ARTBA Washington Newsline

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NewslineWashington

House Democrats Name New T&I Members

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The next issue of the “Washington Newsline” will be published January 7, 2013.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

ARTBA Challenges Proposed DBE Changes

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One of the reasons ARTBA is still in business after 110 years is because of the consistent

results it gets on behalf of its more than 5,000 members. The year 2012 was no different.

Bolstered by the strong grassroots activities of ARTBA’s volunteer leaders, state contractor chapters, private sector firms and public agencies, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21) became the law of the land in July. ARTBA

ARTBA 2012 Chairman’s Message

ARTBA December 21 submitted extensive written comments responding to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (U.S. DOT) sweeping proposed changes to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. The proposal, published September 6, features approximately 30 potential DBE policy changes. Notable provisions include: requiring bidders to present DBE compliance or good faith effort documentation with their bid proposals; prohibiting

state agencies from using bidders or pre-qualification lists in goal setting; easing U.S. DOT’s ability to overturn state goal-setting and good faith effort decisions on subjective grounds; and possible abolition of the “regular dealer” designation for DBEs. U.S. DOT claims the proposal represents mere “administrative changes to improve program implementation.”

ARTBA’s 16-page response challenges this premise and describes the widespread

effects, including project cost increases, that would result. The comments urge U.S. DOT to work more closely with industry and state agencies in developing these changes. ARTBA’s comments also reference long-standing issues in the DBE program such as lack of quantification for “unreasonable” differences in bids.

As ARTBA states, “it is evident and unfortunate that the promulgators of these

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) December 20 announced nine new Democrat members to the panel. Current Representatives André Carson (D-Ind.) and Janice Hahn (D-Calif.) will serve on the committee, as well as incoming freshman Representatives-elect Rick Nolan (D-Minn.),

Steve Wright, Wright Brothers Construction

2 ARTBA Washington Newsline

Upcoming Events

Visit our Events Page for more information.

Project Management AcademyFebruary 4-6Washington, D.C. [Add to calendar]

P6 Scheduling AcademyFebruary 6-8Washington, D.C. [Add to calendar]

Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-InJune 3-5Washington, D.C. [Add to calendar]

25th Annual ARTBA P3 ConferenceJuly 25-26 Washington, D.C. [Add to calendar]

ARTBA National ConventionSeptember 8-10 Milwaukee, Wis.[Add to calendar]

Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvationTM

Workshop & Awards ProgramOctober

Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase (LoTransTM 2013)October

5th Annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory ForumOctober, Washington, D.C.

2013

DBE Comments FiledContinued from page 1 A Holiday Message from ARTBA

proposed rules appear to maintain little or no understanding of the practical realities and business environment through which transportation contractors deliver the infrastructure improvements that continue to be so important to this nation.”

ARTBA developed the comments through its DBE Committee, chaired by Scott Piefer of ZenithTech in Waukesha, Wis. Numerous ARTBA members and chapters offered valuable feedback on the “real world” ramifications of these draconian changes. Many also filed their own comments with U.S. DOT.

With the comment period closing December 24, U.S. DOT will move to the next stage of the regulatory process and decide which of these proposals they intend to enact. ARTBA will be taking an aggressive and pro-active stance on this important matter, staying in close contact with our members, meeting with policy makers and utilizing all procedural options.

View ARTBA’s comments. For more information, contact ARTBA’s Rich Juliano.

3ARTBA Washington Newsline

ARTBA released its 2013 “Texas Transportation Planning & Design Market Outlook Report” December 12, the second in a series of in-depth state studies that provides industry firms and financial analysts with high-quality market intelligence for use in business and investment planning.

Utilizing key business indicators, source

documents and personal interviews, the reports provide a current trend and five-year forecast for state transportation department highway and bridge spending, planning and design work, and major airport construction, as well as economic demographics, bond ratings and capacity, and innovative financing and procurement status in the state. They also provide the latest business requirements for planning

and design firms looking to do work in that state, and comprehensive list of other firms already doing work in that market.

