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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) on Sept. 6, 2012, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking asking for comment on significant changes it is proposing in its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) rules. Comments are due by Nov. 5, 2012. The proposal suggests a series of changes in the bidding process, counting DBE participation and documenting good faith efforts for compliance. The proposed rule also would tighten down on the certification process that determines whether or not a firm qualifies as a DBE.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released a schedule for a series of Summits to be held this fall to promote implementation of its Every Day Counts II (EDC2) initiatives. EDC is a priority initiative championed by Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez to speed the delivery of transportation projects and accelerate the use of innovative technologies.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced this week the formation of a policy group created to improve the condition and performance of the nation's freight network. The group was formed to begin implementation of MAP-21 requirement to develop a National Freight Strategic Plan. The new Freight Policy Council, will be chaired by Deputy Transportation Secretary John Porcari and include Administration representatives covering highways, rail, ports, and airports, as well as economic and policy experts. States will be asked to offer input to improve the freight system in their regions, while the freight and logistics industries, consumers, and other stakeholders will serve in an advisory capacity to the council. �鶹��ý will provide input to the Council.

The Obama Administration announced that it is making over $473 million in highway funds available for states to use immediately. The funds come from unspent earmarks that were included in the Department of Transportation’s appropriations legislation for fiscal years 2003-2006. The unused earmarked funds will go to the states originally designated to receive the funds. Every state except Wyoming has such unused funds. Click here to view the chart showing the available funding. 

Legislation to prevent U.S. EPA from regulating coal ash disposal and instead allow states to manage oversight of the waste has been introduced by a bipartisan group of senators. Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Kent Conrad (D-ND) were joined by over a dozen other co-sponsors for H.R. 2273, “The Coal Residual Reuse and Management Act.”

Georgia voters on Tuesday largely rejected a 10-year, 1 percent sales tax that would have provided nearly $19 billion in revenue for transportation investments over that time. While the referendum was statewide, the votes were regional with the state divided into 12 separate regions. Each region voted separately whether to tax themselves to support transportation projects within that region.

A key component in the just passed MAP-21 transportation reauthorization legislation is a significant increase in funds made available through the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. Funding for TIFIA was increased from $120 million in FY 2012 to $750 million in FY 2013 and $1 billion in FY 2014.

In a conference call with state Departments of Transportation today, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez announced the 15 priorities that will be pursued by FHWA as round two of its Every Day Counts Initiative (EDC). Seven of these priorities are continuations from the original EDC initiative which was started two years ago. The core focus of EDC is shortening project delivery. Therefore, all of the initiatives –with the exception of the two safety initiatives – have time saving as a significant characteristic.

The 2012 Highway and Utilities Contractors issues Meeting is scheduled for Nov. 1-3, 2012, at the Miramonte Resort and Spa in Indian Wells, Calif.

The Obama Administration issued guidance this week to implement Executive Order 13604 issued in March 2012 that is intended to speed up the environmental review and permitting process for major infrastructure projects. The Executive Order called for creation of a Federal Plan detailing a government-wide initiative to modernize the Federal permitting and review process to achieve better projects, improved environmental and community outcomes, and shorter decision-making and review timelines for infrastructure projects.