September 25, 2018
The board of directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) elected Carlos Braceras P.E., executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation, to serve as its new president and Missouri DOT Director Patrick McKenna as its vice president. “I’m honored and inspired to accept the role of AASHTO president during …
September 24, 2018
The board of directors of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) selected James J. Tymon as the sixth executive director of AASHTO during the association’s annual board of directors meeting in Atlanta, Ga., Sep. 24. Tymon, who is AASHTO’s chief operating officer and director of policy and management, joined the association in …
The Transportation Research Board (TRB) has opened registration for the 2019 TRB Annual Meeting, Jan. 13–17, in Washington, D.C. More than 13,000 transportation professionals will attend, including policy makers, administrators, practitioners, researchers, and representatives of government, industry and academic institutions. The program will cover all transportation modes, with more than 5,000 presentations in nearly 800 …
September 7, 2018
A 1916 rule enacted by President Woodrow Wilson’s administration is curbing 21st-century transportation innovations that could improve safety and quality on the nation’s major roadways, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) said in Sept. 5 testimony submitted to the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee. At issue is 23 CFR 635.411, a 102-year-old federal …
September 5, 2018
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) received $90.24 million in infrastructure grants in August, the largest grant ITD had ever received. It will be used to ease congestion on Interstate 84 in Nampa, Idaho, part of a larger project along I-84 corridor between Boise and Caldwell. “The project is expected to Improve safety by significantly reducing serious …
August 29, 2018
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced on Aug. 24 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $616.9 million in airport infrastructure grants, as part of the total $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States. “The department has been investing heavily in our nation’s airport …
August 27, 2018
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision Aug. 21 holding that the first-ever federal safeguards set by the Obama administration for coal ash dumps do not sufficiently protect communities and the environment from pollution from coal combustion residual (coal ash) waste. The court’s decision sided with public interest groups by …
August 1, 2018
In December 2017, the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment) and GRID-Arendal, an organization that supports environmentally sustainable development in partnership with UN Environment and other collaborators, published “Mine Tailings Storage: Safety Is No Accident.” The report recommends mining companies adopt simple steps to reduce environmental destruction and death by changing the way they store …
June 20, 2018
Pete Ruane, president and CEO of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), announced he will be retiring from the organization in October 2018 after 30 years of service, ARTBA said in a June 19, 2018, prepared statement. He is the longest tenured head of the 116-year-old organization. After Ruane’s departure, ARTBA executive vice …
April 25, 2018
The Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) will sponsor a webinar entitled “Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Wall, Berm and Slope Construction Inspection,” on May 9, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. The inspection and monitoring of MSE wall, berm and slope construction using geosynthetic reinforcement is essential for providing a safe, durable system. Such inspection includes …