Western/Pacific Smooth Ride Sentinel
The Voice of the APA Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain Regional Councils
Ever wonder the gas tax has not increased since 1993? Click here to find out why in this article by POLITICO. Excerpt: The reason is simple math: The gasoline tax that bankrolls the federal Highway Trust Fund is politically untouchable, leading lawmakers and presidents of both parties to balk at raising it since 1993. But… Continue reading Drivers used to pay for roads. Washington is killing that idea.
What now! Wondering what to do with those millions and millions of disposable face masks that people have been wearing during the pandemic — and then disposing of basically wherever they please? Why not make a new road? “The face masks have some amazing properties, including high tensile strengths and ductility,” Li explains. As a… Continue reading Got face masks? Make a road!
Someday we may be constructing smart roads . . . The focus on autonomous vehicle technology should not be isolated to the car itself, but also in upgrading the actual road infrastructure. State-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) to advance smart infrastructure will not only help driverless vehicles understand the roads better, but also improve overall road… Continue reading OPINION: Why smart roads are just as important as autonomous vehicles
Many airfields are constructed using asphalt pavements. It's good news to hear about the FAA's $630 million in grants. The FAA grants go to major US airports that hundreds of millions of passengers pass through each year and to minor airports that only see a few flights per day and some airports that receive essential… Continue reading FAA Supports Airport Improvement Projects With $630m In Grants
KEY POINTS- The Biden administration is expected to focus on infrastructure spending after a new Covid-19 stimulus bill is signed.- Martin Marietta Materials CEO Ward Nye said he welcomed the White House's efforts, which come during a booming homebuilding market. Martin Marietta Materials CEO Ward Nye was optimistic about his company's prospects on Monday as… Continue reading Martin Marietta Materials CEO is bullish as he expects more federal spending on roads
Congress, at the behest of President Joe Biden, is hashing out its own major infrastructure plan, but some governors and legislatures figure they can go ahead and make critical one-time investments in road construction, broadband or other infrastructure projects. Some also are looking to target long-term funding for bigger-ticket items. “Our needs are so great.… Continue reading States’ COVID-Era Budget Surpluses Could Pay For Infrastructure
Oregon is moving forward with a voluntary road-usage fee program as a potential means of shoring up the diminishing highway funding normally gathered through gasoline taxes. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently signed an agreement with Azuga, a connected vehicles technology provider, to serve as the account management provider for an upcoming six-month pilot project.… Continue reading Oregon Tests Voluntary Road-Use Fee to Shore Up Gas Tax
This year’s update of the nation’s premier highway policy law will focus heavily on climate change initiatives, two congressional lawmakers central to passing that legislation told state officials Feb. 24. Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the U.S. House, and his Senate counterpart, Environment and Public Works Chairman Tom… Continue reading Climate Change to Dominate Highway Policy, Top Transportation Lawmakers Say
The Winter 2021 issue of Centerline has arrived with news from the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon. Some GOOD news from 2020: APAO members large and small proved that they care about their neighbors and will help in times of need. Some examples are:- Industry Safety: CRH posted a COVID-19 safety video to YouTube that… Continue reading APAO Centerline – Winter 2021
FHWA has recently published a series of four Technical Briefs developed in cooperation with the University of Nevada Reno. These Technical Briefs provide an overview of FHWA’s demonstration project on Enhancing Durability of Asphalt Pavements Through Increased In-place Density. The overall objective of the demonstration project was to show that additional density could be obtained… Continue reading FHWA Technical Briefs – FHWA’s Asphalt Density Demonstration Project