Reports for Florida and California will be released in the coming months. They are

available to ARTBA member firms for $5,000 each for Texas and Florida, and $7,500 for California, or as a package of three for $16,000. Non-ARTBA members may purchase them for $6,000 each for Texas and Florida and $8,500 for California, or as a package of three for $19,000. View the Kentucky report.

Contact ARTBA’s Sarah Crane for more information.

Products & Services

Chairman’s Message

2013 ARTBA Media Kit Available

View the 2013 ARTBA Media Kit online for the full range of advertising and other opportunities in our “Transportation Builder” magazine, “Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide,” and the “Washington Newsline.”

For more information on advertising, contact Peter Embrey at 202.289.4434.

12013 Media Kit

July-August 2012 TransportationBuilder 1

builder® July-August 2012

Special Report: ARTBA Analysis

MAP-21

TRANSPORTATION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYERS' GUIDE

2012

ARTBA Washington Newsline

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NewslineWashington

ARTBA Continues Push for Transportation in Party Platforms

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Senate Introduces Bipartisan Coal Ash Legislation

Both the House and Senate adjourned last week for a recess that will carry through both parties’ political conventions (August 27-30 in Tampa, Fla., for the GOP and September 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C., for Democrats) and last until September 10. As such, both parties are developing their political message for the last few months of campaigning before November and are

August 10 Deadline: Contractor Safety & Roadway Work Zone Safety Awards

The deadline for receiving the discounted $192 hotel room rate at the 2012 ARTBA National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. ends Aug. 10.

The Peabody Memphis Hotel is a magnificent Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond, historic property, which has been described as “legendary, charming, elegant and grand.”

In addition to top-notch speakers and networking opportunities, this year’s convention features a spectacular program of

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

events for spouses of ARTBA members. Spouses will have the opportunity to tour “Blues City,” learn about its past, and visit important cultural landmarks, such as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and Sun Studio and Stax Museum, where legends such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Tom Petty made music history. The program also includes a historical tour along the Mississippi River aboard the newly-refurbished Island Queen.

Attendees and their spouses will also have the opportunity to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis.

The full program is available at www.artbanationalconvention.org.

Contact ARTBA’s Ed Tarrant for information, or call the Peabody Memphis Hotel at 901.529.4000 to book your room. Reservations made after August 10 will be on a space-available basis.

Room Discount for ARTBA National Convention Ends This Week

A bipartisan group of 12 Republican and 12 Democratic senators introduced August 2 the “Coal Ash Recycling and Oversight Act” to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash—used extensively in transportation construction projects—as a “hazardous substance.” The legislation, introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) builds upon a

2013 MEDIA KIT“Transportation Builder” magazine

Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide

Web & Digital Advertising Opportunities

also played a key role in the passage of a multi-year aviation bill that provides federal investment for airport construction projects.

Many so-called “Washington pundits” said these legislative achievements would never happen, especially in an election year. We helped prove them wrong. MAP-21 will provide needed market and funding stability over the short term. It also contains many of the long-term policy reforms and program streamlining provisions that an ARTBA task force put forward in 2007.

While many organizations were involved in the reauthorization push, I can unequivocally tell you that none devoted more time, energy and resources to it than ARTBA! On “the road to reauthorization,” our leaders and staff testified 25 times before congressional committees,

congressionally-chartered commissions and at executive branch hearings. Along the way and through the “Transportation Makes America Work Campaign,” we produced award-winning radio and television programs, facilitated ground breaking studies by the Harvard School of Public Health, the Pacific Institute of Research & Evaluation and the Texas Transportation Institute, and dedicated significant resources to the activities of industry coalitions.

During 2012, we also had the industry’s back in the federal regulatory arena, fighting against excessive regulation. We filed detailed comments more than 25 times with federal agencies on issues such as MAP-21 implementation, clean air, clean water, storm water and wetlands regulations and sign retro-reflectivity.

And we won three federal court cases—two before the U.S. Supreme Court—on Clean Water Act and wetlands permitting issues that had the potential to disrupt, or unnecessarily limit, future transportation development and projects.

