#National

New Trump Executive Order Sets Two-Year Goal for Federal Reviews of Major Projects

President Trump signed an executive order that aims to further streamline and shorten the environmental review process for major infrastructure projects, with a "goal of completing all federal environmental reviews and authorization decisions" within two years. "My administration is working every day to deliver the world-class infrastructure that our people deserve, and that frankly our country deserves," he said. "That's why I just signed a new executive order to dramaticall

Trump Drops Plan to Form Infrastructure Advisory Council

President Trump will not move forward with plans to form a 15-member Presidential Advisory Council on Infrastructure, various news agencies reported, citing comments by a White House official. Among those reporting the news was the Wall Street Journal. "The President's Advisory Council on Infrastructure, which was still being formed, will not move forward," a White House official said Aug. 17, the Journal reported. Trump had announced in a July 19 executive order that he woul

The Untapped Wealth of American Cities

Americans who travel abroad sometimes wonder why many of our airports are lacking in comparison to the best international airports. Or they want to know why other nations seem to do a better job with public transportation and the management of other public assets, from ports to parks. The answers we are tempted to give are that we do not invest as heavily in public infrastructure as many other nations and that a market-oriented American ethos with an entrepreneurial culture p

"We Can't Keep Building Highways": North Texas Mayors Call for More Innovation in Tran

North Texas is booming — something that's unlikely to change anytime soon. And it's why local leaders say we must start addressing the transportation needs of the future. But they insist the solution isn't more highways. "We can't keep building highways," said Grapevine Mayor William D Tate. "They're too expensive. It costs millions of dollars to build an overpass. And [to acquire] the right of way, you keep having to tear down businesses." So what is the answer? That's what

Decaying infrastructure taking a toll on America

America's infrastructure is in a state of crisis. Roads and train lines are old, dangerous and cost the country billions of dollars in economic growth. Trump wants to repair damages but he is at the mercy of investors. The summer of hell began for New Yorkers last Monday. Beginning at four o'clock in the afternoon people hurried home from work, clogging midtown Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station. Over 600,000 people trek to Manhattan daily from faraway places like New Jersey an

Ideas Floated To Improve TIFIA Loan Program

As the Trump administration continues to work on its promised $1-trillion infrastructure investment plan, it is expected to recommend increasing funds for the long-standing federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides low-interest loans to help finance a range of transportation projects. TIFIA loan recipients testifying at a recent Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the program said the loans have been

Elaine Chao boosts Trump plan for revamping transportation

The Republican and wife of GOP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke to a lunch crowd Friday at the Brown Hotel in Louisville organized by Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce. She altered her prepared remarks on recent initiatives at the agency to mention that McConnell was expected back in Kentucky — but his flight was delayed. Chao delivered a rundown on Trump's plans to sharply cut the federal government's funding for rebuilding bridges, roads, an

What Infrastructure Needs: Smart Permitting

The Trump administration has begun to lay out its infrastructure rebuilding strategy, and it is increasingly clear that a cornerstone involves private-sector funding through public-private partnerships (P3s). The administration knows that the only way to succeed is by overcoming private-sector concerns about federal permitting delays. That’s why the president and senior officials have gone out of their way to stress that this administration’s permit approvals will come faster

LAW: House panel approves transportation funding cuts

A House panel approved legislation on Tuesday evening that would cut funding for the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) by over half a billion dollars. The House Appropriations subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development advanced a spending bill to provide $17.8 billion in discretionary funding for the U.S. DOT in the fiscal year 2018. That figure is $646 million less than current levels—a 3.7% decrease—but is $1.5 billion more than what President

AASHTO Calls for ‘Simpler, More Reliable’ USDOT Process to Spur Use of TIFIA Project Loans

The group that represents state departments of transportation wants to see the USDOT increase the federal share of financing projects under TIFIA, the department's main infrastructure loan program, and "develop a simpler, faster and more reliable application process." The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials made the comments in written testimony to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee for a July 12 hearing on TIFIA and innov

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