“After years of inaction, we are glad to see that both houses of Congress are now making progress on surface transportation reauthorization. It is critical that lawmakers build on the momentum and work together in a bipartisan manner to complete a new multi-year highway bill that restores certainty to federal infrastructure programs and lays a solid foundation for America’s future economic growth.”

In the guides, for each occupation, the average and median annual salary and hourly wage paid, as well as break-points for both at the 10th, 25th, 75th and 90th percentiles, are listed. The guides use the most recently released data (May 2011) from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  The BLS project collected wage and salary information from all U.S. business sectors and includes data and estimates for 350,000 employees working at construction firms that classified their primary business as “highways, streets, and bridges.”

VMT refers to the number of miles vehicles travel over a given time period and is routinely used to measure traffic on America’s roads and bridges and to calculate important statistics including traffic fatalities, fuel efficiency, and air quality.

The new methodology does not affect how the federal gas tax is calculated and will not impact Highway Trust Fund (HTF) revenue or how the FHWA distributes highway funds to states.

In 2010, the number and rate of traffic fatalities fell to the lowest levels since 1949, despite a significant increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year. This new methodology has no effect on overall fatality numbers.

“We regularly review and assess all our data programs to ensure we are using the best available information,” said FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez. “This is a good example of how we’re able to develop better ways of reporting critical information.”

In the last decade, states have dramatically improved the way they collect travel data thanks to improved technical equipment for counting and classifying vehicles, better federal guidance on how to gather the information, and a move by the FHWA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2007 to mandate states report data on motorcycle travel.

Simultaneously, the discontinuation of the Vehicle Inventory and Use Survey (VIUS) in 2002 — which was previously collected by the Department of Labor and used to benchmark vehicle miles travelled — made it critical to look to other, improved data collection methods. The new methodology uses more consistent, complete data gathered directly from the states and ensures more accurate calculations for VMT by vehicle type.

While the revised approach doesn’t impact annual VMT overall, it does change VMT figures for specific vehicle types. For example, VMT for light duty passenger vehicles is lower, resulting in a slightly higher fatality rate. VMT for motorcycles, buses, and large trucks are all higher, resulting in lower fatality rates.

The study comes at a time when some members of Congress are proposing that the next surface transportation authorization act, the law that governs the largest federal funding streams for states’ transportation systems, more closely tie dollars to performance.

The report, Measuring Transportation Investments: The Road to Results, found considerable differences among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in linking transportation systems to six key goals particularly important to states’ economic well-being and taxpayers’ quality of life: safety, jobs and commerce, mobility, access, environmental stewardship and infrastructure preservation.

Only 13 states — California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington — have goals, performance measures and data to help decision makers prioritize transportation spending. Nineteen states trail behind, lacking a full array of tools needed to account for the return on investment in their roads, highways, bridges and bus and rail systems. The remaining 18 states and Washington, D.C., fall someplace in between, with mixed results.

Most states are entering their fourth year of the ongoing budget crisis, having closed more than $400 billion in budget gaps since 2008. At the same time, policy and business leaders across the country are acknowledging that states’ transportation systems are essential to helping advance short- and long-term economic growth.

“State lawmakers must make transportation policy and spending choices based on evidence about what works and what does not,” said Robert Zahradnik, director of research, Pew Center on the States. “Unless states have clear goals, performance measures and data to generate that information, it is very difficult for policy makers to prioritize transportation investments effectively, target scarce resources and help foster economic growth.”

“The American public expects leaders to manage our transportation investment with an eye toward performance and results. In fact, in our recent Rockefeller Foundation Infrastructure Survey, 90 percent favored strengthening policies that hold government accountable for collecting data and ensuring that investments fit into an overall plan that is on time and on budget,” said Nicholas Turner, Rockefeller Foundation managing director.  “This report, which comes at a time when performance and outcomes are such critical pieces of the transportation policy debate, provides both examples of how a handful of states do this well and how many others still have a long road ahead of them.”

