Infrastructure Modernization is Key to Economic Success

• The Department of Transportation projects that, compared to tonnages recorded in 2001, total freight moved through U.S. ports would increase by more than 50 percent by 2020 and the volume of international container traffic will more than double. This increasingly will require a major investment in infrastructure and modernization at the nation’s ports.
• To modernize their facilities, it is estimated that ports will require $8.6 billion by 2010 for infrastructure investments. Why is this important? U.S. ports contribute significant benefits to local and regional economies, including generating business development and job opportunities. Commercial port activities create more than 15 million American jobs, including nearly 12 million who are employed in exporter/importer-related businesses and support industries throughout the U.S. Business activities related to waterborne commerce contributed approximately $3.15 trillion overall to the U.S. economy. And those same businesses paid nearly $212.5 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
• And how much of the Obama Recovery Act has been dedicated by Congress to upgrade port facilities? About $720 million, to modernize some ports that were built prior to World War II. That’s just not going to cut it!
• Investing in Interstate infrastructure
• Balance the need for international shipping against interstate shipping, and you see how much the U.S. economy depends on transportation. According to a recent study by the RAND corporation, the long-term efficiency and effectiveness of the U.S. freight transportation system is threatened by bottlenecks, inefficient use of some parts of the infrastructure components, vulnerability to disruptions, and crucial environmental and energy concerns.
• The U.S. freight transportation system moves about $40 billion worth of goods each day, with delays and uncertainty in the performance of the system translating into higher prices for consumers and reduced productivity. The study concludes that despite the global financial crisis, experts continue to estimate that there will be increased demand for freight transportation in the future, even as the capacity of the nation's highways, port and railroads are nearing their limits in key urban areas and transportation corridors.
• What’s the solution? The Obama administration has proposed an ambitious Infrastructure program to put Americans to work, but many people are skeptical that we’ll be able to match shovel-ready jobs with shovel-ready workers.
• Ignoring the infrastructure is like ignoring the nation’s future economic growth. To succeed and maintain our leadership, both require the investment of capital and brains.

Sep 4, 2010 Study ranks Pa. 38th in roads quality (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review) Under the study's proposal, $1.35 billion would be taken from roads and bridges and shifted to transit.    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 'Best places to work' rankings put Nuclear Regulatory Commission at top of federal workplace heap (Washington Post) Almost 79 percent were satisfied that their jobs match their agency's mission; 63 percent were pleased with their pay; and 61 percent were satisfied with training and development opportunities. It was followed by the Government Accountability Office, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 MTS springs surprise in TA light rail saga (Globes) The consortium said that the franchise agreement mandated a meeting between the parties before the first arbitration meeting was held. Ministry of Finance officials were sure that the meeting was merely a formal and unnecessary act.    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 OPINION (Austin Daily Herald) Clearly, Portland residents take advantage of the opportunity to go by rail. The answer, of course, is no. Minnesota has made some effort to establish light rail, a very slow project. Rather than providing meaningful and useful alternatives to wasteful, expensive and pollution-generating private...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 EDITORIAL (The Fayetteville Observer) The busy Maine-to-Florida interstate is in shabby shape in many states, especially the ones that don't charge tolls. There's a relationship there. The Department of Transportation needs to do $45 billion in highway projects in the next decade. It will get $9 billion from existing funds.    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Group urges Lingle to clear rail transit (The Honolulu Star-Advertiser) Linda Lingle to give rail transit the green light. Members of Faith Action for Community Equity Hawaii, or FACE, said they echo U.S. Sen. Louis, looked at six rail projects now in progress. Honolulu's was the largest rail-only project, at $5.29 billion.    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Ehrlich pushes pro-biz approach (The Frederick News-Post) He is also calling for a film production tax credit and military retirement tax exemption. Speaking before the chamber last month, Gov. Martin O'Malley, a Democrat who defeated Ehrlich in 2006, said the state has created jobs at a rate twice the rest of the nation. At an interview later that...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Interstate session may mull transportation (The Roanoke Times) ...nearly $20 million makeover. Riding in a VDOT van, he also saw U.S. 11/460 in Glenvar pegged for widening at a cost of $45 million, the Elliston pasture earmarked for an intermodal rail yard -- under Montgomery County challenge before the Virginia Supreme Court -- and the site of a future $90...    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 Never mind slowed traffic and slower economy -- Labor Day means it's time to play (The Kansas City Star) ...economy has not appreciably cut into fuel supplies. Lewis Adam, the president of Kansas City's Admo Energy, which helps gas stations purchase fuel, says that he expects gasoline prices to weaken after Labor Day in part because the end of the summer vacation season will mean less fuel demand....    more...  

Sep 3, 2010 $40M deal to buy old rail line may come with light-rail strings (The Virginian-Pilot) It could also make the debate about whether the city should hold another light-rail referendum moot. The City Council has not taken an official stance on light rail.    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 BRIEF (The Florida Times-Union) Dan Scanlan Sep. 2, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- The state has postponed planned drainage improvements on St.    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Porterville City Councilmen question railroad plan (The Porterville Recorder) The firm has reportedly surveyed 13 potential shippers who said they would use it if the rail were more reliable. "We don't want to be shortsighted. This county here, Tulare, has a lot of growth potential. And, as a result, TCAG has pulled out of the 16-month long negotiations. "As railroaders,...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Tacoma City Manager Eric Anderson highlights downtown work (The News Tribune) Earlier in the day, at the council study session, city staff presented preliminary work on a new Link light rail stop at South 11th and Commerce streets. The developers' panel used the two blocks around that light rail stop as an example of Tacoma not looking its best when prospective business...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 'These things take time' (The News Tribune) Earlier in the day, at the council study session, city staff presented preliminary work on a new Link light rail stop at South 11th and Commerce streets. The developers' panel used the two blocks around that light rail stop as an example of Tacoma not looking its best when prospective business...    more...  

Sep 2, 2010 Kokomo City Line service starting Tuesday (Kokomo Tribune) ...routes. Kokomo Senior Center director Tammy Corn, who will head the City Line operation, said she's prepared for a big success. The bus will start out as a once-per-hour service, but already city officials are talking about lowering the times between buses. "It's all based on ridership; the...    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Ruptured gas line forces evacuation in Shelton (Connecticut Post) This is the first time a gas pipe has ruptured there. She did not know whether the state contractor used the number before Tuesday's incident.    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Dallas County officials vote to propose tax increase rather than cut payroll (The Dallas Morning News) Her announcement drew loud applause. "This county has been very responsible," she said. "We have done everything we can do. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1. The proposed tax increase would close a remaining $22.5 million budget shortfall in the county's $450 million general fund. The projected...    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Panel mulls study on heavy trucks (The Spokesman-Review) Betsy Z. Russell Sep. 1, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BOISE -- Idaho Gov. We have to put its findings in context." Otter's Democratic challenger, Keith Allred, said, "Idaho families can't afford to subsidize the heavy trucking industry in times like these.    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Livonia may add footpaths, cycling trails (Detroit Free Press) ...biking and walking paths are as much a part of Livonia's streetscape as are its roads now dominated by cars. Kalinski, a bus driver for the suburban SMART system, wants residents who pedal or walk to get the same consideration as residents who drive. "When they design roads, it's 100% car,"...    more...  

Sep 1, 2010 Want a government job? Check here first. (Washington Post) Almost 79 percent were satisfied that their jobs match their agency's mission; 63 percent were pleased with their pay; and 61 percent were satisfied with training and development opportunities. It was followed by the Government Accountability Office, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and the...    more...