Articles by Tom Ichniowski

Buildings Construction

House Bill Aims To Boost Sales of Surplus Federal Buildings

Measure would create panel to list up to $8B in unused buildings for possible transactions

May 27, 2016

Contractor groups see big construction potential in converting old federal facilities to private residential and commercial uses.

Legislation

House Committee Approves $5B Water Resources Bill

Measure would authorize funds for 28 new Corps of Engineers projects

Tom Ichniowski

May 25, 2016

One Comment

Shuster fends off proposed amendments dealing with drinking-water and wastewater programs.

US Experts Share Urgency To Shrink the Funding Shortfall

US Infrastructure Experts Seek Ways to Shrink Funding Gap

Tom Ichniowski

Jim Parsons

May 25, 2016

No Comments

Infrastructure boosters rallied for their cause earlier this month at a series of gatherings in Washington, D.C. and other U.S. locations to find ways to shrink the estimated $1.4-trillion funding gap to upgrade aging highways, bridges, water systems and other public works.

Tom Ichniowski

May 25, 2016

No Comments

The drive for a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is gaining momentum on Capitol Hill with the rollout of a $5-billion proposal in the House.

Legislation

House Committee Leaders Roll Out $5B Draft WRDA Bill

Measure would authorize $5 billion for 28 Corps civil-works projects

Tom Ichniowski

May 21, 2016

One Comment

House proposal is narrower than Senate committee's version, which includes drinking-water and wastewater provisions.

Transportation

NTSB: Engineer's Distraction Is Probable Cause of 2015 Amtrak Crash

Safety Board also points to lack of positive train control system as contributing factor.

Tom Ichniowski

May 17, 2016

One Comment

Board says distraction likely due to commuter train's radio messages after emergency stop nearby.

Public Transit

After New FTA Order and Foxx's Warning, D.C. Metro Takes Safety Actions

Metro removing porcelain insulators, slowing train speeds to cut electricity 'draw'

Jim Parsons

Tom Ichniowski

May 11, 2016

No Comments

DOT Secretary warned on May 10 that he might shut down Metrorail if it failed to adhere to earlier FTA directives.

DC Metro Plans Major Rebuilding

After service disruptions, contractors are set to do some needed agency work to include track and electrical upgrades

Jim Parsons

Tom Ichniowski

May 11, 2016

No Comments

In the wake of infrastructure-related service disruptions on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Metrorail system—and a highly critical National Transportation Safety Board report on a fatal 2015 electrical-system incident—the agency plans to launch next month an intensive, system-wide rehabilitation program, aimed at restoring safety and reliability by mid 2017.

ASCE Report: Infrastructure Gap $1.4 Trillion Over 10 Years

Surface-transportation's shortfall accounts for $1.1 trillion of the total

Tom Ichniowski

May 10, 2016

No Comments

Electricity-sector gap pegged at $212 billion over next decade; water-wastewater gap estimated at $113 billion.

Benefits

Treasury Rejects Multiemployer Pension Fund Benefit-Cut Plan

Troubled Central States Fund Includes Construction Industry Members

Tom Ichniowski

May 7, 2016

No Comments

Decision is the first under 2014 law allowing weak multiemployer plans to apply to reduce members' benefits.

Enhancing Collaboration and Surpassing Traditional Design-Build Methods with Progressive Design-Build

Earn: 1 PDH; 1 AIA LU/Elective; 0.1 IACET CEU

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.

Articles by Tom Ichniowski

House Bill Aims To Boost Sales of Surplus Federal Buildings

House Committee Approves $5B Water Resources Bill

US Infrastructure Experts Seek Ways to Shrink Funding Gap

Tightly Focused WRDA Bill Introduced in House

House Committee Leaders Roll Out $5B Draft WRDA Bill

NTSB: Engineer's Distraction Is Probable Cause of 2015 Amtrak Crash

After New FTA Order and Foxx's Warning, D.C. Metro Takes Safety Actions

DC Metro Plans Major Rebuilding

ASCE Report: Infrastructure Gap $1.4 Trillion Over 10 Years

Treasury Rejects Multiemployer Pension Fund Benefit-Cut Plan

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