The results of 2018 midterm elections could have a significant impact on the construction industry as debates over infrastructure ensue. Issues to keep an eye on are potential construction of a border wall, the California bullet train, the San Joaquin Delta project, the battle between environmentalism and new construction, and whether to raise the federal gas tax to finance infrastructure.
Climate change and the rise of autonomous vehicles could modify the way we think about infrastructure, and a team of researchers at five universities will envision its future. Thanks to a one-year, $100,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, the researchers will investigate sensor technology for roads, ways to cut vehicle emissions and more.
The roughly 34-mile Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge in China is expected to open next week. The sea bridge, believed to be the world's longest, has been lauded as an engineering marvel.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo made a video at the Hudson River rail tunnel explaining to President Donald Trump the importance of getting substantial federal funding to replace the deteriorating structure. Estimates place the cost of repairs to the old tunnel and to dig a new tunnel at $12.7 billion.
Construction is expected to begin within a year on a port along the Mississippi River in St. Louis. The multibillion-dollar project will convert 6,500 acres of farmland into a hub for ships, trucks and rail.
A capital commitment from Charon System Advisors gives JupiterMLP sufficient funding to construct a crude oil pipeline from the Permian Basin to Brownsville, Texas. The pipeline will be able to ship one million oil barrels per day to Brownsville, where JupiterMLP is building more than 2.8 million barrels of storage and has secured government approval to load and unload vessels of up to 65,000 deadweight tons.
A $1.4 billion, 150-mile railroad has been proposed to ship oil from the Uinta Basin in Utah to Colorado. Proponents say the price tag pales in comparison to previously suggested and rejected plans.
Environmental concerns related to increased congestion are being raised about a $3 billion expansion and upgrade of San Diego International Airport. The scrutiny could cause a slight rewrite of the project's environmental impact report, which officials say is no longer on track to be completed by the end of 2018.
The Environmental Protection Agency is holding consultations to determine whether to allow oil and natural gas drillers to dump wastewater into rivers and streams by amending federal water standards, said Lee Forsgren, deputy assistant administrator at EPA's Office of Water. Treating drilling wastewater to discharge it into bodies of water is uneconomical with current technology and regulations, industry experts say.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has released a potentially $1 billion Resilient Boston Harbor plan to help guard the city's waterfront against rising sea levels. It entails restoring 122 acres of marshes, creating 67 acres of open space and elevating certain areas of the shoreline susceptible to flooding.
Business Development leaders are responsible for identifying and vetting opportunities that are good for business. The steps taken can be the difference between winning and losing. So where do you start? In our latest Business Development Best Practice, Tim Ashmore, Charter Contracting Company, discusses “5 Ways to Engage Your Organization to Improve Win Rate.”
Interested in contributing a Best Practice article or presenting in a Business Development WebEd? As a volunteer, you and your company will be prominently featured to the largest and foremost audience in the construction industry! The Forum Steering Committee will also provide you with the necessary direction and support to make the process as easy as possible. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact paige.packard@agc.org. AGC Members can join the Business Development Forum by visiting our Forum website and clicking "Join the Forum."
The association, along with leading brands and organizations, is partnering in the TurboVote Challenge to help America reach 80% voter turnout. The construction industry and the millions of workers it employs have much at stake this November. At a time when the industry is rebounding from the longest and deepest slump of any sector, it is especially important to elect local, state, and federal leaders willing to work for common-sense solutions to the challenges facing the construction industry and its workforce. Help make the construction industry's voice heard loudly and clearly in this year's elections! Get registered. Get informed. Vote! Read more.
Clarity is the antidote to anxiety, and therefore clarity is the preoccupation of the effective leader. If you do nothing else as a leader, be clear.
