http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

Early plans for what could be the Twin Cities’ fourth light-rail transit spoke are moving ahead, with the blessing of the city of Golden Valley. The city council in the first-ring suburb on Tuesday evening gave its initial approval to the proposed Bottineau route. Until now, Golden Valley had been the sole dissenter out of the five communities along the path connecting Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. The opposition has been fueled in part by neighbors who say the trains would spoil the very essence of their community.

Minneapolis likes Southwest light rail concept but not the current plan

http://www.minnpost.com/

The City of Minneapolis moved a step closer to endorsing the Southwest Light Rail Line but will not accept a plan  that includes freight trains, light rail and the recreational trails running through the relatively narrow strip of land known as the Kenilworth Corridor.  The plan to move the freight trains, which currently travel through the Kenilworth Corridor, to a line through St. Louis Park is being strongly opposed by citizens in that community. “The freight trains will have to be relocated to St. Louis Park,” said Donald Pflaum, a transportation planner from the Minneapolis Public Works Department, as he explained the city’s position on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project to members of the City Council’s Transportation and Public Works Committee. Any plan that places freight trains, light rail and recreational trails in the Kenilworth corridor “will not be accepted by the City of Minneapolis as part of the municipal consent process,” according to the official comments that will be submitted to the Federal Transit Administration.

Worst of Central Corridor light-rail work to end soon

http://www.startribune.com/

The dirty, noisy and disruptive construction work on the Central Corridor light-rail line between St. Paul and Minneapolis will end completely by the end of the month, spelling relief for many businesses and commuters. With new streets and sidewalks laid, store owners are grappling with how to rebound from months of snarled traffic that sapped their business. Putting the finishing touches on the $957 million project next year should be far less disruptive to businesses and commuters, said Mark Fuhrmann, program director of New Starts rail projects for Metro Transit. Crews will string miles of overhead electrical wires and underground cable, install station art, build the operations and maintenance facility in St. Paul’s Lowertown, work on the signaling and communications system and test the light-rail vehicles. The rail line along the 10-mile corridor is expected to be open for business in 2014.

Metro planning stations to bring light rail to LAX

http://abclocal.go.com/

It may soon be easier to take light rail to Los Angeles International Airport. There are plans to open up a station near the LAX terminals. Currently you can take the Metro Green Line to the LAX station, but then you have to take a shuttle to the airport.There are four plans that LAX officials and Metro are looking at to bring light rail all the way to the airport. All four would require a new station to be built with a people-mover to shuttle travelers and employees to the terminal area.

Arvada, Westminster boost budgets for proposed light-rail stations

http://www.denverpost.com/

Two cities that will be home to FasTracks stations will invest hundreds of thousands of dollars to change the budget-conscious design of the commuter- rail stops. Westminster will pay nearly $500,000 to redesign the future RTD Westminster Station to feature an arched opening, rather than a simple box structure. Arvada is drafting four proposals to add art and historic markers, to align a road and to switch to brick pavers instead of flat concrete at the Olde Town station plaza. The cost of the brick pavers is estimated at about $860,000, while the three other requests would total about $485,000. City Council will vote on the proposals in January.

Plans for South Bay light rail expansion coming under fire

http://www.ktvu.com/news/

A proposed extension of the Valley Transportation Authority light rail line in the South Bay is getting mixed reviews. Some criticize the high cost for the relatively short length, while others see it as an accommodation of growth that’s expected in the not-too-distant future.Right now the light rail line ends in Campbell but there are plans for two more VTA stations extending the tracks by 1.6 miles into Los Gatos. People attending the environmental impact report meeting at the Campbell Library discussed if the increase in riders is worth the $175 million price tag.

 Infrastructure in Oil Country Getting More Funding

http://www.kfyrtv.com

In Governor Jack Dalrymple’s speech this morning he talked about his plan for the state`s infrastructure needs. Dalrymple has set aside $2.5 billion for transportation upgrades, with one billion dollars of that for one time funding infrastructure investments. A large majority of that money is coming to oil country, and that`s something people in Williston are excited about. Northwest North Dakota has taken a step forward, when it comes to infrastructure. “The oil impact grants. $214 million comes up from $130 million in the last biennium. That`s a huge issue to those of us up there who need water, sewer, roads, streets, emergency services, those types of things,” said Williston Mayor Ward Koeser. This money will be a one time investment in infrastructure and not a continuous flow of money. A portion of the impact grant will focus on making roads safer.

High-Speed Passenger Rail

http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/

Washington received nearly $800 million in federal High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail funds to deliver critical rail infrastructure improvements that will expand travel choices, preserve the ability to move freight, and foster economic growth across our state. These improvements are being made along the Pacific Northwest Rail Corridor, a 466-mile rail corridor running between Eugene, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia.

 Northeast Grid Transmission project – engineering Project of the Year

 http://www.aecom.com/News/

 The Strategic Infrastructure Projects of the Year awards are given across five categories recognizing ongoing and upcoming projects that demonstrate imagination and technical skills while offering a creative roadmap of new ideas for the inception of project infrastructure throughout North America.AECOM is the program manager and owner’s representative for the winning project, which consists of a major upgrade of PSE&G’s grid transmission system in northeastern New Jersey, United States. Encompassing approximately 200 circuit miles (321 kilometers), the project will upgrade electrical service from 138 kilovolts to 230/245 kilovolts. The conversions include 12 substations, 40 circuit miles (64 kilometers) of overhead transmission lines and 29 miles (46 kilometers) of underground transmission lines. Work on the upgrade is scheduled for completion in mid-2015 and the project is considered a model for future electricity grid upgrades planned throughout the United States.

 Parking authority studies pay-by-phone technology

http://www.post-gazette.com/

With the installation of nearly 560 multispace metering devices completed, Pittsburgh Parking Authority is pursuing other modernization initiatives. The authority board voted Thursday to consider adding a pay-by-phone feature to the multispace machines, which are used for on-street parking spaces and metered lots Downtown and in parts of 11 other neighborhoods. It also voted to develop an on-line reservation system for spaces in six of the authority’s Downtown garages. The authority bought the multispace metering devices and seven years of maintenance for about $7.3 million. Many of the machines, which accept coins and credit cards, replaced single-space meters, which took only quarters. Motorists enter their license plate numbers at the pay stations, and parking enforcement officers use that information to identify vehicles in violation.

Death by a Million Cuts: What Cities Stand to Lose If We Go Over the Fiscal Cliff

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/

The on again, off again threat of the fiscal cliff has put municipal governments in a decidedly awkward position. How should they prepare for legislation designed not to minimize pain, but rather to be too hurtful to ever enact? “It’s hard to know what the impact of a law that gets described as shooting yourself in the head will be,” says Kim Rueben, a senior policy analyst at the Urban Institute. Even so, cities are doing their best to quantify the very tangible effects of proposed cuts in dollars and cents. Last week, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake held a press conference with acting U.S. Secretary of Commerce RebeccaBlank, imploring Congress to do something. “It will hurt consumer confidence and hit discretionary spending in the retail and tourism sectors, two pillars of growth here in Baltimore,” Rawlings-Blake said. “And that means it will hurt jobs in our economy.”

http://citiwire.net/

HurricaneSandydelivered New York, America’s premier world city, a devastating blow. Literally millions of lives were affected. Damage estimates for the city and its environs – exclusive of New Jersey and Connecticut – run as high as $18 billion.Sandy’s horrific destruction confirms beyond reasonable doubt that extreme weather events all coinciding with the forward march of climate change – will impact our coastlines throughout this century.

US infrastructure wasn’t built for extreme weather

http://bostonglobe.com

The nation’s lifelines — its roads, airports, railways, and transit systems — are getting hammered by extreme weather beyond what their builders imagined, leaving states and cities searching for ways to brace for more catastrophes like Hurricane Sandy. Even as they prepare for a new normal of intense rain, historic floods, and record heat waves, some transportation planners find it too politically sensitive to say aloud the source of their weather worries: climate change. Political differences are on the minds of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, whose advice on the design and maintenance of roads and bridges is closely followed by states.

US stuck in the slow lane over infrastructure

http://www.efinancialnews.com/

As cash-strapped governments across Europe seek to raise cash and reduce spending by privatising their infrastructure assets, the US has remained reluctant to sell the family silver – particularly its highways, airports and transit systems. in the US, which historically had the coffers to support its infrastructure system with public funds, the deals have been few and far between. Banks and private equity funds raised cash for infrastructure deals in droves ahead of the financial crisis. Bidders laid the foundations for major deals, which included the $12.8bn privatisation of the Pennsylvania Turnpike by a partnership of Spanish firmAbertisInfraestructurasand Citi Infrastructure Investors and the $2.5bn privatisation of Chicago Midway Airport. But financial and political strains led to the collapse of both deals in 2008 and 2009. The financial crisis not only made the bank financing required to privately fund infrastructure projects disappear, it also threw municipal budgets into a tailspin, with many seeing their credit rating downgraded and cost of borrowing rise. The 2009 $787bn federal stimulus programme helped move “shovel-ready” road and other projects forward, but as those funds ran out, local governments were forced to consider their often limited options.

U.S., Mexico Sign Major Deal on Colorado River Issues: Delta Restoration, Infrastructure, Water Sharing

http://www.circleofblue.org/

Senior officials from the United States and Mexico signed a broad five-year agreement on Tuesday that marks renewed cooperation over the Colorado River, a desert lifeline that provides water to at least 30 million people, irrigation to top agricultural counties, and electricity to millions — despite water demands in the last few years rising above the average annual supply. The pact, known as Minute 319, covers three key issues: it brings Mexico into existing U.S. water management agreements for sharing shortages and surpluses; it allows U.S. states to pay for irrigation improvements across the border and reap some of the water savings; and it allocates water for the restoration of the Colorado River delta.

Federal Urban Design Element Policies Released

http://www.ncpc.gov

The National Capital Planning Commission has released the Draft Urban Design Element for the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital Region with new policies designed to make federal public spaces, campuses and buildings more livable, functional, and sustainable.

 Moody’s downgrades 27 GARVEE ratings, affects $10 bln in debt

 http://www.reuters.com

 The challenges are related to the shorter duration of current highway funding reauthorization and the possibility that more frequent reauthorizations may disrupt or reduce funds available to pay the bonds, Moody’s said in a report. Additionally, Moody’s said it concerned about the structural imbalance of the federal Highway Trust Fund that “further increases programmatic risks of GARVEEs,” Moody’s said. Tax-exempt GARVEE bonds are backed by annual federal appropriations to assist transportation projects. Moody’s said its action affects 20 ratings of GARVEEs secured solely by a pledge of federal highway aid and seven ratings of mass transit GARVEEs.

  Vikings stadium: Good neighbor or not?

 http://www.startribune.com

 NFL stadiums make notoriously bad neighbors, not so much because they get rowdy for a few hours each autumn but because they tend to be, well, massive, ugly hulks that get uglier when you add the enormous roof structures and fortress exteriors that seem to come with the package. It’s one reason why 23 of the NFL’s 31 stadiums are in suburban-like settings with wide buffers of surface parking to separate them from surrounding communities. Only a handful of the league’s venues –Seattle’s CenturyLink Field is the best of the bunch — are squeezed into intimate downtown quarters, but even those aren’t particularly inviting to close-by neighbors. Minneapolis intends to break the mold.

 Cities at odds over freight train reroute for Southwest LRT

 http://www.startribune.com

 Light-rail trains won’t be clamoring through Minneapolis and the southwest suburbs for several years, but Minneapolis and St. Louis Park are already sparring about where noisy, heavy freight traffic will end up. Residents of the suburb have gathered 1,500-plus signatures of residents who support the proposed Southwest light-rail line but oppose rerouting freight train traffic to their neighborhood to make room for the light-rail line near Minneapolis’ affluent Kenwood neighborhood. The cost to reroute is $123 million more than to keep the freight next to the light rail in Minneapolis, so it would be a non-issue if the two cities weren’t involved, saidThomMiller, co-chair of Safety in the Park.

 Golden Valley rethinks light-rail line

http://www.startribune.com/

Golden Valley City Council will reconsider its previous vote against the proposed route. But council members want something in return: One hopes Hennepin County will consider adding the city to its 911 service, and others see a station atGolden Valley Roada necessity so city residents can get to trains. InJune, the council voted 3-2 against having light rail run along an existing freight rail line that skirts Theodore Wirth Park. Hennepin County has chosen that location as part of the 13-mile transitway’s preferred route from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Park.

Hennepin County holds last forum on Southwest light rail

http://www.startribune.com

Hennepin County is holding a third and final public hearing on Thursday to take comments on the draft environmental impact statement on the proposed Southwest light-rail line. The meeting, which follows ones held in Minneapolis and St. Louis Park earlier this month, will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall,8080 Mitchell Road,Eden Prairie. The draft document details possible impacts of the 15-mile line on five cities — Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. The $1.25 billion project is slated to start construction in 2015 and open in 2018.

Plan for Bellevue light-rail yard stuns city officials

http://seattletimes.com/

While Sound Transit and Bellevue were negotiating an agreement on a future light-rail route, the transit agency didn’t mention for several months that it was thinking about building a large maintenance and storage yard in the city. That has angered City Council members, who learned only after signing an agreement last year that Sound Transit was studying Bellevue sites for a 20-acre-plus, $225 million rail yard. Finding out a project of that size wasn’t disclosed during last year’s negotiations is very troubling, saidCouncilwomanJenniferRobertson.

Busier, safer St. Paul streets

http://www.startribune.com

Building owners and property managers in downtown St. Paul have long had a love-hate relationship with Metro Transit and its riders, but the coming of the Green Line light rail and other new attractions in the city center will help change that, the agency’s new police chief predicts. Commercial real estate managers in the city appreciate that their tenants depend on buses — and starting in 2014, light rail — to bring office workers, shoppers and restaurant diners downtown.  But unlike in Minneapolis, St. Paul’s downtown streets have been known for becoming empty after 5 p.m. and on weekends. The big transit stops along Fifth and Sixth Streets at those times became known as preferred spots for gang members to deal drugs and intimidate passers-by — a bad situation that also spilled over into office hours. Building owners became frustrated with Metro Transit as a result. With the opening of the refurbished Union Depot transportation hub next month, the continuing addition of housing and nightspots, the Green Line light rail in 2014 and a newSt.PaulSaintsballpark the next year, predictions are an influx of more people will make downtown safer overall.

http://www.minnpost.com

Two Minneapolis law firms have been hired to handle legal issues for building the Vikings stadium in downtown Minneapolis. The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, the newly created organization that will build and manage the stadium, met Friday morning and selected Dorsey & Whitney as general counsel and Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson as legal counsel for stadium construction.  MicheleKelm-Helgen, chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and a former top aide to Gov. Mark Dayton, praised the selection: “The unanimous recommendation of Dorseyand Fabyanske provides MSFA with top-tier law firms who have the necessary experience to ensure the stadium is completed on time and on budget.” At Dorsey, JayLindgren will serve as lead counsel on the project, overseeing legal aspects including financing, real estate, construction strategy, labor and employment, intellectual property and other issues.

Report Warns of ‘Devastating Impact’ of Cuts

http://www.sfgate.com/

President Barack Obama’s budget advisers, in the almost 400-page report, said its calculations were preliminary and subject to change. Even so, the budget office said, there’s “no question” that paring the budget to this degree “would be deeply destructive to domestic investments and core government functions.” The budget ax, which would begin to fall on Jan. 2 unless Congress adopts an alternative, will affect the entire federal catalog of government spending, from education and the environment to transportation and defense.

Aecom awarded Denver light rail contract

http://www.bizjournals.com

Aecom Technology Corp., a provider of technical and management support services, was awarded a contract to provide final design services for the Denver Regional Transportation District’s planned I-225 light-rail line. The value of Aecom’s contract was not disclosed. Los Angeles-based Aecom (NYSE: ACM) will provide final design for a number of elements, including tracks, seven full stations and part of an eighth station, multiple traffic signals and grade crossings, landscaping, permitting, drainage and utilities, park ’n ride areas, eight bridges and transit systems.

Boosting Ridership by Replacing Buses With Rail

http://www.theatlanticcities.com

When rail goes in, ridership goes up. At least, that’s what’s happened in Los Angeles, where the county’s transportation authority, Metro, has gone on a more than two-decade binge of light rail and subway development. A new analysis of transit ridership before and after the four lines opened shows that overall ridership has dramatically increased with rail in the picture. Scott Page, a planner with Metro, has analyzed ridership stats and documents to see how transit use patterns changed along corridors formerly reliant solely on buses but now augmented with rail lines. By comparing average ridership before and after the rail options were in place, Page shows that adding rail service has grown ridership on these corridors anywhere from 95 percent to nearly 350 percent.

Sound Transit gearing up for Capitol Hill light-rail station projects

http://www.bizjournals.com/

Sound Transit officials Wednesday talked about the agency’s plans for transit-oriented development projects at the Capitol Hill light rail station. The light rail stop is under construction at Broadway East and East John Street. The station is expected to open in 2016, but the five project sites will be sold to developers in 2014. Together, the sites total about 100,000 square feet.

Dayton Approves $2 Million for SW Light Rail

http://hopkins.patch.com/

Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday approved $2 million in grant funding for Southwest Light Rail, just days after the project received a low score from the state’s economic development department. Dayton approved a total of $47.5 million in grants, with the largest chunk—$25 million—going to a new St. Paul Saints ballpark, the Star Tribune reports. On Tuesday, local leaders criticized the state Department of Employment and Economic Development for giving SW LRT the lowest score among the 37 projects that applied for grant funding.

