Caltrans officials recently moved to gain approval from the Toll Bridge Program Oversight Committee (TBPOC) to end Caltrans’ contract and hold American Bridge/Fluor accountable for the delays and fault work in the Bay Bridge project, but before any further action can be taken in ending the contract and starting negotiations about penalties and damages, the project’s governing body (TBPOC), developed by the legislature, must grant its approval of entire legal process. Read More »

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently announced that it has offered funds for both training as well as supportive service programs; these funds, which amount to up to $3 million, will be used to assist local transportation agencies or state departments of transportation to foster the kind of workforce that they need to guarantee that public roads are safe for drivers. Read More »

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) recently released its report on weekly U.S. rail traffic for the first nine months of the year and for Sept. 2015; according to the report, September’s carload traffic amounted to 1,417,750, which is a decrease of 4.9 percent, or 72,597, compared to Sept. 2014, while U.S. railroads originated approximately 1,365,980 trailers and containers in Sept. 2015, an increase of 1.2 percent compared to Sept. 2014. Read More »

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA), a branch of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT), recently announced that it has made funds available to promote the Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo) in the U.S.: the funds, which amount to $22.5 million, are dedicated to putting more vehicles that are low or no-emission on the roads. Read More »

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently published its new guide that includes model conditions as well as terms for all the public-private-partnerships (P3s) that want “availability payment concessions.” Read More »

Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) officials made a traffic switch on the US 93 north of Wickenburg on Thursday. switch was part of a highway widening project to upgrade a 5-mile portion of US 93, extending from State Route 71 to State Route 89, north of Wickenburg. To comply with ongoing construction projects, motorists are encouraged to use the single travel lane. Read More »

The Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) 2016 summer schedule, which looks to improve ferry service to Alaskans, was released Tuesday for public review. The proposed schedule lasts from May 2016 until September 2016 and is available online through FerryAlaska.com. The review and comment period has been extended to accommodate more feedback. All comments must be submitted by November 3, 2015. Read More »

The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has opened 17 miles of express toll lanes on I-405. The WSDOT is asking drivers to be aware of the changing patterns on the routes between Bellevue and Lynnwood. I-405 express toll lanes will allow drivers to pay more efficiently and drive. Transit, vanpools, motorcycles with passes can travel for free in these lanes. Read More »

Officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) recently encouraged drivers to be cautious when traveling between St. Paul and Greensburg on Interstate 1-74 as crews will be installing cable barrier rails on the roadways and medians to prevent vehicles from crossing the divided highway. Experts estimate that the improvements will reduce wrecks by approximately half. Read More »

The new Veterans Parkway/Seventh Road interchange was opened to motorists in a ceremony on Friday, with U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, veterans, and Indiana Department of Transportation leaders attending. US 31 runs close to Indianapolis, Kokomo and South Bend, making it an important part of the Major Moves construction program. The new projects are meant to heighten safety. Read More »

The Department of Transportation's Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration awarded nearly $2 million last week to 11 universities that are committed to researching safety solutions for pipelines. Through the PHMSA's Competitive Academic Agreement Program, graduate and undergraduate students have the opportunity to provide novel solutions to pipeline hazards. Read More »

The chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced the bipartisan Positive Train Control Enforcement and Implementation Act of 2015, which would extend the deadline for implementing new railroad safety technology. Initially, Congress mandated that the technology be implemented by passenger and freight railroad lines by Dec. 31. Read More »

Despite U.S. transportation infrastructure's urgent repair and upgrade needs, and the nation's travel and freight-transportation abilities constrained, hope lies in Port Newark’s Build America Transportation Investment Center (BATIC), Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said recently. Read More »

With several areas of the state already experiencing winter weather, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public facilities (ADOT&PF) will have to manage its roads with fewer resources this winter. Read More »

The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Aviation, chaired by Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), has scheduled a hearing to discuss issues related to unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) safety. The hearing, titled "Ensuring Aviation Safety in the Era of Unmanned Aircraft Systems," will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Read More »

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced a $93.4 million grant to fund the extension of a central Florida commuter rail service. Read More »

Urging Americans to not hesitate in filing reports if they suspect safety-related vehicle or equipment defects, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) affirms that even one complaint can trigger a recall and save lives. In 2014, the NHTSA said 803 recalls involving 63.9 million vehicles occurred, including two of the largest vehicle recalls in history. Read More »

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will begin accepting funding transportation improvement project applications under the Multimodal Transportation Fund, basing final selections on projects’ anticipated energy-efficiency, economic and technical feasibility, and sustainability. $40 million in grants will be available for fiscal 2016-17. Read More »

Officials say Home Zone projects like this refocus areas to address concerns of walkability and prevent speeding. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) used speed humps, narrowed roadways and raised crosswalks to make a Home Zone, in which traffic-calming measures are implemented to make pedestrians and bicyclists the first priority.  Read More »

Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann joined Warrick County Commissioner Marlin Weisheit, Boonville Mayor Pam Hendrickson and representatives from Alcoa and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to break ground on the Boonville Bypass project this week in Warrick County. “I am thrilled to help celebrate the start of this long-anticipated project,” Ellspermann said. Read More »