The $1.2 billion SunRail commuter train project broke ground in Florida on Friday. The 61.5-mile project will be done in two phases, with the first operational in two years. "It’s a historic day for all of Central Florida, it ushers in a new era of transportation options for our residents, it ushers in jobs, smarter growth, so a very important day," said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dye. Orlando Sentinel (Fla.) (1/27)
On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said a long-term surface transportation bill may not occur this year. However, with the work that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has accomplished, he said on Thursday, "Hallelujah! Maybe we’ll get a bill this year. I have my fingers crossed." There appears to be growing support for the two-year Senate bill, even though it is $12 billion short of funding. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said, "As chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, I call on every senator to work across party lines to find the necessary funds to move forward on this critical jobs bill." The Washington Post (1/26),
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee could consider a funding bill for surface-transportation programs on Feb. 2, after which it would be sent to the full chamber for consideration later in the month, according to this article. Transportation industry officials are expected to be briefed on Jan. 26.
Mica could unveil 5-year, $260B transportation bill today:House Republicans will introduce a proposal for a five-year, $260 billion surface transportation bill, said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The measure calls for partial funding through "increased American energy production." The proposal could be unveiled today and is slated for committee markup on Feb. 2. The Hill/Transportation blog (1/25),
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Construction of new airports and highways as alternatives to a proposed $98.5 billion high-speed train system in California would cost an estimated $171 billion, according to the state's High-Speed Rail Authority. An additional 2,300 miles of roads would be needed if high-speed rail plans were scrapped, the authority said. However, some experts say the $171 billion figure is "divorced from any reality" and that the methodology employed by rail consultant Parsons Brinkerhoff in its analysis was flawed. However, "Expanding freeways and then maintaining them is not a free alternative," said Dan Richard, a board member of the CHSRA. Los Angeles Times 1/17/2012
Investment in America's crumbling infrastructure -- including roads, rails, runways and rivers -- will create jobs, boost our ability to export, make travel safer, attract greater investment, reduce emissions and strengthen the economy, according to these authors. But to do this, Congress must prioritize the passage of long-term transportation bills, and public funds must be leveraged to attract private investment, because "[e]very $1 billion of federal money can result in $30 billion in transportation investment." The Des Moines Register (Iowa) 1/17/2012
Environmental reviews for the Northeast Corridor high-speed rail project will be accelerated with the help of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and Transportation Department's pilot project. "A faster review process for high-speed rail projects on the Northeast Corridor is good transportation policy that will help create jobs and improve the economy," added Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J. TransportationNation.org (1/13), New Jersey Online (1/14)
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wants to begin its planned $3.6 billion replacement of La Guardia Airport's central terminal in 2014. The authority is soliciting proposals from several sectors to help finance, design and build a replacement terminal. "I think the schedule is our best estimate to how the transaction or transactions could fall into place," said Patrick Foye, executive director of the Port Authority. The Wall Street Journal
A high-speed rail project to expand the St. Louis-to-Chicago route moves ahead with a more than $186 million grant from the Transportation Department. The funds are part of what Florida gave back. The state of Illinois and Union Pacific are also contributing funds for the work. Work is slated to begin on the Joliet to Dwight section by spring. Chicago Sun-Times/Beacon News
As countries and companies continue to share best practices in sustainable design and building and the cost to build green decreases, the green building movement will grow, predicts Dan Probst, chairman of energy and sustainability at Chicago-based Jones Lang LaSalle. "[T]he upfront cost of sustainable features is still higher, but the payback period is so short that it’s an easy call," Probst said.
Research problem statements are now being accepted for the FY 2013 Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP). The ACRP is an applied, contract research program with the objective of developing near-term solutions to issues facing airport-operating agencies. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport-related areas, including operations, design, construction, engineering, legal, maintenance, human resources, administration, policy, planning, environment, safety, and security. Problem statements in all of these areas are requested and may be submitted to ACRP by anyone at any time; however, the closing date for consideration of problem statements for the FY 2013 program is March 2, 2012. If you have a research need that you would like to submit for consideration, we request that you describe it in accordance with the approved problem statement outline.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to take up the surface transportation bill when the Senate returns in January. He says there is a "very, very good bill" and that Sens. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., "have come up with an arrangement to extend this for two years." Boxer reports that offsets to fill the $12 billion gap have been identified.
