+ Image Source: AllAboard Florida Related Links: Bi-Partisan Panel Pushes Importance of Infrastructure Investment Complex SunRail Project Tests Design-Build Delivery Despite concerns raised by citizens groups about project funding and community impacts, the company developing a $1.5-billion Miami-to-Orlando passenger rail line is pushing ahead with its ambitious plans for the 235-mile-long system. Officials with All Aboard Florida (AAF)—a division of Florida East Coast Industries (FECI), Coral Gables—unveiled their third south Florida station, in West Palm Beach, on July 21.In conjunction with the event, AAF tweeted this from President Michael Reininger: "All initial steps for our stations are now underway. This
Related Links: Wash. State Tackling Issues in NTSB's Skagit Bridge-Collapse Report Fast-Track Replacement Planned For Collapsed Skagit River Bridge The National Transportation Safety Board says a distracted pilot driver speaking on a hands-free cellular phone, inadequate clearance signage and a trucker unaware of lane rules share the blame for the span collapse of Washington's Skagit River bridge last year.The state's automated oversize-load permitting system also needs updating, says the NTSB's report on the May 23, 2013, incident, in which a truck hauling an oversize load struck the Interstate 5 Skagit River bridge, causing a span to collapse 38 ft into
Image courtesy of University of Washington, Seattle/Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Octagonal prefabricated pre-tensioned concrete columns may improve bridge behavior in an earthquake. Related Links: Reno Researchers Shake Things Up U.S. Post-Tensioned Seismic Systems Not Yet Tested by a Quake University researchers have unveiled a new concrete bridge bent system that they say reduces earthquake damage while speeding construction. The new rocking design uses octagonal, prefabricated, pretensioned concrete columns for added elasticity and a recentering effect that minimizes seismic-related structural damage and displacement. The structural support system’s critical components are created under factory conditions for improved quality and reduced erection
Related Links: Public-Private Partnerships Will Be Key in Bridge, Airport Projects: Port Authority Chief P3s, Maintenance In the Future for NYC Area, Transpo Leaders Say Aside from the unexplained disqualification of one of four teams this spring, details on the much-anticipated $2.4-billion public-private partnership award to rebuild LaGuardia airport’s central terminal building (CTB) remain in a holding pattern.Buffeted by recent negative press regarding "Bridgegate" and its organizational structure, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is tight-lipped, although work on the $3.5-billion renovation is expected to begin sometime this fall. “When we have something to announce, we will
Photos Courtesy of Port of Long Beach History of oil extraction left behind benzene in aquifers and soil prone to subsidence. Related Links: Long Beach, Calif., Port Program Hits Stormy Waters Old Oil Field Hikes Price Tag for Long Beach Port Upgrades Unforeseen soil conditions surrounding foundations on a new $1.2- billion cable-stayed bridge have added as much as 18 months to the construction schedule, say officials at the Port of Long Beach, Calif."The soil has turned out to be more complicated than the engineers originally thought," says John Pope, port spokesman. The 1.2-mile-long Gerald Desmond Bridge is being constructed
The U.S. Energy Dept. announced on July 1 a conditional commitment for a $150-million loan guarantee to support construction of the 360-MW Cape Wind offshore wind project in Massachusetts.If built, the planned project would be the first commercial-scale offshore U.S. wind facility. It would use 130 offshore wind turbines, each 3.6 MW, to provide up to 75% of the power needed for Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and would create about 400 construction jobs. Under the project's proposed financing structure, DOE would be part of a group of public and private lenders.
Photo by Steve Barrett Photography/Courtesy of APTA FTA Deputy Administrator McMillan addresses APTA members in Montreal, citing potential major increases in transit funding as RTD's Washington (left) and FRA's Szabo look on. Related Links: P3 Bug Spreading Among U.S. Transit Builders Bridge Industry Conference Showcases Missouri Innovations Builders of both bridge and rail infrastructure are eyeing the next several weeks with a heightened sense of urgency—hoping against hope that Congress will manage to pass some version of President Obama's proposed $302-billion, four-year transportation reauthorization bill. At the same time, alternative delivery methods such as public-private partnerships are higher than ever
Related Links: Proposed Tolls On Existing Road Ignite Lawsuit In Virginia Virginia Takes Steps To Propel Two Transportation Projects A controversial plan to construct a tolled bypass to U.S. Route 460 in southeast Virginia could be in for additional hurdles as the state's transportation agency and inspector general investigate potential procurement violations for the $1.4-billion project.At issue is whether a proposed 55-mile limited-access toll highway between Suffolk and Petersburg was developed, contracted and invoiced in accordance with the Virginia Dept. of Transportation's procurement rules, as well as those of the state's Public-Private Transportation Act.The highway, intended to provide direct access
Photo Courtesy of PERI The Willy Brandt Berlin Brandenburg Airport is two years behind schedule and could see costs escalate to nearly $4 billion. Related Links: Berlin's New $4B Airport About Ready To Debut When Did Germans Forget How To Build? Construction of Berlin's new airport, already two years behind schedule and at least $1.3 billion over budget, has hit yet another hurdle stemming from an alleged bribery scandal.When Netherlands-based design and engineering firm Arcadis in May received an employee report of a bribe attempt by a Berlin Brandenburg Airport official, it immediately reported it to authorities, says Jost Slooten,
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