The Trucker News Staff

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in June approved fiscal year (FY) 2022 budgets for the commonwealth transportation fund, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and the FY 2022-2027 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP), which allocates $24 billion to highway, rail and public transportation over the next six years. Among the recommended budget allocations for the commonwealth transportation fund budget are $47.8 million for the port trust fund, $26.7 million for aviation, $16.6 million for the space flight fund and $19.7 million for allocations and fees of the state’s department of motor vehicles. “The budgets and six-year program approved will advance our Commonwealth’s commitment to improving and maintaining infrastructure through the most critically needed projects,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “The range of projects included will allow us to build and sustain economic opportunity for all Virginians.” The SYIP funding also includes $17.2 billion for highways and $5.8 billion for rail and public transportation. In total, $24 billion was allocated using SYIP funding. VDOT’s Highway Construction Program provides funding to 3,700 projects and supported by $4.1 billion in funding provided by others. It also includes funding for the new Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program ($0.8 billion), the new Virginia Highway Safety Improvement Program ($0.5 billion) and the new Special Structure funding program ($0.5 billion). DRPT’s SYIP approved $5.8 billion in allocations for rail and public transportation projects, including $4.2 billion for transit and transportation demand management initiatives and $1.6 billion for rail planning and preservation. VDOT’s FY 2022 budget has been set at $7.2 billion, and the state’s department of rail and public transportation has an $860.3 million budget for FY 2022.

PHOENIX — Four corridors for passenger and freight traffic will be expanded and improved under the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) five-year construction program. The plan, which includes more than $1 billion in pavement preservation projects, was approved by the state transportation board last month. The 2022-2026 Five-Year Program will fund several projects to widen highways and improve safety that include: Adding lanes along Interstate 17 between Anthem Way, Arizona, and Sunset Point, Arizona. Construction on the $328 million project will begin in 2022. Replacing the Gila River bridges on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Casa Grande, Arizona. Construction for the $83 million project is targeted for 2023. Constructing the first phase of the Interstate 40/U.S. 93 West Kingman interchange. The $70 million project is expected to begin by 2024. Widening U.S. 93 between Tegner Street and Wickenburg Ranch Way. The $41 million project is scheduled for 2022. More than $1 billion will be funded on pavement preservation projects designed to upgrade 581 lane miles of pavement currently rated as “fair” or “poor” condition to “good” condition. Funding is generated by the users of transportation services, primarily through gasoline and diesel fuel taxes and the vehicle license tax. Both the Maricopa County and Pima County regions have independent revenue streams established through voter-approved sales taxes that allow for more expansion projects to take place in those areas. The widening projects on I-17 and I-10 are advancing through ADOT’s partnership with the Maricopa Association of Governments, the regional planning agency that has committed some of the funds for those improvements. “I want to thank the board for their thoughtful consideration and approval of this plan that works to address the need for new infrastructure while maintaining existing highways, all within the constraints of limited funding resources,” said John Halikowski, ADOT director. “The improvements to these Key Commerce Corridors represent two of the most critical transportation priorities in Arizona. The additional lanes are important to improve safety and efficiency while the state continues to attract jobs, businesses and economic growth. At the same time, ADOT is investing most rural highway funding to preserve existing roads and bridges to keep them in good condition for the movement of people and freight.” Through the five-year program ADOT will allocate $320 million per year for rehabilitation of bridges and roadways throughout the state’s highway system. These projects include repaving and repairing highways, along with repairing or reconstructing bridges. The plan also includes $407 million over five years for projects that improve highway safety, efficiency and functionality, such as smart technology or addition of shoulders. To review ADOT’s full 2022-2026 Five-Year Program, click here.

