Infrastructure in the News: October 18, 2011

NATIONAL NEWS

The Hill: DOT announces transit grants

http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/public-transit/187947-dot-announces-transit-grants 

The Department of Transportation will distribute almost a billion dollars in public-transit funding, officials announced Monday. DOT said it was awarding $932 million in grants from the Federal Transit Administration’s Alternatives Analysis, Bus Livability, and State of Good Repair program, which was included in the FTA's 2011 budget.

Daily Record: AAA: Drivers willing to pay for better highways

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20111018/NJOPINION03/310180002/AAA-Drivers-willing-to-pay-for-better-highways

But before all of those programs became our hallmark, AAA was the motorists’ advocate in the state. Ensuring that roadway infrastructure is safe to travel is the foundation of that advocacy. Since it’s that infrastructure that is currently at risk, AAA is calling on lawmakers to invest in our roadways with a secure, sustainable funding source.

STATE NEWS

Political News: Pryor Unveils Six Point Solution to Create Jobs in Arkansas

http://politicalnews.me/?id=9550

Pryor’s jobs plan, which includes a number of bipartisan initiatives, is aimed at creating jobs by setting the table for growth, encouraging new products and new industries, investing in infrastructure, maximizing agricultural opportunities, preparing tomorrow’s job-generators to compete (and win) and empowering small business owners to succeed.

Star Democrat: Session will include hearings on infrastructure, job creation

http://www.stardem.com/a/article_fa60e628-84a7-51e9-bd33-e469a49507d1.html

While there was speculation Gov. Martin O'Malley planned to drop a job-creation initiative during this week's special session of the General Assembly, he instead called for a series of committee hearings on the subject. O'Malley was joined Monday by state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., D-27-Calvert and Prince George's, and House Speaker Michael Busch, D-30-Anne Arundel, for a press conference regarding the planned hearings.

The Daily Mail (NY): Rededicate funding for roads and bridges

http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2011/10/18/opinion/doc4e9d1198189b3365985568.txt

A recent news story highlighted a major problem with our upstate roads and bridges which must be cured in the near future. The problem is not just with the need to make repairs to our aging infrastructure, but how to pay for the upgrades. Here is the good news – in New York the state has what is known as the Dedicated Highway Bridge and Trust Fund. Unfortunately, the term “dedicated” is used a bit loosely in this context.

DC Streetsblog: What If Washington Never Built Metro?

http://dc.streetsblog.org/2011/10/17/what-if-washington-never-built-metro/

At the heart of the region’s success is, of course, the Washington Metro, which has shaped development for more than three decades. In fact, so much of the land near Metro stations has been developed that ridership is projected to reach the design capacity of the current system within the next 20 years. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority is currently mapping out how to respond.