Twin Cities’ Central Corridor project installs first of 14 substations

http://www.rtands.com

Crews have completed placement of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Central Corridor light-rail line’s first traction-power substation just south of the Raymond Avenue Station. Fourteen substations, located about one mile apart, will convert alternating electrical current to direct current, which will power the light-rail vehicles using a system of overhead catenary wires. Throughout the next year, the 13 other substations will be installed at a rate of one a month.

New twist on Vikings tailgating

http://www.startribune.com/

Think of it as a new twist on tailgating — “railgating.” Beginning with the Minnesota Vikings’ Sept. 23 home game against the San Francisco 49ers, the city of Minneapolis wants to allow nearly two dozen food trucks and a beer stand with Minneapolis brews to set up on two blocks of 5th Street along the Hiawatha light-rail line between Park and 5th Avenues. The idea is part of an experiment by Mayor R.T. Rybak and other city officials to create a more vibrant downtown game-day experience in anticipation of the opening of a new Vikings stadium in 2016. The $975 million development will be built on and near the current Metrodome site…The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Vikings are expected to pick an architect for the project in the next few weeks. Groundbreaking is expected to take place next summer.

 St. Paul wins $25 million for Saints ballpark

 http://www.startribune.com

 The city received  $25 million is one among the nine projects that divvied up $47.5 million in state economic development grants.  The biggest chunk of state grant money goes to build a Saints ballpark in Lowertown. “Welcome, everybody, to the site of a new Lowertown ballpark,” a grinning city Parks and Recreation Director Mike Hahm said at a sunny, applause-filled news conference near the Farmers Market. The ballpark promised at least 248 jobs, including 225 in construction. It also is expected to bring 400,000 visitors to Lowertown and $10 million a year to the city, according to the grant application. The land swap for the ballpark site that gave the city Port Authority the team’s current home at Midway Stadium. The authority intends to convert it to a “job developer with highly sought-after railroad access.”

 Light-rail construction 68 percent complete

http://www.mndaily.com/

Central Corridor light- rail construction reached major milestones near the University of Minnesota campus prior to the holiday weekend as workers put in extra hours to have roads, sidewalks and crosswalks completed and open for the start of the fall semester. “There was a giant push to get everything done on campus before the beginning of the fall semester,” said Jacqueline Brudlos, spokeswoman for the University’s Parking and Transportation Services. “Fortunately, this huge public works project keeps moving successfully forward.”

 Minnesota DOT Releases Winona Bridge Plans

 http://www.wxow.com/

 The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced a recommendation regarding the Winona bridge. The bridge connects Minnesota Highway 43 to Wisconsin Highway 54, and is currently in need of repair. The bridge has been closed multiple times in the last few years for repairs, causing commuters headaches. Last August, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced it would only consider rehabilitation projects to preserve the existing bridge. However the new plan includes construction of a new bridge. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is recommending the construction of a new Highway 43 bridge in Winona and the renovation of the existing structure.

 New Blatnik lights will shine from inside

 http://www.superiortelegram.com

 After public comment on two options to light the Blatnik Bridge, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced a design featuring an illumination from inside the bridge was chosen.  “Public comments overwhelmingly preferred the illuminated design, which will feature strategically-placed fixtures that cast light off the interior of the structure,” MnDOT said in a statement. The Blatnik Bridge’s new energy-efficient lighting system will be operational by fall 2013, and is expected to cost $1.2 million to install. The cost will be split between the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2013.

 Two infrastructure projects in North Dakota will help power homes in the Bakken state

 http://markets.cbsnews.com

 North Dakota state regulators signed off on a proposed natural gas processing plant, as well as a separate wind energy project, to be built in the state’s western region. The approval came last Wednesday, and the projects together account for $360 million of brand new infrastructure.

 The Energy Boom Has Made North Dakota The Strongest Housing Market In America

 http://www.businessinsider.com

 While national home prices turned positive for the first time in August, according to Case-Shiller, housing is a local story and many markets continue to perform worse than others.  A housing recovery depends on a number of factors like job creation, foreclosure inventory, home prices, and so on.  While most of the job growth is coming from the mining and logging sector, there is also remarkable growth in construction, transportation, professional services and similar jobs that are creating the new infrastructure needed to support this boom.

 Obama administration finalizes ‘historic’ fuel economy standards

http://www.mlive.com

Following years of negotiating, new federal vehicle fuel economy standards will nearly double by 2025.U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, today made the “historic announcement” that will push automakers to produce a light-vehicle lineup that averages 54.5 miles per gallon in the next 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg in 2011.“Today is a monumental day for the American people, the U.S. auto industry and this administration’s efforts to make our cars more efficient – helping families save more at the pump while still preserving consumer choice,“ LaHood said during a media conference call Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.sfgate.com/

PresidentBarackObama’s budget advisers, in the almost 400-page report, said its calculations were preliminary and subject to change. Even so, the budget office said, there’s “no question” that paring the budget to this degree “would be deeply destructive to domestic investments and core government functions.” The budget ax, which would begin to fall on Jan. 2 unless Congress adopts an alternative, will affect the entire federal catalog of government spending, from education and the environment to transportation and defense.

Aecom awarded Denver light rail contract

http://www.bizjournals.com

Aecom Technology Corp., a provider of technical and management support services, was awarded a contract to provide final design services for the Denver Regional Transportation District’s planned I-225 light-rail line. The value of Aecom’s contract was not disclosed. Los Angeles-based Aecom (NYSE: ACM) will provide final design for a number of elements, including tracks, seven full stations and part of an eighth station, multiple traffic signals and grade crossings, landscaping, permitting, drainage and utilities, park ’n ride areas, eight bridges and transit systems.

Boosting Ridership by Replacing Buses With Rail

http://www.theatlanticcities.com

When rail goes in, ridership goes up. At least, that’s what’s happened in Los Angeles, where the county’s transportation authority, Metro, has gone on a more than two-decade binge of light rail and subway development. A new analysis of transit ridership before and after the four lines opened shows that overall ridership has dramatically increased with rail in the picture. Scott Page, a planner with Metro, has analyzed ridership stats and documents to see how transit use patterns changed along corridors formerly reliant solely on buses but now augmented with rail lines. By comparing average ridership before and after the rail options were in place, Page shows that adding rail service has grown ridership on these corridors anywhere from 95 percent to nearly 350 percent.

Sound Transit gearing up for Capitol Hill light-rail station projects

http://www.bizjournals.com/

Sound Transit officials Wednesday talked about the agency’s plans for transit-oriented development projects at the Capitol Hill light rail station. The light rail stop is under construction at Broadway East andEast John Street. The station is expected to open in 2016, but the five project sites will be sold to developers in 2014. Together, the sites total about 100,000 square feet.

Dayton Approves $2 Million for SW Light Rail

http://hopkins.patch.com/

Gov.MarkDaytonon Thursday approved $2 million in grant funding for Southwest Light Rail, just days after the project received a low score from the state’s economic development department. Dayton approved a total of $47.5 million in grants, with the largest chunk—$25 million—going to a new St. Paul Saints ballpark, the Star Tribune reports. On Tuesday, local leaders criticized the state Department of Employment and Economic Development for giving SW LRT the lowest score among the 37 projects that applied for grant funding.

Twin Cities’ Central Corridor project installs first of 14 substations

http://www.rtands.com

Crews have completed placement of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Central Corridor light-rail line’s first traction-power substation just south of the Raymond Avenue Station. Fourteen substations, located about one mile apart, will convert alternating electrical current to direct current, which will power the light-rail vehicles using a system of overhead catenary wires. Throughout the next year, the 13 other substations will be installed at a rate of one a month.

New twist on Vikings tailgating

http://www.startribune.com/

Think of it as a new twist on tailgating — “railgating.” Beginning with the Minnesota Vikings’ Sept. 23 home game against the San Francisco 49ers, the city of Minneapolis wants to allow nearly two dozen food trucks and a beer stand with Minneapolis brews to set up on two blocks of5th Streetalong theHiawathalight-rail line between Park and 5th Avenues. The idea is part of an experiment byMayorR.T.Rybakand other city officials to create a more vibrant downtown game-day experience in anticipation of the opening of a new Vikings stadium in 2016. The $975 million development will be built on and near the current Metrodome site…The Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority and the Vikings are expected to pick an architect for the project in the next few weeks. Groundbreaking is expected to take place next summer.

 St. Paul wins $25 million for Saints ballpark

 http://www.startribune.com

 The city received  $25 million is one among the nine projects that divvied up $47.5 million in state economic development grants.  The biggest chunk of state grant money goes to build a Saints ballpark in Lowertown. “Welcome, everybody, to the site of a new Lowertown ballpark,” a grinning city Parks and Recreation Director MikeHahmsaid at a sunny, applause-filled news conference near the Farmers Market. The ballpark promised at least 248 jobs, including 225 in construction. It also is expected to bring 400,000 visitors to Lowertown and $10 million a year to the city, according to the grant application. The land swap for the ballpark site that gave the city Port Authority the team’s current home at Midway Stadium. The authority intends to convert it to a “job developer with highly sought-after railroad access.”

 Light-rail construction 68 percent complete

http://www.mndaily.com/

Central Corridor light- rail construction reached major milestones near the University of Minnesota campus prior to the holiday weekend as workers put in extra hours to have roads, sidewalks and crosswalks completed and open for the start of the fall semester. “There was a giant push to get everything done on campus before the beginning of the fall semester,” said Jacqueline Brudlos, spokeswoman for the University’s Parking and Transportation Services. “Fortunately, this huge public works project keeps moving successfully forward.”

 Minnesota DOT Releases Winona Bridge Plans

 http://www.wxow.com/

 The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced a recommendation regarding theWinona bridge. The bridge connects Minnesota Highway 43 to Wisconsin Highway 54, and is currently in need of repair. The bridge has been closed multiple times in the last few years for repairs, causing commuters headaches. Last August, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced it would only consider rehabilitation projects to preserve the existing bridge. However the new plan includes construction of a new bridge.The Minnesota Department of Transportation is recommending the construction of a new Highway 43 bridge inWinonaand the renovation of the existing structure.

 New Blatnik lights will shine from inside

 http://www.superiortelegram.com

 After public comment on two options to light the Blatnik Bridge, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced a design featuring an illumination from inside the bridge was chosen.  “Public comments overwhelmingly preferred the illuminated design, which will feature strategically-placed fixtures that cast light off the interior of the structure,” MnDOT said in a statement. The Blatnik Bridge’s new energy-efficient lighting system will be operational by fall 2013, and is expected to cost $1.2 million to install. The cost will be split between the Minnesota and Wisconsin departments of transportation. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2013.

 Two infrastructure projects in North Dakota will help power homes in the Bakken state

 http://markets.cbsnews.com

 North Dakota state regulators signed off on a proposed natural gas processing plant, as well as a separate wind energy project, to be built in the state’s western region. The approval came last Wednesday, and the projects together account for $360 million of brand new infrastructure.

 The Energy Boom Has Made North Dakota The Strongest Housing Market In America

 http://www.businessinsider.com

 While national home prices turned positive for the first time in August, according to Case-Shiller, housing is a local story and many markets continue to perform worse than others. A housing recovery depends on a number of factors like job creation, foreclosure inventory, home prices, and so on.  While most of the job growth is coming from the mining and logging sector, there is also remarkable growth in construction, transportation, professional services and similar jobs that are creating the new infrastructure needed to support this boom.

 Obama administration finalizes ‘historic’ fuel economy standards

http://www.mlive.com

Following years of negotiating, new federal vehicle fuel economy standards will nearly double by 2025.U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Lisa Jackson, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, today made the “historic announcement” that will push automakers to produce a light-vehicle lineup that averages 54.5 miles per gallon in the next 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg in 2011.“Today is a monumental day for the American people, the U.S. auto industry and this administration’s efforts to make our cars more efficient – helping families save more at the pump while still preserving consumer choice,“ LaHood said during a media conference call Tuesday afternoon.

http://www.joc.com

Federal highway spending in fiscal 2013 would remain the same as the prior year, but there wouldn’t be funding for TIGER grants or high-speed rail, through a bill introduced in the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. The bill would provide $39.1 billion from the Highway Trust Fund for highway spending, and the funding level could change if Congress approves a multiyear surface transportation bill. There is also no language in the bill that would pull back highway contract authority from the states. “Making smart investments in the nation’s transportation infrastructure is one of the best ways to help provide an environment for American businesses to create jobs and economic growth. This bill targets taxpayer dollars where they can be best used to improve the reliability, safety, and efficiency of our transportation systems, while also holding the line on spending to help reduce the nation’s growing deficits,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers said.

House transportation appropriations bill would cut TIGER funding in FY2013

http://www.progressiverailroading.com

Late last week, the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee marked up the fiscal-year 2013 budget for the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies (THUD) bill, which would establish spending levels for federal programs, according to a legislative update from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the bill on April 19. The THUD bill would provide $10.5 billion for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) programs, APTA officials said. The House would maintain spending for all Highway Trust Fund/Mass Transit Account contract authority programs at FY2012 levels. However, the General Fund programs would reduce funding for New Starts grants by $138 million to $1.8 billion, including $127.6 million for Small Starts. The Senate bill would increase New Starts funding by $89 million, bringing the FY2013 budget to $2 billion.

GOP unveils $51.6B DOT, HUD budget

http://thehill.com

As lawmakers debate a new road and public transit spending bill, Republican leaders in the House unveiled on Wednesday a $51.6 billion budget for the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.  The House Appropriations Committee said Wednesday that it will consider its Transportation, Housing and Urban Development budget for fiscal year 2013 in a subcommittee hearing Thursday. The draft of the proposal released Wednesday contains a $3.9 billion reduction for the agencies from 2012 spending and it is $1.9 billion less thanPresidentObamarequested for the departments earlier this year.  AppropriationsCommittee ChairmanHalRogers(R-Ala.) said his committee had to make “smart investments” in transportation and housing development.

New St. Croix bridge could bring big changes to western Wisconsin

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

The new St. Croix bridge is much more than just a bridge, it’s actually three major projects: firstly, there’s the bridge itself; second and third are the highway approaches from the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides. In preparation, the state of Wisconsin in the 1990s began widening eastbound Highway 64 towards New Richmond. Now that the project has the green light, the state plans to finish extending the highway several miles west to the bridge landing. That means building a new roadway through acres of lush farmland.

Planning for Central Corridor public art

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

A coalition designing a plan for art along the Central Corridor light rail line is planning four public meetings this week. Public Art St. Paul is among many the groups behind the Central Corridor Public Art Plan. President Christine Podas-Larson says the meetings will be a forum for artists to learn what social, environmental and other issues residents want reflected in art. What do they care about?” Podas-Larson said. “What are the social issues that are out there? why do people gather? What is the nature of gathering places? We really want to understand that better so that in this plan that can be expressed and have a meaningful place.”

Bellevue citizens group proposes deep-bore tunnel for light-rail line

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

Sound Transit could avoid disturbing South Bellevue residents — and save money — by putting its planned light-rail line into a nearly two-mile-long, deep-bore tunnel, a citizens’ group said Thursday. But the latest proposal from Building a Better Bellevue (BBB) was received with skepticism from some public officials, who questioned the group’s cost claims and said it may be a nonstarter because Bellevue and Sound Transit already have agreed on a different route. The adopted route, approved by the federal government, follows Bellevue Way Southeast and 112th Avenue Southeast before dipping into a short cut-and-cover tunnel through downtown. Sound Transit and Bellevue are discussing how to reduce costs of the line, portions of which may be elevated or in a trench.

Voters have turned against California bullet train, poll shows

http://www.latimes.com/

A strong majority of voters is against the bullet train project just asGov.Brownis pressuring the Legislature to green-light the start of construction, a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll finds. In a state renowned for betting big on mega-infrastructure projects, including the world’s most famous freeways and canals that move oceans of water across hundreds of miles, the fast-approaching decision on the bullet train project marks a historic Golden State moment.

MBTA ridership growth contributes to nationwide surge

http://www.boston.com

The MBTA saw one of the highest growth rates in ridership in the first quarter of the year among America’s public transit systems, contributing to an overall 5 percent surge nationally, the American Public Transportation Association announced today. The MBTA’s rates of growth for light rail (12.6 percent), heavy rail (6.4 percent), and bus ridership (10.6 percent) placed it among the top 5 systems nationally in each of those categories, the association said. In the first three months of the year, Americans took a total of almost 2.7 billion trips on public transportation, according to the association. That was 125.7 million more than in the first quarter of 2011, a 5 percent increase. Nationwide, all modes of transportation saw increases in ridership. The MBTA is the country’s fifth busiest transit system, behind New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C., according to the T. The Green Line is the nation’s busiest light rail system.

 US officials seek answers on Detroit rail project

http://www.cbsnews.com

Federal transportation officials could give final approval to Detroit’s Woodward Avenue light rail project in two months if city and state officials can provide answers to questions on costs and who will run the system.Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood met Monday morning at City Hall with Mayor Dave Bing, Gov. Rick Snyder and some business leaders involved in raising private funds to help build and operate the light rail. It would run between downtown and Detroit’s New Center area.Snyder says some of LaHood’s questions involve operating and capital costs.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

Our roads are crumbling and Congress is still battling over the transportation bill. Canada and Europe routinely fund transportation projects with public-private partnerships, also known as PPPs. What are PPPs and why is the U.S. only recently warming up to them? The Daily Circuit did an in-depth segment on transportation funding in February. Richard Geddes, Policy analysis and management associate professor at Cornell University, was part of that show and mentioned PPPs. We wanted to learn more as a PPP bridge is being built inVirginia.