The six key goals are:

• Safety: This is the area in which states are doing the best job of measuring performance and responding to results. Every state and Washington, DC, has goals and compiles data on indicators such as fatalities and crashes. For example, Oregon measures the number and rate of crashes in which large trucks were at fault. Based on data focusing on commercial drivers, the state has instituted more frequent inspections, safety compliance reviews and removal of drivers in the event of violations.
• Jobs and commerce: Conversely, only 16 states earn top marks for measuring their transportation systems’ performance in this area. Some have begun to develop methods to connect transportation dollars more closely with jobs and commerce. Michigan, for instance, uses an analytical tool to estimate the economic benefits of transportation spending over time, including jobs by industry sector, the value of shipments and gross state product. But many are struggling to make those linkages.
• Mobility: Twenty-eight states and Washington, DC, are doing a good job measuring how well they connect people to their destinations—using the information to combat congestion and manage accidents and other incidents that affect traffic flow. For example, Washington State uses performance data to track accidents and responses, not only as a means of improving safety but also to cut down on the time wasted and the mobility lost when an incident clogs the highway system.
• Access: Half the states and Washington, DC, are leading the way in collecting and tracking information about the availability and use of transportation options such as public transit, including in linking workers and employers. Minnesota, one state that earns high marks in this area, tracks data on the percentage of important commercial centers served by inter-city bus service.
• Environmental stewardship: Thirty-four states and Washington, DC, show mixed results or are trailing behind in having the goals, performance measures or data in place to assess how their transportation systems affect the environment. But some states, such as Maryland, are taking steps forward. Maryland tracks its progress in reducing vehicle miles traveled, measures reductions in energy consumption by examining the use of hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles and presents annual data on acres of wetlands or wildlife habitat created, restored or improved.
• Infrastructure preservation: More than three-quarters of states earn top marks for having needed information to assess their progress and make smart decisions in this area. For example, Virginia has set a target that 82 percent of its primary roads be in fair or better condition. The state surveys conditions each year to gauge its performance.

The report describes policies and practices lawmakers can adopt to collect and use information that can improve taxpayers’ return on investment in states’ transportation systems, even in difficult fiscal times. Among them:

• Enact or improve performance measurement legislation. At both the federal and state levels, legislation can seek to mandate or incentivize states to go beyond simply collecting information and actually use it to make important transportation policy and funding choices. For instance, in some cases, budget requests are tied to submission of performance data.
• Develop an appropriations process that makes better use of data. States need to develop more comprehensive systems to ensure that policy makers are asking for and using solid information in their deliberations about transportation spending. Some Connecticut legislators, for example, use data from agencies’ past performance, including demonstrated accomplishments, before they make new funding choices.
• Increase the use of cost-benefit and other types of economic analysis in making transportation decisions. Economic analysis can be valuable in assessing the cost effectiveness or economic impact of a proposed transportation project. Missouri, for example, estimates the number of jobs that may be created by proposed transportation projects. The state also estimates job creation by specific industry. This method can help inform decisions about transportation investments.

States were assessed based on a review of more than 800 performance, planning and budget documents. They were rated on one of three levels — leading the way, having mixed results or trailing behind — for each of the six key goals. Each state also was given an overall rating.

WSDOT plans to award the contracts this fall and start construction in the spring, creating or supporting an estimated 580 jobs, according to the repot.

More than a year of favorable bids on state and federally funded projects has saved the state millions on highway improvements. Pooling project savings and making program adjustments made this funding available for additional projects.

“We carefully spend our share of federal gas taxes on projects across the state, and recent low bids on projects put money back into the bucket to be spent on even more projects,” said Washington Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond in a written statement ”Our tax dollars are going further, and we are working hard to spend them wisely to put people to work in parts of the state where the work is needed most.”

WSDOT will use the bulk of the money to preserve and repair aging highways, including repaving part of I-5 near Bellingham and I-90 near Spokane. Funds also will pave rural highways in eastern Washington.

“This is why we were so excited about the federal stimulus funds a year ago. We not only put people to work, we were able to do these projects at a time when costs are lower,” said state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-10th District), chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “This has allowed us to keep up with our transportation needs despite the shrinking revenues from our gas tax.”

