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Ohio DOT puts federal stimulus funds to work preventing, detecting slides that damage roads

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced June 11 it will use $35 million in federal stimulus funding to complete dozens of projects aimed at the prevention and detection of landslides and rockslides, which are a common issue in the eastern and southern regions of the state. When they occur, landslide and rockslide repairs can be very costly. In many cases, the repairs can take several months to complete. With few convenient detours available, getting around closed roads can often add a lot of time and distance to travel. “ODOT is looking to prevent both landslides and rockslides from happening to avoid significant damage to our roadways,” said Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. “The use of these funds will help to keep our roadways safe for travelers in areas prone to landslides and rockslides.” ODOT has identified nearly 40 locations in more than a dozen counties where slides and rockfalls are likely to occur in the near future. Among them is U.S. 33 southeast of Athens. A $3.3 million project will protect a section of the highway used by nearly 9,500 vehicles every day. “Our highly skilled geotechnical engineers comb the state each day looking for potential hazards and their hard work on this effort is paying off — literally. Investing a little today on these projects will help avoid having to spend a lot tomorrow,” said Jack Marchbanks, ODOT director. The funding for these projects is part of the $333.4 million Ohio received from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.

2 cents’ worth: State gas tax increase expected to generate $642 million for South Carolina paving program

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 2-cent gas tax increase, which goes into effect July 1, will help the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) rehabilitate and resurface nearly 1,000 additional miles of roads over the next two years with an estimated $642 million in revenue. The state gas tax increase enacted in 2017 is being phased in 2 cents per year for six years through 2022. “Thanks to the foresight of the General Assembly in creating sustainable additional funding, this year’s paving plan is the largest annual program in state history and will result in SCDOT having repaved more than 5,000 miles of roads across the state during a five-year period,” said J. Barnwell Fishburne, Chairman of the state’s transportation commission. The new plan includes paving projects in all of South Carolina’s 46 counties, and is in addition to the $1.7 billion in projects SCDOT is currently implementing during Year 4 of its 10-year plan to improve road quality. Paving the state’s corridors that are in greatest need of improvement is the largest of the plan’s four programs, which also include replacing or repairing aging bridges, making rural roads safer and improving key portions of interstates. The nearly 1,000 miles of roads being scheduled for new pavement include larger primary routes, which carry the most traffic, as well as secondary (or farm-to-market) roads and neighborhood streets. Some interstate paving is also included in the $642 million plan. SCDOT has prioritized the paving projects based on safety and crash data, the condition and age of the roads and bridges, and traffic information. “We are committed to full transparency in how we select and construct projects,” said Christy Hall, the state’s transportation secretary. “We encourage citizens to provide comments during the paving program’s public comment period. We are putting the state gas tax and other funds to work for South Carolinians.” Since 2017, more than $1.3 billion from the New Gas Tax Trust Fund has been allocated to new paving projects across the state. The addition of this year’s $642 million of paving will result in nearly $2 billion of paving projects in a five-year period, a record for the agency. In total, the state gas tax, vehicle sales tax and other fees, and federal funding sources have enabled SCDOT to triple its work program to $3.2 billion, according to information received from SCDOT. A list of the county-by-county paving projects in the new program for 2021-2022 can be found on SCDOT’s website. To review the state’s Pavement Improvement Program, click here; or click here for an interactive map of the planned projects.

