- Maryland Officials Begin Lobbying Congress For Federal Funding Of Key Bridge Replacement
- NY Times: "Dozens of Major Bridges Lack Shields to Block Wayward Ships"
- NHTSA: 2023 Saw Fewer US Traffic Fatalities, But Distracted Driving Is Still A Major Problem
- New South Carolina DOT Secretary Names Management Team
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Maryland Officials Begin Lobbying Congress For Federal Funding Of Key Bridge Replacement
The Washington Post reports, “Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) will visit Capitol Hill [today] to launch the in-person lobbying effort aimed at persuading Congress to fulfill President Biden’s vow to fully pay to replace Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The wreckage still blocks the main shipping channel for the Port of Baltimore and strangles a key economic artery to the region.” Maryland and the members of its congressional delegation are pressing for complete federal funding, at an estimated cost of about $1 billion, arguing that the project is a national priority of importance to the entire country. The article notes that Maryland has already received a total of $68 million in emergency aid and federal agencies are paying for initial recovery and cleanup efforts. State leaders have pledged to pursue compensation claims aggressively and use proceeds to reimburse the federal government.
The Post also covers President Biden’s weekend tour of the collapse site. In a subsequent speech at the harbor, he stated, “We’re going to move heaven and earth to rebuild this bridge as rapidly as humanly possible. We will do so with union labor and American steel.” On Saturday, officials announced they intend to reopen fully the Port of Baltimore by the end of next month, “setting a hard target for the first time.”
Francis Scott Key Toll Bridge Collapse Maryland Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) US Department of Transportation (USDOT) US Gov't Transportation FundingNY Times: "Dozens of Major Bridges Lack Shields to Block Wayward Ships"
Following the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, The New York Times mobilized a reporting team to look at pier protection on major US bridges and reached some troubling conclusions:
- “At 309 major bridges on navigable waterways in the United States, inspections in recent years have found protection systems around bridge foundations that were deteriorating, potentially outdated or nonexistent, leaving the structures perilously exposed to ship strikes.”
- “[An analysis] of federal data and shipping traffic found dozens of these vulnerable bridges spanning waterways that serve as corridors for large vessels — around places like Boston, New Orleans and Philadelphia.”
- “[There are] 193 bridges that each carry 10,000 vehicles or more a day that have no protections installed around the piers planted in river and seabeds that hold up the bridges.”
- Other US bridges bridges have suffered “catastrophic failures” similar to the Key Bridge’s in recent decades.
The Times spotlights major bridges, located mostly in the South and the Northeast, that have particular vulnerabilities. Most of them happen to be tolled spans.
CNN publishes its own analysis of waterway bridge vulnerabilities. It includes an overview of the methods used by US engineers to protect bridges against ship collisions.
Francis Scott Key Toll Bridge Collapse Highway and Bridge Maintenance Highway and Bridge Safety (Including COVID-19 Impacts) US Gov't Transportation FundingNHTSA: 2023 Saw Fewer US Traffic Fatalities, But Distracted Driving Is Still A Major Problem
AASHTO Journal reports, US motor vehicle traffic fatalities declined by 3.6 percent in 2023, according to preliminary projections released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s estimated that 40,990 people lost their lives in last year’s incidents. Among other things, a NHTSA news release noted:
- The fourth quarter of 2023 was the seventh consecutive quarter with a drop in fatalities.
- The fatality rate for 2023 decreased to 1.26 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), down from 1.33 per 100 million VMT in 2022.
- Estimates are national VMT increased year-on-year by 2.1 percent, or 67.5 billion miles, in 2023.
The article also looks at recent efforts by federal and state transportation agencies to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving. According to 2022 estimates just released by NHTSA, 3,308 people were killed and almost 290,00 people were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.
Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Highway and Bridge Safety (Including COVID-19 Impacts) Transportation and Infrastructure Research & Development US Department of Transportation (USDOT) US National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationNew South Carolina DOT Secretary Names Management Team
Newly confirmed South Carolina DOT Secretary Justin Powell named several people to his leadership team yesterday, according to a news release. Rob Perry, PE, was appointed Deputy Secretary for Engineering. Perry began his career with SCDOT in 1999 and most recently served as the Chief Engineer for Bridges and Interim Deputy Secretary for Engineering. Karl McCottry was named Deputy Secretary for Finance and Administration. McCottry, a 30-year state employee, has worked at SCDOT for 12 years, most recently as human resources director. Jennifer Necker, PE, will serve as Deputy Secretary for Intermodal and Freight, with responsibility for the strategic planning and coordination of transit and rail projects. Necker most recently served as the Acting Director of Mass Transit and Freight Programs. Brent Rewis, PE, will continue to serve as Deputy Secretary for Planning, a position he has held since 2020. Rewis oversees strategic transportation planning, including Momentum 2050, the long range transportation plan currently being developed. Rewis has been with SCDOT for more than 24 years.
Secretary Powell and the deputy secretaries will be sworn in this afternoon during a ceremony at SCDOT headquarters in Columbia.
Appointments-Promotions-Retirements South Carolina South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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