ARTBA Washington Newsline

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Congress Set to Hold Transportation Funding Flat... For Now

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U.S. DOT Proposes Revisions to DBE Regulations

Register for ARTBA’s 24th P3 in Transportation Conference, October 10-12

ARTBA members elected Stephen D. Wright, president and chief executive officer of the family-owned Wright Brothers Construction Company in Charleston, Tenn. as their 2012-13 Chairman September 13 during the association’s National Convention in Memphis.

Wright’s election marks a milestone in ARTBA’s 110-year history, as he is the first graduate of the association’s “Young Executive Development Program” (YEDP) to become

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

chairman. He has been an ARTBA leader for over a decade, serving as: senior vice chairman, first vice chairman, southern region vice chairman, Contractors Division president, 2011 Strategic Planning Committee co-chair, 2007 Long-Range Planning Committee co-chair, and Environmental Committee chairman. He also served as president (1998) of the Tennessee Road Builders Association, ARTBA’s state chapter affiliate.

As Chairman, Wright will oversee the ARTBA “Trans 2020: MAP-21 Policy Promotion, Implementation & Funding Enhancement Task Force,” which will work with the U.S. Department of Transportation to ensure provisions in the new surface transporation law–MAP-21–are implemented as intended and develop a strategy for the next reauthorization legislation in 2014.

Tennessee Contractor Steve Wright Elected ARTBA Chairman

Register for LoTrans 2012, Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference and Innovation Showcase featuring Best Practices in Work Zone Safety. September 18-20 at your computer. LoTrans™ 2012

The U.S. Department of Transportation September 6 published several proposed changes for its regulations relating to the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for federal-aid highway, transit and airport projects. The proposal would implement numerous changes to the regulations, notably in the areas

The U.S. House of Representatives September 13 voted 329-91 to approve a six-month Continuing Resolution (CR) that maintains the FY 2012 appropriations levels into the first three months of FY 2013 (through March 27, 2013). With relation to federal transportation investments, the CR means appropriators will, for now, provide $550 million less for highways and $119 million less for transit than lawmakers authorized in the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act” (MAP-21)

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Upcoming EventsVisit our Events Page for more information.

LōTrans Virtual Conference & Innovation ShowcaseSeptember 18 - 20[Add to Calendar]

P3s in Transportation ConferenceOctober 10–12 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

4th Annual Construction Law & Regulatory ForumOctober 24-25Washington, D.C.

Western Regional MeetingNovember 27-28San Francisco, Calif.[Add to Calendar]

Central Regional MeetingNovember 29-30Chicago, Ill.[Add to Calendar]

Southern Regional MeetingDecember 3-4Atlanta, Ga. [Add to Calendar]

Northeastern Regional MeetingDecember 5-6Boston, Mass. [Add to Calendar]

2012

Steve Wright Elected ARTBA Chairman

Video Length: 5 1/2 minutes

2012 ARTBA Chairman’s Annual Video Report

Wright also plans to expand the scope and focus of the annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory Forum, boost membership development, continue implementation of the recommendations put forward by the 2011 Strategic Planning Committee, which he co-chaired, build financial support for the next phase of the “Transportation Makes America Work,” grassroots lobbying and advocacy campaign; and build on the past success of the YEDP with new activities to engage the industry’s rising stars.

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Products & ServicesConnect with Industry Leaders: Advertise in ARTBA’s Digital Buyers’ Guide

Promote your firm’s products and services before a wide audience of material suppliers, manufacturers, design firms and contractors.

Contact ARTBA’s Peter Embrey for more information.

Six Industry Leaders Receive ARTBA Division Awards

Six transportation design and construction industry leaders were presented with ARTBA’s annual “Division Awards” September 12 at a luncheon held during the association’s National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. The awards recognize outstanding leadership and contributions to ARTBA’s membership divisions and industry as a whole.

The “Nello L. Teer, Jr. Award,”a tribute to ARTBA’s 1959-61 Chairman, was presented to Contractor Division member, Leo Vecellio, chairman & CEO of the Vecellio Group in West Palm Beach, Fla.

The “Guy Kelcey Award,” honoring one of ARTBA’s Planning & Design Division founders, was given to Larry Peterson, senior principal at Kleinfelder, Inc. in Kuna, Idaho.

