Tag: infrastructure

$96.3M IndyGo Project Includes Civil, Infrastructure Work

Posted on by Dan Osborn

IndyGo representatives presented the Red Line Rapid Transit construction project to potential bidders at the Indianapolis Central Library on Tuesday, June 27. IndyGo plans to let two contracts in September of 2017 for work to build Phase I of the Red Line Rapid Transit (BRT). The Phase I project will run from Broad Ripple south to the University of Indianapolis.

Two bid packages are planned for release in late July or early August. Bid package A will include civil and utility work including paving, sidewalk, curb, curb ramps, storm water, power, traffic signals and structure foundations. Package B will include bus station structures and amenities. The total project cost including engineering, utilities, construction, and capital costs is $96.3 million. Per IndyGo’s FAQ webpage, estimated costs include $57 million for infrastructure upgrades, $14.5 million in vehicle costs, and $25 million in contingency to cover unforeseen expenses or cost inflation. HNTB, project construction manager, Kevin Campbell stated that “utility conflict coordination work has begun but utility construction may not be complete prior to commencement of contract work.”

IndyGo plans to award the projects in the October 2017 IndyGo Board meeting and issue a notice to proceed no later than December 2017. The project completion date is in December 2018. For more information and updates, visit https://www.indygo.net/redline/.

Trump’s Call for Infrastructure Investment

Posted on by Andria Hine
Source: AGC of America Highway Facts Bulletin

President-elect Donald Trump highlighted investment in transportation and other infrastructure as a top priority in his victory speech on election night, renewing one of his consistent campaign themes. Trump said, “We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it.” During the campaign, Trump called for infrastructure investments in the range of $1 trillion over 10 year and released a plan that calls for tax credits to spur private investment to finance the imitative. Congressional action will be needed to implement any infrastructure plan proposed by the new Administration.

Several weeks ago AGC, along with other leading business, labor, transportation and travel organizations, sent a letter to the Trump campaign asking them to address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund as a part of any new infrastructure proposal.  The letter was signed by 34 organizations that included many transportation and construction groups, along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, U.S Travel and the Retail Industry Leaders of North America. The support of the broader business community is integral in building support for a Highway Trust Fund fix.

AGC has provided information and suggestions for infrastructure investment to the Trump transition team and plans future meetings to discuss ideas.

AGC Wins Big in Unanimous Supreme Court Decision

Posted on by Andria Hine

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on May 31 that will allow the construction and development industries with a way to respond immediately to overly aggressive assertions by the federal government that the property they want to build contains jurisdic-tional “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). A “jurisdictional determination” (JD) significantly impacts how land may be used and dramatically raises the cost, and often reduces the feasibility, of constructing critical infrastructure. AGC submitted a joint “friend of the court” brief in the case, US Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., making a strong case for why it is vital for contractors to know with certainty whether their projects contain WOTUS.

AGC was the only trade association to advance the commercial construction industry’s interest in the outcome of this case and, once again, AGC has succeeded in changing facts on the ground. This decision will have a material impact on the way that the Section 404 permit program actually functions.

Read more here.

INDOT Accepting Applications for Local Road and Bridge Matching Grant Funds

Posted on by Andria Hine
Source: INDOT news release

Community Crossings program provides millions in funding to cities, counties, and towns for infrastructure.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Transportation announced today that the agency is accepting applications from cities, towns, and counties across Indiana for matching funds for local road and bridge projects through Community Crossings, the State’s local road and bridge matching grant fund.

On March 23, 2016, Governor Mike Pence signed HEA1001 which created the local road and bridge matching grant program. HEA 1001 provides $186 million in state reserves for local road and bridge funding over the next two years, and provides $277 million over the next four years by redirecting an additional 1 and ½ pennies of the gasoline use tax to local roads to be phased in over two years; $100 million in funding will be available each year going forward providing long-term road funding for locals.

Projects that are eligible for funding through Community Crossings include road resurfacing, bridge rehabilitation, road reconstruction, roundabouts, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance in connection with road projects. Material costs for chip sealing and crack filling operations are also eligible for funds.

Projects submitted to INDOT for funding will be evaluated based on need, traffic volume, local support, the impact on connectivity and mobility within the community, and regional economic significance.

Community Crossings is open to all local government units in the State of Indiana. Cities, towns, and counties awarded grants will receive funding based on a 50/50 match. For example, a county that is awarded a grant for a roundabout project that is estimated to cost $1 million would receive $500,000 in funding from the State with the County providing the other $500,000.

For more information and to apply for a Community Crossings grant, visit in.gov/indot/2390.htm and download the application. All application materials must be submitted via email to LPA_MPO@indot.in.gov by Friday, July 15, 2016 at 5 p.m. ET. Communities selected to receive funding for projects will be notified by INDOT in early August 2016.