Thu July 21, 2016
Mesa Voters to Weigh in on Sales Tax Hike This Fall
MESA, Ariz. (AP) Mesa voters will have the chance in November to weigh in on a sales tax hike that would fund public safety and higher education improvements. KNXV-TV reports that city leaders put a 0.4 percent sales tax increase on the November 8 ballot....
Thu July 21, 2016
ASA: 'Pay-If-Paid' Rule Must Be Reversed
A Kentucky Court of Appeals ruling in a case involving the construction of a condominium and garage in Covington, Ky., contradicts the Commonwealth's strong public policy that those who furnish construction materials or labor under written agreements must receive just compensation, the American Subcontractors Association told the Supreme Court of Kentucky....
Wed July 20, 2016
Hundreds of DOT Workers Offered Buyouts
Local North Carolina news affiliate WTVD is reporting that hundreds of workers at the NC Department of Transportation are being offered an employee buy-out as part of a massive reorganization. Workers got an email in late May explaining the Reorganization Through Reduction plan and describing it in glowing terms, as a "voluntary separation" program designed to "empower employees." The email goes on to say if there aren't enough volunteers, there may be cuts anyway....
Wed July 20, 2016
TEX Rail Construction Receives Green Light to Start 27-Mi. Commuter Rail Job
The Federal Transit Administration awarded a letter of no prejudice to the Fort Worth Transportation Authority for TEX Rail, which means construction for the 27-mi. (43.5 km) commuter rail can break ground....
Wed July 20, 2016
Gov. Christie Has 'No Idea' When Road Construction Shutdown Will End
The website NJ.com is reporting that a stalemate between the state Senate and Gov. Chris Christie over funding for New Jersey's Transportation Trust Fund shows no sign of yielding as a statewide road and rail construction shutdown continues into its second week....
Wed July 20, 2016
AED Hosts U.S. Rep. Barletta at McCann Industries
On July 18th the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) hosted U.S. Representative Lou Barletta (PA-11) for a facility tour and a discussion of business and tax issues affecting AED member companies, their suppliers and their employees....
Tue July 19, 2016
Major U.S. City's Infrastructure Bill Jumps $105M Over Budget
The Baltimore Sun is reporting that private contractors fixing Baltimore's water mains, repaving roads and rehabbing buildings routinely go over budget — at a cost to taxpayers of more than $105 million over the past four years, a Baltimore Sun review has found....
Tue July 19, 2016
$60M Grant to Fund Road Project
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Louisiana is getting a $60 million federal grant that will allow the state to complete a nearly 15-mi. (24 km) pavement replacement and lane addition project between the Interstate 10 and Interstate 49 interchange and the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge....
Mon July 18, 2016
State Announces $200M in Bridge Funding
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the availability of $200 million in enhanced assistance for local governments over the next two years to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide. This funding, provided through the Governor's BRIDGE NY initiative, is being administered by the New York State Department of Transportation as part of its $21.1 billion five-year Capital Plan....
Fri July 15, 2016
Bakken Pipeline to Run Under Sacred Tribal Site
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Iowa officials will allow work on a four-state oil pipeline to go forward after the company submitted a plan to avoid disrupting an American Indian burial ground. Department of Natural Resources spokesman Kevin Baskins told The Des Moines Register that Texas-based Dakota Access LLC was given an amendment on its permit to dig at Big Sioux River Wildlife Management Area....