Public-private deals seen boosting road projects

http://articles.chicagotribune.com

Financing for roads and highways is likely to attract a growing number of public-private partnerships once Congress passes federal transportation funding, a panel of experts at a Federal Association of Municipal Analysts conference in Las Vegas said on Friday. Congress last month opted for a 90-day extension of transportation funding amid a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over competing long-term proposals, casting uncertainty over the eventual level of federal spending for building and repairing highways.

City of Gonzales and Chevron Energy Solutions Announce Transformative Public-Private Partnership To Generate $4.7 Million in Energy Savings

http://www.sacbee.com

The City of Gonzales announced the creation of a transformative public-private partnership aimed at significantly reducing the city’s energy and maintenance costs. The partnership provides for a number of public infrastructure improvements designed to reduce the City’s utility and maintenance costs. Improvements include upgrading all City-owned streetlights, constructing two solar installations to produce 462 kW of power, and upgrading the City’s water pumping station to help conserve water and electricity and enable the City to pump water at optimal times, when energy costs are lower. The work is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable public utility model that can be replicated by other communities.

Sergio Marchionne commits $3M to Woodward light rail; Dan Gilbert promises support to United Way

http://www.freep.com

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne pledged today to support the privatelybacked Woodward Avenue light-rail project, committing $3 million over five years for Chrysler to sponsor one of the stations on the 3.3-mile route from downtown Detroit to the city’s New Center. .. Last week, the M-1 Rail group said private companies and philanthropic groups had pledged $84 million toward the light-rail project, which has an estimated cost of $137 million.

 Light-rail may be Bottineau Line option

 http://www.startribune.com

 While nothing is set in stone for a proposed transit corridor in the north Hennepin County suburbs, one thing is clear after recent public meetings: people prefer a train to a bus, even though the latter would cost less. “It’s fair to say that light-rail transit has more support than bus rapid transit,” saidJoeGladke, who manages engineering and transit planning for Hennepin County. He added, however, that opinions are “all over the place” on the different routes being studied. The next couple months will be critical for theBottineauTransitway, a 13-mile line that would connect downtown Minneapolis with either Maple Grove or Brooklyn Park. It’s the latest corridor being considered for light-rail transit, along with the Southwest line.

 Central Corridor light-rail’s $40K bonus has critics in a huff

 http://www.twincities.com/

 There’s a $40,000 bonus headed to Walsh Construction, the lead contractor on the easternmost seven miles of the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line in St. Paul. But Tait Danielson-Castillo is dubious. The executive director of the Frogtown Neighborhood Association sits on one of several Construction Communication Committees that grades Walsh each quarter on safety, outreach and responsiveness to complaints. CallingWalshthe public face of the project, he and two others on a committee gave the contractor poor marks – ones and twos on a 10-point scale – when filling out evaluation cards April 11.

 Firm sued in Minn. bridge failure bid on new St. Croix span

 http://www.htrnews.com

 An engineering company linked to a fatal 2007 bridge collapse in Minnesota is seeking to design a major bridge crossing on the state’s border with Wisconsin. The Minnesota Department of Transportation said Wednesday that San Francisco-based URS Corp. is among the bidders to design a $571 million to $676 million span crossing the St. Croix River east of the Twin Cities. URS also is seeking a contract to review the bridge’s design if another firm is selected to design the structure.

Twin Cities’ rail-transit proposals could be on a collision course

 http://www.minnpost.com/

 Within the next year or two, there’s the potential for a three-train pileup at the state Capitol. Local officials from the southwest, northwest and east could be converging simultaneously at the Capitol seeking $100 million or more in state funding for each of three possible light-rail transit (LRT) lines – in the Southwest, Bottineau and Gateway corridors. That could be mission impossible if Republicans retain control of the Legislature in this fall’s election. In the current legislative session, both houses have resisted providing even a $25 million down payment on the state’s share of the cost for the proposed $1.25 billion line in the Southwest Corridor between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie.

 Wisconsin ready to borrow $225 million for Stillwater bridge

 http://www.twincities.com/

 A state commission has given the Wisconsin Department of Transportation the authority to borrow $225 million to fund the St. Croix River Crossing Project. The Wisconsin Building Commission, which is chaired by Gov. Scott Walker, approved the measure Wednesday, April 18. The state budget includes the bonding, but WisDOT needed approval from the building commission before borrowing the money. “This finally puts some dollars behind the commitments we’ve made,” said Dave Solberg, WisDOT’s manager on the project. Construction of the new bridge, which will replace the aging Stillwater Lift Bridge, is estimated to cost from $571 million to $676 million. That money is being split between the two states, with Wisconsin paying an estimated $256 million to $305 million. With approval to borrow $225 million, Wisconsin has secured 80 percent to 90 percent of what it needs based on the current cost estimate, Solberg said. He said the state has several million dollars already earmarked for the bridge.

 Goodbye, gasoline: Some vehicle fleets make switch to compressed natural gas power

 http://finance-commerce.com/

 As companies with vehicle fleets cope with the rising cost of fuel, a decision that Delano-basedRandy’s Environmental Services made last fall looks like a smart move. In October,Randy’s became the first Minnesota waste-disposal company to replace some of its diesel trucks with compressed natural gas-powered (CNG) vehicles. At least three other Twin Cities-area waste haulers are also making the switch:Dick’s Sanitation of Lakeville, Waste Management of Blaine and Ace Sanitation of Ramsey.

 Caltrain downtown extension gets top billing for top dollar

 http://www.sfgate.com

In all the talk lately of high-speed rail, Caltrain electrification and construction of the Transbay Terminal, the downtown extension of Caltrain (to be shared by high-speed rail) has seemingly been overlooked. No longer. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission is making the extension one of its top projects for major federal funding, it said at a meeting Friday. A federal program that helps pay for big rail transit projects in metropolitan regions has helped pay forBARTto SFO, Silicon Valley light rail lines and the just startedBARTextension to the Berryessa neighborhood of San Jose. Muni’s Central Subway is expected to receive a federal funding guarantee of $942.2 million within months.

http://www.cnbc.com/

Sen. John Hoeven says a re-evaluation of the amount of recoverable oil in the Williston Basin is slated to be completed late next year by the U.S. Geological Survey. The North Dakota Republican says the updated assessment will likely be higher than earlier estimates and will spur more investment and infrastructure.

Non-Oil Producing Areas Get $48 Million

http://www.kfyrtv.com/

The North Dakota State Treasurer has announced that non-oil producing counties and townships in North Dakota will receive a special distribution of funds. The state will distribute $48 million on Friday, March 30. According to the Treasurer`s office, the funds were provided for in House Bill 1012 and Senate Bill 2371, both passed last year. “Our state has experienced so many weather related challenges this past year,” said State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt. “These funds will allow our counties and township to address the much needed repairs to their transportation infrastructure.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Announced Fourth Round of TIGER Discretionary Grants Program

http://www.infrainsightblog

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a much-anticipated fourth round of funding for USDOT’s popular TIGER Discretionary Grants program, totaling $500 million for capital investments in surface totaling $500 million for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure. Pre-applications must be submitted by Feb. 20, 2012 and final applications must be submitted by March 19, 2012.  Previous rounds of competitive TIGER grants were heavily over-subscribed.  The last round attracted 848 applications with funding requests for $14.29 billion, while USDOT awarded funds in December 2011 for 46 capital projects totaling $511 million.

 Transportation bill to fund road and transit projects

 http://www.jdsupra.com/

 Following an extended debate over a number of non-germane energy amendments, the Senate overwhelmingly approved March 14 a $109 billion transportation bill that would fund road and transit projects for the next two years. The bipartisan 74-22 vote places added pressure on Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and House Republicans to either pass a measure of its own or take up the Senate-approved version before current highway funding expires March 31. The legislation extends current levels indexed to inflation while also reforming the project review process and consolidating a few federal programs. The Speaker’s preferred language is a five-year, $260 billion package that would pay for infrastructure projects with revenue from new domestic oil and gas drilling; while House Republicans have been divided on the measure, it is possible that the House could move to the Senate bill soon.

 Lawmakers debate funding for Southwest light rail

 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

 Legislators are debating whether to fund the proposed Southwest light rail line in this year’s bonding bill.  Gov. Mark Dayton has made expanding light rail in the southwest metro a top priority this year. But House transportation leaders this week failed to include the light rail line from Eden Prairie to downtown Minneapolis on a list of recommended projects.  The project has the support of business leaders, who are hoping lawmakers will give the Southwest LRT a green light this session.

 Met Council delays action on light-rail contract

 http://www.startribune.com/

 Amid concerns of the governor, the agency overseeing transit has delayed action on awarding a major contract for building the proposed Southwest Corridor light-rail line. Gov. Mark Dayton last week expressed concern that the Metropolitan Council was about to award the contract to URS Corp. of San Francisco. The firm had been criticized for work on the old Interstate 35W bridge before it collapsed in 2007.The issue was expected to come up Monday at an agency transportation meeting. One council member had said a vote could be taken on a recommendation by its staff. But action has been indefinitely postponed.

 Bridge still faces opposition

 http://www.kare11.com

 A rare sight of bipartisanship Friday when both Minnesota and Wisconsin governors celebrated the recent signing of the St. Croix bridge legislation. “This is a remarkable moment,” said Governor Mark Dayton, a Democrat. ‘We should almost call it a a bridge called “cooperation” because this is a great example of crossing party lines and state lines to get something done,’ saidRepublican GovernorScottWalker. “It will create 6,000 construction jobs on both sides of the river and that’s huge for Minnesota and I’m sure it’s huge for Wisconsin, as well,” said Dayton. However, Oak Park Heights’ city leaders have not approved a “municipal consent” with the Minnesota Department of Transportation which is needed to move forward. 

Mn/DOT tries to bridge differences over St. Croix bridge project

 http://www.kare11.com

 Officials with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and Oak Park Heights met Tuesday night hoping to bridge their differences over a St. Croix River bridge. President Barack Obama recently signed legislation that approved a long awaited four-lane bridge across the St. Croix connecting Oak Park Heights and St. Joseph, Wisconsin. But officials with Oak Park Heights have yet to sign a “municipal consent” which is needed to move forward, that’s because they will have to relocate utility lines and reconstruct roadways because of the bridge project.

 Md. Public-Private Bill Heads For Debate

 http://www.nbcwashington.com

 The House of Delegates on Saturday gave an initial nod to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed policy governing public-private partnerships on big projects like roads and public buildings, but some lawmakers heatedly objected to a new provision ensuring speedy legal proceedings for participants in such a partnership. The change would allow legal appeals to be heard on an expedited track before the Court of Special Appeals, the state’s intermediate appellate court. It was not part of the initial proposal by the O’Malley administration, but was added by a House panel. But supporters of the change say time is money, and companies that want to take part in large partnerships with the state to build expensive infrastructure should have speedy legal review of matters of law.

 Cuomo Seeks Law for Private Investment in New Tappan Zee Bridge

 http://www.businessweek.com

 Governor Andrew Cuomo is seeking legislation that would allow private-equity firms to help finance construction of public-works projects, including a new $5.2 billion Tappan Zee Bridge. The bill would authorize the state to lease bridges, roads and state buildings to help pay for construction, maintenance and operations of infrastructure, said Thomas Madison, executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority. Cuomo doesn’t want to sell state assets, said Karen Rae, deputy secretary of transportation. Carlyle Group LP (CG) and Macquarie Group Ltd. (MQG) are among companies expressing interest in the Tappan Zee.

 What Chicago’s infrastructure trust means to institutional investors

 http://www.pionline.com

 If a new infrastructure trust being set up by the city of Chicago is successful, it could prove to be a new model for melding private money — including institutional dollars — and traditional public financing. That model would open up a whole new set of domestic infrastructure investment opportunities at a time that institutional investors are boosting infrastructure allocations. While many institutional investors such as CalPERS and CalSTRS have global infrastructure allocations, most other allocations by U.S. plans have a domestic bias, according to a global study of pension plan investment in infrastructure released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in September. Despite that bias, one of the main barriers to investment in infrastructure in the U.S. is that the “United States infrastructure market is immature and has not provided many opportunities to investors,” the report noted, mainly because of a lack of deals offering room for private investment.

 Senate Republicans present $496 million bonding bill

 http://hometownsource.com

 The Southwest Corridor Light Rail Transit Line has struck out twice in the bonding game at the State Capitol, the project failing to appear in the $496 million Republican Senate bill released today (March 28).  “It’s not dead and buried, but I think it’s not going to be strongly considered this year,” said Senate Majority Leader David Senjem, R-Rochester, Senate Capital Investment Committee chairman, of the project, citing concerns from legislative transportation committee chairmen.Although Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton slated $25 million in his bonding bill, House Republicans, like the Senate, slated nothing  for the proposed light rail line.But other area projects found favor in the more spacious Senate bonding bill.

http://www.washingtonpost.com

The Senate voted Wednesday to overhaul transportation programs and keep aid flowing to thousands of construction projects while strengthening highway and auto safety. The 74-22 vote stepped up pressure for quick action by House because the government’s power to collect about $110 million a day in federal gasoline and diesel taxes, the main source of revenue for highway and transit programs, is set to expire March 31. If a final bill isn’t on the president’s desk by then, Congress would have to approve a temporary extension to avoid a shutdown of the programs, including the furlough of Federal Highway Administration employees and the layoff of construction workers. The Senate’s measure would spend $109 billion over about two years. It would increase the amount of money available for states by raising current spending levels to take into account inflation over the past several years. That’s still far short of the dollars that two congressional commissions have said are needed to maintain aging highways, bridges and rail systems while expanding the nation’s transportation network to accommodate population growth between now and 2050.

Use of Public Transit Grew in 2011, Report Indicates

http://www.nytimes.com

In another indication that more people are getting back to work, Americans took 200 million more rides last year on subways, commuter trains, light-rail systems and public buses than they did the year before, according to a new report by a leading transit association.  Americans took 10.4 billion rides on public transportation in 2011 — a billion more than they took in 2000, and the second most since 1957, according to a report being released Monday by the American Public Transportation Association, a nonprofit organization that represents transit systems. The increase in ridership came after the recession contributed to declines in the previous two years.

 North Dakota, California and the Oil Boom

 http://online.wsj.com/

 While one plays host to a modern-day Gold Rush, the other shuns fossil fuels and wallows in debt.  In his speech last week responding to high gas prices, President Barack Obama insisted that “we can’t just drill our way out of” our energy woes. Travel to boomtown USA: Williston, North Dakota. Williston sits atop the Bakken Shale, which will later this year be producing more oil than any other site in the country, surpassing even Alaska’s Prudhoe Bay, the longtime leader in domestic output. This once-sleepy town is what the Gold Rush might have looked like had it happened in the time ofMcDonald’s, Wal-Mart and Home Depot. And the oil rush is making Dakotans rich in a hurry, with farmers and other landowners becoming overnight millionaires from lucrative royalties and leases.

 N.D. budget: State watching infrastructure

 http://www.jamestownsun.com

 North Dakota officials are grappling with the gusher of infrastructure needs associated with booming oil development and water management. Although the latest revenue forecast for the current biennium is running 28.5 percent above an earlier prediction, the state confronts big obligations for roads, housing, and water projects,Gov.JackDalrymplesaid. But the state faces significant infrastructure needs in the years ahead,Dalrymplesaid. The state has appropriated $1.2 billion to address infrastructure, housing and safety needs in North Dakota’s Oil Patch in the 2011-13 budget. So far, $391 million has been awarded, with about $806 remaining.

 Berg visits Dickinson to address housing concerns the area as result of ongoing oil boom.

 http://www.thedickinsonpress.com

 North Dakota CongressmanRickBergmet withDickinsoncommunity leaders Tuesday to address housing concerns the area is facing because of an ongoing oil boom. After touring new housing developments in west Dickinson,Bergsat down with city representatives at the Chamber of Commerce to discuss the housing crunch. He saidDickinson’s lack of housing is one of a few issues he is working to improve.“ As I see in western North Dakota, we’ve got three big problems. We’ve got infrastructure problems. We’ve got housing problems. We’ve got safety issues,”Bergsaid.

 $700 million for Minnesota transportation passes U.S. Senate

http://ecm.com

U.S. Sen.Amy Klobuchar announced today (Wednesday, March 14) that more than $700 million for Minnesota transportation and infrastructure has passed the Senate as part of the Surface Transportation legislation. The bill provides critical investments in Minnesota’s roads, bridges, transit, congestion mitigation projects, and freight and mobility improvements. The legislation also includes Klobuchar’s provisions to improve driver safety, such as incentives to prevent texting while driving, implement graduated license programs and improve teen driving safety. Klobuchar also secured the passage of four amendments in the final bill. “This legislation paves the way for critical investments in Minnesota’s roads and bridges, giving a much-needed boost to local economies and helping make our roads safer for families,” Klobuchar said. “The bill also includes my provisions to prevent texting while driving and keep families safe on the road.”

Obama signs bill; work to start this summer

http://www.twincities.com

PresidentBarackObamasigned legislation Wednesday, March 14, exempting the proposed St. Croix River bridge from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and allowing the project to move forward. “I’m just really happy that this has gotten done,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said hours after the signing. “After 30 years of debate and delay, this is long overdue.” The bridge – expected to cost as much as $676 million – will connect Oak Park Heights and St. Joseph, Wis., diverting traffic from the aging Stillwater Lift Bridge. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will build and test sample foundation elements in the river this summer. Construction is expected to start in 2014 and take three years.

