A recent story from NPR news discusses the issue of America’s air traffic control system:

A recent story from NPR news discusses the issue of America’s air traffic control system:
“The radar system used to guide U.S. flights is more than 40 years old, which may help explain why nearly one-quarter of all those flights are late. The Federal Aviation Administration wants to phase out radar and roll out a satellite-based air traffic control system, NextGen, which is based on the same GPS technology now used in cars.

Air traffic controllers and pilots would have instantaneous information on the location of any plane at any time. Supporters of the system say it would allow planes to fly closer together, making more room in the sky for additional flights and cutting delays. But it will cost the government as much as $20 billion to update its air traffic control operations, and the airline industry will have to spend another $20 billion for new equipment and training. Some airlines are already spending money on upgrades to be ready for NextGen, which is scheduled to be up and running by 2025. But so far, Washington has not anted up the cash the FAA needs to modernize.”

The story goes on to say that “The House is moving forward with legislation similar to what it passed last year, and some of the issues that dragged down that legislation could return. Those include a passenger bill of rights, a ban on cell phones in flight and labor issues with traffic controllers. Dorgan [Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)] says the Senate is writing its own bill and will hold another round of hearings this spring.”

For the full story, please visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102914658.

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U.S. Infrastructure Gets "D" From ASCE

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released the full findings of its survey on the state of American infrastructure in a 153-page report entitled 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure. The ASCE issued grades of "D" for aviation, "C" for bridges, "C-" for rail, "D-" for roads, and "D" for mass transit. The overall grade for infrastructure in the U.S. was a "D". The report card estimates that over the past five years, there has been an infrastructure investment shortfall in the U.S. of $2.2 trillion. Among the report card's other findings:

- American commuters spend 4.2 billion hours per year stuck in traffic, at a cost to the economy of $78 billion (roughly $710 per motorist)

- Poor road conditions cost drivers another $67 billion annually in vehicle repairs and increased operating costs

- One-third of America's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition and 45% of major urban highways are congested

- Current spending of $70 billion per year for highway capital improvements is well below the estimated $186 billion needed annually to substantially improve existing conditions

- Over the next five years, the report card estimates road and bridge investment needs at $930 billion, but spending at current levels would only allot $381 billion, leaving a project $549 billion five-year shortfall

The ASCE analysis of Pennsylvania produced some startling, though not unexpected, conclusions. The ASCE report card states that 50% of Pennsylvania's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Roughly 44% of Pennsylvania's major roads are in poor or mediocre condition. Another 34% of Pennsylvania's major urban highways are congested. Vehicle travel along Pennsylvania highways increased 27% from 1990 to 2007. Pennsylvania currently has $3 billion in backlogged road repairs.

ASCE President Wayne Klotz noted that while the nation's infrastructure problems are significant and very serious to the country's economic health, the crisis is solvable. The report card proposed five key solutions to improve U.S. infrastructure:

- Increase federal leadership in infrastructure to address the crisis

- Promote sustainability and resilience in infrastructure to protect the natural environment and withstand natural and man-made hazards

- Develop national, state, and regional infrastructure plans that complement a national vision and focus on statewide results

- Address the lifecycle costs and ongoing maintenance to meet the needs of current and future users

- Increase and improve infrastructure investment from all stakeholders

The ASCE also recommended reform of the federal highway program to emphasize performance management, cost/benefit analysis, and accountability. To read a copy of the ASCE 2009 Report Card for America's Infrastructure, click here. A link to state-by-state infrastructure grades is also available, beginning with Pennsylvania.

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SEPTA Building and Strengthening the Region

With the passage of the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act”, Congress and the President established a $787 billion economic stimulus program that will provide funds for revitalization projects including transit, highway, bridge, and infrastructure improvements, among others. Locally, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) is the agency responsible for allocating the transportation stimulus dollars. On February 26, 2009, the DVRPC Board approved some $668 million for initiatives in Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. Of this funding, SEPTA will receive $191 million to complete 26 capital development projects. SEPTA has identified an additional $300 million in projects, should more stimulus funds become available in the future.
In identifying eligible projects, SEPTA followed the basic program principles: -Projects had to be “shovel-ready”
-Construction contracts would have to be awarded within 180 days
-Project funds would have to be spent within two (2) years
-Projects would vary in size and complexity requiring the services of small, medium, and large firms including DBE firms
-Passenger service operations would be maintained during project constructionIn order to hit the ground running once stimulus dollars are released, SEPTA has taken a number of steps to ensure that its capital development projects are ready to go including issuing requests for bids on work that will be completed by third party contractors and holding the first of several information sessions for DBE businesses – prime contractors and subcontractors – to ensure that all interested parties have the opportunity to compete for stimulus funded contracts. SEPTA has demonstrated a longstanding partnership commitment to building and strengthening our region – through the delivery of transit services, investing in our station, facility, infrastructure, and vehicle assets, and advancing sustainability/resource management initiatives. The funding SEPTA receives through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will enable the Authority to meet these objectives by enhancing transit amenities for customers and supporting the region’s economy through construction contracts and the purchase of goods and services.

Click HERE for a full list of projects.

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