ARTBA Washington Newsline

J A N U A R Y 1 4 , 2 0 1 3

NewslineWashington

Va. Governor Seeks to Replace Gax Tax

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Follow ARTBA:

Check out the ARTBA Transportation Makes America Work Report on pages 5-7.

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

Vehicle Miles Traveled Fee Merits Study, GAO Says

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Time is running out for those wishing to register for two of ARTBA’s most popular professional development opportunities—the Project Management Academy (PMA) and P6 Scheduling Academy.

For the first time ever, the academies, sponsored by the ARTBA Foundation’s “Transportation Builder Institute” are being held back-to-back during the second week of February, in order to help maximize your time, deliver the “best bang for your buck,” and

Project Management & P6 Scheduling Academies Less Than a Month Away

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released January 8 report finding highway user fees based on the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) could lead to “more equitable and efficient” use of roadways. GAO notes the concept continues to face widespread privacy concerns and would likely have a high cost of implementation to collect fees from approximately

230 million drivers compared to the current system of collecting gasoline taxes from a relatively small number of distributors. To maintain current Highway Trust Fund receipts, the report estimates that the average driver would pay $108 per year in federal mileage fees compared with the $96 currently paid in federal gas taxes. The report recommends Congress pursue

a VMT trial in commercial vehicles—which enjoy less privacy expectations—and electric vehicles—users of which do not purchase gasoline and therefore avoid the associated user fees. The trucking industry has consistently and vigorously opposed a VMT system to fund transportation improvements.

Read the full report.

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell (R) January 8 unveiled a proposal that would eliminate the state’s 17.5 cent per gallon gasoline tax and replace it with a 0.8 cent general sales tax increase dedicated to transportation—ironically, gasoline sales are exempt from the state sales tax. McDonnell’s plan also calls for increasing transportation’s share of the existing state sales tax from 0.5 percent to 0.75 percent,

2 ARTBA Washington Newsline

Upcoming Events

Visit our Events Page for more information.

Project Management AcademyFebruary 4-6Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

P6 Scheduling AcademyFebruary 6-8Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

Federal Issues Program & TCC Fly-InJune 3-5Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

Young Executive Development ProgramJune 3-6Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

25th Annual ARTBA P3 ConferenceJuly 25-26 Washington, D.C. [Add to Calendar]

ARTBA National ConventionSeptember 8-10 Milwaukee, Wis.[Add to Calendar]

Dr. J. Don Brock TransOvationTM

Workshop & Awards ProgramOctober

Local Transportation Management Virtual Conference & Innovation Showcase (LoTransTM 2013)October

5th Annual Transportation Construction Law & Regulatory ForumOctober Washington, D.C.

2013

Project Management & P6 Scheduling AcademiesContinued from page 1

reduce travel costs. The February 4-6 PMA is perfect for

both new and experienced transportation construction professionals because it covers the latest innovations in seven core subjects of project management: construction documentation, resource management, planning and scheduling, economics of safety, industry ethics, client relations, and management and leadership.

The P6® Scheduling Academy, February 6-8, will provide in-depth instruction on Primavera Project Planner (P6®) software and other “tricks of the trade” to help efficiently track key aspects of transportation projects, such as people, materials, operational benchmarks and payment schedules. The academy will be led by acclaimed construction management expert Dr. Jay Newitt of Brigham Young University.

Registration: PMA is $2,000 for ARTBA

members ($2,700 for non-members.); P6 is $1,700 for ARTBA members ($2,100 for non-members). Register for both and save $1,000. You also have the option to register for just one.

Up to 32 ARTBA Professional

Development Hours are available. View the full program schedule.

Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions at 202.289.4434, ext. 304.

Watch this one-minute video to find out why you should attend the February Project Management and P6 Scheduling Academies.

3ARTBA Washington Newsline

Products & Services

Gas TaxContinued from page 1

2013 ARTBA Media Kit Available

View the 2013 ARTBA Media Kit online for the full range of advertising and other opportunities in our “Transportation Builder” magazine, “Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide,” and the “Washington Newsline.”

For more information on advertising, contact Peter Embrey at 202.289.4434.

12013 Media Kit

July-August 2012 TransportationBuilder 1

builder® July-August 2012

Special Report: ARTBA Analysis

MAP-21

TRANSPORTATION DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION LEADERSHIP DIRECTORY & BUYERS' GUIDE

2012

ARTBA Washington Newsline

A U G U S T 6 , 2 0 1 2

NewslineWashington

ARTBA Continues Push for Transportation in Party Platforms

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Follow ARTBA:

Senate Introduces Bipartisan Coal Ash Legislation

Both the House and Senate adjourned last week for a recess that will carry through both parties’ political conventions (August 27-30 in Tampa, Fla., for the GOP and September 3-6 in Charlotte, N.C., for Democrats) and last until September 10. As such, both parties are developing their political message for the last few months of campaigning before November and are

August 10 Deadline: Contractor Safety & Roadway Work Zone Safety Awards

The deadline for receiving the discounted $192 hotel room rate at the 2012 ARTBA National Convention in Memphis, Tenn. ends Aug. 10.

