Howard Smith, AICP, F.ITE’s Post

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has made $316 million in federal funding available to support and modernize passenger ferry service in communities across the country. Across the country, there are approximately 3 million ferry riders each month, utilizing these transit services to get to work, school, healthcare appointments and more.   “I have seen firsthand how, for many Americans in many different parts of the country, ferries are the best and sometimes only way to get where they need to go,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we’re pleased to make $316 million available to help communities modernize their ferry service so that Americans better, easier more reliable options.”  In addition to FTA’s longstanding Passenger Ferry Program, President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) established more federal support for ferry service, including for ferry systems transitioning to climate-friendly technologies and to expand ferry service in rural areas. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in funding includes:  The Passenger Ferry Program supports capital projects to buy, replace or modernize passenger ferries, terminals and related equipment. For Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, $51 million is available.  The Electric or Low Emitting Ferry Program provides federal support to transit agencies to buy ferry vessels that reduce emissions by using alternative fuels or on-board energy storage systems. For FY 2024, $49 million is available for grants under the IIJA.  The Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program provides federal support to initiate or expand ferry services in rural areas, including capital, planning and operating costs. For FY 2024, $216 million is available for grants under the IIJA.   “Passenger ferries provide critical and cost-effective travel for people throughout the United States but many ferry agencies are not able to maintain all of their vessels in a state of good repair and make necessary investments in safety,” said FTA Acting Administrator Veronica Vanterpool. “FTA is pleased to provide federal support to help modernize and expand how people travel by water while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing equity by making transit available to more people and creating good-paying jobs.”  In 2023, FTA announced $220.2 million in project selections through its ferry programs.  Complete proposals for funding must be submitted electronically on FTA’s website by June 17, 2024. 

How can it be that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act of Biden gave 10 million dollars to expansion of highway (see picture) that can destroy almost 1,000 houses mostly of Blacks and Latinos? In recent days we often hear about defaites in the climate policy of Biden. There are 2 more. 1. The law that required companies to disclose their emissions was delayed in the court. 2. According to a report, around 25% of the money dedicated to surface transportation from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act is used by states like Texas and even California, to expand highways (like this in the picture), despite the efforts of Biden to force them to use it in a better way... It can raise emissions by 178.5 million tons by 2040. Why? Well, Peace and Justice are the 2 first steps to sustainability, we have already said it, yes? Due to current wars there is much less interest in climate and environment, the fossil fuel lobby is stronger because the prices of fossil fuel are higher so it can make more money, due to poverty and inflation caused by war expanding fossil fuels is regarded as the fastest way to decrease poverty and lower prices. Due to our unjust economic system, things that can bring less GDP like public transit, walking, cycling are sidelined. There is much less funding and attention for them in comparison to EV, despite the fact that they are more environmental and healthier. The public in general is unaware that many Americans are not so much liking cars, for example 200 organizations signed a petition to Biden for a ban on any highway expansion. When a highway turns into a bulevard the price of houses nearby increase 3 times. Also the top down approach probably linked to the absence of the 2 mentioned principles. Probably Biden intended to transmit the money for transportation to the states and then *force* states like Texas to use it for green things by obligating them to implement a plan for transport emission reduction. It is less effective. Maybe transmitting it directly to those who *do want* to expand green things would be better. All this creates a situation when the environmental agenda is not going well (despite Biden sincerely trying to advance it how much it can I beleive) and the anti-environment decisions overpower. Repairing the top down approach seems to me to be the easiest task. There are 21 states that sue Biden over the requirement to reduce transport emissions. Meaning, the other 29 are happy with it. Maybe concentrate on them, help them to channel the money from the Infrastructure bill to the right places. Maybe propose to the 21 who are against, to abolish the requirement for them, if they will allow the money going directly to the cities inside (every city with a population of more than 100,000 suffer from traffic congestion and other car related problems) which will want to make green things... But of course Peace and Just economy demand a global solution. Sources in the comments.

WASHINGTON /Feb 21, 2024 /USDOT / -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration announced today a new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program that makes $250 million available, over five years, in competitive grants to advance innovative, multimodal solutions to reduce vehicular traffic in the most congested metropolitan areas of the United States. The Congestion Relief Program is accepting applications for the first round through a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which provides $150 million in grants for fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024. The grants are available to states, metropolitan planning organizations, cities, and municipalities for projects in urban areas with a population of at least one million. "Traffic congestion without multimodal options is a major problem throughout America, especially in large metro areas, significantly limiting mobility and reducing clean air quality in our cities-while diminishing productivity nationwide because of higher costs when people and goods are delayed in traffic, said Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt. "With this program, we're aiming to tackle congestion and provide a higher standard of living and greater multimodal options and working for the people in populated areas." The Congestion Relief Program provides funding to reduce highway congestion and the economic and environmental costs associated with congestion, including pollution from transportation emissions. The program also optimizes existing highway capacity and transit systems, improves coordination with transit, and encourages other modes of travel. Eligible projects include the deployment and operation of integrated congestion management systems; certain transit and mobility services; and incentive programs encouraging travelers to carpool, use transit, or travel during nonpeak periods. The agency will give priority to projects that advance innovative, multimodal solutions to traffic congestion in urban areas that are experiencing a high degree of recurrent congestion. For additional information about the Congestion Relief Program and the NOFO please visit https://lnkd.in/eXUiKWKt *Source: https://lnkd.in/eXWBnaDs

