Infrastructure in the News: August 7, 2012

NATIONAL NEWS

Bridge Magazine: Across nation, big projects carry big bills, large concerns
http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/08/across_nation_big_projec...
The planned $2 billion New International Trade Crossing bridge linking Detroit and Windsor is the largest proposed infrastructure project in Michigan -- and one of the 100 largest in North America. A list of the top 100 proposed infrastructure projects in North America, including Canada and Mexico, was recently released by CG/LA Infrastructure Inc., a Washington D.C.-based consulting firm. Among them are the NITC bridge, a $20 billion, next-generation air traffic control system for the United States, a $32 billion high-speed rail system in the Northeast and the $4.1 billion Ohio River bridges project.

Dow Jones Newswire: Al's Emporium: Bridges Falling Down
http://www.nasdaq.com/article/als-emporium-bridges-falling-down-20120806...
Once upon a time, a bridge fell into the Mississippi River. Thirteen people died, 145 people were injured and something that might have cost $15 million to repair cost more than $235 million to replace. It happened five years ago, on Aug. 1, 2007, at 6:05 p.m., sending rush-hour traffic into the river. It was the sort of spectacle we've been conditioned to expect from a collapsing regime, like the former Soviet Union in the Cold War. But this was Minneapolis, and America was still enjoying the fruits of its subprime mortgage schemes.

Fast Lane: FTA and MAP-21 a powerful combination for American public transportation
http://fastlane.dot.gov/2012/08/transit-and-map-21.html#.UCEfNTFYs7s
In the last couple of weeks, several blog posts here have discussed how the new transportation bill, MAP-21, affects our highways. From a boost to our TIFIA program to faster project delivery, MAP-21 offers innovative steps forward for America's roads. And today, Deputy Federal Transit Administrator Therese McMillan is speaking to the American Public Transportation Association's Sustainability Workshop about what MAP-21 means for our nation's transit systems.

Business Insurance: Senate panel approves bill to increase mass transit contribution tax break
http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20120806/NEWS03/120809930?tags=...
Employees would be able to make up to $240 a month in pretax contributions to pay for mass transit expenses through the end of 2013 as part of tax legislation approved last week by the Senate Finance Committee. The higher limit would be retroactive to Jan. 1, 2012. Since Jan. 1, the maximum contribution limit has been $125 a month. The provision is included in a broader bill, the Family and Business Tax Cut Certainty Act, approved Thursday by the Senate panel on a 19-5 vote.

Transportation Issues Daily: Communicating Transportation Issues: Do You Convince or Confuse?
http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/communicating-transportation-is...
Public agency and industry professionals typically have a hard time explaining transportation issues in kitchen-table language. Helping them communicate well is important because every day they are talking with friends, neighbors and others who know little about the complexities of transportation. The more those folks understand, the easier it will be to secure policy and program reforms and funding. Fortunately, many agencies and companies have talented communications pros who are constantly thinking about how we can better communicate with the public.

STATE NEWS

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner: Editorial: Warning signs: Federal rail funding is fair but still poses risks
http://newsminer.com/view/full_story_opinion/19683379/article-Warning-si...
“Don Young’s Railroad to Nowhere.” That was the headline in the July 10 edition of Politico, an online news operation based in Washington, D.C. The article went off the rails in its analysis of federal transit funding sent Alaska’s way. Nevertheless, the views it promoted should be a warning signal for the Alaska Railroad. Young successfully defended that railroad’s funding in June after the Senate threatened to cut it.

DC Streetsblog: Atlanta Beltline Staff: “We Still Have a Project to Build”
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2012/08/06/atlanta-beltline-staff-we-still-hav...
The Atlanta Beltline project isn’t going away. Project staff want to make that clear. Sure, last week, Atlanta turned down — by a wide margin — a major transportation spending package that would have awarded $600 million to the Beltline project. But this project – an innovative transit and trails corridor that will circle Atlanta’s central city — has seen big setbacks before, says Ethan Davidson, the Beltline’s spokesman.

Newsday: McKinstry: Cuomo gets help on new Tappan Zee Bridge toll (and pretzel math)
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/viewsday-1.3683911/mckinstry-cuomo-gets-h...
Three former Westchester County executives and several state and local lawmakers from Rockland came out to Tarrytown on Sunday to support the governor’s efforts to build a new bridge, and to say they backed his plan to pay for it: With a near tripling of the bridge’s current $5 round-trip toll. Alfred DelBello, Andrew O’Rourke and Andy Spano, two Democrats and a Republican, all backed the plan to build the new bridge and agreed that when the new crossing charge is implemented in 2017, it wouldn’t be much more. They’re billing it as just about a buck more for a commuter.