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 […]
GMA News: GMA had a jam-packed start to the year
June 1st, 2018
In January 2018 members of the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) participated in the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. In February our executive council met in Charlotte, North Carolina, to review GMA’s goals and mission. In March a delegation of GMA executives met with representatives from the White House and the U.S. […]
ARTBA petitions USDOT to end federal rule blocking the use of innovative products in highway and bridge projects
May 22nd, 2018
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) announced it had formally petitioned the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to repeal a 102-year-old federal procurement rule the group says has blocked, since its inception, the use of products that could improve safety and quality on the nation’s major roadways. At issue is 23 CFR 635.411, […]
USDOT launches BUILD Transportation program and announces $1.5 billion Notice of Funding Opportunity
April 30th, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) on April 25, 2018, published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $1.5 billion in discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program. USDOT said, BUILD Transportation grants replace the preexisting Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program. […]
FHWA accepting grant applications for advanced transportation technologies
April 23rd, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced April 18, 2018, it is accepting applications for grants from a pool of up to $60 million in federal funding under the 2015 Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The grants will be made to eligible entities to develop model deployment sites for large-scale installation […]
USDOT announces $1 billion in emergency relief for road and bridge repairs
April 17th, 2018
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced April 13, 2018, the release of more than $1 billion in Emergency Relief (ER) funds to help 32 states, several U.S. territories and some federal land management agencies repair roads and bridges damaged by storms, floods and other unexpected events. FHWA’s ER program reimburses […]