The “Paul F. Phelan Memorial Award,” given in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Materials and Services Division, went to Steve McGough, chief operating officer, HCSS in Sugarland, Texas.

The “John ‘Jake’” Landen Memorial Highway Safety Award,” established in 1989 in memory of one of ARTBA’s Traffic Safety

To honor and recognize the lifetime achievements of Astec Industries Founder Don Brock as a leader in the transportation design and construction industry, the ARTBA- Transportation Development Foundation (TDF) September 11 announced that its annual innovation event and awards program has been permanently renamed the “Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvation™ Workshop & Awards Program.” The program fosters innovative thinking within the industry and publicly recognizing its proven innovators.

The Foundation hosted a special dinner during the 2012 ARTBA National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. to celebrate Brock’s professional accomplishments and innovative spirit. Since founding Astec nearly 40 years ago, Brock has become the holder of over 90 U.S. and foreign patents on construction machinery and drying equipment. A special, five-minute tribute video summarizing his accomplishments and contributions to the industry was shown during the dinner.

Led by ARTBA-TDF Trustee Charlie Potts, CEO of Heritage Construction & Materials, Brock’s friends and colleagues have established a fund to support future “TransOvation™” activities in his name. Nearly 50 firms and individuals have already made contributions.

To join the list of “Friends of Dr. J. Don Brock,” contact ARTBA Foundation Executive Director Matt Jeanneret.

ARTBA Pays Tribute to Astec Industries Founder Don Brock

Industry Division leaders, was presented to Bernard Arseneau, deputy commissioner and chief engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation, and Bruce Owens, vice president of sales, Plastic Safety Systems, Cleveland, Ohio.

And finally, the “S.S. Steinberg Award” honoring the founding president of the Research and Education Division, which recognizes individuals for remarkable contributions to transportation education, was given to Andrew Farkas, director, National Transportation Center at Morgan State University, Baltimore, Md.

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Overheard

“ ”

TRB Newsletter: Sept. 11 Highlighting 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

ARTBA News

Legislative & Regulatory News

“Failure to honor the bipartisan, bicameral agreement in MAP-21 means an unacceptable funding cut to highway, highway safety, and transit programs of over $620 million and the loss of almost 22,000 jobs over the year.”

Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) and John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) in a September 13 letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on funding levels within the House-passed continuing resolution (CR).

“We intend to use the lame-duck session to the fullest extent. Just because the CR will last until March 27 of next year, we will not rest on our laurels until that time. We will do as much as we can to allow ample time to complete that essential work.”

House Appropriations Committee Chair Harold Rogers (R-Ky.) quoted September 14 in “Congressional Quarterly.”

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of good faith effort, goal-setting, termination/replacement of DBE subcontractors, certification, definition of “regular dealer” and counting of trucking services provided by DBE firms, among other issues. ARTBA will be developing and filing detailed comments on this proposal, which are due November 5. We will also be working closely with our affiliated chapters during this process. Please contact ARTBA’s Rich Juliano to share your feedback on any aspect of the proposal.

U.S. DOT Proposes Revisions to DBE Regulations

Congress Set to Hold Transportation Funding Flat

enacted July 6. Congress is utilizing the CR

because it has not completed the FY 2013 appropriations process and most House and Senate lawmakers are looking to recess as soon as possible in order to resume their campaigns ahead of the November 6 elections. House and Senate leaders, in conjunction with the White House, agreed to the broad funding outline before August, but details of the temporary legislation were released September 10.

The transportation funding levels were held at FY 2012 levels despite steps taken in MAP-21 to supply the necessary revenue into the Highway Trust Fund to pay for investment increases. There

is no guarantee that spending will be increased to the higher, authorized levels if Congress enacts a final appropriations bill. The ARTBA co-chaired Transportation Construction Coalition wrote all members of Congress September 12 urging them to work to ensure transportation investments are made at levels included in MAP-21. ARTBA urges all its members to raise this issue with your elected officials during any discussions you may have with them in the coming weeks and months.

U.S. DOT Holds Freight Policy Council MeetingThe U.S. DOT held a meeting September 13 with over 300 stakeholders to discuss the Obama Administration’s plans to implement the National Freight Policy provisions in MAP-21. Speakers discussed the need for a national freight policy, the Department’s efforts and how states can develop their own state freight programs.