ARTBA also provided a full array of programs aimed at helping its members work more productively and profitably. Among them: new products and training for 4,000 safety professionals; policy discussions, networking and business development for more than 2,100 industry executives at 15 ARTBA meetings; and a first-ever virtual conference and innovation showcase.

A special thanks to all ARTBA members for your continued involvement and leadership during 2012! View the complete 2012 Annual Report.

New Planning & Design Reports Provide In-Depth Look at State Markets

4 ARTBA Washington Newsline

“Given the precarious fiscal condition of the Highway Trust Fund, what happens if Congress leaves the fund on auto pilot until MAP-21 expires in late 2014?

The answer is simple: a guaranteed, nearly 60 percent cut in FY 2015 federal highway investment to state governments from $40 billion level to $17 billion. In turn, this would jeopardize 625,000 U.S. jobs, with most potential losses occurring in 2015 and 2016. About one-third of these jobs would be in highway construction, with the others in supplier industries and throughout the rest of the economy.”

ARTBA President & CEO Pete Ruane in “Politico” Dec. 18.

“I think the chances of a long-term financing fix are good within the next Congress.....From a transportation perspective, there will be pressure to do something because the program is going to run out of money, making it a good possibility that there could be a vehicle that deals with this issue. With Congressman Bill Shuster chairing the committee, who is very passionate about transportation, I think there will be a real push for a stable financing pattern.”

Jack Schenendorf, Counsel for Covington & Burling, in “Politico” Dec. 18.

Overheard“ ”

TRB Newsletter: Dec 19Highlighting new research, technologies, industry best practices and information resources available to the transportation design and construction industry.

A service of ARTBA’s multi-modal councils, it features current transportation developments making news across all modes and regions. Contact Sara Jones to become a subscriber or visit www.artbamultimodal.org.

Fostering Innovation

MultimodalNews

Legislative & Regulatory News

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New T&I Members

ARTBA News

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LTAP/ TTAP Clearninghouse Launches New & Improved Website

The Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) and the Tribal Technical Assistance Program (TTAP) Clearinghouse, operated under contract by the ARTBA Foundation, launched a new website December 19, providing users with improved, user-friendly navigation, interactive map, informative pod casts and contemporary graphics.

The Clearinghouse supports the National LTAP/TTAP program, which provides local road departments with information on issues such as congestion, workforce development, enhanced safety and security and environmental solutions.

For more information contact ARTBA’s Carolyn Kramer.

Sandy Relief Bill Under GOP Microscope

The $60.4 billion Hurricane Sandy disaster relief bill proposed by the Obama Administration and amended by Senate Democrats is facing tough scrutiny from House and Senate Republicans over the total size of the package, the immediate necessity of some of the relief provisions and directed spending towards programs that do not bear a direct relationship to the October 25 storm. GOP senators have proposed focusing only on the immediate repair needs of transit systems, Amtrak, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers and examining additional legislation in the next session of Congress to address future investments to mitigate such disasters. As such, Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) has filed amendments to the President’s relief proposal that would reduce the total investment to $25 billion.

Conservative groups like Heritage Action for America and the Club for Growth are urging lawmakers to oppose the bill in its current form for both the aforementioned content of the relief proposals and the fact that, as written, the legislation does not contain matching cuts in spending elsewhere in the federal government to keep the package deficit neutral.

U.S. DOT Approves $120 Million Loan for Dallas Transit

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood December 13 approved a $120 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance & Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan that will enable Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) to advance construction on an extension of the Orange Line light rail project connecting Irving, Texas (former home of the Dallas Cowboys), to the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The 35-year direct loan will be used to fund construction of a 5.17 mile segment and bring total U.S. DOT support for DART light rail to $796 million since 1996. Read more about DART.

Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.), Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.), Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) and Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.). Representative John Garamendi (D-Calif.) will also re-join the committee.

