As Congress negotiates billions of dollars in potential federal funds for construction through the economic stimulus bill, President Barack Obama moved to bring project labor agreements back as an option on federally funded projects. The president issued an executive order Feb. 6 overturning a Bush administration ban on federal PLAs and opened the door to such pacts on projects of $25 million or more. Photo: Obama Campaign President Barack Obama Related Links: Full text of the Executive Order Three Executive Orders Good News for Labor Photo: New York State Huge infrastructure projects, such as the planned replacement of New York’s
In light of billions of dollars in waste identified during U.S.-led Iraq reconstruction efforts, investigators are recommending sweeping changes in how the military administers and oversees contracts. On Feb. 2, the Office of Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, led by Inspector General Stuart Bowen, presented a 357-page report to the first hearing of the bipartisan Commission on Wartime Contracting. The report, titled “Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience,” chronicles how the military executed its rebuilding efforts after the fall of Baghdad, highlighting missteps in planning and execution. Bowen told the commission the U.S. government must strengthen its ability to
Driven by a need for speedy delivery and an overarching demand for energy-efficient systems, federal buildings appear ready for a significant facelift in the near future, if proposed stimulus funds come through. Photo courtesy of Sunpower Corp. Energized. Projects like adding photovoltaics to Dept. of Energy headquarters are likely winners. Related Links: Proposal in House Fires Up Debate Does Massive Spending Help or Hurt in Long Run? Modest Program Favors Jump-Start Fix-up Effort Highway Aid Has Some Strings Attached Advocates Hope To Fly, Sail or Roll To Reform Funds Will Energize Long-Delayed Projects A Big Drop, But It’s A Really
A major water main serving the Washington, D.C., metro area broke on the morning of Dec. 23, disrupting service and stranding motorists along a busy suburban artery for several hours. A 66-in pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe burst along a section that neighbors State Route 190 in the D.C. suburb of Bethesda, Md., at 8 a.m. Several commuters were traveling the four-lane highway during the morning rush hour when the pipe burst. Photo: AP/Wideworld Motorist stranded by water main break in Washington, D.C., suburbs Dec. 23. The pipe, which carries 135-million gallons of water per minute, sent torrents rushing down a
One construction worker was killed and 17 were injured during a suspension bridge collapse at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Dec. 19. Crews were working on a new 600-ft-long 40-ft-tall pedestrian bridge when portions of the structure collapsed at approximately 9 am. Concrete pours were under way at the time. Atlanta Fire Capt. Gregory Shinkle said that scaffolding being used during the pour collapsed, according to the Associated Press. Photo: AP/Wideworld An unidentified worker sits on a wall at the Atlanta Botanical Garden shortly after a pedestrian bridge under construction collapsed Dec. 19. Hardin Construction of Atlanta is the general contractor
The U.S. Dept. of Energy’s “Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts” initiative is heading overseas. The State Dept. announced on Dec. 8 that it is joining with DOE to use its ESPC delivery mechanism for energy audits and implement systems upgrades at U.S. embassies worldwide. The Super ESPC vehicle is a public-private partnership that enables companies to conduct energy assessments and carry out upgrades at federal buildings with no initial cost to the agencies. Firms get regular payments that equal savings realized from the improvements until the contract’s full value is paid back. DOE has teamed with several agencies over the
After a year that had many firms on track for record revenue in transportation, the economic crisis that now spans the globe has raised fears that many future projects could be derailed in the coming months. Although market observers see significant continued demand for transportation work, future funding streams remain uncertain as governments grapple with sagging tax revenue, private developers retrench and the credit market threatens public-private partnerships. Photo: Parsons Brinckerhoff The North London Railway Infrastructure project, part of a $14-billion program to expand railways around London, will complete in 2011. Photo: PCL PCL has several projects under way in
Amtrak has tapped Joseph H. Boardman, the head of the Federal Railroad Administration, as its new president and CEO, on a one-year appointment. Boardman, FRA administrator since 2005, began his new job on Nov. 26. Amtrak will look for a permanent CEO and Boardman could be a candidate for that post, says Amtrak spokesman Cliff Black. Boardman succeeds Alexander Kummant, who resigned the top Amtrak position on Nov. 14. Boardman, New York State Dept. of Transportation commissioner from 1997 to 2005, takes over at Amtrak shortly after enactment of a bill authorizing $5.3 billion over five years for the railroad’s
The debate over whether the Environmental Protection Agency should use cost-benefit analysis to help determine possible upgrades to existing powerplants has hit the Supreme Court. Oral arguments on Dec. 2 dealt with an appeal of a lower-court decision striking down a 2004 EPA rule allowing costs of upgrades to be weighed against environmental benefits. At issue are older powerplants that use once-through cooling systems, which draw millions of gallons of water to cool their facilities. Environmental groups want older plants to be retrofitted with closed-cycle cooling systems, which use cooling towers. Entergy Corp. argues that upgrade costs could approach $1.5
