Federal and congressional transportation proponents said on Dec. 15 they seek expressions of interest from firms to finance, design, build and operate high-speed passenger rail projects in 11 federally designated U.S. corridors. The solicitation is part of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008, signed into law on Oct. 16. Respondents have until September 2009 to submit proposals. A planned Northeast Corridor between New York City and Washington, set to cost up to $30 billion, would be first, with officials saying all routes could operate as early as 2012.

As a self-imposed 2009 deadline nears regarding whether to rebuild or raze the 55-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle, a consensus seemss far off. In early December, a task force whittled down a list of eight design options to two: a six-lane boulevard or a reconfigured elevated highway. The former option, a six-lane waterfront boulevard resembling San Francisco’s Embarcadero, would cost $2.2 billion. With related Interstate 5 work, mass transit and other projects, that amount increases to $3.3 billion and would take 5.5 years to build. The other option, twin bridges, would cost $2.3 billion. After traffic mitigation and related

The nuclear industry is sprinting to build nuclear-enrichment plants in the U.S. before its supply of en-riched uranium dries up in 2013. Bethesda, Md.-based USEC Inc. is building a $3.5-billion enrichment plant at the site of its shuttered plant in Piketon, Ohio. Louisiana Energy Services (LES), a subsidiary of U.K.-based Urenco Ltd., is building a $3-billion enrichment plant at a greenfield site in Eunice, N.M., and Paris-based Areva is seeking approval to build an enrichment facility at a greenfield site near Idaho Falls at cost of more than $2 billion. Photo: USEC Inc. March 2008 saw first concrete placed for

The California Air Resources Board on Dec. 11 voted to adopt the nation’s first comprehensive state global warming plan. The goal: reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The “scoping plan” implements the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act. The measure is intended as a blueprint for achieving target emission reductions. The plan takes a multi-pronged approach to cutting state greenhouse gases. There are provisions to create more energy efficiency in buildings, more reliance on renewable energy sources, statewide standards for capturing methane at landfills and more efficiency in the state’s water system. According to Patrick Sullivan, senior vice president of

The Charles Pankow Foundation has a small pile of gold it hopes to spin into building design and construction improvements. The private foundation, which funds about six new research projects annually, expects to give out $1 million in the next year to support new and ongoing projects. “We fund research that moves innovative [nonproprietary] solutions to problems from the red zone to the end zone,” says Robert K. Tener, the foundation’s Claremont, Calif.-based executive director. Builder Charles Pankow started the foundation in 2002 to “inspire new and better ways to build.” Pankow, who died in 2004, left much of his

President-Elect Barack Obama (D) has selected a veteran team of regulators and administrators to fill the nation’s top energy and environmental posts, a team that sources say will be focused on climate change and developing renewable energy sources. He formally announced his picks for energy secretary, Environmental Protection Agency administrator, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and a new advisory position to coordinate policies on climate change and energy across all federal agencies Dec. 15. Environmental groups say they like what they see in the nominees. Obama has asked former EPA Administrator Carol Browner to serve as

After seven years, a public vote and countless discussions, the Washington State Dept. of Transportation, City of Seattle and King County narrowed the options for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct to two: a six-lane boulevard or a reconfigured elevated highway. Photo: WSDOT At-grade boulevard would mimic Embarcadero Photo: WSDOT Elevated highway would have twin spans State and local officials are racing against the clock to meet a self-imposed 2009 deadline for selecting a plan to replace the 55-year-old highway, which was damaged in the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) says the current structure is “a literal threat

Utah and Florida lead the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials's list—in terms of dollar value—of projects that are ready to start if funded in a federal economic stimulus plan, expected to be proposed in coming weeks. Related Links: 'Ready to Go' May Be The Stimulus Ticket Together the two states estimate they have $17.8 billion in road and bridge projects for which contracts could be awarded within 180 days of receiving stimulus aid. That amount represents 28% of the $64.3 billion in projects for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, according to AASHTO's tally, released

A 1975 earthquake near Oroville, Calif., halted construction of nearby Auburn Dam on the American River’s North Fork, and the project lingered in a vegetative state for 33 years. On Dec. 2, the dam died when the State Water Resources Control Board revoked the project’s water rights. The dam project was authorized in 1965 for the Central Valley Project with an estimated cost of $282 million, but it would cost $6 billion to $10 billion to complete now, says a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation official. BuRec held rights for 2.5 million acre-ft of water in connection with Auburn Dam. Following

The global market for environmental services, already strong thanks to continued infrastructure investments by both developed and developing nations, now has the added driver of addressing increasing threats of water scarcity brought on by climate change and pressure on groundwater supplies. “Urbanization and economic development have always challenged us in finding sufficient supplies of potable water,” says Paul Brown, executive vice president, global market development for Camp Dresser & McKee Inc. (CDM), Lexington, Mass. “Superimposing climate change exacerbates issues that were already quite formidable.” Photo: Black & Veatch Hong Kong is the midst of a wide-ranging upgrade of its sewer