EPA Begins WOTUS Repeal Process

By Nick Goldstein, vice president of regulatory affairs & assistant general counsel, ARTBA The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced June 27 that it is repealing the “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, which threatened to force transportation construction firms to get a permit every time a roadside ditch filled with water. In a press release, ...

Posted: 6/27/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

House Panel Approves Boost in Airport Infrastructure Investment

By David Bauer, senior vice president of government relations, The House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee today approved by voice vote an ARTBA-supported amendment that would boost Airport Improvement Program (AIP) investment by $250 million to $3.6 billion in FY 2018 and grow the program’s funding to $4 billion by FY 2023.  Rep. Lou Barletta ...

Posted: 6/27/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

Australian Ambassador Will Discuss ‘Asset Recycling’ at P3 Conference

By Mark Holan, editorial director, ARTBA The Honorable Joe Hockey, Australian Ambassador to the United States, will be a special guest panelist at ARTBA’s annual P3s in Transportation Conference, July 12-14, in Washington, D.C. Ambassador Hockey previously served as treasurer of the commonwealth, where he played a major role in his government’s use of asset ...

Posted: 6/27/2017
Category: Meetings

Federal Airport Construction Program Funding Only Meets Half of Identified Needs, Analysis Finds

By Eileen Houlihan, senior writer/editor, ARTBA Current airport construction funding levels are only half of what is necessary to make safety improvements and help reduce runway congestion, according to a new ARTBA analysis of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data. The U.S. House and Senate are debating legislation to reauthorize the FAA and the nation’s aviation ...

Posted: 6/23/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

House and Senate Release Competing Aviation Authorization Bills

By Dean Franks, vice president of congressional affairs, ARTBA House and Senate committees this week introduced legislation to reauthorize the federal aviation programs, each including funding increases for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP)—which supports airport capital projects. Debate on both proposals will begin at the committee level the week of June 26 in both chambers. ...

Posted: 6/23/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

OSHA Kicks Off Annual Heat Illness Prevention Campaign

By Eileen Houlihan, senior writer/editor ARTBA Extreme heat and humidity pose mortal danger to construction workers, claiming numerous lives every year and sickening thousands of others, regardless of their age or fitness level. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) annual Heat Illness Prevention campaign provides information and training to educate ...

Posted: 6/22/2017
Category: Safety

ARTBA Central Leadership Team Conference Call is July 5

Please join ARTBA Central Region Vice Chair Steve McGough of HCSS and the members of the Central Leadership Team (CLT) for their Wednesday, July 5, conference call. Len Toenjes, president of the AGC of Missouri, ARTBA’s local chapter, will recap the state’s recent legislative session. With new Gov. Eric Greitens (R) leading the way, the General Assembly ...

Posted: 6/22/2017
Category: Meetings

Congressmen Say Best Chance for Infrastructure Bill is with Tax Reform

By Mark Holan, editorial director, ARTBA Congress is much more likely to approve new federal infrastructure funding this year as part of a larger overhaul of the U.S. tax code, according to a bipartisan trio of House members. The odds of securing new money for roads and bridges drop to “very low” if tax reform ...

Posted: 6/22/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

Rethink Transportation Priorities, U.S. DOT Chief Tells House

By David Bauer, senior vice president of government relations, ARTBA U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao June 15 told members of the House Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee that the Trump administration’s budget “challenges all of us to rethink the way we are setting our priorities.” She also discussed the administration’s infrastructure initiatives. Chao said the budget requests funding ...

Posted: 6/16/2017
Category: Legislative & Regulatory

Illinois Transportation Work May Hit July 1 Roadblock

By Mark Holan, editorial director, ARTBA The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) may halt most roadwork by July 1 if state lawmakers can’t pass a budget that allows the agency to pay highway contractors and other vendors. Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) has ordered the General Assembly to return to Springfield on June 21 to hammer ...

Posted: 6/16/2017
Category: State Spotlight