GOP pushes 25¢ Twin Cities transit fare hike

http://www.startribune.com

GOP legislators are pushing increased fares for metro buses, light-rail and commuter trains, part of a longstanding effort to shift more of the cost of transit from taxpayers to riders. Supporters say a 25-cent hike is justified as gasoline prices rise for motorists, but opponents say the increase would violate a deal that broke the state budget impasse last summer. Sen. Joe Gimse, R-Willmar, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, noted that since the last fare increase in 2008 “virtually everything in everybody’s life has gone up.” Gimse also argued that another fare increase would reduce the dependence of Metro Transit on future state funding.

Light-rail is still best for Southwest

http://www.startribune.com

The March 10 article “Critics rail about state money for Southwest light-rail line” repeats questions about how best to serve the booming number of jobs in the southwest part of the Twin Cities.Fortunately, these questions have been answered — a result of a thorough cost-effectiveness analysis.A detailed Southwest Corridor Alternatives Analysis completed in 2008 looked at options for this corridor, including doing nothing, enhanced bus (on existing roads), bus rapid transit (buses on their own right of way), and light rail.Each of these options was considered in addition to numerous highway improvements. The answer was clear: Light-rail transit would be the best and most cost-effective addition to the southwest metro’s transportation system

Critics rail about state money for Southwest light-rail line

http://www.startribune.com

The biggest light-rail transit project in the Twin Cities is heading for a bumpy ride. Fans and critics of a line between downtown Minneapolis and the southwest suburbs are on a collision course over spending state funds to build it. “I’m not afraid to stand up to folks who are in love with trains and say, ‘Hold on here just a minute,’” saidRep.MikeBeard, R-Shakopee, chair of the House transportation committee. “It’s going to be a battle,” saidRep.FrankHornstein, DFL-Minneapolis, a major supporter of the Southwest Corridor light-rail project. The $25 million at stake is a fraction of the project’s $1.25 billion cost, but a large step toward the Southwest Corridor becoming a reality. A refusal to commit the money could signal a lack of state support and stall the project, putting it behind others on the waiting list for crucial federal funding.

Highway funding stuck in reverse

http://www.startribune.com

Minnesota’s aging roads and bridges are facing a reckoning in Congress. Distracted by partisan battles, lawmakers are struggling to fund upgrades to a decades-old transportation infrastructure that highway engineers say is deteriorating faster than the nation’s ability to keep up. The Senate remains at an impasse, but the House is working on a plan that would actually give Minnesota nearly $50 million less this year compared to last. The prospective cut mostly reflects the GOP-led ban on earmarks, which have provided the state with about $150 million in additional transportation dollars since 2010. Congress relies heavily on the federal gas tax to help fund highway upgrades, but the tax expires at the end of this month. With each passing day, transportation officials across the country are waiting to see whether lawmakers can break the partisan logjam, which has held up a major road bill — in one form or another — for 2 1/2 years.

 Rural transit program sees increased ridership

http://www.postbulletin.com

 Rural public transit ridership boomed in Zumbrota in 2011, but plans to expand the service to other communities are on hold until funding becomes available. Hiawatha Public Transit ridership in Zumbrota grew from 12,814 in 2010 to 17,333 in 2011, the greatest increase of riders in all of the transit company’s service areas. The Three Rivers Community Action transit program started service in 1995 in the Lake City area after receiving a grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The program’s success led to expansion to Oak Center,Frontenac, Elgin, Plainview, Wabasha,Kellogg, Cannon Falls,Winona, Red Wing, Faribault, Zumbrota, Wanamingo andGoodhue. The Zumbrota service was the last to be included about four years ago, according to Amy Repinski, director of Three Rivers’ transit program .“I’m hoping in the future that service can be expanded to Pine Island, Zumbro Falls and Millville, where there are frequent requests for public transit,” she said. But expansion of the program is subject to funding by the state. MnDot provides 85 percent of the operating cost for the transit service, and bus fares provide the other 15 percent.

The benefits of bringing light rail stations to South LA

http://www.intersectionssouthla.org

Congress memberMaxineWaterswrote a letter urgingArthurLeahy, CEO of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA), to seek funds for the construction of light rail stations in South Los Angeles. The proposed light rail construction is in Leimert Park and Westchester on the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor. The funds for the light rail stations would come from a TIGER grant – a competitive nationwide grant program that creates jobs by supporting investments in transportation infrastructure.Watershopes to gainLeahy’s support in amending the transportation bill, H.R. 7, which would add one billion dollars in TIGER funds over the next two years in addition to constructing the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor in Leimert Park and Westchester.

National Association of Counties Report

http://www.naco.org/newsroom

This week NACo is releasing the results from their survey “Fixing It: Infrastructure and the Economy.”  According to the survey eighty-six percent of counties report having bridges in poor condition, 91 percent say that the receipt of infrastructure funding would help create jobs, and 51% of counties report experiencing funding cuts of 10-25 percent since 2008.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com

Transit advocates take for granted that public rail transportation relieves congestion on the roadways, but experts consider the question far from settled. Take two influential studies published in the last few years as an example: One found the latent demand for road space so strong that even expanding public transit cant hope to diminish it while another concluded that cities with well-established rail systems do indeed have less traffic.than those that do not. And that’s just in the recent past; the debate stretches back much farther. New research by two geographers at the University of Denver nudges the literature in a hopeful direction. Focusing on light rail in Denver, Sutapa Bhattacharjee and Andrew Goetz examine the question from two angles at once: they perform a temporal analysis that compares highway traffic before and after the system opened, and a spatial analysis that measures whether or not traffic changes have taken root on highways adjacent to the rail corridor.

Metro business groups promote Southwest Light Rail

http://www.kare11.com/

It’s not uncommon to see Chamber of Commerce leaders at the State Capitol, but their cause this legislative session is catching some by surprise. They promoting the Southwest Light Rail, more specifically $25 million in bonding for the line that would connect downtown Minneapolis to St. Louis Park,Hopkinsand Shakopee. That’s only part of the projected $125 million price tag, but an important piece to a financing plan that would leverage federal dollars. “The Met Council’s own figures show that 80-plus percent of all riders of the metropolitan transit system, whether it be bus, light rail, or north star are either going to or from their place of employment, or they’re going to or from school,” Matt Kramer, president of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce told reporters Tuesday.

Poll: Most Minnesotans support state funding for Southwest Light Rail

http://www.bizjournals.com

About 61 percent of Minnesotans support spending $25 million in state bonding funds on building the Southwest Light Rail line, according to results of a poll conducted by three chambers of commerce. The poll surveyed 700 state residents during the month of January.

Light Rail: Hiawatha Line=Blue, Central Corridor=Green

http://minneapolis.about.com

2012 is scheduled to be the last major year of construction for the Central Corridor light rail. Work continues apace on University Avenue and in downtown St. Paul, with lots of track laid, brand new stations, and plenty of progress to be seen. Weather depending, 75% of the project should be completed by the end of the year. The lane closures and disruption continue, and hopefully University Avenue and downtown St. Paul businesses manage to survive another year. So please support University Avenue businesses – it may look like a mess, but parking really isn’t that bad. Most businesses still have plenty of street parking in the side streets, or are sharing lots with other organizations – look for signs.

Metro Transit unveils new branding for Light Rail and BRT

 http://www.downtownjournal.com

Metro Transit operator The Metropolitan Council has revealed the new branding for the Light Rail transit (LRT) and bus-rapid transit (BRT) system. Together, the system will be known as METRO, with individual lines identified by color names. The existing Hiawatha LRT line has been dubbed the Blue Line. The upcoming Central Corridor and Southwest Corridor LRT lines have been collectively dubbed the Green Line. I-35W’s BRT line has been named the Orange Line, and a the Cedar Avenue BRT line will be known as the Red Line when it is completed in November.

Stillwater bridge bill passes U.S. House

http://www.twincities.com

A bill that will pave the way for a new St. Croix River bridge passed the U.S. House with 339 votes shortly before 10 a.m. today. Eighty voted against the measure. The news sent shockwaves through downtown Stillwater this morning. “We’re now in the final stage of a 60-year process,” saidStillwater MayorKenHarycki, just minutes after the historic vote. “This wasn’t a Democratic bridge. This wasn’t a Republican bridge. This was a bridge to serve the people, and that’s what Congress did today.” The passage of the bill removes “the last remaining roadblock” for a new four-lane bridge south of Stillwater,Rep.TomPetri, R-Wis., said during House debate on the measure Wednesday night. “We just need this final action in order to finally proceed with the bridge. It’s time to end the gridlock.”

MPR News Primer: St. Croix River bridge

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

After more than a decade of bitter politics and litigation, Congress is close to a vote authorizing a new St. Croix River bridge to replace the aging span in Stillwater.  The 80-year-old Stillwater Lift Bridge has served as a vital connection across the St. Croix River. But now it’s a choke point. When the Lift Bridge rises to let boat traffic pass on the river, cars back up into downtown Stillwater and up Minnesota 36, creating all kinds of traffic congestion and hazards. Congestion crashes occur at twice the rate of a similar segment of roadway, the Minnesota Department of Transportation says.

 Which city’s rail system has the best Walk Score?

http://greatergreaterwashington.org

Last week, David Klion computed the Walk Score for all Washington Metro stops. How does Metro stack up to the other heavy rail systems in the United States?  The answers may surprise.

 White House’s Summary of USDOT 2013 Budget Proposal

http://www.transportationissuesdaily.com/

 The President has proposed a $74 billion 2013 budget for USDOT, along with a six-year surface transportation reauthorization totaling $476 billion. According to White House briefing materials, below are highlights (page one) of the 2013 budget; the longer summary is reprinted below.   USDOT has released a 68-page report on the 2013 proposal which also contains information about its authorization proposal. Visit USDOT’s Performance & Budget information center and the White House’s budget page for more information about other issue areas.

 John Boehner May Scale Back Highway, Energy Bill

http://www.rollcall.com

Facing increasing opposition from within his own party, Speaker John Boehner may scrap his ambitious five-year highway and energy package in favor of a shorter and more palatable measure.  Although the bill was intended to be his signature legislative policy proposal, Boehner has struggled to pull together enough GOP votes to pass it. He was first forced to break the comprehensive package into separate energy, funding and transportation bills last week. But as opposition to the transportation portion continued to build, he was then forced to delay a vote on it until next week. Although it is unclear what effect the latest tinkering will have on the schedule, it appears likely the bill could be delayed for at least another week while changes are made.

Surface transportation legislation revisions still unclear, Mica says

 http://www.progressiverailroading.com

In a speech yesterday to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) members, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said several options for revisions to the House’s surface transportation legislation are being discussed. But after talking with House Speaker John Boehner on Monday, Mica still didn’t know what the final options will be, including the number of years the bill would cover, he said.  Press reports earlier this month claimed that Boehner was considering a shorter and less expensive bill than the original five-year $260 billion legislation that Mica introduced earlier this year. “The final proposal I cannot tell you exactly where we will be,” Mica said, adding that he is pushing for the bill to cover “as long a term as possible” to give stability to surface transportation and infrastructure planning.

LAX Light Rail Opponents Sue Uncle Sam

http://www.courthousenews.com

South Los Angeles residents challenged the approval of a $1.75 billion light rail project toward LAX airport, insisting that at least part of the line should go underground.     The Crenshaw Subway Coalition sued the Federal Transit Administration in Federal Court, seeking to stop the project on environmental grounds.     The “Crenshaw-LAX” project is an 8.5-mile light rail line which will link the Metro Green Line and Expo Line. It is under construction at Crenshaw and Exposition Boulevards.     The metro project came in for criticism after it became public knowledge that the line will stop 1 mile short of LAX.     The LA Weekly in January called the metro line a “monument to stupidity,” and said that Los Angeles officials were “creating a potentially hobbling obstacle for the airport.”     City leaders floated the idea of a tram or rail extension to bridge the remaining mile to LAX terminals, NBC News reported last year.

Report: California needs infrastructure upgrades

http://www.bizjournals.com

California’s infrastructure is out of date and needs a $65 billion investment, a civil engineering group said Thursday. The American Society of Civil Engineers    American Society of Civil Engineers Latest from The Business Journals Follow this company rated infrastructure from aviation facilities to wastewater systems and gave an overall grade of “C” in a report that seeks to call attention to deficiencies. The worst grade went to levee and flood control systems, earning a “D” grade.The best grade went to solid waste facilities, which earned a “B.”“To remain a strong and prosperous state, we must maintain and continue to improve infrastructure that makes California’s quality of life second to none.” saidYazEmrani, co-chairman of the committee that issued the report card.

Conrad Presses Transportation Secretary on Oil Patch Infrastructure Needs

http://conrad.senate.gov/

“In  North Dakota, investment in transportation infrastructure is not keeping pace with our growing needs,” SenatorConradrecently toldSecretaryLaHood.  “Unfortunately, we have a transportation system from another era.”SenatorConradnoted that road networks in the oil patch are incapable of handling the increased truck traffic as a result of the energy development.  Traffic bottlenecks are common, slowing the movement of oil and other goods, while creating safety hazards. ChairmanConradsaid the vast energy reserves can only benefit the nation if significant investments are made to upgrade our roads.  SecretaryLaHoodechoedSenatorConrad’s repeated calls for Congress to pass a new multi-year highway bill to address the neglected and inadequate state of the nation’s roads, bridges and transit systems.

America’s crumbling transportation infrastructure

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

It’s hard to claim that America’s transportation system is in great shape. The American Society of Civil Engineers says the United States has a $3 trillion backlog on transportation projects and it costs drivers in traffic jam time, wear on cars and damage to the environment.   Taxes on gasoline have always been a strong source of funding for transportation infrastructure projects as long as there were more drivers using more gasoline, thus paying more taxes. People are willing to pay more for transportation infrastructure if they know their money is actually going to fixing the roads they use.

 A Bank for Infrastructure Funding

http://www.governing.com

A national infrastructure bank’s purpose is to help increase state and local deal flow and private-sector deal flow.  In the U.S. public-private partnership market today, it is very hard and very expensive to get to close with a project. What an infrastructure bank will do is decrease the likelihood of closure of a project because there will be an additional federal champion involved, additional federal underwriting and higher underwriting standards. The bank also has a best practices unit in it, so there’ll be some technical assistance to state and local governments that often run into problems closing projects because there’s not the capacity to assess bids. That’s another aspect that the federal bank is meant to support.

 http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

 PresidentObamahas laid out his proposed federal budget for 2013. The $ 3.8 trillion plan calls for new government spending, including stimulus-style spending on roads. It also seeks to achieve $4 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade. Obama’s budget would increase spending on transportation slightly — but by far less than the president has previously requested. NPR’s Brian Naylor reports the president wants “job-creating infrastructure investments.”

President’s Budget: High Speed Rail, Fixing Roads & Bridges, Complete Streets, TIGER Grants

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

House Speaker John Boehner delayed action on GOP transportation bill, the Associated Press reported. Republicans had hoped to pass the five year, $260 billion bill this week, but Boehner said that action would be delayed until after next week’s congressional recess.

 Will a mileage tax replace the gas tax?

 http://minnesota.publicradio.org

 One of the main sources of money for Minnesota road and bridge construction is slowly running out of gas. Literally. Money collected from the 20-cents-a-gallon state motor fuels tax has flattened out after decades of steady increases. Gov. Tim Pawlenty and other elected officials say the state needs to explore an alternative funding source called a mileage fee. Fifteen states and the federal government are already experimenting with the mileage fee idea.

 MnDOT looking for feedback on transportation plan

http://www.marshallindependent.com

The state of Minnesota is looking for some direction when it comes to transportation issues, representatives of the Minnesota Department of Transportation said during an open house Wednesday at the Marshall-Lyon County Library.The open house was held to give members of the public a chance to give feedback on how the Department of Transportation should update its 20-year Statewide Multimodal Transportation Plan. The plan, said MnDOT District 8 Engineer Jon Huseby, is less about specific projects or than it is about shaping transportation policies for the whole state.”It’s going to affect how we make decisions down the road,” said Mark Nelson of MnDOT.Huseby emphasized the “multimodal” part of the plan, which means it will include all forms of transportation, from pedestrian walkways to railroads, highways and aviation.

CTA hires firm to explore public-private Red Line deal

http://www.nwitimes.com/

The Chicago Transit Authority has some big jobs that need to be done, jobs that will cost a lot of money. In a financial climate that has seen revenue from taxes dry up, the CTA has turned to private firms to look for ways to come up with the money to do the work.One method that the outside firms will explore is having private entities pay a portion of the cost — public-private partnerships. While the idea is not a new one, the CTA’s aggressive commitment to exploring it is.”Traditional federal, state and local funding sources are uncertain, and may be insufficient to meet our needs within the next several years,” CTA President Forrest Claypool said last week in announcing that the agency was hiring the outside firms. “This agreement will allow the CTA to pursue innovative ideas and possible new funding sources to complete some of the important projects we have planned.”The lead financial adviser is Goldman Sachs. Two other firms are Chicago-based Loop Capital Markets LLC and Estrada Hinojosa Co., in Dallas. The American Public Transportation Association’s task force on public-private partnerships said common features of the deals typically involve one or more of the following: funding, financing, planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance.

