GMA is busy this spring and summer
June 1st, 2022
Government affairs, infrastructure spending and planning have been the watchwords for the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) this spring. In April GMA hosted three morning geosynthetics sessions as part of the annual Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) Outlook Conference, the premier leadership event for industries represented by IFAI’s 13 divisions. This year’s conference was held at […]
DOT hosting brainstorming call on strategic plan
March 10th, 2022
DOT hosting brainstorming call on the agency's Research, Development & Technology Strategic Plan on March 18. The March 18 DOT call for ideas will focus on the Research, Development & Technology Strategic Plan, including many aspects of U.S. infrastructure. Photograph by Npangarkar (WMF), Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) The U.S. […]
DOT announces historic bridge investment under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
January 17th, 2022
More than $27 billion to states and tribal transportation facilities to fix an estimated 15,000 bridges nationwide Bridge at Overpeck Park in Bergen County, N.J. The DOT bridge guidance notes that federal funds can be used for 100 percent of the cost of repairing or rehabilitating locally owned bridges. Photograph by FeldBum. Creative Commons License: […]
DOT doubles investment in Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Grant Program
January 13th, 2022
Program will provide $5 million more for expedited delivery of transportation infrastructure projects through innovative finance and delivery methods Fresno, Calif., is one of five Regional Infrastructure Accelerators chosen for grants in the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Demonstration Program. Photograph by Etherealsmoke. Creative Commons License: Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0). The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) […]
FHWA delivers largest federal highway apportionment in decades as part of infrastructure law funding
December 17th, 2021
The Arizona Department of Transportation used geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS) technology to accelerate replacement of the Interstate 40 bridge at Meteor City Road, 15 miles (24 km) west of Winslow in northern Arizona. Photograph courtesy of FHWA The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced Dec. 15, 2021, that it is […]
U.S. Department of Transportation overhauls century-old rule
September 27th, 2019
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has published an updated federal rule to give states more flexibility and choice in which products or services can be used on federally funded highway projects. The change is intended to improve safety and increase efficiency while saving taxpayer dollars. “This much-needed update of a century-old, […]
FHWA video features GRS–IBS history and construction techniques
October 5th, 2018
A Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) YouTube video showcases the history and construction techniques of the geosynthetic reinforced soil–integrated bridge system (GRS–IBS). The video illustrates how to build a GRS–IBS. It is intended to educate designers, engineers, contractors and inspectors on the fundamentals of the GRS–IBS. The video follows the GRS–IBS Interim Implementation Guide (FHWA-HRT-11-026). The […]
ARTBA testifies to House committee against century-old rule ‘stifling’ innovation in transportation
September 7th, 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 […]
FAA to award $616.9 million in infrastructure grants to airports
August 29th, 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 […]
Talking geosynthetics with Congressman Bruce Westerman
August 1st, 2018
One of the few professional engineers in Congress, Republican Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas pulls no punches when discussing the potential use of geosynthetics in federal infrastructure projects. “I think geosynthetics should be part of the toolkit,” Westerman said during a phone interview with Geosynthetics magazine on May 19. First elected to Congress in 2014 […]