U.S. Department of Transportation names FHWA administrator
December 23rd, 2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced that Shailen Bhatt has been confirmed as the 21st administrator of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Nominated by President Biden on July 21, 2022, Bhatt was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 8, 2022. He is the first person of Indian descent to lead FHWA. Shailen […]
USDOT preps $1.5B In RAISE grants for fiscal year 2023
December 20th, 2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a notice of funding opportunity on December 15 offering $1.5 billion via the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity or RAISE discretionary grant program for fiscal year 2023. The deadline for grant applications is February 28, 2023, with grant winners announced in June 2023. USDOT noted in a statement that RAISE discretionary […]
USDOT announces FHWA executive director
November 11th, 2022
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has selected Gloria Shepherd as the executive director of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the eleventh person to hold this position since FHWA’s founding in 1971. When she assumes her new role as executive director, she will be the first woman and the first African American in FHWA’s history […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Sen. John Hoeven, four former USDOT secretaries and three Trump Administration officials to speak July 19 at ARTBA’s P3s conference in D.C.
July 18th, 2018
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., will join former U.S. transportation secretaries Jim Burnley, Sam Skinner, Rodney Slater and Mary Peters as featured speakers on July 19 at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) 30th Annual Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) in Transportation Conference at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Senior Trump administration officials Alex […]
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. […]