Projects will upgrade and replace high-tech traffic controllers in the Puget Sound region and repair ferry terminals in Anacortes, Mukilteo and Edmonds. Safety improvements to prevent cross-over collisions are planned on SR 17 near Moses Lake, and additional lanes on I-90 will help ease congestion in Spokane Valley.

“Taxpayers expect us to use money wisely to maintain our highways and make them safer,” said state Rep. Judy Clibborn, (D-41st District), chair of the House Transportation Committee. “When these projects are awarded this fall and construction starts next spring, you’ll see contractors working to make the roads better for drivers and signing paychecks that pump more money into the economy.”

The bill now goes to the Senate floor.

Secretary LaHood applauded Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, Ranking Member Richard Shelby and Subcommittee Chairman Robert Menendez for taking the first major step in passing the Administration’s Public Transportation Safety Act of 2010, a bill that would end the current prohibition against the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) from directly overseeing safety programs.

Secretary LaHood sent the Administration bill to Congress in December 2009.

“I want to thank the Banking Committee for working together to move this historic legislation forward,” said Secretary LaHood in a written statement.  “Safety is the Department of Transportation’s number one priority and we look forward to working with the full Senate and House to get this bill passed and signed into law.”
 
Federal Transit Administrator Peter Rogoff called it a “milestone”  as “the first major step in untying the hands of the Federal Transit Administration and allowing us to implement national safety standards.

“While transit is a safe way to travel, we still see too many preventable accidents, including fatal accidents,” Rogoff said.  “We need these tools to ensure that transit remains safe as our systems age and experienced employees retire in increasing numbers.”

The legislation, if passed, will authorize the Department of Transportation to establish federal safety standards for rail transit systems, reversing a prohibition that has been in effect since 1965.
 
In addition to this bill, Secretary LaHood announced the formation of the Transit Rail Advisory Committee for Safety (TRACS) on June 23 of this year. The 20 individuals who will initially serve on TRACS represent all geographic regions in the U.S. and include experts from state transit agencies of all sizes, state safety oversight organizations, labor unions, and industry associations.

The recommendations of TRACS will help FTA develop new policies and practices and, should FTA be given authority to promulgate new transit safety requirements, new regulations for enhancing rail transit safety

In the address, he urged transportation design and construction professioanls to take advantage of the upcoming July 4 and August congressional breaks to provide to demonstrate strong grassroots support by meeting with their congressional delegations to urge them to make passage of a multi-year, robustly-funded highway and transit bill a priority in 2010.

To provide pertinent information for grassroots efforts, ARTBA has developed the Mobilize Grassroots Action Guide.

In defining the statement of work for the project, the FHWA noted that principles of sustainability are used in many other building and construction industries to demonstrate commitments to environmental goals and cost savings.

However, these principles are not widely understood or used in transportation project development and implementation. In light of these gaps, FHWA has taken the lead to develop a sustainable highway initiative that will inform the actions of the state Departments of Transportation, metropolitan planning organizations and other transportation stakeholders.

CH2M HILL will be supported in this work by the University of Washington, the Texas Transportation Institute, High Street Consulting, WebKey and Pavia Systems. The fast-track project, which is scheduled to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2010, includes the following tasks:

· Developing preliminary principles and criteria for sustainable highways

· Conducting peer exchanges with stakeholders from the highway industry to obtain input of strategies and criteria for sustainable highways

· Testing and refining the preliminary criteria and principles

· Developing model process, compendium of sustainable practices and self-evaluation tools for sustainable highways

· Identifying innovative strategies and techniques to achieve the principles and criteria of sustainable highways, including innovations from other industries

· Providing outreach and technical assistance

“We are greatly honored to be selected by the FHWA for this landmark sustainability project,” said Mark Lasswell, president of CH2M HILL’s Transportation Business Group. “Sustainability is a core value for CH2M HILL, and we look forward to collaborating with our teaming partners and the FHWA to develop innovative best practices that will drive positive, tangible results for the industry, and the communities where we live and work.”

