Senate Committee Approves Bill to Speed Infrastructure Projects' Permits

Legislation to expedite permitting for a wide range of infrastructure projects has advanced in the Senate. The bill, which the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee cleared on May 6, is based in part on the 2012 MAP-21 highway-transit law's project-review provisions, says sponsor Rob Portman (R-Ohio).

The bill goes beyond roads and transit to cover energy, aviation, broadband and other projects, too. It would apply generally to projects exceeding $200 million, up from $25 million in an earlier version.

Among the bill's supporters are the Associated General Contractors of America, Associated Builders and Contractors, American Road & Transportation Builders Association, North America's Building Trades Unions and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The House Judiciary Committee approved a similar bill on March 24.

Tom Ichniowski has been writing about the federal government as ENR’s Washington Bureau Chief since the George H.W. Bush administration, and he has covered at least five major highway bills. A recognized expert on government policy on infrastructure and regulation, Tom is also a Baltimore native and Orioles fan who grew up rooting for Brooks and Frank Robinson. He is a graduate of Columbia College and Columbia’s graduate school of journalism, where he once used “unrelentless” in a headline.

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Progressive Design-Build is reshaping large infrastructure projects by addressing key issues with the traditional Design-Build approach. We'll explore how PDB fosters collaboration between owners, design-builders, and design teams to develop a well-defined scope and budget, plus minimizes cost overruns and reduces liability claims.