WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John L. Mica (R-FL) and Members of the Committee unveiled the American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act. The initiative is a long overdue infrastructure bill that reforms transportation programs and promotes increased domestic energy production to create American jobs.

  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) told the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) that the best way to reduce unnecessary regulatory red-tape on transportation projects is to improve the wetlands permitting process. ARTBA submitted comments to the Corps Jan. 17 in response to a government-wide regulatory review initiated by President Obama in 2011, detailing specific recommendations to make wetlands permitting more efficient.

  RICHMOND, VA. — The proposed Route 460 Corridor - Interstate 85 Connector Improvement Project between Hampton Roads and Petersburg will do far more than present an alternative to the congested I-64 corridor, according to a new report released by Chmura Economics, a national consulting firm based in Richmond. Chmura's study states that the $1.6 billion project to provide a new four-lane highway linking the Port of Virginia to commercial and population centers to the south and west will have an annual economic impact by 2020 estimated at $7.3 billion, supporting 14,120 jobs in the corridor, and $5.7 billion, supporting 11,255 jobs in the Hampton Roads area alone.

  LAS VEGAS — As oil prices rise and refineries adopt new technologies, industry experts are seeing a direct impact on the costs for states to build and maintain roads and highways. According to the Portland Cement Association (PCA), the lower “initial bid” of asphalt roads has disappeared, yet industry experts say many state departments of transportation (DOTs) have not changed their bidding policies.

  PALM DESERT, CALIF. — The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) released a report on life-cycle cost analysis (LCCA) procedures which examines in depth the concept of the material-specific discount rate. "Material-Specific Discount Rate: Inappropriate for Life-Cycle Cost Analysis" (NAPA Special Report 203) outlines standard and customary life-cycle cost analysis models. It also highlights a light on a “material-specific discount rate,” which is being promoted by the cement and concrete industries.