Daily News Briefs, June 21, 2023

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Fitch Hosts US Transportation Sector Update Event Tomorrow Morning

Fitch Ratings will host its online mid-year update on the US transportation sector tomorrow, June 22, at 11:00 AM EDST. Topics to be covered include:

  • High interest rates will tip the US into recession, causing mostly manageable shipping and toll road losses
  • Back-to-office initiatives are stalled, weighing on central business districts, business travelers, and commuter roads
  • Seaports are significantly underperforming in 2023 with double digit losses on the West Coast
  • Sunbelt roads and airports benefitting from in-migration from California, Northeast
  • Airports best poised amongst transport sectors with travel demand outstripping supply

Speakers include Scott Monroe, Senior Director and Head of North American Transportation. The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A discussion.

Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Fitch Ratings Investment Ratings Transportation and Infrastructure Research & Development

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New Connecticut Work Zone Safety Program Reveals One In Six Drivers Disregard Speed Limits

WTNH has a report on Connecticut DOT’s “Know the Zone: Speed Safety Camera Program,” which has been operating in various highway work ones around the state since April 10. The bad news is, “As of last week, about 580,000 cars have gone through [LiDAR- and camera- monitored zones] and 100,000 of them were speeding,” according to CDOT. First time warning notices were sent to the 1,300 motorists who were traveling 15 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. But there’s also this good news: So far, the department hasn’t had to issue any $75 citations to repeat offenders. That’s an encouraging sign, says a CDOT spokesperson, who points out that the department hopes the program will change driver behavior without imposing fines.

Automated Enforcement of Speed Limits Connecticut Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT) Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) LiDAR Technology

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MassDOT Will Remove Decommissioned EV Chargers From Turnpike Rest Stops

The Boston Globe reports, MassDOT will soon select a vendor to remove six old electric vehicle (EV) chargers from four rest stops on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The locations span from the western end of the state all the way to the outer Boston suburbs near the turnpike’s eastern terminus. After a history of unreliable service, the EVgo stations all stopped working over Memorial Day weekend, leaving only hastily arranged portable chargers alongside Tesla equipment at one pair of rest stops. “EVgo said its contract with MassDOT had ‘long since expired’ and it was not given the opportunity to upgrade the equipment.” Massachusetts is committed by a state climate law from 2022 to “’make provision for installing’ chargers at all Mass Pike rest stops by next July.” Fast EV chargers already are installed at some state rest stops on I-95 and two other state routes.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Massachusetts Turnpike Service Plazas

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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