White House to assess infrastructure talks after next week

WASHINGTON — The White House plans to give the bipartisan infrastructure negotiations another week to 10 days before assessing next steps, which could include pursuing a Democrats-only approach to pass President Joe Biden’s sweeping jobs and families investment plans. House Democrats were told about the administration’s latest thinking during a closed session Tuesday, June 15. White House counselor Steve Ricchetti relayed the timeline to lawmakers as talks have been underway with a group of 10 senators devising a nearly $1 trillion proposal. The White House insisted later he did not set a deadline for the bipartisan talks. “We certainly have a foundation to build on top of our jobs plan in its really complete or more complete form, and we’ll see where we’re going to go after a week or 10 days more dialogue and negotiation,” Ricchetti said to House Democrats, according to a partial transcript obtained by The Associated Press. The updated timeline comes as Biden is overseas but his top legislative priority is teetering in Congress. The president and the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate have been engaged in a two-track strategy — reaching for a bipartisan deal with Republicans but also setting the stage for a potential go-it-alone strategy in case talks fail. The House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) said the plan is, if bipartisan talks falter, “full steam ahead” for considering a package as soon as July under special reconciliation rules that would enable majority passage without the need for Republican votes. The package being prepared by the House Budget Committee would include both the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. These are Biden’s ambitious proposals to build not just roads and highways, but also the so-called human infrastructure of child care, veterans care and education facilities. “The White House made it clear to us that we should be prepared to proceed on two tracks,” said Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. “We’re prepared to do what is necessary to get the American Jobs Plan over the finish line.” A bipartisan group of 10 senators has narrowed on a nearly $1 trillion deal of mainly road, highway and other traditional infrastructure projects, but without the family-related investments in child care centers and other facilities that Republicans reject as costly and unnecessary. On Tuesday, the Republicans in the bipartisan group were expected to present the proposal to their GOP colleagues at a closed-door Senate lunch. The White House insisted that Ricchetti was not conveying any deadline for a deal or the bipartisan talks. “He said that we are certainly going to know where things stand on infrastructure talks generally in the next week to 10 days, and that we can then take stock overall,” said White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates. “But he did not set a deadline or cutoff.” The effort by the bipartisan group, five Democrats and five Republicans, has come far in meeting Biden’s initial ideas, but the senators and the president remain far apart over how to pay for the plan. Biden has proposed raising the corporate tax rate, from 21% to 28%, to pay for infrastructure investments. Under the bipartisan proposal, the projects would be funded by tapping unspent COVID-19 relief funds, increasing the gas tax paid at the pump by linking it to inflation and trying to recoup unpaid income taxes. But the prospect of raising the gas tax is unpopular with some Democratic lawmakers. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, described it as “another hit on working people.” “To me, their idea that they’re going to raise taxes on working people while letting multinational companies and the most wealthy Americans off the hook is a non-starter,” Wyden said. “I mean, where is the fairness in that?” By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, The Associated Press

J.B. Hunt, University of Arkansas partner to create scholarship fund, accelerate supply chain inclusion projects

LOWELL, Ark. — J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and the University of Arkansas (U of A) in early June announced two new funds to advance the Sam M. Walton College of Business’ focus on sustainability and inclusion in supply chain by accelerating current projects and creating an endowed scholarship program. “Since launching our collaboration in December, we have identified several opportunities to improve inclusion and sustainability that we are excited to ignite,” said Shelley Simpson, chief commercial officer and executive vice president of people and human resources at J.B. Hunt. “These funds will help jumpstart immediate needs while creating a long-term initiative to ensure that pursuing a career in supply chain is available to everyone.” The J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Inclusion in Supply Chain Endowed Scholarship Fund will establish an ongoing scholarship program to encourage students to pursue supply chain careers and contribute to the college’s diverse educational environment. The endowed fund will be based on an initial investment of $1 million. Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in U of A’s Walton College, working towards an undergraduate degree in supply chain and demonstrate potential to advance inclusivity. Each application will be considered on an individual basis, and recipients will be determined by the department head of the Walton College Department of Supply Chain Management. “Through our multiple collaborations, J.B. Hunt is helping us redefine aspects of the supply chain and shape the industry’s future leaders,” said Matt Waller, dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business. “Together, we’ve addressed topics such as thought leadership, executive education, innovation, undergraduate studies, and now inclusion and sustainability, all in a quest to create a fantastic future where supply chains are efficient and effective.” The J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Supply Chain Management Department Current Use Accelerator Fund will help expedite several inclusivity and sustainability initiatives stemming from the two’s $2.25 million collaboration announced earlier this year — the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Inclusion Education and Thought Leadership Fund, and the J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. Sustainable Supply Chain Management Research, Innovation and Education Fund. The $250,000 gift will also help promote the supply chain management department efforts and the new endowed scholarship opportunity. The funds are the latest collaboration led by J.B. Hunt and U of A’s Walton College to enhance supply chain efficiency and prepare future industry leaders. In 2017, the two launched the J.B. Hunt Innovation Center of Excellence through a $2.75 million grant from J.B. Hunt. The Center is a combined effort between J.B. Hunt and U of A’s Walton College and College of Engineering that brings researchers and students together with J.B. Hunt employees to develop solutions through innovative design and technology. In 2018, J.B. Hunt opened an on-campus intern office that provides up to 60 students with real-world industry experience each semester.