S.F. Mayor Lee Announces Key Federal Support for Central Subway

http://californianewswire.com/

On Tuesday, Mayor Edwin M. Lee and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) announced that the federal government has once again demonstrated strong support for planned improvements to public transportation in San Francisco. President Barack Obama’s federal budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2013 includes a recommendation for $150 million in funding for the Central Subway Project and $10 million to implement bus rapid transit on Van Ness Avenue. “These crucial investments in our City’s transportation infrastructure continue to receive strong support from the highest levels of the federal government,” said Mayor Lee. “We thank President Obama, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Senators Feinstein and Boxer and all our federal partners for their consistent leadership and their commitment to improving public transit, creating jobs and investing in San Francisco.” According to an FTA report, the Central Subway Project is one of only six projects nationwide that are on track to receive a Full Funding Grant Agreement, the formal agreement of federal financial assistance through New Starts, by the end of FY2013.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has shortlisted five design-build teams

http://www.infrainsightblog.com       

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has shortlisted five design-build teams in response to its first design-build project for the first segment of the California High-Speed Train System in California’s Central Valley.  The shortlisted teams are: California Backbone Builders, composed ofFerrovialAgromanand Acciona California High-Speed Rail Partners, composed of Fluor Corp., Skanska and PCL Constructors, California High-Speed Ventures, composed of Kiewit Corp., Granite Construction and Comsa EMTE, Dragados SA, Flatiron Construction Corp. and Shimmick Construction and Tutor Perini Corp., Zachry Construction and Parsons Corp.

Transportation Secretary LaHood tours Siemens light-rail facility

http://www.bizjournals.com

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood toured the Siemens    Siemens Latest from The Business Journals Telecom giants flock to Skorpios TechnologiesArena, transpo facility renderings expected; LaHood to speakTransportation secretary to visit Siemens in Sacramento Follow this company light-rail vehicle manufacturing plant in Sacramento Wednesday.LaHood met with workers and discussed the Obama administration’s policies on rail development with Siemens vice president of strategic business development Robin Stimson. LaHood is on a West Coast tour describing the administration’s initiatives on infrastructure investments. The federal government is a major investor in projects for which Siemens builds products.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

The House of Representatives spent its first full week of work in 2012 focused on transportation issues. On Tuesday, House Republicans released their proposal for a five-year $260 billion highway bill and on Friday, the House passed a new five-year Federal Aviation Administration bill.  The two bills have some important implications for Minnesota, not the least of which is a potential for fewer federal dollars to flow into the state. Emil Frankel, who served in President George W. Bush’s Department of Transportation, said the Republicans’ plan to use royalties from expanded domestic oil and gas production was unlikely to bring anywhere near enough money to cover the growing gap between the nation’s infrastructure needs and the revenue the gas tax brings in.

Committee Leaders Unveil Major Transportation & Jobs Bill

http://transportation.house.gov/News

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and Members of the Committee unveiled the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act. The initiative is a long overdue infrastructure bill that reforms transportation programs and promotes increased domestic energy production to create American jobs. “This bill will put Americans back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and developing new sources of low cost energy,” Mica said. “This legislation may be the most important jobs measure to pass Congress this year. “The American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act is the largest transportation reform bill since the creation of the Interstate Highway System in 1956,” Mica continued. “This is a five-year bill that reforms our federal transportation programs, cuts the red tape and bureaucracy that delays projects across the country, gives states more flexibility to determine their most critical infrastructure needs, provides states with the long-term stability to undertake major improvements, and encourages private sector participation in helping to finance transportation projects.”

DOT Makes $500 Million Available for Infrastructure Projects

http://www.ttnews.com/

The U.S. Department of Transportation will take applications from states for $500 million in surface transportation projects under a fourth round of its competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery program. Previous rounds of TIGER have provided $2.6 billion in grants to 172 “innovative” projects across the country, DOT said in a Tuesday statement announcing the availability of the funds. “Americans are demanding investments in highways, ports, commuter rail, streetcars, buses and high-speed rail,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in the statement. “These kinds of projects not only mean a stronger economic future for the U.S., but jobs for Americans today.”

U.S. Department of Transportation Announces Fourth Round of TIGER Discretionary Grants

http://www.infrainsightblog.com/

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced a much-anticipated fourth round of funding for USDOT’s popular TIGER Discretionary Grants program, totalling $500 million for capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure. Pre-applications must be submitted by Feb. 20, 2012 and final applications must be submitted by March 19, 2012.  Previous rounds of competitive TIGER grants were heavily over-subscribed.  The last round attracted 848 applications with funding requests for $14.29 billion, while USDOT awarded funds in December 2011 for 46 capital projects totaling $511 million. USDOT did not make many substantive changes in this week’s notice to the TIGER application and selection process as compared to previous TIGER funding rounds.  Authorizing legislation for this round allows for an amount not to exceed $175 million of the $500 million total to be used to pay the subsidy and administrative costs for a project receiving credit assistance under the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 1998 (TIFIA) program.  Applicants for these TIGER TIFIA payments must submit a TIGER application and a separate TIFIA letter of interest.

 Now Open for Bids: The Fourth Round of TIGER Grants

http://dc.streetsblog.org

Transportation leaders, take your best shot. Applications are being accepted for $500 million in federal funding through the fourth round of U.S. DOT’s TIGER grants. DOT has renewed its commitment to this groundbreaking program, which awards money on a competitive basis to projects that have the potential to make a “significant impact on the nation, a metropolitan area, or region.”This round of funding will include up to $100 million for rail projects, including inter-city projects. In addition, $120 million has been reserved for projects that serve rural communities.

Federal transportation secretary visiting Denver

http://www.9news.com/

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is visiting Denver. LaHood plans to view construction of the metro area’s light rail system on Monday afternoon. Gov. John Hickenlooper and Denver mayor Michael Hancock are scheduled to join him. The Regional Transportation District is adding a western line to its light rail system. A $308 million federal funding agreement is helping pay for the work.

Former FAA Administrator Jane Garvey to Keynote Florida Public-Private Partnerships

http://www.marketwatch.com

Jane Garvey, the former head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, will be the keynote speaker for “Public Private Partnerships (PPP): The Future of Public Construction in Florida,” a workshop for businesses, contractors, investors and government officials. Ms. Garvey has held a number of senior positions across the public and private infrastructure sector in America, most recently serving on the Transition Team for President Barack Obama with a focus on transportation policies and related challenges facing the new Administration. Prior to that, she headed the US Public/Private Partnerships advisory group at JPMorgan, where she advised states on financing strategies to facilitate much needed project delivery for state governments. From 1997 to 2002, Ms. Garvey served as the 14th Administrator of the FAA. Currently Ms. Garvey serves as North American Chair, Meridiam Infrastructure, an investment management company that specializes in PPP projects.

Transit planners want light rail hub for future expansion

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

Transit planners in Hennepin County hope to build a new rail hub in downtown Minneapolis before the Central Corridor light rail line is finished. The Interchange, as transit officials call it, would be a terminal for future light rail lines, connecting the Central Corridor and Hiawatha lines with Northstar trains. It would be built on county land near Target Field. County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said it would be easiest to build now to be finished when the Central Corridor light rail line opens in 2014. “We want to have this Interchange facility open when Central [Corridor] opens up because it’s cheaper and less disruptive to build this facility when you only have to deal with one operating line, Hiawatha, rather than waiting for Central to come as well, McLaughlin said.  Project manager Ed Hunter says county commissioners need to act quickly if they want the hub finished in the next two years.

St. Paul Mayor Coleman takes aim at Minneapolis, Target Center funding

 http://www.twincities.com/

 St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman threw himself headlong into the Minnesota Vikings stadium debate and took aim at neighboring Minneapolis on Tuesday, meeting with Gov. Mark Dayton in private and speaking before business leaders in public about a related “threat on the horizon.” Coleman told a St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon that one aspect of a proposed stadium package – $150 million in public funding to spruce up the Target Center in Minneapolis – would be a “very huge threat” to downtown St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, home to the Wild, the state’s NHL team.

 Economic, ridership concerns could derail Northstar plans for St. Cloud

 http://www.startribune.com

 While increasing ridership is vital to extending the Northstar commuter-rail line to St. Cloud, so is “patience” and understanding that the line is part of a regional rail system, the head of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority said last week. “Everybody expects these projects to be like the Hiawatha [light-rail] line, which was beating 20-year projections in year two,” said Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, NCDA chairman. “But clearly, Hiawatha is an aberration. Building ridership will simply take a while.” The 41-mile Northstar line runs between Big Lake in Sherburne County and downtown Minneapolis. Ridership has trailed projections for much of the line’s two years of existence, the first year by 20 percent. Lower gas prices, mild winter weather, high unemployment and general newness has kept commuters in their cars and away from the train, Lenzmeier said.

 South Sounders share Federal Way’s transit frustration

http://www.thenewstribune.com

Some Federal Way-area officials are so unhappy with Sound Transit that they’re contemplating secession from the tri-county transportation agency. There’s no mechanism for such a move, but that’s not stopping them from talking about it. Their pain is our pain – to a point. Sound Transit has determined that sales tax revenues from the South King County sub-area have fallen so steeply that the agency must delay extension of light rail to Federal Way from 2023 to 2034 or later. That delay means that the next light rail leg – to Tacoma – will be delayed as well. Originally projected to be completed by 2029, it’s now looking like sometime in the 2040s. In other words, that short Link light rail line in downtown Tacoma is it for many who are reading this. That’s disappointing for voters who approved an 0.5 percent sales tax hike in 2008 based on the earlier timeline for buildout. However, Pierce County has something Federal Way doesn’t: In addition to express buses, commuters can ride Sounder commuter rail between downtown Tacoma and Seattle with stops in Puyallup, Sumner, Auburn, Kent and Tukwila. In the fall, the line is scheduled to extend south to Lakewood.

A world-class transit system for Baltimore

http://www.baltimoresun.com/

The corner of Howard and Lombard streets has the potential to be the pulse point of a healthier city and region. This is where the proposed Red Line and the existing Light Rail line will directly connect, addressing two long-standing deficiencies with mass transit in this city: the lack of an east/west rapid transit line and the absence of a direct transfer between rail lines to create a true “system.” Baltimore and Maryland should consider taking this transfer point one step further.If a new arena does rise alongside an expanded Convention Center, as proposed, the current arena and its parking garage should be razed, the area cleared, and the space transformed into a modern, multilevel and multi-modal transit hub. This would be similar to what is being constructed in Silver Spring or, on a grander scale, the existing Port Authority Terminal in New York. The Maryland Transit Administration’s local routes that terminate and/or pass through downtown could be reconfigured to terminate and originate at the facility. The same could be done with the MTA’s commuter and express lines. Giving all lines a common terminal would allow seamless transfers in a comfortable, climate-controlled facility that’s centrally located and easily accessible.

https://www.cbo.gov/

The United States has a network of over 4 million miles of public roads. That system has faced increasing demands over time: The number of vehicle miles traveled (both passenger and commercial) rose from approximately 700 billion in 1960 to just under 3 trillion in 2009. In 2010, the federal government and state and local governments spent about $160 billion to build, operate, and maintain roads. (This study adopts the practice of the Federal Highway Administration in using the words “highway” and “road” synonymously.) Almost all of those infrastructure projects were undertaken using a traditional approach in which a state or local government assumes most of the responsibility for carrying out a project and bears most of its risks, such as the possibility of cost overruns, delays in the construction schedule, and, in the case of toll roads, shortfalls in the road’s revenues. Some observers assert that an alternative approach, using a public-private partnership, could increase the money available for highway projects and complete the work more quickly or at a lower cost than is possible through the traditional method.

Transportation projects are priority for Gov. Dayton

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

The governor’s wish list for transportation in the legislative session includes money for a third light rail line, bridge repair, and transit in greater Minnesota. But Republican transportation leaders have different priorities. Gov. Mark Dayton’s says his $775 million bonding proposal would create more than 21,000 jobs. His proposal would finance projects through the sale of state-backed bonds repaid with interest over 20 years. Proposed state help gives push to $1.25B Southwest light rail.

http://www.mndaily.com

Plans to build the Southwest Corridor light-rail transit line, which would connect Minneapolis with Eden Prairie, are gaining momentum.Gov. Mark Dayton recently recommended $25 million of his $775 million proposed bonding bill for construction of the 15-mile line. The line would connect with the Hiawatha and Central Corridor lines, as well as the Northstar commuter rail line by Target Field. The Metropolitan Council estimates it will attract 30,000 riders per weekday by 2030.

Final Bottineau Corridor route expected by May

http://finance-commerce.com

By May, people living along the proposed Bottineau Transitway should know exactly where a new transit system will run through their cities if construction begins as planned in 2016. They’ll also find out whether buses or trains will be whizzing by on roads or rails.This week and next, however, Bottineau planners are still taking the pulse of the public at a series of four open houses. They are also listening to the Minneapolis-based Target Corp., which recently added a new twist to the Bottineau route when it beefed up its expansion plans for its northern campus near Highway 610 and 97th Avenue in Brooklyn Park.

I-90 bridge plans draw curiosity and criticism

http://lacrossetribune.com

Transportation officials unveiled designs for a new Interstate 90 bridge over the Mississippi River on Wednesday, when about 60 people weighed in on the project at a public meeting.It was the beginning of the end of a planning process that has lasted more than four years and will result in a bridge expected to last a century. The Minnesota Depart-ment of Transportation is responsible for the 2,500-foot span that stretches from below the lock and dam to a causeway west of French Island, though Wisconsin will share half of the estimated $190 million cost. MnDOT plans to seek bids for the bridge in the fall with construction lasting through 2016.

A rocky first year for St. Paul Central Corridor construction

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/

The first year of major construction on a future light-rail line in St. Paul suffered from communication lapses, haphazard planning, and inattention to community concerns — and that’s according to the government agency that manages the project. Hundreds of documents examined by MPR News show the magnitude of performance problems associated with building the St. Paul portion of the massive Central Corridor transit system connecting to Minneapolis.

Light-rail construction lags on campus

 http://www.mndaily.com

 Complications with construction on the Central Corridor light-rail project have caused contractors to miss major deadlines in the University of Minnesota campus area. Although the light-rail project is 40 percent complete overall, construction around campus is actually behind, forcing the Metropolitan Council and Ames/McCrossan Joint Venture — the contractor team building the Minneapolis portion of the line — to push some deadlines further into 2012.

 Court’s concerns don’t halt Central Corridor light rail

 http://www.startribune.com/

 A federal judge ruled on Monday that agencies overseeing construction of the Central Corridor light-rail line failed to conduct a study he ordered a year ago on its impact on adjacent businesses. District Judge Donovan Frank again instructed the agencies to conduct the study, saying their previous effort “was deficient in its consideration of lost business revenue.”  Frank denied a move by construction critics to halt the line until the study is completed. “The court continues to hope that all parties involved can approach future discussions or negotiations reasonably and with the goal of achieving a resolution,” he wrote. Frank noted that studying the impact on businesses is critical to providing future aid to any businesses whose revenues were hurt.

 Senate passes St. Croix Bridge bill

 http://www.stillwatergazette.com

 The long-debated St. Croix River Crossing moved a step closer to reality Monday night when the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s bipartisan bill allowing a new span to be constructed between Minnesota and Wisconsin.Now the fate of the project lies with the U.S. House of Representatives, where a similar St. Croix bridge bill sponsored by Rep. Michele Bachmann that has bipartisan support awaits action. Klobuchar’s bill allowing construction of a proposed $690 million four-lane bridge over the St. Croix River won unanimous passage in the Senate, where it was co-sponsored by Sens. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Herb Kohl (D-Wis.). Both Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton and Wis. Gov. Scott Walker support the measure, Klobuchar noted in a news release after the vote.

 Never heard of Houlton, Wis.? Wait for the new Stillwater bridge

 http://www.twincities.com

 Most people would laugh at the idea of Houlton, Wis., being a boom town, if they have even heard of it. But if a new four-lane, freeway-style bridge is built across the St. Croix River, a surge of growth is bound to follow. Perhaps the biggest change would come to Houlton, a community of 386 not even big enough for a stop sign on its main street. The bridge project got a boost Monday, when the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to exempt it from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It still needs an exemption from the U.S. House.

 State plans to have private firm rebuild, run I-95 travel plazas

 http://www.washingtonpost.com

The two travel plazas on Interstate 95 north of Baltimore will be rebuilt and operated by a private company that will share revenue with the state under a plan approved Monday by the Maryland Transportation Authority’s board.The deal to have Areas USA spend $56 million to redesign and rebuild the 48-year-old Maryland House and 36-year-old Chesapeake House rest stops will move to the state Board of Public Works and the General Assembly for review and approval.

 Studies to look at western ND infrastructure needs

 http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event

 North Dakota agencies are updating studies that projected the growing infrastructure needs of western communities. Commerce Commissioner Al Anderson tells said both transportation and housing studies will be updated. He says it’s necessary because of the growing oil activity and the stress on infrastructure in the region. Anderson says a 20-year transportation study that was done two years ago already needs updating.

 Public College, Private Dorm

http://www.nytimes.com

With state budgets tight and demand for a college education at a high point, public universities across the country are increasingly turning to the private sector to build and finance on-campus dormitories.  Even before the recession, states found that companies that specialize in student housing could build residence halls more rapidly and cheaply than universities could. They can ease the burden of being a landlord. And perhaps most important, these partnerships free capital for facilities like classrooms and laboratories.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) this month released a list of projects that will receive a total of $511 million in round three of the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. Among the 46 nationwide grant recipients is the Port of New Orleans, which got $16.7 million to help pay for rail yard improvements.  Not on the list of approved TIGER III projects, however, was the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) bid to extend its planned Rampart/St. Claude streetcar project from Canal Street to Poland Avenue. The grant would have covered nearly $80 million of the projected $98 million to extend the line.

