AGC and Zurich have teamed up to create a cutting edge comprehensive training program that focuses on the leading causes of fatalities and injuries for highway workers. The Highway Worker Safety Program (HWSP) can be used by both the large general contractor as well as smaller contrators and sub or specialty contractors. The material is designed to assist in mitigating highway worker safety exposures by increasing awareness of the hazards and appropriate control measures. Specific focus is given to safety concerns related to asphalt paving, concrete paving, bridge work, demolition work, traffic control, earthwork and grading operations, short-term and mobile operations, and utility and drainage work. The program includes: DVD with interactive video components, DVD ROM with editable PowerPoint program, Instructor Guide, Participant's Manual and resource page with links to other web pages and retails for $367.50. For more details or to order visit: www.agc.org/bookstore

AGC Highway and Transportation Division Chairman Don Weaver, Weaver Bailey Contractors (El Paso, Ark.), testified before the House Ways and Means Committee asking for action to ensure that the Highway Trust Fund has sufficient revenue to reimburse states for on-going construction contracts through the end of fiscal year 2009 and into 2010.

By an 18-1 vote the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee approved an 18 month extension of spending authority for the federal highway program through March 31, 2011. The legislation authorizes the program in FY 2010 at FY 2009 funding level of $41 billion and provides $20.5 billion in authority for the first six months of FY 2011. The Senate Banking Committee must also pass an extension of the transit program and the Commerce Committee must take up safety programs. In addition, the Finance Committee is expected to include a $20 billion transfer of funds from the general fund to the Highway Trust Fund to ensure that there is sufficient revenue to reimburse states for on-going construction projects for the remainder of FY 2009 and FY 2010. The bill is a "clean" extension which does not include any policy provisions. In an effort to keep pressure on Congress to enact a six year transportation authorization measure, Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) attempted to amend the extension to 12 months but that effort was defeated on an 11-8 vote.The highway and transit programs face two related but separate problems. SAFTEA-LU expires on September 30, 2009. New authorization is needed to keep the program operating beyond that date. In addition, there is an insufficient balance in the Highway Trust Fund to pay for on-going construction through the end of the fiscal year. Also, incoming HTF revenue would only support FY 2010 funding of about $20 billion. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-MN) is working to pass a six year authorization bill and does not support the extension although he is proposing legislation to transfer $7 billion in general fund revenue to the HTF to keep it solvent through the end of this fiscal year. The Obama Administration would prefer to put off the long term extension of authorization and has proposed instead an 18 month extension with a $20 billion transfer of general fund revenue to keep the programs operating through FY 2010. The Administration would also like to include some policy initiatives in the 18 month extension. Today's action by the EPW Committee would solve the short term funding problem and keep the program operating beyond the end of the authorization expiration. EPW Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said she intends to have her committee continue to work on a six year authorization but took today's action to ensure there is no interruption in the program.AGC's top priority is to ensure that there is no disruption in payments to contractors for ongoing projects both in the short term and long term. AGC also is pressing for a long term reauthorization of the program that provides sufficient new revenue to address the backlog and growing national transportation needs.

Last week, U.S. DOT sent Congressional committees its proposal for an 18 month extension of authorization for federal surface transportation programs. Calling the proposal "Stage I Reauthorization," the administration asked for a $20 billion general fund transfer to keep both the federal-aid highway program and the federal transit program solvent through March 31, 2011.  The administration's proposal also calls for a series of policy changes that would begin to implement changes in the way these programs are administered.Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and several other committee members expressed support for providing the necessary funds and authorization to keep the programs operating for the next eighteen months, but opposed adopting any policy changes at this time. Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by its bipartisan leadership, spoke out strongly against an 18 month extension, preferring to continue its effort to enact a full six year reauthorization measure. Consideration of the short term extension may be brought up as part of the DOT appropriations bill, which will be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee when Congress returns next week.The Highway Trust Fund will be short of cash needed to reimburse states for ongoing construction projects as early as the first week of August and will have insufficient revenue in FY 2010 (beginning October 1, 2009) to maintain the program at its current funding level. The administration originally said that the general fund transfer necessary to solve this problem had to be offset with other spending cuts or tax increases. However, in today's proposal, the administration calls for the transfer to be paid for over ten years through a variety of options, including an international tax enforcement proposal.The policy recommendations are focused on beginning to implement the administration's objective of using transportation investment to create more "livable communities." Today's proposal calls for funding to allow states and localities to collect comprehensive transportation data to be used for making future transportation choices, develop standards for comparing different transportation modes and create stronger reporting and tracking requirements for  transportation investments.The administration's proposal also gives details on its proposal for a National infrastructure Bank to support regionally and nationally significant, high value transportation projects. The administration requests $2 billion in funding to initially capitalize the bank, which would provide financing assistance for relatively large and transformative projects that are currently underfunded. These could include freight and passenger rail, highway projects that consider land use and economic development and bridge construction that includes a rail line and harbor dredging.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has informed AGC that contractors working on federally-assisted contracts for projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) are not required to meet executive compensation reporting requirements.Provisions in the ARRA law require direct recipients and their subrecipients of stimulus funds to report the total annual compensation of the five most highly compensated officers of the company. AGC questioned whether this was intended to apply to contractors working on federally-assisted projects funded with ARRA funds. As a result, DOT asked the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to clarify the application of these provisions. OMB, which is charged with issuing guidance for federally assisted contracts under this program, advised DOT that for federally-assisted projects, the reporting requirements on executive compensation apply only to direct recipients and their subrecipients. The executive compensation requirements do not apply to contractors working for either the recipient of federal financial assistance or its subrecipient. FHWA and FTA will provide guidance to their division offices clarifying these requirements.Contractors working on direct contracts with the federal government are covered under guidance issued by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council, which calls for reporting of this information.Read more on OMB guidance here.For more information, contact Brian Deery at (703) 837-5319 or deeryb@agc.org.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood introduced the newest "Voice of the Recovery Act" in his blog, Welcome to the Fast Lane.  Alison Barber was hired by AGC and Colorado Contractors Association member Castle Rock Construction Company to work as construction manager on the C-470 road and bike path repair project outside Denver.

