WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National League of Cities (NLC) applauded Senators for their strong leadership in passing S.1813 in a bipartisan effort: “This multiyear surface transportation bill is a model for the House of Representatives as it provides adequate funding and recognizes the importance of transportation funding to local economic development and vitality. 

By Jerry Wray, director, Ohio Department of Transportation

Ohio’s highways are essential to keeping and creating new jobs. Our state’s economy — especially our agriculture and manufacturing businesses, and the logistics operations that support them — depend on the ability to quickly and efficiently ship raw materials and finished goods throughout Ohio, the country and the world, and our state’s transportation system makes it possible. This critical economic engine risks running out of gas. Funding for our highways is drying up and is not projected to keep up with our needs. In fact, the state’s highway budget faces a $1.6 billion shortfall, which will force high-priority projects to face serious completion delays. 

   WASHINGTON, D.C. — All nine justices on the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and refused to widen the scope of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). In PPL Montana, LLC v. Montana, the court, Feb. 22, unanimously declined to expand the definition of what is considered “navigable” under federal law. The ruling removes a road block that could have needlessly delayed transportation improvements.

  DENVER — The Colorado High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) released a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a public-private partnership (P3) for Phase 2 of the US 36 Managed Lanes/Bus Rapid Transit project, the phase that will complete improvements to the corridor between Denver and Boulder. US 36 is a priority regional transportation project in one of the highest growth corridors in the state.

   WASHINGTON, D.C. — One hundred ten years ago — Feb. 13, 1902 — a small group of influential Americans heeded the call from Michigan public official Horatio S. Earle and gathered at the Cadillac Hotel in New York City to launch what has become the nation’s oldest and highly influential transportation advocacy group: the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).