It’s been well over two years since the federal Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law were passed. But today, Massachusetts took a huge step forward toward bringing as much of that money home as possible. The Legislature just enacted An Act to provide for competitiveness and infrastructure investment in Massachusetts, a unanimously supported bill directing up to $750 million in interest from the state’s rainy day fund to be used as matching dollars for federal grant applications. “Make your money work for you” is a popular investing adage, but this law takes that wisdom to a whole new level: using the gains from our already-huge backup accounts (currently north of $8 billion) to support efforts securing competitive federal grants for bridges, trains, clean energy, climate resilience, and much more. Many programs authorized through these federal laws require state and local cost-sharing, meaning cities and towns could receive millions or even billions in federal support, but only if they commit a small portion too. This new law enables MA to compete for every dollar possible with no risk of wasted money—our money only gets spent if the federal support comes through. At ELM, we’re ambitious and optimistic about the opportunities created by the net-zero transition, but we’re realistic about what it’ll take to get us to our climate goals. The state’s Climate Chief estimates that federal funding could support anywhere from 8-30% of MA’s total decarbonization needs – and whether we’re at the low or high end of that range will make an enormous difference in how large our gap will be in 2030. Every emissions-reduction model agrees that, to meet our transportation sector goals, more people need to switch from single-vehicle travel to mass transit. Yet, the MBTA faces a $700 million budget gap in the coming fiscal year. Adding this new tool to our toolbox will directly work to fix some of our Commonwealth’s biggest challenges. The good news is that spending state and federal dollars on infrastructure is a fantastic investment. The very same spending needed to electrify public transit also makes trains and buses more reliable. Deploying more renewable energy helps diversify our grid and stabilize energy costs. And climate resilience and hazard mitigation projects help prevent the astronomical price tag that natural disasters bring. We’re not just working toward net-zero; we’re building greener, safer, and more modern communities within our state. ELM commends Governor Healey, Chair Michlewitz, Chair Rodrigues, and all their colleagues in the Legislature for coming together around this common-sense initiative. And when the next grants get awarded, the oldest pipes get replaced, or the newest charging stations get installed, we’ll be glad to see that our money is working hard for us.

Roads Authority to upgrade roads in southern regions: The roads Authority is expanding its road infrastructure upgrades to the Hardap, //Kharas and Khomas regions in an effort to achieve inclusive, equitable and sustainable economic growth. Roads Authority engineer Timo Hatuikulipi said this is in line with the revised master plan, which entails rectifying imbalances in the provision of social and economic road infrastructure. He said this at Keetmans­hoop on Tuesday during a workshop on identifying road infrastructure development needs in the //Kharas region. “We have to do a scientific investigation. Sometimes a road may not be economically feasible, but the social impact could be great for the region. The //Karas, Hardap and Khomas regions have been identified and will form part of the revised master plan,” said Hatuikulipi. Previously, the emphasis of the company has been on strengthening the country’s position as a transport and logistics hub, thus the completion of the upgrading of the Windhoek-Okahandja road to a dual carriageway and the upgrading of the Swakopmund-Henties Bay-Kamanjab road were prioritised. Other projects include the upgrading of the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay road to a dual carriageway, the upgrading of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport road to a dual carriageway and the completion of the Gobabis-Aranos road. Current envisaged projects in the //Kharas region include the construction of the B1 road from Tses to Grünau, the Keetmanshoop to Aroab road and the Tses to Berseba road. //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick said these roads are pivotal projects as they are more than mere pathways, they represent lifelines that connect the people to opportunities, resources and essential services. “The importance of robust road infrastructure cannot be overstated. It serves as a backbone for economic activities, enabling trade and commerce, while fostering accessibility to education and healthcare facilities. “We have invited a wide range of stakeholders to assist us in brainstorming innovative solutions that will address both current challenges and future aspirations regarding road development. Your insights and expertise are invaluable as we seek to prioritise new road infrastructure needs alongside other critical improvements,” said Frederick. She expressed confidence that the gathering designed as an inclusive platform to engage in meaningful dialogue about the region’s infrastructure needs would contribute towards shaping a strategic approach for developing a comprehensive road infrastructure plan for the //Kharas region. “Improved roads can significantly reduce travel time and costs, thereby enhancing productivity across various sectors. However, achieving these improvements requires collaboration among all stakeholders involved – government entities, private sector partners, community leaders and civil society organisations,” the…