AGC is calling on Congress to enact a short term fix to the Highway Trust Fund to ensure that FHWA have sufficient funds to reimburse states for ongoing construction projects through the end of FY 2009. AGC is also calling on Congress to pass a six year reauthorization bill with increased funds to support a long term program to address the growing transportation investment deficit. Please visit AGC's Legislative Action Center through the link below to send this message to your Congressional delegation.http://www.bipac.net/issue_alert.asp?g=AGC&issue=HTF&parent=AGC

U.S. DOT today sent Congressional committees its proposal for an 18 month extension of authorization for federal surface transportation programs. Calling the proposal "Stage I Reauthorization," the administration asked for a $20 billion general fund transfer to keep both the federal-aid highway program and the federal transit program solvent through March 31, 2011.  The administration's proposal also calls for a series of policy changes that would begin to implement changes in the way these programs are administered. Last week Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Ranking Republican Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and several other committee members expressed support for providing the necessary funds and authorization to keep the programs operating for the next eighteen months, but opposed adopting any policy changes at this time. Members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, led by its bipartisan leadership, spoke out strongly against an 18 month extension, preferring to continue its effort to enact a full six year reauthorization measure. Consideration of the short term extension may be brought up as part of the DOT appropriations bill, which will be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee when Congress returns next week.The Highway Trust Fund will be short of cash needed to reimburse states for ongoing construction projects as early as the first week of August and will have insufficient revenue in FY 2010 (beginning October 1, 2009) to maintain the program at its current funding level. The administration originally said that the general fund transfer necessary to solve this problem had to be offset with other spending cuts or tax increases. However, in today's proposal, the administration calls for the transfer to be paid for over ten years through a variety of options, including an international tax enforcement proposal.The policy recommendations are focused on beginning to implement the administration's objective of using transportation investment to create more "livable communities." Today's proposal calls for funding to allow states and localities to collect comprehensive transportation data to be used for making future transportation choices, develop standards for comparing different transportation modes and create stronger reporting and tracking requirements for  transportation investments.The administration's proposal also gives details on its proposal for a National infrastructure Bank to support regionally and nationally significant, high value transportation projects. The administration requests $2 billion in funding to initially capitalize the bank, which would provide financing assistance for relatively large and transformative projects that are currently underfunded. These could include freight and passenger rail, highway projects that consider land use and economic development and bridge construction that includes a rail line and harbor dredging.

The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC) today released the results of a national study conducted by the Pacific Institute for Research & Evaluation (PIRE) that found that more than half of highway fatalities are related to deficient roadway conditions.  Titled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," the study found the $217 billion cost of deficient roadway conditions dwarfs the costs of other safety factors, including:  $130 billion for alcohol, $97 billion for speeding, or $60 billion for failing to wear a safety belt.  Indeed, the $217 billion figure is more than three-and-one-half times the amount of money invested annually by government at all levels in roadway capital improvements - $59 billion, according to the Federal Highway Administration. TCC released the study at a news conference held at a D.C.-area construction site managed by AGC member company Jacobs. The TCC is co-chaired by AGC and the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).  Speakers at the news conference included the safety economist who undertook the study and an emergency room doctor.

The Transportation Construction Coalition (TCC), co-chaired by AGC, today released a new report that shows the $217 billion cost of deficient roadways, far outweighing costs of other safety factors.