Editors Note: This will be the last issue of The Tom Warne Report for 2011. We appreciate our loyal readers and your many comments to us throughout the year. 2011 has been a challenging year for our industry and 2012 promises more of the same. At The Tom Warne Report, we remain committed to sharing the story of what is going on in the states. We wish you our very best for a wonderful and safe Holiday and a blessed New Year. TW

Alternative Bridge Plan gets Rejected

The Minnesota Department of Transportation has turned down a scaled down version for a new St. Croix River crossing, after the agency analyzed the proposal from the group called “Sensible Stillwater Bridge Crossing.” The lower-cost three-lane crossing is an alternative to the current $690 million plan for a wider span. MnDOT officials said that the partnership’s plan for a diagonal concept had been previously rejected because it would have a greater environmental impact on the St. Croix River.

The department also said the three-lane bridge proposal “did not adequately meet the transportation needs” of the region.” Transportation officials added that if a new site was a possibility for consideration, the project would be delayed for up to six years to allow for additional environmental reviews, public meetings and completion of design concepts.

“With Congressional approval, there is only one plan for a new bridge that can be permitted and built,” said Ken Harycki, Stillwater mayor and co-chair of the Coalition for the St. Croix River Crossing. “The proposed St. Croix River Crossing works because it’s the only plan that balances all the needs, interests and laws that impact the St. Croix River Valley.”

LaHood Announces $116 Million for New Light Rail Service in Utah

DRAPER, Utah – U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced an agreement to provide $116 million from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to extend TRAX light rail transit service from downtown Salt Lake City into the suburb of Draper. The 3.8-mile extension is the final project in a bold seven-year, seventy-mile effort to significantly expand transit options for residents and commuters in the Salt Lake City area, one of the nation’s fastest growing cities.

The Draper Light Rail Project, a 3.8-mile extension of UTA’s current TRAX service, will add jobs to the 3,100 construction-related jobs already created. The project, which includes three new stations with park-and-ride-facilities, will run parallel to the heavily traveled Interstate 15 corridor and make it easier for suburban residents to commute to jobs in Salt Lake City.

The total cost for the Draper extension project is $194 million. Construction is already under way and expected to be completed in December 2013.

The extension of TRAX service to Draper is the final project in UTA’s Frontlines 2015 Program, a $2.9 billion program to build 70 miles of rail in seven years and place a major transit stop within reach of every resident in the UTA service area. Four new light rail lines, one new commuter rail line and a new light rail maintenance facility will more than double UTA’s existing rail system. Including this week’s funding announcement, FTA has committed approximately $570 million in total to the Frontlines 2015 Program, including $25 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

VTA Board Awards $772M Contract for Silicon Valley Transit Extension Project

VTA News Release – December 8, 2011

San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority’s (VTA) Board of Directors has unanimously voted to award the first major contract for Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Silicon Valley, to Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog, a Joint Venture. This first contract includes completing the design and construction of the line, track, systems and stations for the 10-mile Berryessa Extension Project, the first phase of the 16-mile BART Extension into Santa Clara County.

The decision marks a key project milestone and will immediately generate local jobs. Nearly 5,500 jobs will be created during the construction of the line, track, systems and station elements of the Berryessa Extension. An additional 4,000 indirect jobs are created due to activities related to this contract, and 3,800 more jobs are created to support construction of the station campus areas, access roadways, parking structures and transit centers.

“The extension of BART into the South Bay is the priority project in VTA’s Measure A Transportation Improvement Program. Skanska-Shimmick-Herzog a Joint Venture, was able to propose constructing the Berryessa Extension at $77 million less than the Engineer’s estimate while also accelerating the construction schedule making it possible to deliver BART sooner than 2018,” said Margaret Abe Koga, Chair, VTA Board of Directors.