Twin Cities’ Central Corridor light-rail projects help spur additional development, Metropolitan Council says

 http://www.progressiverailroading.com

 Nearly 40 commercial, retail and housing developments are completed, under way or in the planning stages along the Central Corridor light-rail line under construction in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Metropolitan Council officials say. The Metropolitan Council has awarded $8 million in grants to help with site design and acquisition, environmental investigation and cleanup, demolition or public infrastructure for 12 of the projects. Funding is pending for two more projects, including the Chittenden & Eastman Building in St. Paul. “Transit-oriented development is a major focus of the Metropolitan Council,” said Chairwoman Susan Haigh in a prepared statement. “This kind of improvement in density makes our community more efficient, livable and inclusive.” One of the upcoming projects includes the rehabilitation of the historic 19-story Soo Line Building from office space to 250 market-rate housing units.

 Downtown Mpls. transit hub closer to reality, officials say

 http://minnesota.publicradio.org

 Federal and local elected officials announced Thursday that $10 million in federal stimulus money has been awarded to a transit hub project located near Target Field in downtown Minneapolis. The hub will link multiple rail and bus lines, and is scheduled for completion in 2014, when the Central Corridor light rail line is scheduled to begin operation. However, Hennepin County has secured just over half of the estimated $68 million needed to build the project.

 Minnesota, Wisconsin lawmakers send letter on St. Croix River crossing

http://www.stillwatergazette.com

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) joined seven House colleagues in sending a letter Wednesday asking the House Natural Resources Committee chairman for his help moving Bachmann’s St. Croix River Crossing bill forward. The letter implores Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) to move Bachmann’s St. Croix Crossing bill forward to the full House “due to the pressing budgetary needs of our states.”The letter, the group said it hopes Hastings can “provide clarity on the timing of this important legislation so that our states can prepare appropriately.”

Rosemount to lend $750K to kickstart park-ride lot

http://www.startribune.com

After 21 years as a sustaining member of the south suburban Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), Rosemount might next year see its first transit improvement: a downtown park-and-ride bus stop next to city hall.  After 21 years as a sustaining member of the south suburban Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), Rosemount might next year see its first transit improvement: a downtown park-and-ride bus stop next to city hall. Federal funding in the amount the city has offered to advance has been promised for the project in 2013

Issaquah poised for another transformation

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

Issaquah, a suburban city that has sprawled from its old downtown through strip malls to bedroom communities creeping up the surrounding hillsides, has plans for something very different. A development agreement approved by the City Council this month clears the way for a neighborhood of offices, apartments, stores and restaurants packed together in an urban core unlike anything yet seen in this community east of Bellevue.

http://www.newsli.com

Following news that improvement plans to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Gowanus Expressway have been abandoned because of funding issues, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) and Senator Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn) are renewing their call for a law allowing New York State to utilize public-private partnerships (P3) to help finance and deliver road & bridge improvement projects.

Light Rail Construction Hits Milestone

http://kstp.com/news

Major construction on the western half of the light rail project is complete. The work started last March, and snarled traffic and frustrated local businesses that dealt with limited access. Laura Baenen is the spokesperson for the light rail project, she says the last day of November was a big construction milestone, “The contractor was able, by November 30th to finish the pavement on both the north and south sides of University Avenue.”

 Light-rail impact still minimized, lawsuit says

 http://www.twincities.com

 A federal judge heard further arguments Monday in a lawsuit by the St. Paul NAACP and businesses along University Avenue concerning the Central Corridor light-rail project. The plaintiffs, who also include Pilgrim Baptist Church, the Community Stabilization Project and the Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corp., have asked U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank to “enforce” his January order requiring project planners to determine the impact on the business community of the $957 million rail line. The disagreement now is about whether the defendants – namely the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Council and the Federal Transit Administration – actually improved upon their final environmental impact statement, as Frank ordered them to do.  Plaintiffs’ attorney Tom DeVincke told the court Monday that the impact of the lost business revenue, especially to small shops, “will be dramatic and staggering.”

 MnDOT freight study calls for I-94, US 10 link

http://www.sctimes.com

Solutions for sluggish truck traffic on Interstate Highway 94 in Central Minnesota include bolstering the interstate’s capacity or linking it to U.S. Highway 10 via a new freeway connection. That’s according to a preliminary state study of freight transportation in the region, released by the Minnesota Department of Transportation earlier this month. MnDOT fielded public comment on the draft study at a meeting Monday afternoon in St. Cloud. The study, which should be finalized early next year, says improving Interstate 94 would aid the movement of freight in Central Minnesota.

State and Federal Lawmakers Agree to Back Port Project

 http://www.marketwatch.com

 WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec 01, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The 17 Democrat and Republican Lawmakers that make up the Palm Beach County State Legislative Delegation were unified in their support today of the Port of Palm Beach’s Federal TIGER Grant Application for funds needed to repair and upgrade the Port’s Slip #3 which serves as the single point of commerce for the sugar grown in the Glades area; fuel for Florida Power & Light; and other bulk commodities such as cement and construction materials bound for the Bahamas.

 Highway coalition faces funding competition

 http://www.tri-parishtimes.com

 The LA 1 Coalition hopes to join the 4 percent as it seeks federal grant funding to begin the second phase of constructing an elevated road from Golden Meadow to Fourchon. The coalition, made up of advocates who say elevating La. Highway 1 is necessary to maintain a reliable connection to the oil-exploration hub at Port Fourchon, applied for $18.4 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funds. The application is among 828 requests totaling $14.1 billion in funding through the TIGER program, according to figures released one week ago by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The program is authorized to award $527 million, or 3.7 percent of requested funds, within the next few months. Of that number, at least $140 million must be awarded to rural areas, which includes the coalition’s project site.

 FTA signs $900 million agreements for Houston METRO’s light-rail expansion

 http://www.progressiverailroading.com

Yesterday, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) officials signed two agreements to provide $900 million in federal grants to extend Houston’s light-rail system by 12 miles. The grant agreements are part of the New Starts capital transit discretionary program, FTA officials said in a prepared statement. The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Texas, (METRO) has begun construction of the North and Southeast lines.“The residents of Houston understand that good public transportation is key to building a successful, sustainable and competitive environment to do business while creating thousands of good jobs along the way,” said FTA Administrator Peter Rogoff, who attended a grant agreement signing ceremony in Houston.

Downtown, little green to be seen

http://www.startribune.com

Minneapolis is well-known for its parks and greenery, but downtown, glass, steel, brick and concrete dominate.Thus, to make its downtown a more beautiful, healthy place to live and work, the city’s Downtown Council, its Downtown Improvement District and other partners are leading a push to transform it into more of a green oasis.”The whole city should have green qualities … even if it’s not part of one of our phenomenal parks,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak, who describes Minneapolis as a city within a park.The groups are hiring a consultant to determine the feasibility and approach of creating green spaces downtown, which could range from adding more trees on Nicollet Mall to a new park to connect downtown to the river.One possible outcome of the initiative is a new nonprofit entity that could work with the public and private sectors to help oversee downtown greening projects.

Critics: St. Croix bridge a cash hog

http://www.startribune.com

Opposition to spending $360 million for Minnesota’s share of a new St. Croix River bridge is growing among some state legislators who want the money released for transportation needs that will benefit a larger number of residents.Spending that sum on top of $100 million or more to improve highways leading to a potential new Vikings stadium in Arden Hills, the legislators say, would leave the state desperately short of cash needed to fix hundreds of deteriorating roads and bridges.

 University Avenue store owners hope customers return

 http://www.twincities.com/

For the past nine months, Tom Stransky has watched cars bottleneck outside Midway Books, the Snelling and University avenues bookstore he’s co-owned with his wife, Kathy, for 31 years. With construction of the Central Corridor light-rail transit line reducing lanes and tying up one of St. Paul’s busiest intersections, Stransky said walk-in customers dropped 50 percent. About a month ago, Walsh Construction tore up the sidewalks outside the bookstore and installed a temporary wooden walkway. As the construction season winds down, there is hope that customers will return to the shops along University Avenue. Stransky isn’t so sure. “They probably avoided the area so long, they’ll probably keep avoiding the area,” he said. “Not to mention all the parking is gone.” After relying on Internet sales to make up for lost walk-in traffic, he is glad to hear a new sidewalk in front of his store should be completed this week. The Central Corridor project reached its first major milestone Wednesday, when work was scheduled to be more than a third complete.

 Feds grant $2.9 million to ‘Reinvent Phoenix,’ light-rail developments

 http://ktar.com/6/

 A $2.9 million federal grant will help Phoenix create a program to spur affordable housing and commercial development along the light-rail line, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development official said Monday.  Ophelia Basgal, HUD regional administrator, said the poor economy has forced many families to move farther from jobs in search of cheaper housing and that the Reinvent Phoenix program funded by the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant will help change that. Joined by Mayor Phil Gordon, Mayor-elect Greg Stanton and U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Phoenix, Basgal said the program will create a plan to provide families with access to quality and affordable housing, high-paying jobs, education and training programs and health care along the Metro light-rail line.

 Feds grant funds for light rail in Mesa

 http://www.azcentral.comsal

 The next leg of the Valley’s light-rail system got a $35.5 million shot in the arm Monday when President Barack Obama signed a federal appropriations bill.”It’s Christmas early,” said Mike James, Mesa’s transportation director.The money will fund right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation for the approximately 3 miles along Main Street from the Sycamore Street station through Mesa’s downtown.

http://www.sacbee.com/

To support the timely completion of Public/Private Partnership infrastructure projects, the Insurance segment of XL Group plc (“XL”) unveiled BuildSecure, performance guarantee assistance for the finance community, available from XL’s Surety group.  According to David Hewett, President of XL’s Surety group, “Today’s much needed infrastructure projects are delivered by unique partnerships with public entities working with private businesses determined to get not only the job done, but create a revenue-producing opportunity.  While sureties typically protect the public sector from contractor performance issues, this new approach extends that bond protection to the financial community.” “Any construction project runs the risk of experiencing delays, but delays can be significantly costly and hinder or delay the revenue streams needed to recover the costs of these projects,” said Mr. Hewett. 

Boehner: House Will Move Multiyear Bill by Year’s End

http://www.forconstructionpros.com

House Republicans will introduce a multiyear surface transportation reauthorization bill “in the coming weeks” and “hope to move the legislation through the House before the end of the year,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced Thursday. The bill would expand domestic energy production to pay for transportation infrastructure, with funding levels likely to be at or above current levels. The “energy and infrastructure jobs bill” would combine an expansion of energy production with initiatives to repair and improve infrastructure, according to a posting on the speaker’s blog. It would also reform the way infrastructure money is spent.

Feds say they’ll mediate deal for St. Croix bridge

http://www.startribune.com

Two federal Cabinet secretaries will meet soon with the Minnesota and Wisconsin congressional delegations to hammer out differences over an embattled $690 million proposal for a new St. Croix River bridge.Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told the Star Tribune that he’s planning a meeting that would include Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Building a new St. Croix bridge, LaHood said, “will create a lot of jobs” in what he described as an important project. “It will be a good opportunity to discuss the bridge and show LaHood’s strong support of the bridge,” said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. “He’s been very aggressive about wanting to help. “The pace of debate over the proposed four-lane bridge quickened Wednesday, the day before a possible committee vote that could advance Klobuchar’s bridge bill to the Senate floor. Thirty legislators in Minnesota and Wisconsin issued a statement condemning the proposed bridge as wasteful and said it would divert money from other urgent transportation needs.

Stillwater residents react to new bridge development

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

A proposal for a new bridge over the St. Croix River between Wisconsin and Minnesota cleared a major hurdle Thursday. Members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee overwhelmingly approved the bill, sending it to the full Senate. Thursday’s action is a victory for proponents of the long-debated and controversial replacement for the aging Stillwater Lift Bridge. The proposal would build a $690-million four-lane, freeway bridge about a mile downriver from Stillwater. Supporters said the new span will handle more traffic and ease gridlock in scenic downtown Stillwater — which swells with visitors during the summer high season. Opponents of the project would like to see a smaller, cheaper bridge. Bill Neuendorf is an engineer and director of policy and advocacy at Transit for Livable Communities. He’s concerned the bridge proposal moving through Congress would expand the freeway system and encourage sprawl in an environmentally sensitive area. The legislation is expected to get strong support when it goes up for vote in the House and Senate. If Congress approves, construction could begin in 2014.

No light rail crossing for I-94 bridge

http://finance-commerce.com/

The future of public transit in the Interstate 94 corridor between Minnesota and Wisconsin shed a couple of “ifs” this week when transportation officials and consultants declared a dedicated St. Croix River crossing a no-go.The Gateway Corridor Commission has decided if a light rail transit (LRT) line or bus rapid transit (BRT) line is built from the Twin Cities to the border, neither one will cross the I-94 St. Croix bridge.The Gateway Corridor Commission, an organization studying options for public transit in the corridor, cited space constraints on the bridge as reason for modifying portions of four of eight transit alternatives for the corridor under review. Any BRT or LRT option built along this section of I-94 would be planned to end at Manning Avenue in Woodbury, which is about four miles west of the bridge.

Dayton decries ‘duplicity’ over stadium

http://www.startribune.coml

Gov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday that he intends to regroup with sponsors of the Vikings football stadium bill next week for a fresh push, but said he’s frustrated by “all the duplicity” he sees on a project that he said is less about football than about needed economic development.” The stadium, for me, is more about economic development and jobs than it is about football,” Dayton said. “Far more. To me this is about a public/private partnership of a large scale that can generate several thousand jobs in the next three years or so.”

ANWR house bill to be introduced: ‘Alaskan Energy for American Jobs’

http://www.alaskadispatch.com

According to a Friday press release from the U.S. House of Representatives Natural Resource Committee, Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) and Alaska’s Rep. Don Young will introduce a bill on Nov. 11 that would open a portion of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development.According to the release, the bill, dubbed the “Alaskan Energy for American Jobs Act” (.pdf) will link expanded oil and gas production in ANWR with a broader House initiative announced last week by House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to spur private-sector growth and repair and create infrastructure.“As former Chairman of both the House Natural Resources and Transportation Committees, I am proud of the fact that I am the only Member to pass both a highway bill and a bill opening ANWR out of the House. With the Highway Trust Fund struggling to stay in the black, we must find new sources of revenue to fund infrastructure projects,” said Rep. Young.

Issaquah, Eastside mayors urge Bellevue leaders to act on light rail

http://www.issaquahpress.com

Issaquah Mayor Ava Frisinger joined other Eastside mayors to urge the Bellevue City Council to reach a deal for light rail through downtown Bellevue. Otherwise, if Bellevue and Sound Transit leaders cannot reach a pact, light rail expansion to Issaquah and other cities could be jeopardized.“Each one of us would like to see light rail come to our city,” the mayors wrote in a letter dated Nov. 3. “The decisions made by Bellevue now will impact when our communities will see the benefit of the regional investment in light rail.”The letter from Frisinger, Kirkland Mayor Joan McBride, Mercer Island Mayor Jim Pearman and Redmond Mayor John Marchione came days before the Bellevue council votes on a pact to bring light rail to downtown Bellevue.The agreement under consideration calls for Bellevue to contribute $160 million for a light rail tunnel beneath downtown.

Private study says light-rail work to hurt Bellevue businesses

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/

As the Bellevue City Council prepares to take a key vote Monday night on Sound Transit’s plans for light rail through downtown, a privately funded study paints a grim picture of how business will fare when the construction barricades go up.Hebert Research reported that shoppers will visit stores less frequently, 100 businesses will move or shut down, 7,239 workers will lose their jobs and business losses will reach $1.4 billion over four years. Some council members see the report as a warning of what could happen if rail goes through the heart of downtown as planned, while others dismiss it as misleading and politically motivated.Critics of the study say it exaggerated economic damage by suggesting during the phone survey that train tracks might run along downtown streets — an option Sound Transit says it has dropped in favor of a tunnel.

Cost estimate doubles for California high-speed rail project

http://www.sacbee.com

Building California’s high-speed rail project could cost $98.5 billion over 20 years, more than twice what was previously thought, according to a draft copy of a business plan obtained late Monday by The Bee.  The amount is still far less than the cost of expanding airport and highway systems to accommodate the state’s growing population, the California High-Speed Rail Authority said in the report. Even with conservative ridership and cost estimates, it said, the system will operate at a profit.

Napa light rail proponents face funding deadline

http://napavalleyregister.com

The two-man consortium hoping to bring light rail to the Napa Valley remains shy of its initial investment goal, with only days standing between now and a self-imposed deadline. The pair — Chuck McMinn of the Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition and Keith Rogal of Napa Pipe — had previously said they hoped to raise $2 million by Nov. 17 to fund a feasibility study on their light rail proposal. Should the $165 million figure hold up, it would be roughly $50 million cheaper than what was estimated in a 2003 NCTPA rail study. That proposal, however, planned to run trains from Calistoga south to the Vallejo ferry building, with additional lines providing service to Fairfield and Suisun City.

http://www.whitehouse.gov

President Obama is to deliver remarks in front of Washington, D.C.’s Key Bridge and urge Congress to pass the transportation piece of the American Jobs Act, which will make an immediate investment of $50 billion in our nation’s transportation infrastructure and a $10 billion investment to create a bipartisan National Infrastructure Bank.  Together, these initiatives will put hundreds of thousands of construction workers back on the job rebuilding our roads, rails, and runways.According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, the Key Bridge is in need of crucial repairs and maintenance work.  In order to ensure the Key Bridge remains both safe and functional well into the future, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) proposed a $20 million project to rehabilitate and repair critical portions of the bridge.  However, the city is deferring this maintenance to 2015 due to a lack of funds.  If Congress passes this bill, DDOT could make these critical repairs more quickly and put Americans back to work as early as 2013.