EUREKA, Calif. — The holiday season will be a little brighter this year with the help of System Transport, the motor carrier selected to transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree from California’s Six Rivers National Forest to Washington, D.C. Each year, the U.S. Forest Service selects a tree from a national forest to serve as the “People’s Christmas Tree.” System Transport was selected as the hauler for the 2021 tree at the recommendation of Kenworth Truck Co. and because of the carrier’s reputation in the trucking industry on the West Coast according to Bruce Ward, president of Choose Outdoors. Choose Outdoors is a nonprofit partner that works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service to coordinate the annual public engagement initiative. The tree will be harvested in late October before making the in-state and cross-country journey to Washington, D.C., arriving at the U.S. Capitol in late November. The tree will be decorated with thousands of handmade ornaments made by Californians, and will be lit up throughout the month of December. System Transport first opened its doors 1972 with only one truck and a trailer. Today, the company employs more than 1,000 people and operates more than 800 trucks. System Transport is headquartered in Spokane, Washington, and has terminals in Caldwell, Idaho; French Camp, Fresno and Bloomington, California; Phoenix; Denver; Olathe, Kansas; Ennis, Texas; and Gary, Indiana. The carrier transports all types of flatbed freight, primarily throughout the west coast to the Midwest. The company and staff have been recognized with several awards, including Goodyear Highway Hero, Great West Safety Award, Carrier of the Year from USG, Platinum Carrier from Lowe’s, Supplier Excellence Award from General Electric, Western Regional Carrier of the Year from Firestone, Carrier of the Year from Home Depot and Excellence Award from SmartWay. “As a second-generation family-owned and operated company, Christmas is a special time of year for u,” said Dennis Williams, president and CEO of Trans-System Inc., the parent company of System Transport. “We are proud to be a part of the annual tradition that brings the Christmas spirit to our nation’s capital, and to all the families who gather around their own trees to share the spirit of the season.” Kenworth returns for the eighth year as a sponsor of the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree program. A specially decaled Kenworth T680 Next Generation, equipped with a 76-inch mid-roof sleeper, will be used to transport the 51st U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. “Just like our theme ‘Six Rivers, Many Peoples, One Tree’, this campaign brings together many peoples to prepare and safely deliver one special tree to Washington D.C.,” said Ted McArthur, forest supervisor for Six Rivers National Forest. “This journey would not be possible without the support and assistance of strong demonstrated partnerships making this our greatest tour to date.” For more information about the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Program, visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Kenworth, FASTPORT and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative are joining together for the sixth year to discover America’s top rookie military veteran driver, who has made the transition from serving in the U.S. armed forces to driving for a commercial fleet. “Kenworth’s ongoing participation in the Transition Trucking program is one way to recognize the importance of our veterans and thank them for their service,” said Laura Bloch, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “We urge trucking fleets to nominate their best rookie drivers who have served our country and encourage service members transitioning from the military to consider the trucking industry as their future career.” Kenworth will provide the top award for this year’s Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence recognition program — a Kenworth T680 equipped with a 76-inch sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission, and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles. “An estimated 200,000 veterans transition from the military into the private sector each year,” said Brad Bentley, president of FASTPORT. “FASTPORT’s mission is to educate and inform veterans about career opportunities in the nation’s trucking industry. The ongoing driver shortage makes recruiting from the military more important than ever before. We look forward to awarding a well-deserving veteran with a Kenworth T680 in the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence program this year.” The top driver will be determined by an expert panel of judges. To qualify, drivers must meet three minimum eligibility requirements. He or she must have: Been active military or member of the National Guard or Reserve; Graduated from a PTDI-certified, NAPFTDS or CVTA member driver training school and have a valid CDL; and First been hired in a trucking position between Jan. 1, 2020, and July 31, 2021. “The trucking industry thrived last year despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, proving its position as a sustainable career pathway,” Eric Eversole, vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes. “The 2021 Transition Trucking award campaign is another opportunity to highlight the impact veterans are making in the transportation industry and introduce a new generation of veterans to the real economic opportunity a career in trucking can represent.” The deadline for nominations is July 31, 2021. Full criteria and online nomination forms can be found on the Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence website.

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) announced in late June that improvements are planned for Nash County. Two bridges over Interstate 95 will be replaced and Exit 145 will be refigured to better handle commercial truck traffic. NCDOT has awarded a $23 million contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. to replace the following bridges that cross I-95: Swift Creek School Road (N.C. 33) bridge at Exit 150, and Watson Seed Farm Road overpass. According to NCDOT, both b​ridges are reaching the end of their useful life. They will be replaced with longer bridges designed to accommodate the future widening of the interstate. During construction, these bridges will be closed with marked detours. Under the same contract, the Gold Rock interchange at Exit 145 along I-95 will be modified as follows: Permanently remove the Halifax Road overpass and realign that road to form a diamond-type interchange at Exit 145, with roundabouts at the entrance and exit ramps, and ​​​Improve the intersection of N.C. 4 and N.C. 48 by adding a left turn lane on N.C. 48. The contractor is scheduled to begin improving the Gold Rock interchange in August. The N.C. 33 bridge will be closed beginning this fall for about nine months for reconstruction. When the new N.C. 33 bridge opens, the contractor will close the Watson Seed Farm Road overpass for a similar duration. All projects associated with this contract are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.