New ATA committee to address climate, clean energy issues in trucking

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) on June 11 announced plans to form a Climate and Clean Energy Advisory Committee (CEAC) to help shape policies and actions on environmental issues. Committee leaders and membership will be released at a later date. “The trucking industry has a strong, positive record on addressing climate change. From our broad support for programs like SmartWay to our backing of historic and first-ever greenhouse gas standards for new trucks, ATA has been a leader in making sure our industry is at the table and delivering results on these issues,” said Chris Spear, ATA president and CEO. “Today, with even more attention being paid to issues impacting our climate and clean energy in Washington and in state capitals, we are creating an advisory committee to help guide our future direction and actions.” The newly formed CEAC will address a number of topics ranging from fuels and carbon pricing to zero-emission vehicle development that have the potential to have significant impacts on the trucking industry. The committee will initially focus its work on four areas — research and development opportunities, infrastructure resiliency, zero-emission vehicle fueling infrastructure and environmental justice. The committee will continue to advise ATA on its broad-based advocacy platform so the association can remain a leader on these critical issues. “Good public policies should be based on sound data and strong analysis. It is the goal of this advisory committee to seek out that data so we can be at the table with policymakers at the state and federal levels as they tackle these complex issues regarding climate change and technology pathways,” said Glen Kedzie, energy and environmental affairs counsel for ATA. “As we chart a course for the most dynamic shift ever in the types of equipment and fuels we use, we must do so in an orderly and least disruptive manner that takes into account the wide diversity of trucking operations.”

Love’s Travel Stops opens new location along I-22 in Mississippi

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Holly Springs, Mississippi, with a travel stop that opened June 10. The store, positioned off Interstate 22, adds 70 jobs and 46 truck parking spaces to Marshall County. “We’re excited to add our 18th clean and safe location for customers in Mississippi,” said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “Our team members will help get customers back on the road quickly and safely and are excited to serve Marshall County, professional truck drivers and four-wheel customers.” This location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 12,000 square feet; Arby’s (opening soon); 46 truck parking spaces; 73 car parking spaces; Two RV parking spaces; Seven diesel bays; Five showers; Laundry facilities; Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee; Brand-name snacks; Fresh Kitchen concept; Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories; and CAT scale. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 to Holly Springs High School. The store is located on 929 Highway No. 7 South.

FMCSA declares Mexico-licensed trucker an imminent hazard after fatal crash, failed sobriety tests

WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Mexico-licensed commercial driver Cecilio Eliut Camacho-Montoya to be an imminent hazard to public safety and prohibited him from operating any commercial motor vehicle in the U.S. Camacho-Montoya was served the federal order on June 9, 2021. On May 19, 2021, Camacho-Montoya, who held an expired Mexican CDL, was operating a commercial truck on State Highway 55 in Eagle, Ada County, Idaho, when, according to witnesses, he failed to stop for a red traffic light at the intersection of Highways 55 and 44. Camacho-Montoya’s truck crashed into another vehicle, fatally injuring its driver. Following the crash, Camacho-Montoya agreed to submit to three standardized field sobriety tests administered at the scene by the Idaho State Police; Camacho-Montoya failed all three tests. He subsequently agreed at the crash scene to two breathalyzer tests. The first test sample showed a breath alcohol content (BrAC) of 0.222; the second, 0.214. Approximately four hours after the crash, at the Ada County Jail, Camacho-Montoya tested at 0.080, with a test fourth showing at 0.078. Possessing an alcohol concentration of greater than 0.04 while operating a commercial vehicle weighing more than 26,001 pounds and requiring a CDL is a violation of federal safety regulations. The State of Idaho has charged Camacho-Montoya with felony aggravated driving under the influence (DUI) and felony vehicle manslaughter. A subsequent investigation by FMCSA personnel found that Camacho-Montoya, in the days leading up to the crash, on multiple occasions, had falsified his records-of-duty-status and had exceeded the allowable on-duty driving hours permitted by federal regulations. Camacho-Montoya may not operate a commercial motor vehicle in the U.S. until he successfully completes the statutorily required return-to-duty process overseen by a substance abuse professional.

