States Forced to Delay Millions of Dollars in Highway Contracts

September 9, 2008 rockman Press Releases Comments Off on States Forced to Delay Millions of Dollars in Highway Contracts

ALABAMA

Diminished Fuel Taxes Causes Rationing of Federal Funding http://www.dot.state.al.us/NR/rdonlyres/2124AC24-B723-467D-9C4D-DC8D78FB52B5/0/99HTF.doc

ARIZONA

Federal Highway Fund Bankruptcy Hits Arizona: ADOT to Delay New Federally Supported Projects http://www.azdot.gov/ccpartnerships/news/NRel2175.asp

Arizona Highway Projects Stall Out in Face of Shortfall Link to story in The Arizona Republic: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2008/09/06/20080906adot0906.html

CALIFORNIA

Statement from Caltrans Director Will Kempton:

Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that effective Monday, September 8, the Federal Highway Administration will delay financial reimbursements from the Highway Trust Fund to all states. Here is a statement from California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Director Will Kempton in response:

"This latest announcement from the U.S. Department of Transportation aggravates an already tight budget problem for California’s transportation program. We had projected that the state budget impasse could impact ongoing transportation construction projects by October. However, delays in federal reimbursements could exacerbate this situation. Failure to resolve this issue will have a significant impact on California and the rest of the nation. Unless resolved, this situation could result in delaying, reducing, or canceling transportation projects. The ripple effect could impact the state’s economy through loss of revenues, reduced productivity and increased unemployment. In July, I wrote a letter to California’s congressional delegation emphasizing the need to resolve this issue at the earliest possible date. We will continue working with Congress and federal transportation officials to secure the passage of legislation that will address the funding shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund."

COLORADO

Colorado Trying to Cope with Federal Cuts to Road Funds Link to story in the Rocky Mountain News: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/sep/06/state-trying-to-cope-with-federal-cuts-to-road/

KANSAS

State of Kansas Department of Transportation expresses some funding concerns Link to story in The Fort Scott Tribune: http://www.fstribune.com/story/1459509.html

MICHIGAN

U.S. Road Fund Short, May Pinch Big Projects in Michigan Link to AP story: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080906/NEWS07/809060334

MINNESOTA

Minnesota Projects Not Affected Link to story in the Star Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/local/27914954.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsA

MISSOURI

Missouri DOT Watches Washington Money Situation Link to story on KRMS Radio: http://www.1150krms.com/?q=node/3220

Highway Trust Fund Shortfall Could Cause State Highway Projects to be Canceled http://www.modot.org/newsandinfo/District0News.shtml?action=displaySSI&newsId=21745

NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire Worries Feds Might Hamper Road Work Link to AP story: http://www.boston.com/news/local/new_hampshire/articles/2008/09/06/nh_worries_feds_might_hamper_road_work/

OKLAHOMA

Highway Construction Halted by Oklahoma DOT http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/newsmedia/press/08_051_highway_construction_halted_by_odot.pdf

PENNSYLVANIA

PennDOT Secretary Says Federal Funding Shortfall Could Impact PA’S Highway, Bridge Program Congress Needs to Enact Fix to Restore Fund http://downloads.transportation.org/PA_Rls_Trust Fund 0905081.doc

8 Billion in State Highway Funding at Risk in Pennsylvania Link to story in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/state/s_586804.html

TEXAS

TxDOT says highway fund close to depletion Link to story in the San Antonio Business Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2008/09/08/daily12.html

WASHINGTON

Gov. Gregoire’s Statement on the Federal Highway Transportation Funding Bankruptcy http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=985&newsType=1

Washington Projects Could be Affected as Federal Fund for Roads Runs Dry Link to AP story: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008161902_roads06.html

NATIONAL

Highway Fund Bailout Now Backed by Bush Administration Link to story in The Los Angeles Times http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-highway6-2008sep06,0,4699247.story

Senator Inhofe Urges Immediate Action to Prevent Highway Trust Fund Insolvency http://media-newswire.com/release_1072317.htm

Highway Fund Shortfall May Halt Road Projects Link to story in The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/06/us/06highway.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=highway%20fund&st=cse&oref=slogin

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There are some significant changes being made to the state of the practice in geotechnical engineering in Arizona. NCS Consultants, LLC has prepared three policy memoranda for the Arizona Department of Transportation or ADOT that have been issued to consultants all over the State. These memos are on the topics of bearing capacity and settlement of spread footings and retaining walls, the design of drilled shaft foundations in gravelly soils, and the preparation of drilled shaft axial capacity charts for use by bridge engineers.

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