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Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez has released his "Every Day Counts" initiative that identifies steps that can be undertaken to shorten the amount of time it typically takes to deliver highway construction projects from conception to completion. The steps include improvements in the planning, permitting and construction phases as well as technology deployment to decrease project delivery time. FHWA has scheduled a series of 10 summits around the country for October to garner the support of the DOTs and construction industry for this initiative.

Â鶹´«Ã½ wrote to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) this week expressing opposition to the use of government mandated Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). The letter was instigated by guidance sent by FHWA to state DOTs pointing out that PLAs would be approved on federal-aid highway projects if states meet certain conditions which were spelled out in the document. FHWA took this action in response to President Obama's Executive Order directing Federal agencies to look at using PLAs on federally funded construction projects. FHWA reported that it has approved PLAs on six projects thus far, 5 in Illinois and 1 in New York.

Since President Obama's surprise announcement on Labor Day calling for $50 billion in transportation investment Â鶹´«Ã½ has been attempting to get further details. In meetings this week with top DOT officials and discussions with key Congressional staff there remains a great deal of uncertainty. Congress will be returning from its summer recess next week and will presumably meet with Administration officials to decide if the time to move forward is now or later. Â鶹´«Ã½ will continue to meet with key senators and representatives to discuss this proposal and to press the need to move forward now with a six year bill.

Â鶹´«Ã½, as part of the Transportation Construction Coalition and Americans for Transportation Mobility, pushed for passage of the long-delayed highway and transportation bill Wednesday in Des Moines.

In response to the Obama Administration's proposal for new transportation investment, Â鶹´«Ã½ today noted that countless thousands of construction workers will have a better chance of retaining their jobs, but that the most effective sequel to the stimulus is passage of a fully funded six-year surface transportation bill.

At a Labor Day event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, President Obama announced his plan to request $50 billion in immediate stimulus investment for transportation infrastructure. Below is the fact sheet that was provided to Â鶹´«Ã½ by the Federal Highway Administration about the proposal. At this point there are few specific details. Some key points worth mentioning are as follows: A significant portion of the $50 billion will apparently be available in the first year for investments in highways, transit, airports and rail. It appears these funds are supplemental to funds that would already have been provided for these programs in FY 2011 (beginning October 1, 2010) but this is unclear. The amount allocated to each program is also not specified. The President indicated that this increased funding will be paired with the Administration's vision for reforming existing transportation programs over the next six years. It appears that the proposal will include the long awaited "principles" for reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU the Administration has been expected to deliver. As further details become available Â鶹´«Ã½ will provide them to you.

The 2010 Highway and Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting is scheduled for November 11-14, 2010 at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix. Named one of the top 50 US Hotels by Conde Nast Traveler, the legendary Arizona Biltmore is considered the "Jewel of the Desert," with Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture and endless flowering gardens. This year's Issues Meeting will again address all of the top issues that impact contractors working in the highway, transportation and utilities market. Among the Issues that will be addressed:-           Election 2010: How will the midterm election results impact your market, taxes and business operations.-           Outlook for transportation reauthorization legislation.-           Transportation and water funding initiatives.-           Selling your company or your project by using social media.-           New OSHA Regulations on Cranes and Derricks.-           Case Studies Using BIM on Transportation and Utility Projects.-           CM at Risk- Transportation Agencies are Starting to use this Alternative Project Delivery System- Learn What works and What Doesn't.  -           Increasing efficiency in joint highway and utilities projects.-           Open Mike Sessions to Dialogue with Your Fellow Contractors.-          Separate tracks are scheduled address Issues unique to these two market sectors.Back by popular demand the Ritchie Brothers Issues Meeting Golf Tournament.Meeting Schedule:Thursday November 11, 2010 12:30- 5:00 PM      Ritchie Brothers Golf Tournament5:30- 7:00 PM        Golf Tournament ReceptionFriday November 12, 20107:00 AM - 4:30 PM Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session I6:00- 7:00 PM Issues Meeting ReceptionSaturday November 13, 2010 7:00 AM - Noon  Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session II Online registration, hotel information and other meeting details are available at the attached site.

This week the California Air Resources Board (CARB) abandoned the original estimates of off-road diesel emissions that it used to establish goals for emissions reduction from off-road construction equipment. In doing so CARB essentially conceded that the "off-road rule" is not needed to meet these ambitious goals.  According to new estimates that the agency staff developed over the summer, off road fleets of diesel equipment will be far under the state's emission goals for many years to come.  CARB's action was taken in direct response to Â鶹´«Ã½'s questioning of the data used in establishing the goals. If Â鶹´«Ã½ gets the rule stopped in California, other states won't be able to adopt it locally. 

The Transportation Construction Coalition and Americans for Transportation Mobility unveiled new billboard and online advertisements in Columbia.