VTA is seeking a $900 million federal grant for the Berryessa Extension Project from the Federal New Starts funding program and anticipates receipt of it early next year. The grant will complete the funding plan and enable major construction to begin by mid-2012. BART Silicon Valley’s Communications and Outreach team will conduct public meetings prior to commencement of major construction activities. VTA continues project development activities for the second 6-mile phase of the project that includes a 5.1 mile-long subway tunnel through downtown San Jose, and ends in Santa Clara near the Caltrain Station. Construction on the second phase of the project will commence as additional funding is secured.

Missouri Lawmaker proposes Bill to Warn about Fuel Price Spikes

A legislator in Missouri is hoping to give drivers advance notice of rising fuel prices at gas stations under a bill filed for the 2012 session. If lawmakers approve the measure, fuel distributors would be required to notify retailers of any increase of 3 cents or more at least 24 hours in advance of the increase being implemented.

The bill would require retailers to post the price in “a location visible to the general public from at least one adjacent public roadway for 24 hours before the increase is implemented. Rep. Ray Weter, R-Nixa, said he decided to act after watching significant price increases in his district. The bill can be considered when lawmakers meet for the regular session January 4, 2012.

This was among the many stories this week about pending legislation at the state level. The array of topics is wide and many promise to be controversial. Some will tinker around the edges with minor policy issues and others will delve into the substance of how to fund needed improvements. I would suggest if your personal representative doesn’t know your name then it’s time they got acquainted with you. Sitting on the sidelines is not an option with so much at stake. TW

Drivers in Michigan County get High-Tech Link to Roads

Drivers in Wayne County, Michigan now have a high-tech way to protect themselves from snow and ice on the roads. The county has unveiled a tracking system that gives motorists the ability to see the location of any of its 148 snowplows or salt trucks, where they are going and where they have plowed and salted in the last eight hours.

“It will definitely be an aid to both the county and to the commuters,” said Wayne County training manager Dennis Martin. “One bonus to the video cameras is that it might educate drivers when they see what drivers go through while trying to keep the roads open.”

The Wayne County Department of Public Works’ new automatic vehicle locator system is called Compass, and can be viewed at compass.waynecounty.com, with real-time information for commuters. The county has also installed video cameras on 18 of the trucks so viewers can see what the plow drivers are seeing, with just a two-minute delay. Compass utilizes truck GPS units, Google maps, Michigan Department of Transportation freeway cameras and cellular connection. It also gives the county in house information on its vehicles, including truck speed, salt and brine usage, lane location, spread patterns and whether the truck’s blade is up or down.

Fairfax County Ready for Fight over Local Road Maintenance

The Virginia General Assembly is facing a battle for its 2012 session over whether localities should assume responsibilities for local roads, which could potentially free up funding for larger projects. Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties are joining together to fight the proposition in the state legislature, which is supported by some state officials including Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton.

Fairfax County recently looked into assuming the responsibility of its own roadways, but county officials determined it would overwhelm the county’s budget. County officials estimated it would cost $100 million annually to maintain its own roads. Fairfax County Department of Transportation Director Tom Biesiadny said the county also lacks the local expertise for road maintenance, as the state has maintained the majority of all roadways since the 1930s. VDOT also benefits from discounts on materials by purchasing massive quantities to serve the entire state, Biesiadny added.

Any state that has approached this topic has found it challenging on a number of fronts as noted in this story. It has been my experience that local governments are shocked at how little the state DOTs actually spend on routes being considered for routine maintenance operations. This is largely due to the need for state DOTs to stretch their dollars across many needs in their jurisdiction. In the end, the dollars per mile are stretched pretty thin. TW

N.H. Executive Council Approves Memorial Bridge Design

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Funding for a replacement of the Memorial Bridge in New Hampshire was unanimously approved by the state Executive Council this week, marking the final step before work begins early next month. The state of Maine has already approved its portion of the $81.4 million project, which will use a $20 million federal grant then be divided evenly between the two states.

Work to replace the 90-year-old span will be completed by July 2012. The proposed schedule calls for closing the existing span to all traffic in January to begin dismantling the structure.

The council did not consider a petition by a Portsmouth architect to add aesthetic cables to the bridge.