Senate debates Klobuchar’s transportation bill

http://minnesota.publicradio.org

Washington — The U.S. Senate is currently debating a bill sponsored by DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar that’s a component of President Barack Obama’s jobs plan. The measure would boost transportation spending by $50 billion and also set aside an additional $10 billion to create a joint public-private infrastructure bank to fund future transport projects. Klobuchar’s bill is paid for by a .7 percent surtax on incomes above a $1 million. Senate Republicans say that tax means they will filibuster the bill on the Senate floor. Klobuchar said she and Senate Democrats are undeterred. “A number of Republicans have come up to me and said, ‘Look, I may not vote for this now but eventually I’m supportive of more infrastructure,’ ” she said.

Flexing legal muscles pumps up land prices for transit project

http://www.startribune.com

As construction workers lay track for the Central Corridor light rail line, government and businesses are fighting a quiet battle over payments for nearby property.One thing is clear: It pays to flex a little muscle.While some property owners accept early government offers, those who deploy a lawyer, an appraiser or both can get a lot more money.A case in point is the vacant Bremer Bank property in downtown St. Paul, which sits in the path of the line. Ramsey County valued it at $1.5 million and the state appraised it at $2.25 million.But it fetched $2.65 million after the owner contacted an attorney, argued that the property was worth much more and signaled that he was willing to go to court to prove it.

Area Transportation Partnership seeks applications

http://www.echopress.com

The West Central Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership is seeking applications for the 2016 Transportation Enhancement Program, which has approximately $600,000 available for eligible projects in Mahnomen, Clay, Becker, Wilkin, Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Stevens, Traverse, Pope, Big Stone and Swift counties. Projects require a 20 percent cash match.

 Des Moines presses federal officials for Southeast Connector grant

http://www.desmoinesregister.com

Des Moines leaders are making a push to shore up funding for a major road project deemed vital to economic redevelopment on the city’s southeast side.Mayor Frank Cownie and City Manager Rick Clark on Monday met with federal transportation officials in Washington, D.C., to discuss the city’s $30 million grant application for the Southeast Connector. The project aims to eventually link southeast Des Moines to the U.S. Highway 65 beltway.The project would improve transportation and redevelopment prospects in an area of Des Moines that was once a strong industrial and manufacturing district but has for decades suffered from disinvestment.

Met Council Gives Update on Stadium and Light Rail Projects

http://kstp.com/

From light rail construction to a new Vikings stadium the Metropolitan Council is at the center of these projects and other big ticket transportation changes. Monday, we’ll get an update on the light rail and stadium from the Met Council.St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has said he wants all Central Corridor Light Rail Construction along University Avenue to be done before winter. By November 30th roads and sidewalks must be paved, and all four lanes of traffic need to be open for plows.

Met Council’s Haigh sticks by analysis of Vikings stadium timetable

http://finance-commerce.com

Metropolitan Council Chairwoman Susan Haigh on Monday stuck by her group’s recent analysis that a 2015 timeline was a “little aggressive” for building a Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.Haigh also said it’s not clear if Ramsey County has the tax capacity to raise its $350 million contribution to the proposed project.Her remarks came during a lunchtime pep talk of sorts on the construction of the Central Corridor light rail transit project and other topics. Nearly 100 business and civic leaders attended the luncheon, which was held at the Goodwill-Easter Seals headquarters in St. Paul.The location for Haigh’s presentation was pertinent: The Goodwill site is at University and Fairview avenues — the heart of Central Corridor construction.“It’s a big, messy, complicated project,” Haigh conceded. But she urged those in attendance to keep their eyes on the prize: a completed LRT system that is intended to connect an ever-growing part of the metro area.

Leaders show support for $45 million intermodal port facility

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/

On the day applications were due for a federal infrastructure grant program, supporters of a new Jacksonville Port Authority intermodal container transfer facility gathered at the Dames Point Marine Terminal to discuss the opportunities the facility could generate. The Port Authority has applied for $25 million through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Discretionary Grant program for a $45 million project that would construct a near-dock ICTF. Applications for the third round of TIGER grants were due Monday. The port hopes for a funding decision by January.  “This is the best TIGER grant, second to none, that shows real public-private partnership and, as mayor, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we are the model around the country,” Brown said.

 Public and private partners aim to make Minnesota the country’s top bicycle tourism destination

http://www.dl-online.com

 Bicycle tourism enthusiasts from across the state will gather in Mankato Thursday, Nov. 3, for a Bicycle Tourism Summit aimed at raising Minnesota’s profile as a top tourism destination. The event will be at the Verizon Wireless Center, 1 Civic Center Plaza.Explore Minnesota Tourism is convening the summit in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Parks and Trails Council of Minnesota, the National Park Service and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota. These planning partners hope to attract a wide variety of businesses and organizations from communities statewide that could benefit from biking-related tourism

 Obama jobs plan vs. GOP’s: Which ideas will yield most jobs soonest?

 http://www.csmonitor.com/

 Obama is unrelenting about touting various parts of his jobs bill. Wednesday’s theme: construction jobs. But Republicans have their own job-creation ideas. If Congress eventually takes bits from both sides, where’s the biggest bang for the buck?

http://www.nytimes.com/

With limited discussion and zero fanfare, the House on Tuesday approved and sent to President Obama a measure to keep the government operating through mid-November, ending for now the threat of any shutdown. By a vote of 352 to 66, the House approved the measure, passed by the Senate just a week ago, closing another anguished chapter in the fiscal war between Republicans and Democrats that continues to dominate Congress.

Public transportation ridership rose in first half, APTA says

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/

Nearly 5.2 billion trips were taken on public transportation modes during the first six months of 2011, up 1.7 percent — or 85.7 million trips — compared with the same 2010 period, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).Heavy rail and light rail gained the most riders, increasing 3.8 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, APTA officials said in a prepared statement. Heavy-rail systems in the following cities posted the biggest gains: San Juan, Puerto Rico (21.2 percent); Cleveland (17.2 percent); Baltimore (10 percent); Boston (8.8 percent); Miami (6.4 percent); San Francisco (5.4 percent); and Lindenwold, N.J. (5.3 percent).Among light-rail systems, 18 out of 27 reported an increase in ridership during the first six months. In addition, seven cities registered double-digit ridership growth: Seattle (42 percent); Dallas (32.3 percent); Philadelphia (17.4 percent); New Orleans (15.2 percent); Buffalo, N.Y. (14 percent); Oceanside, Calif. (11.6 percent); and Baltimore (10.4 percent).

Money for Small Businesses on Light Rail Project Going Unclaimed

http://kstp.com/news/

Money meant to help small businesses survive during light rail construction is going unclaimed. A few months after the city of St. Paul launched a 4 million dollar loan program, about 40 out of 500 businesses have applied. The loan project manager believes businesses will try and claim up to twenty grand, they’re just waiting for construction season to end in November. The loan is forgiven in 5 years, if the business stays on the light rail line.

Minn. transportation officials see challenges down the road

http://www.grandforksherald.com

Many people have trouble planning next weekend, but the Minnesota Department of Transportation is looking 50 years down the road.Not surprisingly, MnDOT discovered it faces many challenges.A draft “vision statement” indicates that transportation planners must consider a variety of variables and obstacles in the next half century, ranging from a lack of money to an aging population to a rural exodus.Since February, MnDOT officials have met with others involved in transportation, including the general public, about how to make decisions for the next half century and this afternoon held a statewide public hearing in person and via video hookups. Only a few people offered comments in the 90-minute session, something Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel said was expected because those drawing up the vision already had talked to more than 8,000 Minnesotans

Study: MN Traffic among Worst in Nation

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/

If it seems like you are spending hours stuck in traffic — it’s because you are. A new nation-wide traffic congestion study conducted by the Texas Traffic Institute has found the traffic in Minnesota is among the worst in the nation. The study raises the red flag on metros, such as the Twin Cities, and it comes with a warning: Do something now, or congestion will only skyrocket when the economy recovers and people go back to work. Drivers in the Twin Cities already know things are bad. “I get out on the freeways, everything is backed up,” said John Koegl. “Everything is clogged up. Noon. You’d think it’s just the lunch rush, but it’s not.” Rush hours linger longer, and even people who adjust their schedules see things slow to a crawl.

MnDOT Seeks Input on 50-Year Transportation Plan

http://wjon.com

The Minnesota Department of Transportation is looking for public comment on a 50-year transportation visioning document. The document was developed through statewide public input and will be used to guide transportation projects and initiatives both in the long and short term. The seven-page document can be viewed online by going to the website www.minnesotago.org.  Comments can be offered through e-mail, fax or U.S. Mail. Comments will be taken until Friday, October 24th. There will be a public hearing on Tuesday October 4th in St. Paul from 4:00-to-5:30 p.m.

Residents continue debate over light-rail

http://www.seattlepi.com

Public debate over the location of East Link light-rail has not died down, despite Sound Transit’s decision to run the route along 112th Avenue Northeast and Bellevue Way. Seventy-six people spoke at a public hearing Monday night, in what turned into a battle of property owners on the proposed route against those who wanted the council to push the project forward on its current path. A majority of those that packed City Council chambers and the adjoining rooms were in favor of working with Sound Transit to make sure the project gets done on time.”It’s past time to do all that worrying and go forward with the courage to build this thing,” said Martin Paquette, a member of Move Bellevue Forward, a pro-light-rail group.

Small transport projects can be best and build a better region

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/

To hear some people talk, the only way to “solve” traffic issues in the Washington region is to go big or go home. But smaller local projects could have a much bigger impact on making the region a better place to live, and an easier place to navigate. Individuals like Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton or organizations like the 2030 Group prey on the frustrations of Washington area drivers by proposing gargantuan projects like the Outer Beltway and multiple additional Potomac River crossings.

Local Priorities Squeezed in Competing DOT-HUD Spending

http://www.nlc.org/news-center

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the FY2012 Transportation-Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations bill. The Senate bill would provide $55.3 billion in overall discretionary spending for programs under the Departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies — a small increase over the $55.2 billion allocated in the House version of the bill released two weeks ago. Small differences in overall funding, however, mask big differences between the two chambers’ approaches to the challenges of allocating limited federal funds tied to the ongoing deficit reduction initiatives. Proposed funding levels for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), a top priority for cities, provide a good example of these differences.

N.H. Port to make third attempt for ‘TIGER’ funds

http://www.seacoastonline.com

State port officials are taking another shot at securing federal funds for a plan to expand and upgrade the Market Street Marine Terminal. Unlike previous attempts at securing funds, the latest effort is being done solely by the Pease Development Authority, a state agency charged with oversight of the Port of New Hampshire. The last time the port sought funds from the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program, the application was submitted with the state Department of Transportation. It sought $14 million to rehabilitate and expand the port’s main wharf. That effort was unsuccessful, as was an earlier funding application for $10 million included with Memorial Bridge funds.

Northfield to Apply for Federal Money for Underpass

http://northfield.patch.com/

When it comes to federal funding, the Northfield City Council is counting on smaller being better.The council voted at its Sept. 20 meeting to seek federal help to build a pedestrian underpass beneath Highway 3 near Greenvale Avenue. Estimated cost of that project is $1.05 million.Before the meeting, the council was expected to apply for federal TIGER grant dollars for two projects: the Highway 3 underpass and a $1.7 million pedestrian overpass over Highway 19 at Malt-O-Meal.But, that course was altered following a discussion led by City Administrator Tim Madigan and Councilor Erica Zweifel, who said the city may fare better in the grant dispersement process if it applied for less money and offered to contribute matching funds toward the project.“This is to make the city more competitive,” Madigan said.TIGER grants are handed out by the U.S. Department of Transportation for infrastructure projects.

Lessons for Chicago from Colombian transit

http://www.wbez.org/story/

When Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel took office this spring he laid out ambitious plans to remake public transportation in the city, including the promise of gold standard bus rapid transit (BRT) within 3 years. The elements that make up true BRT guarantee shorter travel times when compared even to light rail: dedicated bus lanes, pre-paid fares, platform boarding, multiple entry and exit points on busses and limited stops. Although five U.S. cities have some form of BRT, no North American city meets the gold standard. Building gold standard BRT in Chicago would put the city on the global transit map, so to speak.

http://www.bloomberg.com

A committee of the Democrat- controlled U.S. Senate amended spending legislation to direct $100 million to President Barack Obama’s high-speed rail program next year, a day after its transportation subcommittee omitted funding for the initiative. Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Dianne Feinstein of California and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, all Democrats like Obama, proposed reallocating funds earmarked for highway and transit projects at the Senate Appropriations Committee meeting today. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, John Bray, a committee spokesman, said in an e-mail. The appropriations subcommittee yesterday approved a bill that didn’t include money for the initiative, for which Obama has sought $8 billion in fiscal 2012. Of the $10.1 billion that Congress has directed to the program since 2009, $7.59 billion has been distributed. California is counting on federal funding as it builds a $43 billion system to run trains up to 220 miles per hour between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Senate Strips High-Speed Rail Funding

http://dc.streetsblog.org

This morning, a subcommittee marked up the transportation and HUD appropriations bill, and the full committee will consider it tomorrow afternoon. Only after that will the draft bill be released .During this morning’s subcommittee markup, though, a few senators divulged a few key points. For example, Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) said he was ” discouraged by the elimination of high-speed rail grants” in the budget. “It’s a casualty of the cuts mandated in the debt-limit deal,” he said. Despite his strong push last winter for high-speed rail service that would reach 80 percent of the U.S. population in 25 years, President Obama has been willing to sacrifice high-speed rail funding in tense budget fights with Republicans. The Senate seems to be following suit.

Senate Averts FAA Furloughs by Passing Transportation Extensions

http://www.sfgate.com/

The Senate today passed legislation to avert a second partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration, extending the agency’s funding for four months and highway and transit programs for six months. Senators approved the legislation 92 to 6 after their leaders made a deal with Senator Tom Coburn. The Oklahoma Republican had demanded the bill, which the House approved Sept. 13, include a provision to let states opt out of a requirement to use some highway grant money for bike paths and other so- called enhancements.

Amtrak rolls on 40 years later, destination still uncertain

http://www.mcclatchydc.com

In 1958, an Interstate Commerce Commission report predicted that the passenger train would vanish by 1970, the victim of a traveling public whose affection had shifted to cars and airplanes. But the passenger train refused to die. More than 40 years later, Amtrak is still rolling along, even outlasting the federal agency that predicted the passenger train’s demise. Its ridership is growing — up 37 percent from 2000 — and it has many friends in Congress and staunch allies in the White House. “We’re rediscovering the railroad mode,” said Gil Carmichael, a former head of the Federal Railroad Administration and a prominent Republican supporter of Amtrak.

Transportation Secretary praises Minn. transit as model

http://www.kare11.com

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood praised the Central Corridor light rail project as a model for the the nation during a visit to Minnesota Monday. LaHood headlined a press conference outside the Saint Paul’s historic Union Depot, which now being transformed into a regional hub for light rail transit cars, Amtrack, bus lines and future regional commuter rail lines. “This is what we’ve always in America and we’ve done it in a bi-partisan way,” LaHood told reporters and construction workers who paused briefly from their work to watch the event. “There are no Republican or Democratic bridges. There are no Republican or Democratic roads!”

Obama officials visit Minnesota to sell president’s job act

http://hometownsource.com

Federal transportation officials were in St. Paul on Monday, Sept. 19, lauding the perceived job-creation virtues of government-funded infrastructure projects and the promise of Democratic President Barack Obama’s American Jobs Act for creating more. Perched along the edge of a roadbed in front of the Union Depot in downtown St. Paul, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff echoed the president’s refrain that Congress needed to pass the American Jobs Act right now. “It will be paid for,” said LaHood, speaking the same day Obama sent to Congress a message detailing the finances of the proposed legislation.

St. Croix bridge delegation lobbies in Washington D.C.

 http://www.startribune.com

 With a deadline looming to build a new bridge across the St. Croix River, several government leaders and business owners made a big push in Washington on Wednesday to close the deal on the $690 million project. The 19-member delegation, including eight elected officials traveling at public expense, held private meetings with nine Minnesota and Wisconsin congressional offices to seek an exemption to the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to allow construction. “We’re closer than ever, and we want to get the message out that the time to act is now,” said Stillwater Mayor Ken Harycki, who also co-chairs the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing. A Sept. 30 deadline that Gov. Mark Dayton set for Congress to pass legislation has been moved to Nov. 15, transportation sources said this week. Dayton, who supports the bridge project, said Minnesota would lose federal funding if Congress didn’t move quickly.

 City Moving Ahead With Light Rail Plans

http://stlouispark.patch.com

While there are still plenty of issues up in the air surrounding rail in the area, the St. Louis Park City Council on Monday started the planning process for three light-rail stations slated to come to the community—with step one being the creation of local advisory committees. Though no formal actions have been taken yet, the council seemed supportive of the idea to create three separate neighborhood advisory committees that would focus on design guidelines for the three stations—scheduled to be built at Beltline Boulevard, Wooddale Avenue and Louisiana Avenue, all near Highway 7. The stops would be part of the proposed Southwest Light Rail Transit line, which will connect the Twin Cities with Eden Prairie via the west metro.