The Peabody Memphis Hotel is a magnificent Forbes Four-Star, AAA Four-Diamond, historic property, which has been described as “legendary, charming, elegant and grand.”

In addition to top-notch speakers and networking opportunities, this year’s convention features a spectacular program of

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

events for spouses of ARTBA members. Spouses will have the opportunity to tour “Blues City,” learn about its past, and visit important cultural landmarks, such as the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, and Sun Studio and Stax Museum, where legends such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King and Tom Petty made music history. The program also includes a historical tour along the Mississippi River aboard the newly-refurbished Island Queen.

Attendees and their spouses will also have the opportunity to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis.

The full program is available at www.artbanationalconvention.org.

Contact ARTBA’s Ed Tarrant for information, or call the Peabody Memphis Hotel at 901.529.4000 to book your room. Reservations made after August 10 will be on a space-available basis.

Room Discount for ARTBA National Convention Ends This Week

A bipartisan group of 12 Republican and 12 Democratic senators introduced August 2 the “Coal Ash Recycling and Oversight Act” to prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating coal ash—used extensively in transportation construction projects—as a “hazardous substance.” The legislation, introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) builds upon a

2013 MEDIA KIT“Transportation Builder” magazine

Leadership Directory & Buyers’ Guide

Web & Digital Advertising Opportunities

increasing vehicle registration fees by $15 and an annual $100 fee on alternative fuel vehicles. McDonnell claims the switch would add $500 million annually to Virginia’s transportation coffers and purportedly eliminate the maintenance backlog in five years while freeing up investment in new construction long delayed by the funding shortfall. The move would make Virginia the first state in the country without a gas tax, but it would retain its diesel tax. Critics of the plan note the anticipated revenues from the sales tax increase are largely dependent on a federal legislative proposal concerning sales tax on out-of-state internet purchases and if that bill fails, the governor’s projections will fall sharply.

For more than 25 years, the ARTBA Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) has endeavored to develop initiatives that promote “research, education and public awareness” about the many positive economic and quality-of-life benefits of U.S. transportation development.

The year 2012 was no different! The Foundation executed a comprehensive program of work to help support ARTBA’s overall mission of growing the transportation construction market.

In September, we hosted the largest net fundraiser in ARTBA-TDF’s history with a special gala dinner in Memphis to honor the career

ARTBA-Foundation 2012 Annual Report

1AMERICAN ROAD AND TRANSPORTATION BUILDERS ASSOCIATION

2012 ANNUAL REPORT

www.artbatdf.org

Chairman’s Message

Leo VecellioChairman & CEOThe Vecellio Group

achievements of Astec Industries’ Founder & Chairman Dr. Don Brock. The net proceeds are being used to expand the size and scope of TransOvation™, our annual, two-and-a-half day interactive workshop that helps transportation construction executives foster and build innovative thinking into their professional skill set.

The National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse hosted its first-ever “virtual conference” on best practices in work zone safety for nearly 500 federal, state and local transportation officials from across the United States and the world. This forum provided professional development, exhibits and networking opportunities for cash-strapped public agency leaders at their desktop or laptop computer, and at no cost.

ARTBA and its industry allies provided safety training to more than 4,000 industry professionals through a variety of federal contracts.

New offerings included the “Preventing Runovers and Backovers” training course, production of a flagger safety training video, and the rollout of a digital and searchable “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices” (MUTCD), available for the first time on mobile devices.

Finally, the Foundation continued to make a difference to the children of fallen highway workers. More than $40,000 was raised for the “Lanford Family Highway Worker Memorial Scholarship Program,” which provides post-high school financial assistance.

View the full report.

4 ARTBA Washington Newsline

“Mr. McDonnell, now in his final year as governor, has at last acknowledged a fundamental truth: There is no way to maintain and improve the state’s crumbling transportation network, now set to run out of construction money by 2017, without higher taxes. That basic fact, in a state that has not raised any sustainable new funds for highways and roads in a quarter-century, has been rejected by the GOP for years. Now the governor has conceded the point.”

Jan. 9 “Washington Post” editorial reacting to Va. Governor Bob McDonnell’s new proposal to eliminate the state gas tax and replace it with an increase in the sales tax and other user fees.

“If we don’t expand our infrastructure and make it more efficient and seamless, we can’t grow our economy… You are going to need more money for it and it ought to be paid for by the users.”

U.S. Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tom Donohue Jan. 10 during his annual “State of American Business” event.