“It’s an outstanding honor for MHC Kenworth – Kansas City to receive the prestigious Kenworth Dealer of the Year award,” said Tim Murphy, president of MHC Kenworth, which operates 39 Kenworth dealerships in 10 states. “We are proud to sell The World’s Best(R) trucks and commend our many dedicated employees, who provide the highest level of professionalism to achieve excellent customer satisfaction every day. We especially thank our many loyal customers for their business.”
 
MHC Kenworth – Kansas City was chosen as Kenworth Dealer of the Year from among Kenworth’s five Gold Award winners for 2009. Other Gold Award winners are Custom Truck Sales – Regina (Regina, Sask.), Papé Kenworth of Central California (Fresno, Calif.), Wallwork Kenworth (Fargo, N.D.) and Wisconsin Kenworth (Madison, Wis.).
 
“MHC Kenworth – Kansas City maintains high standards of excellence, leads its marketplace, and willingly embraces new products, such as the PACCAR MX engine,” said Bill Kozek, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president. “The dealer sells Kenworth’s entire heavy and medium duty product offering, operates first-rate facilities, and has employees who are passionately committed to serving customers. MHC Kenworth – Kansas City truly represents The World’s Best.” The award also encompasses MHC Kenworth – Kansas City locations in Columbia, Mo., and Olathe and Topeka, Kan.
 
Kenworth’s quality products, combined with excellent dealer support from dealers like MHC Kenworth – Kansas City, contributed to Kenworth receiving the 2009 J.D. Power and Associates award for “Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Heavy Duty Dealer Service.”*

During the Kenworth Dealer Meeting, Kenworth also honored its 13 Silver Award winners for 2009 which are: Bayview Kenworth, GreatWest Kenworth, Kenworth of Buffalo, Kenworth of South Louisiana, Kenworth of South Texas, Kenworth Quebec, MHC Kenworth (Colorado), MHC Kenworth (Oklahoma), Papé Kenworth of Oregon, Sahling Kenworth, Sioux Falls Kenworth, Wichita Kenworth, and Worldwide Equipment.

• 8:30 – 9 a.m. Opening Breakfast and Remarks
• 9 – 9:45 a.m. Plenary Session: Public-Private Partnerships—Federal Uncertainty and Its Effect on the Market
• 9:45 – 10:30 a.m. Plenary Session: P3s: Delivering Public Benefit, Delivering Additional Infrastructure
• 10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Networking Break
• 10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Session A1: Recent P3 Developments in State Programs: Puerto Rico, Georgia, Virginia, Florida
  • Session B1: ARTBA Bridge Policy & Promotion Council: P3s and Bridge Financing
• 12:15 – 1:30 p.m. P3 Entrepreneurs & Projects of the Year Luncheon
• 1:45 – 3 p.m.
  • Session A2: Recent P3 Developments in State Programs: California, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Oregon
  • Session B2: P3s and High Speed Rail, presented by the ARTBA High Speed Rail Development Council
• 3 – 3:30 p.m. Networking Break
• 3:30 – 4:45 p.m.
  • Session A3: Project Spotlights: North Tarrant Expressway, I-495 Capital Beltway Hotlanes
  • Session B3: Risk Transfer From a Federal Perspective The ARTBA Town Hall Forum: “All Politics is Local: An Interactive Discussion on Promoting P3s to the Public”
• 6 – 7:30 p.m. Networking Reception

Friday, July 23

• 8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Breakfast & Keynote Address: U.S. Secretary of Transportation LaHood
• 9:45 – 10 a.m. Networking Break
• 10 – 11:15 a.m.
  • Session A4: Emerging P3 Markets: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Nevada, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois
  • Session B4: NCSL, NGA, and ARTBA: Raising P3 Awareness Nationwide
• 11:15 – 11:30 a.m. Networking Break
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
  • Session A5: P3s and Transit
  • Session B5: P3s and Airports
• 12:45 – 2 p.m. Closing Lunch—Making P3s A National Priority: Next Steps featuring Former Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters and Former Governor Bill Owens
• 2 – 3 p.m. Meeting of the ARTBA Public-Private Partnerships Division (ARTBA PPP Division Members Only)