
1983-1984 Joseph R. Perini, Jr.3
1996 Jay R. Taylor6
2009 Larry Tate4
Transportation Officials
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Planning & Design
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Contractors
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Manufacturers
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Materials & Services
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Transportation Safety Industry
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P3
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Research & Education
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Join the Next Generation of Industry Leaders...
The ARTBA-TDF Young Executive Development Program NOW Accepting Applications for 2013 June 3 - 6, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
• 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. • Participants gain a greater understanding about how they can play a leadership role in helping grow the transportation construction market in the future. • View the application, or contact ARTBA’s Sara Jones for more information.
“The ARTBA YEDP provided thorough insight into the legislative process concerning our industry. The diversity and quality of participants added great perspective and value to the program.”
“I now understand the importance of advocating transportation spending to elected officials as well as the general public…The ARTBA staff is awesome – very knowledgeable and infectious in their passion for the industry.” Parsons Brinckerhoff PMT Regional Engineer, Melisa Bittancourt and graduate of ARTBA’s 2012 Young Executive Development Program (YEDP), which helps develop the next generation of industry leaders.