by John Latta, Better Roads Editor-in-Chief, sister publication to Aggregates Manager magazine

ORLANDO—1st International Transportation Construction Management Conference

Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) head Victor Mendez had at least a positive outlook on Feb. 8 at the 1st International Transportation Construction Management Conference, one that is loaded with intense technical presentations.

One: Mendez and House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman John Mica appear to be getting on like a house on fire.

Two: They both think we’ll have a surface transportation bill on the President’s desk by the August recess.

Three: Both share an urgent desire to cut project delivery times in half. Mendez says FHWA is already working on it with two distinct foci — more efficient planning and more efficient construction.

Four: One of the most important takeaways from the Stimulus was that urgency, properly channeled, works.

Five: There is technology out there that is unemployed or underemployed and decision-makers in industry and government need to be bolder and less risk averse, without being foolhardy, in finding ways to use them.