PINE RIDGE, S.D. — A South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle, according to Dennis Holmes, acting U.S. attorney. Cole Brewer, 29, was indicted May 20, 2021. On June 16, he entered a plea of not guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann. If convicted, Brewer faces 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release, and a payment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered. The charge alleges that Brewer stole a Freightliner fuel truck from Hay Springs, Nebraska, in June 2020 and transported the truck across the state line. The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case. Brewer was detained pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

FIFE, Wash. — The four-lane Wapato Way East Bridge and new State Route 99 roundabout over Interstate 5 made its debut in late June and is now open to traffic, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). “This important step forward in the Puget Sound Gateway Program brings us that much closer to improving connections to our ports and distribution centers,” said Washington’s Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee. “Hundreds of thousands of jobs in our state depend on trade — from the farms of eastern Washington to the industrial centers of Puget Sound. We are investing in a future that will keep Washington products competitive on a global scale and provide new transportation choices for all.” According to WSDOT, the newly opened Wapato Way East Bridge doubles the capacity of the two-lane bridge it replaces. The multi-lane roundabout on State Route 99 also reduces delays for drivers and freight haulers heading to and from the Port of Tacoma. “It’s exciting to see this milestone in the Puget Sound Gateway Program,” said Washington State Transportation Secretary Roger Millar. “It sets the stage for us to complete critical infrastructure to benefit all travelers and illustrates how WSDOT considers freight, commuters and active transportation in our projects. This program enhances the economic competitiveness of the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma and helps create family-wage paying jobs in close proximity to residential areas in South King and Pierce counties, shortening commutes for workers and providing multimodal alternatives to driving alone to Seattle.” The bridge and roundabout replace the nearby 70th Avenue East Bridge, which is now closed and are expected to be removed. According to a statement from WSDOT, the project is a milestone in the Puget Sound Gateway Program’s State Route 167 Completion Project, which will eventually extend the route between Puyallup, Washington, and the Port of Tacoma. Although drivers can now use the Wapato Way East Bridge, construction will continue through the summer to extend the nearby Interurban Trail and connect it to a 12-foot-wide pedestrian and bike-friendly path on the bridge. Kickoff of the next stage of State Route 167 construction, the building of a new 2-mile-long highway between I-5 and the Port of Tacoma, is planned for 2022. “To stay competitive, we must respond to the needs of the shipping industry and the demands of the economy for greater maritime efficiency,” said Port of Tacoma Commissioner Dick Marzano. “Road investments like the completion of SR 167 are key to port connectivity, helping to ensure that we continue to serve as an economic engine for Pierce County and the state while also easing congestion.”

AMES, Iowa — It’s not unusual to travel down an Iowa interstate alongside a semitruck loaded with livestock or poultry. What is not often seem is the aftermath when one of these trucks crashes. To address these issues, the Iowa Pork Producers Association has developed a webinar series highlighting and overcoming specific challenges in a livestock carrier crash. Crashes involving livestock often require the assistance of animal handlers and veterinarians. It may be necessary to round up loose animals and construct temporary holding pens — causing additional delays and complications at the crash site. If the first responders are not trained in how to deal with traffic crashes involving livestock, there is an increase in risk to the people and animals near the incident. “We recognized that crashes, especially rollover crashes that involve livestock, can impact both public safety and animal welfare,” said Jamee Eggers of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. “We developed this series that includes topics like animal handling and scene management to help responders understand what they might encounter. First responders aren’t typically trained animal handlers, and animal handlers don’t typically understand traffic incident management. The more we can educate first responders on what to expect and who to contact, the safer we’ll all be in the event of an incident.” Since these incidents do not occur often, Eggers said it is important to develop relationships between animal care specialists and first responders. “From a road user perspective, the cost of these incidents is very high because they often take several hours to clear,” said Bonnie Castillo, traffic incident manager for the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT). “Much of that time is spent trying to find the resources to provide care for the animals involved. If we can get the word out to responders on who to contact, that will speed up clearance times, reducing the inconvenience and increasing safety to the other drivers on the road.” Eggars said response to the webinars has been positive. “We used real-world examples that resonated with the attendees (of the webinars),” Eggers said. “These examples generated a lot of great questions and allowed us to provide resources that folks may not have been aware of. The series started conversations between people who don’t typically interact, but the relationships are essential in an emergency.” This training is also being considered as part of the Statewide Traffic Incident Management conference being planned for 2022. Castillo said exercises with IDOT district staff, the Iowa State Patrol and others are also in the planning stages as funding is available.