WASHINGTON, D.C. — Decades of spending on new road construction and underinvestment in regular repair have left many states’ roads in poor condition, and costs to repair these roads are rising faster than many states can address them. These liabilities are outlined in a new report from Smart Growth America and Taxpayers for Common Sense, which examines road conditions and spending priorities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report recommends changes at both the state and federal level that can reduce future liabilities, benefit taxpayers and create a better transportation system.

RICHMOND, VA. — Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell recently signed legislation that could make the constant loud "whoosh" of car and truck tires on the highway a bit quieter after the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) repaves the driving surfaces of certain high-speed roads. The legislation directs VDOT to construct several demonstration projects to further study "quiet-pavement" technologies. These projects will help determine how well the new pavements perform over two winters in Virginia.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 47,700 pedestrians were killed in the United States between 2000 and 2009, and the majority of those deaths were preventable, according to a new report released by Transportation for America. The report, “Dangerous by Design 2011: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths,” shows how roadway designs promoted by federal investment endanger people on foot.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transportation Research Board (TRB) standing committees have issued calls for papers for the TRB 91st Annual Meeting, Jan. 22-26, 2012, in Washington, D.C, and the Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board. While papers addressing any relevant aspect of transportation research will be considered, some committees are soliciting papers in specific subject areas to help potential authors identify topics for their papers. Committees will be producing calls for papers through June.

EXTON, PA. — Bentley Systems Inc. is accepting entries for the 2011 Be Inspired Awards competition, which brings together infrastructure professionals from around the world as well as members of the academic community to advance best practices and innovation in information modeling leading to higher-performing infrastructure and more cost-effective project realization and promote the extraordinary achievements of architects, engineers, constructors, geospatial professionals, and owner-operators in sustaining infrastructure empowered by Bentley software.