‘Above normal’: Hurricane season not expected to be as bad as 2020, but could still impact trucking

June 1 marked the official beginning of hurricane season, and the U.S. is in for another above-normal season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center. Specifically, NOAA computer models predict a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of near-normal and a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The 2021 season would need to be a doozy to surpass the record set in 2020. Last year, 30 storms grew powerful enough to be named, and 13 of them developed to hurricane strength. Twelve storms made landfall in the continental U.S.; six of those storms were hurricanes. The previous record for number of storms was 28, set in 2005. The average number of named storms in a year is 14, with seven of them developing into hurricanes. A storm must reach sustained wind speeds of 39 mph to be named and 74 mph to reach hurricane status. In 2020, Hurricane Laura was the strongest storm to make landfall and caused the most damage. Laura hit southwestern Louisiana as a Category 4 storm (out of a possible 5). In a tragic coincidence, Hurricane Delta came ashore Oct. 9 as a Category 2 storm only a dozen miles from Laura’s landing point. A third hurricane hit Louisiana Oct. 28 when Hurricane Zeta made landfall near New Orleans as a Category 2 storm. The East Coast was battered near the border between North and South Carolina last year when Hurricane Isaias made landfall Aug. 4 as a Category 1 storm. Tropical Storms Bertha and Fay also hit in the east, with Bertha landing in South Carolina May 27 and Fay hitting New Jersey July 10. NOAA and other agencies around the world make hurricane predictions based primarily on water temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean, especially in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The storms form off the west coast of Africa as swirling winds bring hot air over the Atlantic. The warmer the ocean temperature, the more likely storms are to develop into hurricanes. This year, ocean temperatures are warmer than normal, but not as warm as they were in 2020, prompting predictions of a robust-but-not-record-setting season. Global warming has been blamed for ocean temperature increases, but improved detection and reporting methods have also contributed to the larger number of storms reported. This year marks the seventh year in a row that named storms have developed before the official June 1 start of the season. Tropical Storm Ana formed in the mid-Atlantic in late May but dissipated before making landfall. Storm names are assigned by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), with the names repeated in a six-year rotation. When a storm becomes severe enough to cause large amounts of damage or loss of life, its name is retired and replaced with a new one. Storm names selected for 2021 are: Ana, Bill, Claudette, Danny, Elsa, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Julian, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor and Wanda. If you’re counting, that’s 21 names, not enough for a season like last year when 30 were needed. For that reason, the WMO has issued a list of “secondary” names to be used if the first list is exhausted. They are: Adria, Braylen, Caridad, Deshawn, Emery, Foster, Gemma, Heath, Isla, Jacobus, Kenzie, Lucio, Makayla, Nolan, Orlanda, Pax, Ronin, Sophie, Tayshaun, Viviana and Will. The secondary list marks a change from the prior policy of naming storms that occur after the first list is used up in accordance with letters from the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, Gamma and so forth). Severe storms can seriously disrupt travel, but the impact on the nation’s population and infrastructure is often far greater. For example, Hurricane Laura caused severe flooding in Louisiana and blocked roads with downed trees and debris. But even after the waters receded and the debris was cleared from roadways, electrical service took longer to restore. Shipping was disrupted as manufacturers and warehouses couldn’t function until the lights came on. Even before Laura made landfall, portions of Interstate 10 were closed due to the expected “unsurvivable” storm surge. Sections of bridges along I-10 were rated as “structurally deficient” by the DOT, and officials feared catastrophic damage from Laura. Near St. Charles, Louisiana, a bridge was damaged when winds pushed a casino boat underneath a bridge. In another case, a heavily loaded barge broke loose from its mooring and crashed into bridge pilings, causing considerable damage. Drivers are cautioned to pay close attention to hurricane season weather reports and to avoid potential landfall areas when possible. If travel into an area recently hit by a storm can’t be avoided, care should be taken to avoid driving through flooded areas — and be sure to watch for downed trees and power lines.

