With a big push from President-elect Barack Obama, a new economic-stimulus measure is virtually certain to be introduced soon after the new Congress begins in January. Odds also are good that infrastructure funding will be part of that package. Major questions remain, however, including how large the overall plan will be and how much of the money will go for public works. Obama says stimulus plan should be “significant enough that it really gives a jolt to the economy.” Obama continues to say a stimulus is at the top of his domestic agenda. The President-elect on Nov. 24 announced his
As Americans cut back on driving, federal motor-fuels taxes and other revenue flowing into the Highway Trust Fund dropped by $3 billion in fiscal year 2008, compared with the sum collected the year before, the U.S. Dept. of Transportation reports. DOT Secretary Mary Peters warns that if traffic continues downward, the trust fund may show a shortfall sooner than anticipated. Other observers share that worry. DOT said on Nov. 19 that the trust fund took in $31 billion in fiscal 2008, down 8.8% from the $34 billion collected in 2007. As income fell, spending from the trust fund on highway
As Americans drove less, federal gas taxes and other revenue flowing into the Highway Trust Fund fell by $3 billion in fiscal year 2008, compared with the sum collected the year before, the Dept. of Transportation reported. DOT said on Nov. 19 that the trust fund took in $31 billion in fiscal 2008, down 8.8% from the $34 billion collected in the previous year. As income dropped, 2008 spending from the trust fund on highway and transit projects rose by $2 billion, compared with 2007's level. DOT also said that vehicle miles traveled continued to fall, declining 4.4% in September,
As the Senate began a lame duck session, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Nov. 17 proposed a $100.3-billion economic-stimulus bill, with about $23 billion for infrastructure work. But in a sign that the plan faces long odds, Reid also said he has a smaller backup plan, without public-works aid. The $100.3-billion bill has $10 billion for highways, $2.5 billion for transit, $2.5 billion for wastewater treatment and drinking-water projects, $2.5 billion for schools and $900 million for Corps of Engineers civil works. Some Republicans, cool toward a public-works stimulus, may block the bill. Reid’s Plan B only has an
Fewer employers than initially proposed will be required to use the government’s electronic system for checking employees’ immigration status under a final Dept. of Homeland Security rule that takes effect on Jan. 15. DHS had proposed that companies holding prime federal contracts over $3,000 would have to use the federal “E-Verify” system. But the final rule, published on Nov. 14, changes the prime contract level to $100,000. Business groups had lobbied heavily for a higher threshold. But the American Sub�contractors Association is disappointed that subs still will be subject to the $3,000 level. DHS says companies enrolling in the program
Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. indicated on Nov. 18 the Bush administration will hold back some of the $700 billion in economic rescue aid until President-elect Barack Obama takes office. Paulson told a House hearing, “This financial crisis is... difficult to counteract.” He said officials decided it was “prudent” to reserve some funds, “maintaining not only our flexibility but that of the next administration.”
After a 15-month probe, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined the probable cause of last year�s fatal I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis was a design error that caused the failure of gusset plates on the 41-year-old 1,907-ft-long steel-deck truss bridge. They could not carry loads that included deck upgrades, construction materials, equipment and rush-hour traffic when it fell, killing 13 people and in�juring 145. The eight-lane bridge was a non-redundant fracture-critical structure. Slide Show Photo: NTSB I-35W bridge had gusset plates that were too thin Along with the main finding, which the board approved on Nov. 14, NTSB also
Ending a 15-month investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board has determined that the probable cause of last year's fatal bridge collapse in Minneapolis was the failure of gusset plates due to a design error and the bridge's increased live and dead loads caused by earlier upgrades and the traffic and and construction materials and equipment on its deck at the time it fell. Related Links: NTSB Blames Minn. Bridge Collapse On Gusset Plate Design Error See all past coverage in ENR's Bridge Collapse Update Center Thirteen people were killed and 145 injured on Aug. 1, 2007, when most of the
The pace of contracting for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds is picking up in the highway and transit sectors. A new House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee report on the economic-stimulus legislation shows that 2,901 highway and transit projects, valued at almost $10 billion, have been put out for bid in 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia as of April 30. Related Links: State by State Project List It adds that 1,099 of those projects, totaling $3.5 billion, are under contract. The committee report, released May 21, says that work has started on 545 projects, totaling $2.1 billion.