Related Links: FTA Proposed FY15 Capital Grant Report, Project Profiles Obama Rolls Out $302B, Four-Year Transport Bill Proposal (ENR 3/10/2014 issue) Transit agencies found much to smile about in President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, which seeks to boost the Federal Transit Administration's total budget by 63%, to $17.6 billion. "This is a terrific proposal for public transportation," says Rob Healy, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) vice president for government affairs.For design and construction firms, a particular focus is the $2.5 billion Obama is seeking—up 29% from 2014—for FTA capital investment grants, which fund new starts. But the request

Chart by ENR/McGraw Hill Construction President Obama's budget request would boost funding for highway and transit programs and GSA's federal buildings accounts. It would slice funds for Environmental Protection Agency water infrastructure, Dept. of Defense construction, Army Corps of Engineers civil works and Dept. of Energy defense environmental cleanup. Related Links: Obama Rolls Out $302B Transportation Bill Proposal DOT FY2015 Budget Details New Finance Panel Chair Wyden Will Be Key Player on New Transportation Bill President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget request would give big boosts to federal highway and transit programs as well as to General Services Administration federal

AP Wideworld President Obama visits St. Paul, Minn., transit facility shortly before unveiling his proposal. It includes $72 billion for transit over four years. Related Links: White House Summary of Obama Transportation-Bill Plan House Ways and Means Release on Chairman Camp's Tax-Reform Plan The drive for a new federal surface-transportation bill has shifted into a higher gear with President Obama's new $302-billion, four-year proposal and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp's proposed tax-code overhaul that includes $126.5 billion over eight years to shore up the faltering Highway Trust Fund.Construction industry and state transportation officials, deeply worried Congress won't

Related Links: White House fact sheet on transportation proposal Obama Feb. 26 speech on transportation proposal (White House transcript) House Ways and Means release on Camp's tax-reform proposal (links to draft text, summary, cost estimate) President Obama has plunged into the suddenly hotter discussion over a new surface-transportation bill, unveiling the outline of a proposed $302-billion, four-year highway-transit reauthorization measure.Obama’s plan, announced on Feb. 26, came about two hours after House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) released his proposal to provide a $126.5-billion, eight-year infusion to the ailing Highway Trust Fund.Construction and transportation industry officials welcomed the

Photo Courtesy of Office of Sen. Ron Wyden The Oregon Democrat was a prime architect of the 2009-10 Build America Bonds program. Wyden also has proposed various types of tax-credit bonds for infrastructure. Related Links: Boxer Seeks To Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) In State of the Union, Obama Urges Quick Hill Action on Infrastructure Bills (enr.com 1/29/2014) Wyden Calls for DOE Review of Contractor Handling of Whistleblowers As the debate over a new highway-transit bill heats up, construction and transportation officials are keeping a keen eye on Sen. Ron Wyden (D), the Finance Committee's new chairman.

Related Links: Transcript of Feb. 24 oral arguments Briefs in Case The U.S. Supreme Court  heard oral arguments Feb. 24 in a significant environmental case in which the justices appeared to be split on whether the Environmental Protection Agency had the authority to develop greenhouse gas regulations for powerplants, refineries, and other “stationary sources.”The justices did not appear willing to revisit the court's 2007 Massachusetts v. EPA decision, which said that EPA could regulate greenhouse gases if the agency found that they endangered public health.Instead, the case before the court on Feb. 24 centers on a narrower question of whether

Photo by Ian Wagreich, Copyright U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foxx told transportation conference he also advocates reducing project costs, through steps such as having federal agencies "harmonize" their project reviews. Related Links: Prepared text of Foxx's speech before U.S. Chamber of Commerce conference Boxer Seeks to Unveil New Transportation Bill in April (enr.com 2/18/2014) [subscription] Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is taking an ambitious approach to the next surface-transportation bill, due later this year, saying that “a one- or two-year Band-Aid won’t cut it this time.”In a Feb. 20 speech kicking off a day-long U.S. Chamber of Commerce transportation conference in

Courtesy of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Leaders from U.S. Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO, AASHTO, ARTBA, National Association of Manufacturers (left to right) testify about need for new transportation bill. Related Links: Link to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing Webcast, prepared testimony Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) says she is aiming to have a new, multi-year surface-transportation bill ready for a vote by her panel in April.But because the Boxer committee’s jurisdiction is limited to highway policy, it will be up to the Finance Committee to tackle the most critical issue for

Related Links: OSHA page on crystalline silica rulemaking Link to Sept. 12, 2013, Federal Register Notice A coalition of construction industry associations has asked the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to withdraw its proposal to tighten crystalline silica exposure limits for construction workers.But organized labor, including the AFL-CIO’s Building and Construction Trades Dept., says that the proposed rule is necessary to protect workers from developing silicosis, cancer and other silica-related illnesses.The proposed rule, published in the Sept. 12, 2013, Federal Register, would set a new permissible exposure limit standard of 50 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), which is much

White House photo by Chuck Kennedy Obama signs directive boosting base wage for contracts with solicitations published starting on Jan. 1, 2015. Further annual increases begin in 2016, to reflect inflation. Related Links: Text of executive order Federal Construction Minimum Wage Hike Impact May Be Small (ENR blog 1/28/2014) President Obama has signed an executive order that boosts the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour for federal contractors in the construction and services industries starting in 2015, with further annual increases for inflation, beginning on Jan. 1, 2016. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.Construction industry officials and