Rahall said subcommittee assignments will likely be made in January. ARTBA encourages all of its members to reach out to their elected officials in the coming weeks to emphasize the importance of the nation’s transportation network to the overall economy.

5ARTBA Washington Newsline

Download a PDF copy of the digital “Washington Newsline.”

Nominate Someone for ARTBA-TDF’s 2013 “Hall of Fame” Class

The ARTBA Foundation announced December 20 that it is now accepting nominations for the 2013 “Transportation Development Hall of Fame,” which honors individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraordinary contributions to U.S. transportation development or demonstrated exceptional leadership over their lifetime.

Anyone can nominate a candidate, and ARTBA membership is not required. Individuals can be living or inducted to the Hall posthumously. The selection process is extremely competitive, and only a very limited number of individuals will be inducted annually.

A committee of judges that includes industry journalists will select the inductees, and winners will be honored at a special dinner in early June that takes place in the Nation’s Capital during ARTBA’s Federal Issues Program.

Nomination forms must be received by close of business April 12, 2013.

View the nomination form, or contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions.

The New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors December 16 selected the Tappan Zee Bridge Constructors consortium to build a new eight-lane bridge crossing the Hudson River north of New York City to replace the aging Tappan Zee Bridge. The winning team of Fluor Enterprises, American Bridge Company, Granite Construction Northeast, and Traylor Brothers, will complete the $3.1 billion design-build project—the

largest transportation design-build project to date in the U.S.—in five years and 2.5 months. According to Thruway Board Chairman Howard Milstein, “the design-build process produced a savings of at least $1.5 billion compared the amounts estimated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and our own original estimates.” In 2011, the authority unsuccessfully requested up to $2 billion in direct loans from the federal TIFIA program

based on an estimated $6 billion total project cost. It has once again submitted a request for assistance in FY 2013 but FHWA has not yet committed to credit assistance for the project.

The Tappan Zee Bridge Constructors were unanimously selected by the board for having a proposal that was “at least 20 percent lower than other bidders, requires less dredging, and can be completed faster than the other proposals.” Learn more about the project.

Dr. Jay Newitt of Brigham Young University

Acclaimed construction management expert Dr. Jay Newitt of Brigham Young University will lead ARTBA’s February 6-8 P6® Scheduling Academy. The course provides in-depth instruction on Primavera Project Planner (P6®) software and other “tricks of the trade” to help efficiently track key aspects of transportation projects, such as people, materials, operational benchmarks and payment schedules.

The same week, February 4-6, ARTBA Foundation’s “Transportation Builder Institute” will also be hosting its annual Project Management

Academy (PMA), which covers the latest innovations in seven core subjects: construction documentation; resource management; planning and scheduling, economics of safety; industry ethics; client relations; and management and leadership.

Registration: PMA is $2,000 for ARTBA members ($2,700 for non-members.); P6 is $1,700 for ARTBA members ($2,100 for non-members). Register for both and save $1,000. You also have the option to register for just one.

Up to 32 ARTBA Professional Development Hours are available.

View the full program schedule. Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions at 202.289.4434, ext. 304.