COMMUNITY INPUT TRANSPORTS FUTURE PLANNING FOR GROWTH BEYOND THE SINGLETON BYPASS Traffic and transport are coming under the microscope as Singleton Council looks to capture a snapshot of experiences related to roads and public transport across the local government area to inform infrastructure planning for future growth. Local residents, motorists, businesses, transport operators and community organisations are being asked to help inform the development of the Singleton Traffic and Transportation Strategy, which aims to address road and transportation infrastructure needs for current and planned urban release and growth areas, as well as following completion of the New England Highway Bypass. Everyone can get involved by dropping a pin on the virtual map to illustrate their experiences related to: 😊 Road condition—highlighting where you think the road or associated infrastructure needs attention 🚊Public transport—to make a comment about existing public transport, or where you think it is required 🚗 Road capacity—highlighting any concerns around road congestion. 🚩 Speed limits—to advise if you think the speed limit should be changed on a section of road ⚡️ Safety—to provide comments on any aspect of safety in relation to a section of road or an intersection 🚛 Freight—to make comment on freight transport such as trucks using a section of road. You can place your pin at 📍 https://lnkd.in/gatZ8zR5 Acting Director Infrastructure and Planning, Aaron Malloy said people could also make a written submission until Sunday 7 July 2024. “Along with planning for residential growth, a key objective for Council is planning for and providing appropriate infrastructure to cater for the needs of our community now and into the future,” he said. “Transport plays a major role in our liveability and with a number of development areas identified across our LGA, appropriate transport infrastructure is required to ensure the safe and efficient movement of traffic around new land release areas, as well as existing residential, commercial and industrial areas. “There are also major road infrastructure projects that will have a significant impact on Singleton, most notably the Singleton bypass, which will bypass five sets of traffic lights in the town centre and is the largest road infrastructure investment in Singleton’s history. “We’re also encouraging as much feedback as possible from people who use our transport network on a regular basis to identify issues on our road network and where there might be gaps in public transport services.” All the information Council receives will feed into the development of the draft Traffic and Transportation Strategy that will be later exhibited for further community feedback. For more information, visit ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gsvWrxv8

Today, my colleague Emma Lund at Trivector Traffic and I presented the research project "The application of the four-step principle in a transport-efficient society", which has been carried out with the support of the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket), for about thirty people at the Swedish Transport Administration. The hope is that the results from the project can contribute to a new view of infrastructure planning and collaboration. Infrastructure planning within the framework of sustainability and collaboration for a sustainable society with less car traffic and sustainable accessibility. The research is based on interviews of officials at national and local level in Norway, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Austria who have already set targets for reduced car traffic. Furthermore, it is based on case studies of two large road infrastructure projects in Sweden where we asked the question how goals, deficiencies and choice of measures would have changed if we had started from a sustainable society with less car traffic. Based on the research, we make eight recommendations: 1) Decide on a national (and/or regional) target for reduced car traffic based on evidence what is needed for climat mitigation 2) Justify the goal also from a broad sustainability perspective (climate adaptation, health, air quality, less noise, well-being, equality and reduced infrastructure costs) 3) Break the path dependence in transport planning, do not let old plans that were made in another time rule. 4) Use a clear methodology to choose measures that contribute and fit into a sustainable society with less car traffic. 5) Create clear structures for collaboration between the authority for national infrastructure planning, regions and municipalities in order to jointly achieve goal of reduced car traffic 6) Do not wait for the policy instruments to be in place. Plan and build now based on goal of reduced car traffic. 7) Be serious about the four-step principle. An unbiased and broad system perspective with focus on steps 1-3. Let steps 1 and 2 measures be part of agreements between the municipality, the region and the authority for national infrastructure planning. 8) Follow up on goals, evaluate and adjust strategies to ensure goal fulfilment Based on the research and long term experience we have now developed a three day on-line course with support from EIT Urban Mobility, an initiative of the EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union. The course will feature invited guest speakers from the studied countries including Stephen Cragg from Transport Scotland, Holger Heinfellner from Umweltbundesamt - Environment Agency Austria, Emeritus Professor John Parkin from University of the West of England and Malin Bismo Lerudsmoen from Statens vegvesen - Norwegian Public Roads Administration. For more information about the course and to register, please follow the link. https://lnkd.in/dEnK2cjA.