Overheard“ ”

TRB Newsletter: Jan 8Highlighting 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

Legislative & Regulatory News

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Sandy Relief Votes Will Test House GOP

The House this week will hold a series of votes on Hurricane Sandy relief proposals that would provide as much as $50 billion, including funds for transit and road repairs, to the states most affected by the October storm. Reports indicate the House GOP believes these initiatives will pass. However, a few members of the party are seeking votes on amendments that would require budgetary offsets for the emergency aid bill, which are are ordinarily given a free pass on budgetary offsets. The offset proposals include a 1.6 percent across the board cut in discretionary spending, killing transit subsidies for federal employees, eliminating the Agriculture Direct Payment Program, and ending future payments to the Troubled Asset Relief Program. ARTBA will update you as new details emerge.

LaHood Speculation GrowsA White House official this

week added to the speculation over U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s future at the department. The unnamed official said three cabinet secretaries planned to stay on board as the Administration begins its second term—LaHood was not one of the three. Over the past year, LaHood himself has raised questions about a second term as Secretary, with statements alternately indicating he would like to return home to Peoria, Ill., but also that he and President Obama had not had a chance to sit down and talk about a second term.

The Administration has not indicated whether it is planning to nominate someone new to lead the U.S. DOT. ARTBA will keep you posted as this situation continues to evolve.

Pierce Homer of Moffatt & Nichol, who serves as co-chair of the ARTBA Ports & Waterways Council, as well as representatives from several other ARTBA mem-ber firms, were featured in a December 31 “Engineer-ing News Record” cover story on the need for in-

vestments in port infrastructure in anticipation of the 2014 Panama Canal expansion.

Read the full story.

5ARTBA Washington Newsline

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

ARTBA’s recently released 2013 “Texas Transportation Planning & Design Market Outlook Report,” the second in a series of in-depth state studies that provides industry firms and financial analysts with high-quality market intelligence for use in business and investment planning, is now available for purchase.

Utilizing key business indicators, source documents and personal interviews, the reports provide a current trend and five-year forecast for state transportation department highway and bridge spending, planning and design work, and major airport construction, as well as economic demographics, bond ratings and capacity, and innovative financing and procurement status in the state. They also provide the latest business requirements for planning and design firms looking to do work in that state, and comprehensive list of other firms already doing work in that market.

Reports for Florida and California will be released in the coming months. They are available to ARTBA member firms for $5,000 each for Texas and Florida, and $7,500 for California, or as a

package of three for $16,000. Non-ARTBA members may purchase them for $6,000 each for Texas and Florida, and $8,500 for California, or as a package of three for $19,000. View a sample report. Contact ARTBA’s Sarah Crane for more information.

$107.36   $108.05  

$77.61  

$68.38  

$136.74  

$98.71  

$131.78  

$107.56   $109.60  $105.80   $107.97  

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$20.0    

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2006   2007   2008   2009   2010   2011   2012  (e)     2013  (e)     2014  (e)     2015  (e)     2016  (e)    

Millions  of  $

 

Planning & Design Reports Provide In-Depth Look at State Markets

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Total Consultant Contract Awards

The ARTBA Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2013 “Transportation Development Hall of Fame.” The Hall honors individuals or families from the public and private sectors who have made extraor-dinary contributions to U.S. transportation develop-ment or demonstrated exceptional leadership over their lifetime. Nominees are considered in two categories: Transportation Design & Construction Industry Inno-vators: Honors the men and women who discovered or created a “game changing” product or process that sig-nificantly advanced transportation design, construction and/or safety. It seeks to honor the original innovator.

Nomination Deadline: Friday, April 12, 2013.

Transportation Design & Construction Industry Lead-ers (Individuals or Families): Recognizes men, women and families who have made significant contributions—beyond just having successful businesses or careers—that have notably helped advance the interests and image of the transportation design, construction and safety industry.

Inductees of the 2012 and 2013 Hall of Fame classes will be recognized as a special awards dinner on June 3rd in the Nation’s Capital during ARTBA’s Federal Is-sues Program. Contact ARTBA’s Holly DiGangi with questions at 202.289.4434 or visit:www.artbahalloffame.org.

Call for Nominations: 2013 “Transportation Development Hall of Fame”

“The [YEDP] experience left an indelible mark on me. I came away with a new awareness of the critical role that we, both as individuals and as an association, have to play in shaping the decisions that affect our livelihoods. Fourteen years later, I am humbled to be the first YEDP graduate elected as ARTBA chair, and to serve this wonderful organization that has taught me so much.”

- Steve Wright, 2013 ARTBA Chairman and president of Wright Brothers Construction Co.

June 3 - 6 in Washington, D.C.

Join the Next Generation of Industry Leaders... The ARTBA Foundation Young Executive Development Program

NOW Accepting Applications for 2013

• More than 430 young executives from nearly 200 companies, public agencies and state contractor organizations in 40 states and Washington, D.C., have completed the program, including 2013 ARTBA Chairman Steve Wright of Wright Brothers Construction.

• Participants gain a greater understanding about how they can play a leadership role in helping grow the transportation construction market in the future.

• View the application, or contact ARTBA’s Sara Jones for more information.