N.Y. Thruway Selects Tappan Zee Team

Acclaimed Construction Management Expert to Lead P6 Scheduling Academy

1902-1903Horatio S. Earle1

1904-1910James H. MacDonald1

1911Harold Parker1

1912Nelson P. Lewis1

1913Samuel Hill1

1914W. A. McLean1

1915Geoerge W. Tillson1

1916E.A. Stevens1

1917A.W. Dean1

1918H. Eltinge Breed1

1919Arthur H. Blanchard2

1920George P. Coleman1

1921Michael J. Faherty1

1922Henry L. Bowlby1

1922Thomas J. Wasser1

1923Frank Page1

1924J.H. Cranford3

1925William H. Connell1

1926Henry G. Shirley1

1927Charles M. Babcock1

1928R. Keith Compton1

1929Frederick A. Reimer2

1930W. A. Van Duzer1

1931William R. Smith3

1932Thomas H. Cutler1

1933-1934H.C. Whitehurst1

1935William MacDonald3

1936-1937William T. Chevalier4

1938-1939Murray Van Wagoner1

1940-1941Hal G. Sours1

1942C.J. Sherlock1

1943-1944Carl W. Brown1

1945-1946James L. Skelly3

1947-1948James T. Callaway5

1949-1950Enoch R. Needles2

1951-1952Paul B. Reinhold4

1953-1954Robert M. Reindollar2

1955-1956J.N. Robertson1

1957-1958Julian R. Steelman4

1959-1960Nello L. Teer, Jr.3

1961-1962Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer1

1963-1964Boyd S. Oberlink4

1965John P. Moss3

1966J. Burch McMorran1

1967-1968Robert S. Holmes5

1969Robert G. Bartlett1

1970Ralph E. Heffner3

1971Edward H. Holt4

ARTBA Chairman 1902-2012In this last installment relating to ARTBA’s 110th anniversary, we feature the names of

the association’s 87 chairmen.

Horatio S. Earle

James R. Madara

Henry G. Shirley

Kenneth R. Rezendes

James L. Skelly

David R. Kraemer

Enoch R. Needles

John W. Wight

Nello L. Teer, Jr.

Thomas W. Hill

Ralph R. Bartelsmeyer

Leo A. Vecellio Jr. Paul Yarossi

Robert G. Bartlett

1972E.J. Peltier2

1973Ray W. Burgess1

1974J.L. Cone, Jr.3

1975James A. Nelson4

1976J.C. Landen6

1977Wilbur S. Smith2

1978Richard R. Stander3

1979A.B. Long, Jr.3

1980William B. Eline4

1981David H. Burrows3

1982James A. Caywood2

1983-1984Joseph R. Perini, Jr.3

Wilbur S. Smith

Steve Wright

Richard R. Stander David H. Burrows Robert E. Hirschman Denver Collins, Jr. Charles A. Machemehl, Jr.

John C. Lanford

1985Robert E. Hirschman3

1986Gary L. Godbersen4

1987Denver Collins, Jr.3

1988Daniel J. Spigai2

1989M.O. Brenden3

1990Charles A. Machemehl, Jr.5

1991John C. Lanford3

1992John P. Rutter3

1993James R. Madara2

1994Kenneth R. Rezendes3

1995William G. Mulligan4

1996Jay R. Taylor6

1997Max R. Sproles, P.E.2

1998David R. Kraemer3

1999Stan F. Lanford, Jr.3

2000John W. Midgley, P.E.1

2001John W. Wight7

2002-2003Thomas W. Hill5

2004Richard Wagman3

2005Gene McCormick2

2006Michael Walton8

2007Leo A. Vecellio Jr.3

2008Charles Potts5

2009Larry Tate4

2010William Cox3

2011Paul Yarossi2

2012Steve Wright3

Divisions:1Transportation Officials2Planning & Design3Contractors4Manufacturers5Materials & Services6Transportation Safety Industry7P38Research & Education

“The ARTBA YEDP provided thorough insight into the legislative process concerning our industry. The diversity and quality of participants added great perspective and value to the program.”

June 3 - 6, 2013 in Washington, D.C.

Join the Next Generation of Industry Leaders... The ARTBA-TDF Young Executive Development Program

NOW Accepting Applications for 2013

• more than 430 young executives from nearly 200 companies, public agencies and state contractor organizations in 40 states and Washington, d.c., have completed the program, including 2013 ARTBA chairman, Steve Wright, Wright Brothers construction.

• Participants gain a greater understanding about how they can play a leadership role in helping grow the transportation construction market in the future.

• View the application, or contact ARTBA’s Sara Jones for more information.

“I now understand the impor-tance of advocating transportation spending to elected officials as well as the general public…The ARTBA staff is awesome – very knowledgeable and infectious in their passion for the industry.” Parsons Brinckerhoff PMT Regional Engineer, Melisa Bittancourt and graduate of ARTBA’s 2012 Young Executive Development Program (YEDP), which helps develop the next generation of industry leaders.