“A Vision for Transportation Infrastructure: $200 Billion Transformation by 2030” https://ift.tt/sBoXhnA Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure plans for the upcoming period have been strategically designed with a focus on investing in projects with a wide-reaching impact, connecting various sectors and regions to boost socio-economic development. Injecting Massive Capital into Railway Development According to Mr. Luu Quang Thin, Deputy Director of the Planning and Investment Department (Ministry of Transport), Vietnam’s transportation infrastructure has made remarkable progress. The country now boasts over 24,300 km of national highways, 2,000 km of expressways, 6,800 km of inland waterways, 2,640 km of national railways, 298 ports, 22 airports, and numerous large-scale, important projects. However, Mr. Thin acknowledged that there are still imbalances in infrastructure development, with a predominant focus on road projects, followed by maritime, aviation, and inland waterways. For instance, the railway system, despite its many advantages, has not received prioritized investment and remains outdated. The slow progress of urban railways has also failed to alleviate traffic congestion and environmental pollution in major cities. Additionally, the potential of inland waterways in advantageous areas has not been fully harnessed. Mr. Thin attributed these challenges mainly to Vietnam’s low economic starting point and insufficient capital for infrastructure development. Setting Direction for Transportation Infrastructure Development until 2030, with a Vision towards 2050 The leader of the Planning and Investment Department emphasized the goal of developing a rational transportation infrastructure system, ensuring balance and harmony. This involves leveraging the strengths of different transport modes and increasing the proportion of public passenger transport in major cities. For road transport, the target for 2030 is to have approximately 5,000 km of expressways nationwide. The focus will be on investing in expressways connecting major economic centers, seaports, international airports, and border gates with high cargo demand. The estimated investment for these projects is around $24.8 billion by 2030 and $33.64 billion by 2050. Recognizing the advantages of railways in terms of bulk transportation, speed, safety, convenience, and environmental friendliness, Mr. Thin stated that this mode will be a priority for investment. The Ministry of Transport is concentrating on constructing the high-speed North-South railway and accelerating the progress of urban railways in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These efforts aim to reduce traffic congestion and connect with the high-speed railway to form a convenient passenger transport network nationwide. Additionally, new railway lines will be electrified to link important seaports and airports, and existing railway lines will be upgraded with synchronized infrastructure. The estimated investment f...

The recent collapse of the Baltimore Bridge has sparked a nationwide introspection about the resilience and safety of America’s structural backbone. This incident, while rare, underscores a broader, alarming trend of infrastructure neglect that risks public safety, economic stability and national prosperity. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has given the nation’s infrastructure a “C-” in its 2021 report card, noting an infrastructure investment gap of nearly $2.6 trillion needed this decade. Without addressing this gap, the U.S. could face $10 trillion in lost GDP by 2039. This is not merely a matter of inconvenience but a critical economic issue that could stunt growth and competitiveness for years to come. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 represents a significant step, allocating $40 billion for bridge repairs and a total of $1.2 trillion for various infrastructure improvements. Yet, this investment, while historic, barely scratches the surface of the estimated $320 billion needed to modernise America’s bridges (alone). This crumbling infrastructure is not just about bridges and roads; it’s about water systems, electrical grids and internet access that fall dangerously short of serving the public’s needs. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that drinking water and wastewater systems require at least $744 billion in investment over the next decade. Moreover, the digital divide persists, with millions of Americans in rural and low-income communities lacking reliable, fast internet. Internationally, the U.S. lags behind peers in infrastructure quality and investment. U.S. passenger trains, for instance, average just half the speed of Europe’s high-speed rails. U.S. airports fare no better, with only one ranking among the top 50 worldwide. This gap in infrastructure quality affects the quality of life for Americans. Despite the IIJA’s ambitious scope, its execution is pivotal. As of its 2-year anniversary, the implementation is finally hitting its stride, with $306 billion now injected into direct investment projects. Yet, with competitive grantmaking steadily increasing, careful prioritisation of projects that deliver long-term value is going to be more and more essential. Public-private partnerships, for example, can unlock private sector innovation and capital, expediting projects that might otherwise languish in the planning stages. Crucially, public market equity investments must also mirror this commitment, channeling resources into projects that not only promise long-term environmental and societal dividends. This dual approach—also underscored by a steadfast commitment to sustainability—ensures that our collective effort toward modernising infrastructure—ranging from green buildings and efficient public transport to advanced water systems—does more than just repair. Rize ETF by ARK Invest ARK Investment Management LLC

U.S. road projects are really expensive—costing over three times as much as other upper- and middle-income countries—and a team of researchers wanted to know why. They found low state DOT staff capacity and low levels of contractor competition were key drivers of project costs. Read on to learn more about what they discovered. #construction #infrastructure #roads #highways