Although much of the discussion focused on improving rail and ports infrastructure, ARTBA Vice

President for Economics and Research, Dr. William Buechner, pointed out that much of the projected growth in goods movement will be transported by truck over the nation’s highways and that state freight plans should emphasize investment in additional highway capacity and eliminating bottlenecks. He also recommended state freight plans should include construction of “truck only” lanes on heavy freight routes. Dr. Buechner noted the biggest obstacle to improving goods movement is the inadequate level of infrastructure investment.

ARTBA Praises FHWA Categorical Exclusion SurveyARTBA offered support September 14 for the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) efforts to gather information about the use of categorical exclusions (CEs) in the delivery of transportation projects. The CE process can be years shorter than an Environmental Assessment or Environmental Impact

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

Center for Transportation Research Taps ARTBA Member

The Center for Transportation Research (CTR) at The University of Texas at Austin has tapped ARTBA member

Chandra Bhat as its new director. Bhat, a professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering, assumed the role of director September 1. He is only the fourth director in the history of the nationally recognized center, which was founded in 1963.

“My efforts will focus on building up CTR’s recognition and reach, not only within the state, but nationally and internationally,” Bhat said. “I see huge opportunities in policy, technology and linking our research to the needs of society.”

In 2010, ARTBA awarded Bhat the “S.S. Steinberg Award,” which recognizes individuals who have made remarkable contributions to transportation education.

Statement and can even save as much as a decade in some instances. FHWA’s information collection marks the beginning of efforts to implement the new surface transportation authorization bill, the “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act,” (Map-21) which specifically focuses on expanding the use of CEs for transportation improvements. ARTBA specifically recommended the greater use of CEs as a critical policy reform during the surface transportation reauthorization process.

View ARTBA’s comments.

ARTBA Elects 2012-13 Executive Committee OfficersARTBA’s 2012-13 Executive Committee Officers were named during the Annual Meeting of Members at the National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. September 13. Officers were nominated by the association’s Nominating and Leadership Development Committee and approved by the ARTBA membership. Eleven of the officers served previously, and three are new to the committee. New officers include Michael Donnino, senior vice president, Granite Construction Company; Steve McGough, chief operating officer, HCSS; and Scott L. Cassells, president, Kiewit.

Chairman: Steve Wright, president, Wright Brothers Construction, Charleston, Tenn.

Central Region Vice Chairman: Kathi Holst, senior vice president, RoadSafe Traffic Systems, Rome-oville, Ill.

Vice Chairman At-Large: John Houle, vice presi-dent & general manager of Traffic Safety Systems Division, 3M, St. Paul, Minn.

Senior Vice Chairman: Doug Black, CEO, Oldcastle Ma-terials, Atlanta, Ga.

Western Region Vice Chairman: Steve McGough, chief operating officer, HCSS, Sugarland, Texas

Vice Chairman At-Large: Jim An-doga, president, Austin Bridge & Road, Austin, Texas

First Vice Chairman: Nick Ivanoff, president & CEO, Ammann & Whitney, New York, N.Y.

Vice Chairman At-Large: Ward Nye, president & CEO of Martin Mari-etta Materials, Raleigh, N.C.

Vice Chairman At-Large: Michael Donnino, senior vice president, Granite Construc-tion Company, Lewisville, Texas

Northeastern Re-gion Vice Chair-man: John Kulka, president & CEO, HRI, Inc., State College, Pa.

Vice Chairman At-Large: Scott L. Cassells, president, Kiewit, Omaha, Neb.

Treasurer: Tom Hill, president & CEO, Summit Materials, LLC, Washington, D.C.

Southern Region Vice Chairman: Tom Elmore, president, Eutaw Construction Company, Aber-deen, Miss.

Vice Chairman At-Large: David S. Zachry, president & CEO, Zachry Con-struction Corpora-tion, San Antonio, Texas

RegionalMeetingsNOVEMBER&DECEMBER 2012

For more information: Ed Tarrant at 202.289.4434, etarrant@artba.org or Brie Johnson at 202.289.4434, bjohnson@artba.org

November 29-30Hyatt Rosemont O’Hare AirportChicago, IL.

November 27-28Hyatt at Fisherman’s WharfSan Franciso, Calif.

December 5-6Seaport HotelBoston, Massachusetts

December 3-4Hilton Atlanta Airport HotelAtlanta, Georgia

Central Meeting

Western Meeting

Northeastern Meeting

Southern Meeting