Infrastructure in the News: June 4, 2012

NATIONAL NEWS

New York Times: Repairing Roads Can End All Kinds of Gridlock
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/business/road-repairs-can-end-politica...
Yet recent public statements by both President Obama and his probable Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, suggest a way forward. The president has long advocated infrastructure investment as a way to put Americans back to work. For his part, Mr. Romney recently warned that government spending cuts would “slow down the economy,” so he, too, has acknowledged the clear link between spending and employment.

The Hill: Sen. Boxer: Jobs report underscores 'the necessity of passing a transportation bill'
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/highways-bridges-and-road...
The chairwoman of the committee of lawmakers that is conferencing on a new federal transportation bill said the employment numbers released Friday made the case for Congress to compromise on road and transit spending. Statistics released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed national unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in May, with the U.S. economy adding only 69,000 jobs.

Transportation Issues Daily: Four Reasons for Congressional Gridlock You May Not Know About
http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/four-explanations-for-congressi...
To help you better understand federal politics and transportation issues, we’re always on the lookout for others who write about those topics in plain English.  We came across this recent story which is particularly relevant this week when it appears the transportation bill negotiations are cratering due to political posturing and policy differences.

STATE NEWS

Sacramento Business Journal: Report: Threats to water system must be fixed to help state's economy
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/05/31/report-threats-wat...
Threats to California's water system must be addressed now in order for the state's economy to grow and prosper, according to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California    released late Wednesday. The continued expansion of water management tools, such as the reuse of highly treated wastewater, underground storage and water "banking," will allow California to manage future water shortages, the report concludes.

Associated Press: Corps: Fort Peck Dam repair may cost more than $225 million, but only $46 million available
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/corps-fort-peck-dam-repair-may-co...
Proposed repairs to bolster Montana’s Fort Peck Dam following epic flooding along the Missouri River last year would cost more than $225 million, according to cost estimates released Wednesday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But with money short, Corps officials acknowledged they are able to afford only $46 million for damage assessments and repair work for now. Most of that will be spent on repairs to the dam’s spillway.

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal: Study says rail-trails are a boon
http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/661723_Study-says-rail-trails-a...
Lancaster County communities in the midst of new rail-trail projects might be emboldened by a new survey that shows the existing Conewago Recreation Trail and Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail are valued by area residents and stimulate local economies … The trails attracted an estimated 125,244 people in 2011 and pumped $875,320 into the local economy, according to the study.