Minnesota’s Northern Lights High Speed Rail Project Receives $5 million from USDOT

http://www.connectthemidwest.com

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a $5 million grant to the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) to complete preliminary engineering and environmental reviews for the Northern Lights high-speed rail project between Minneapolis and Duluth.  The 155-mile project will have station stops in Coon Rapids, Isanti, Cambridge, Hinckley, Boylston and Duluth, MN, through Superior, WI, and travel at speeds up to 110 mph. As part of this grant, the Minnesota Department of Transportation must complete an environmental review for the corridor.  The U.S. Department of Transportation had already provided grants of $2.2 million and $500,000 for the initial phases of that environmental review.  The Minnesota Department of Transportation will contribute $3 million to the preliminary engineering/project environmental review phase of the project.

Bellevue seeks views on light rail as deadline nears

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

Just five weeks before a deadline to reach a binding agreement with Sound Transit, the Bellevue City Council is asking citizens to weigh in on the latest ideas for building a light-rail line that’s quiet and affordable and doesn’t disrupt auto traffic. Sound Transit has developed maps and drawings of options suggested by the city during renewed negotiations over the most contentious portion of the Seattle-to-Redmond rail project. Those ideas will be shown at an open house starting at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon.

Concerns about light rail’s effect on old school

http://www.seattlepi.com/

University District residents fought for years to preserve the 109-year-old University Heights School. Now there’s a new item on their to-do list: Monitoring an underground light-rail tunnel scheduled to be dug yards from the building. Sound Transit plans to begin digging the tunnel for its North Link line in three years. The agency doesn’t think the work will affect the 1902-vintage school building, a three-story, Mission Revival-style building that defines one end of the district’s commercial zone. But leaders of the University Heights Center for Community, which owns the wood-frame building, are watching the rail project closely, mindful of the history of other tunnel work.

Unions and Chamber join fight against transit cuts

http://www.kare11.com/

With public transportation funding on the chopping block in Washington, some unlikely allies have joined forces to make the connection between transit and jobs. That’s why the man who heads the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce rallied with members of the Amalgamated Transit Union at a press event Tuesday in downtown Minneapolis. “Let’s face it, this is about jobs,” Todd Klingel told reporters and bus drivers who gathered next to the Hiawatha Light Rail line outside the Hennepin County Government Center.

New England gets $82.7m for high-speed rail project

http://www.breakingtravelnews.com

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced $82.7 million to improve high-speed and intercity passenger rail in Rhode Island, Maine, Connecticut and Vermont.  The dollars will provide needed upgrades to the Northeast Corridor, Connecticut’s New Haven – Springfield line, Maine’s Downeaster route and the Vermonter service.  “These are the kinds of investments that will improve reliability and on-time performance and attract more passengers,” said Secretary LaHood. “We are creating jobs throughout New England, building our rails with American-made materials and growing the New England economy.”

http://www.nytimes.com

Economists studying cities routinely find that after controlling for other variables, workers in denser places earn higher wages and are more productive. Some studies suggest that doubling density raises productivity by around 6 percent while others peg the impact at up to 28 percent. Some economists have concluded that more than half the variation in output per worker across the United States can be explained by density alone; density explains more of the productivity gap across states than education levels or industry concentrations or tax policies. The wealth supported by urban density is what gives urban homes their great value in the first place. And when it comes to economic growth and the creation of jobs, the denser the city the better.

Surface Transportation and FAA Extensions

http://rules.house.gov

Late Friday evening House T&I Chairman John Mica introduced a transportation extension bill that will extend surface transportation programs for 6 months (until March 31, 2012) and aviation programs for four months (until January 31, 2012).  The bill is a “clean” extension in that it will continue highway, transit and aviation programs at current funding levels with no policy changes.  It also extends the gas tax as well as aviation taxes.  The bill contains a $3.13 billion rescission of highway contract authority and does not contain back pay for furloughed FAA employees, as Mica indicated he would do.The bill has been pre-negotiated with the Senate.

House Transportation Appropriations

http://appropriations.house.gov/

On Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation-HUD marked up its spending bill for FY2012.  The bill is consistent with the House-passed budget – it cuts highway investment by 34% and transit investment by 37% in order to match revenues in the Highway Trust Fund.  It includes language that says the Committee is prepared to support a higher Highway Trust Fund spending level should a new, multi-year authorization bill be enacted that provides higher levels.  It provides no funding for intercity passenger rail  and provides no funding for another round of TIGER.

Obama American Jobs Act

http://www.whitehouse.gov/

Last Thursday evening Obama laid out his American Jobs Act in a speech to a joint session of Congress.  He’s proposing a package worth $447 billion in funding for infrastructure and schools, cuts in payroll taxes, tax credits for hiring veterans, expanding access to high-speed wireless, a tax credit for employers who hire long-term unemployed workers, among other components.  Out of the $447 billion he’s proposing, Obama wants $10 billion for an Infrastructure Bank and $50 billion for transportation infrastructure.

Statement from Mayor Landrieu regarding Presiden Obama’s American Jobs

http://www.nola.gov

Mayor Mitch Landrieu released the following statement following President Barack Obama’s address to the nation on the American Jobs Act, which was unveiled tonight: “The jobs plan announced by President Obama this evening will help kick-start our economy and put more people back to work.  “In New Orleans, we’re rebuilding our community and growing new jobs by investing in innovation, education, and infrastructure. I applaud the President for continuing to commit to grow jobs by investing in infrastructure.  TIGER grants have helped us rebuild roads and bridges and are funding the expansion of streetcar service in New Orleans. And an infrastructure bank will greatly benefit New Orleans with our many shovel-ready projects. 

Stealthy Federal Budget Plans Keep High-Speed Rail Plans alive

http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com

With Congress eliminating spending for the President’s faltering high-speed rail (HSR) program and making cuts in Amtrak’s soaring subsidies, the Obama Administration appears to be shifting its reliance on funding for its ambitious passenger rail programs to a little-known federal loan program lodged in the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT): the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing Act (RRIF). This provision allows up $35 billion in federal loans and loan guarantees for rail projects at the discretion of the President. Because nearly all passenger rail systems in the world lose money, these loans are unlikely to be paid back, and taxpayers will be on the hook for multi-billion-dollar losses.

Senators Boxer and Johnson Urge Colleagues to Protect 1.8 Million Jobs, Reveal State-by-State Impacts of Failure to Extend Transportation Law

http://epw.senate.gov

Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), Chairman of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, today released the state-by-state impacts on job losses if the current surface transportation authorization bill is not extended by September 30.  Senators Boxer and Johnson sent a letter to their colleagues in the Senate highlighting the urgent need for a short-term extension. The current surface transportation bill expires on September 30, and unless Congress passes legislation to extend SAFETEA-LU by September 30th, 1.8 million jobs will be threatened nationwide. The Senate is working on a bipartisan proposal that will support transportation programs at current funding levels. The state-by-state job numbers are attached below and the text of the letter is below.  Each Senator received a copy of the letter with the jobs at stake in their own state highlighted. http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?

12,000 Minnesota transportation jobs are at stake

http://www.sctimes.com

As members of Congress await legislation from President Barack Obama on a plan he hopes will create jobs, they face an impending crisis that could affect hundreds of thousands of jobs that already exist.Lawmakers have yet to reach agreement on reauthorization or an extension of funding for surface transportation. Failure to do so by Sept. 30, when the current measure expires, would put almost a million jobs at risk nationwide — more than 12,000 in Minnesota.In addition, Congress must reauthorize or extend the provision allowing the federal government to collect fuel taxes, which also expires Sept. 30. The 18.4-cent-per-gallon tax funds the surface transportation program.

Obama calls on Congress to fund transportation

http://content.usatoday.com/

President Obama called Saturday for Congress to put aside “political gamesmanship” and extend highway and mass transit funding that’s in danger of expiring in four weeks. Using his weekly radio address to follow up on an issue he addressed earlier in the week at the White House, Obama accused lawmakers of “political posturing” that risks thousands of construction jobs and billions of dollars.In doing so, the president referred to the construction industry as “one of the hardest-hit in this recession” — even though the recession ended two years ago. “We need to pass this transportation bill and put people to work rebuilding America,” Obama said. “We need to put our differences aside and do the right thing for our economy. And now is the time to act.”

Delayed transport bill has 12,000 Minnesota jobs in limbo

http://www.startribune.com

For Sandy Martin, the mayor of Shoreview, the transportation bill is not about congressional wrangling over spending and the deficit. It’s simply a matter of whether Shoreview residents will be able to get to and from work without huge delays. “The day-to-day lives of people will be affected,” Martin said. “These are not things that small local governments can take on.” Shoreview has waited 15 years for a highway project to ease congestion on the interstates surrounding the small city, Martin said. Weary of more delays, she signed a letter to congressional leaders of both parties, all but begging them to extend the transportation bill and transportation user fees before they expire Sept. 30. She was among 128 mayors from around the country to do so, including eight in Minnesota. The bill would continue work on a variety of projects — highway construction, bridge repair, mass transit systems, among others. About 847,000 existing jobs — more than 12,000 in Minnesota — would be disrupted if the legislation isn’t approved. The campaign for the bill reflects the new reality in the nation’s capital, where what would have been a routine extension is instead in limbo, as both parties debate spending priorities.

Inflation, not bike sharing, is why the gas tax isn’t enough

http://greatergreaterwashington.org

Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) recently railed against urban bike sharing, blaming it, pedestrian funding, and more for the gas tax not covering all transportation needs. But the real problem is that the gas tax is bringing in less revenue than in the past. Virginia, Maryland, and DC are also raising record low amounts of revenue, adjusted for inflation, compared to almost any time in the history of their gas taxes. Cantor says that federal bicycle and pedestrian funding in FY 2011 was around $1 billion. He claims that we spent $53 billion on highway and transit projects, which are the only types of transportation projects he considers appropriate. That means we spent 1.85% of our transportation budget on bikes and peds.

Minnesota Highway Funding

http://kaaltv.com

The combination of high gas prices and more fuel-efficient vehicles on state roadways, have legislators and transportation agencies concerned about the future of highway construction maintenance.High gas prices have made drivers think twice about what kind of vehicle they’re driving, and that could be bad news to highway construction maintenance.”What’s happening is we’re looking at 10 to 20 years in the future when hybrids and more fuel efficient cars are out on the roadway which is great for the environment but it does reduce that funding that comes in,” said Kristine Hernandez, Mn/DOT district 6 public affairs coordinator.A study from the University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies (CTS) says those money saving strategies are killing fuel-based systems for funding road projects.

Firms cited by feds hired by Central Corridor

http://www.startribune.com/

Companies accused of misrepresenting their work on the metro area’s first light-rail line are now at work on the second one. The accusations illustrate how the Metropolitan Council, which has overseen both projects, can be more lenient than federal officials in enforcing rules intended to give work to firms owned by minorities and women. The federal government recently identified C.S. McCrossan, a prime contractor on the Central Corridor light-rail project, as having been a partner in a joint venture that broke rules on using so-called disadvantaged firms when building the Hiawatha Line .The joint venture claimed credit for giving work to firms headed by minorities or women, but the work really went to other companies, the government said. Two of the disadvantaged firms involved in the alleged abuse on Hiawatha are now working on the Central Corridor with a new venture involving C.S. McCrossan. The conduct of the three companies comes to light as the Met Council is again pursuing an ambitious goal of awarding 15 percent of the construction dollars for the $957 million Central Corridor project to firms owned by minorities or women deemed Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE).Nationwide, the federal government wants at least 10 percent of construction contract dollars going to disadvantaged firms.

Light rail is tight squeeze in north Minneapolis

http://finance-commerce.com

At the heart of an issue that planners, politicians and community members are grappling with now is whether and where a potential Bottineau LRT system could wind its way through north Minneapolis — bringing with it the redevelopment possibilities that the mostly low-income, foreclosure- and tornado-ravaged community so desperately desires.   Oliver Avenue’s right-of-way width (including street, gutter and sidewalk) is 60 feet. University Avenue, along which the Central Corridor LRT is under construction, is twice as wide. “Oliver is going to be a tight fit,” said Raymond Dehn of the Northside Transportation Network. He, like most riders, was on the bus as a representative on the Bottineau policy advisory committee for Hennepin County, which is doing the planning work for this corridor. But Dehn’s  Northside Transportation Network was instrumental in getting planners to consider building the line through north Minneapolis.

MnDOT rejects alternate St. Croix river bridge proposal

http://www.wqow.com

A proposal to build a smaller St. Croix river bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin is being criticized by Minnesota’s Department of Transportation.A group drafted the plan to counter a $690 million dollar four-lane bridge proposal. The alternate plan envisions a 3-lane bridge built diagonally to connect with the Wisconsin end of the Stillwater lift bridge. Supporters say such a bridge would save millions of dollars for Minnesota taxpayers while addressing transportation needs for western Wisconsin. A review by the Minnesota DOT concluded the alternative plan varies little from an earlier plan rejected several years ago.If the $690 million dollar, four-lane proposal is approved by congress this fall the Minnesota DOT says it’s ready to begin work immediately. The bridge is needed to address problems with heavy traffic in downtown Stillwater and the growing population in the area.

Oil company disappointed in frac sand mining ban

http://www.businessweek.com/

An official with Windsor Energy Resources Inc., an oil exploration company that wanted to mine a special kind of sand in southeastern Minnesota, expressed disappointment Wednesday about a vote by a county board for a one-year moratorium while it studies the potential environmental, health and financial impacts. People filled a public hearing room in Red Wing for a meeting Tuesday night that lasted nearly three hours and included public comments from 20 people in support of the moratorium. No one spoke in opposition to the temporary ban, which Goodhue County Commissioner Jim Bryant said will give officials time to assemble an advisory board to study the impact.

Attorney General Van Hollen: Announces $2.4 million paid back to the Wisconsin Deptartment of Transportation

http://wispolitics.com/

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has announced the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has been paid its claims, in full, on two outstanding Freight Railroad Infrastructure Improvement Program (“FRIIP”) loans. The payment, on August 31, 2011, was in the amount of $2,400,642.32. In 2004 and 2008, the State Department of Transportation made two FRIIP loans to Olsen Brothers Enterprises to improve railroad infrastructure at grain elevator/storage facilities in Oshkosh and Boscobel, Wisconsin. Both loans eventually went into default. The principals of the borrowing company filed joint Chapter 11 bankruptcies in December, 2010. These two loan balances were part of the claims in those Chapter 11 bankruptcies. The Attorney General’s Office worked with other creditors to assist in fashioning a plan which would pay secured creditors, save the jobs of grain elevator/storage employees and marshal as many assets as possible for the unsecured creditors. As part of the Chapter 11 Plan, approved by Court Order on August 30, 2011, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (“ADM”) purchased several major assets from the bankruptcies estates. That sale, which closed on August 31, 2011, also involved ADM retaining the employees who worked at the related facilities. On August 31, 2011, the State Department of Transportation was paid $2,400,642.32 to fully satisfy its two outstanding loans.

Caltrain rejects lowest bidder to operate system

http://www.mercurynews.com

As Caltrain readies for another financial crisis that could strip riders of their favorite service or lead to tax hikes, the railroad is turning down an offer from a massive transit company to operate the commuter line at a savings of $24 million over the next five years Caltrain executives say they are getting “the best bang for their buck” by picking the second-cheapest operator — a firm they say was so impressive it “blew their socks off” and will still do the job for less money than what they had budgeted for future years. The Caltrain board on Thursday is expected to sign a new five-year, $398.6 million deal with Missouri-based TransitAmerica to operate Caltrain service at the start of 2012, taking over the expiring contract from longtime partner Amtrak. The contract makes up more than 60 percent of Caltrain spending. The winning firm must hire conductors and engineers, maintain the railroad and handle most other nonadministrative duties. But Veolia — which claims to be North America’s largest private transportation provider– submitted an offer for the same job that was 12 percent cheaper than TransitAmerica’s plan.

Getting There from Here

http://www.citywatchla.com/

As the various meetings for the Wilshire Subway, Crenshaw/LAX, Green Line to LAX, South Bay Green Line Extension, Downtown Light Rail Connector and other Metro projects bring us that much closer to seeing these projects move from science fiction to fact, and as the Expo and Foothill Gold Lines get built before our eyes, more and more commuters, employers and politicians are taking these projects seriously. Meanwhile, Mayor Villaraigosa is both fighting for federal loans and ways to get local workers employed to build the rail and other transportation projects that have been launched years forward by the passage of Measure R.

$1bn funding agreed for Denver’s Eagle Commuter Rail Line

http://www.rail.co

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has signed an agreement committing $1 billion to Denver’s Eagle P3, a 30-mile two-pronged commuter rail project that will significantly expand transportation choices in the greater Denver area, create jobs and cut by nearly half the amount of time it now takes to get from downtown Denver to the airport.Secretary LaHood signed the funding agreement at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gold Line in Olde Town Arvada today, alongside Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, U.S. Representative Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Representative Diana DeGette, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other area officials.“Through the Eagle P3 project, the Obama Administration and the Denver Regional Transportation District are putting greater Denver on a smart path to sustainable growth, while generating thousands of good local jobs,” said Secretary LaHood.

Groundbreaking set for 2nd stage of LA rail line

http://www.sacbee.com

Groundbreaking is scheduled Monday in Santa Monica for the second phase of a light rail line that will link downtown Los Angeles with the beach city.The first phase of the Expo line will run about 8 1/2 miles west from Los Angeles to Culver City. Most of that stage is scheduled to open this year with a final section to begin operations in 2012.Phase II will extend the line another 6.6 miles between Culver City and Santa Monica. The $1.5-billion second stage is expected to open in 2015.