TMAF celebrates Flag Day by sharing stories of how trucking industry honors veterans

Each year on Flag Day, June 14, Americans recognize a longstanding symbol of the nation’s freedom — the U.S. flag. June 14 is also the birthday of the U.S. Army, a time to pay tribute to all military personnel and veterans. Earlier this year, Trucking Moves America Forward (TMAF) asked industry members to share photos of their military-themed trucks. TMAF supporters Garner Trucking, American Trucking Associations, Load One and Big M Transportation, as well as other industry companies, schools and manufacturers, submitted photos and stories of how they work to honor servicepeople and veterans. Check out the photo gallery to view the all-American trucks described below. American Trucking Associations (ATA) The American Trucking Associations (ATA) shows its appreciation for veterans in many ways. The association continues to work with the government to help support veterans and make it easier for them to transition from the military to their careers in trucking. ATA also participates in Wreaths Across America each year and the Hiring Our Heroes program. Big M Transportation Big M Transportation, based in Mississippi, shows its respect and appreciation for veterans and military service members through inviting veterans to join the Big Dog Fleet for the Elite VA Program; offering a two-year paid benefit through a partnership with the Mississippi VA, and participating in a Nationwide Under 21 program, which provides veterans under the age of 21 with truck driving experience through a new pilot program sponsored by the U.S. government. Big M thanks the nation’s military members with the message “Freedom isn’t free.” Garner Trucking Ohio-based Garner Trucking is committed to honoring and hiring military veterans. For several years, Garner awarded its Driver of the Year recipient with a new military themed truck. The military trucks, which travel the country, symbolize different parts of military history to help share those stories with the motoring public as can be seen below. In addition to traveling America’s roads, Garner’s military trucks are used to deliver donated wreaths from Maine to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia for the annual Wreaths Across America event. Garner’s trucks also deliver wreaths for a local wreath-laying event in Ohio. Load One Load One, based in Michigan, shows its support for the nation’s troops with military wrapped trucks. The trucks, which travel American roads, include the message “Our freedom isn’t free. Thank you, veterans!” Del Mar College Texas-based Del Mar College, which has a truck driving training program, is proud to serve veterans in South Texas. Del Mar College has a dedicated veterans services center, the Del Mar College Veterans Center, to support military members and veterans throughout their educational journey, as well as provide guidance and assistance during their workforce preparation and beyond. Givens Transportation Givens Transportation, based in Virginia, actively recruits former and discharging service members. The company offers reimbursed driving school expenses and structured training, and provides a family-like atmosphere to help support service members during their transition from military to civilian life. Givens’ military truck, pictured below, recognizes the sacrifices of members of the U.S. Marines. Mack Trucks North Carolina-based Mack Trucks has proudly paid tribute to military men and women who have fallen in the line of duty with a custom-wrapped Mack Anthem model. The wrap was debuted at the 32nd annual Rolling Thunder — Ride for Freedom rally in Washington, D.C., in 2019. The customized Mack Anthem features graphics honoring each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and prisoners of war. On the side of the truck are the words, “All gave some; some gave all. Remember those who served.” Maverick Transportation LLC Arkansas-based Maverick Transportation LLC is committed to the hiring and career growth of America’s military men and women. Maverick’s fleet, which includes a military-wrapped truck, is currently comprised of 17% military veterans. Maverick’s student training program is designed to support military veterans while they start their career and allows new drivers to use their GI Bill benefits to supplement their income during their first year of employment. Red Classic Red Classic, which is based in North Carolina, is proud to hire, celebrate and support veterans. The company believes that veteran’s leadership abilities, commitment to service and dedication make them ideal teammates. Red Classic shows their support for the military and our flag with their trailer wrap pictured below. Trout Trucking Company Inc. Texas-based Trout Trucking Company Inc. has several veterans driving in its fleet. Trout Trucking hosts an annual Veteran’s Day dinner and tank signing for its military wrapped trucks to show the company’s dedication, support and gratitude for America’s veterans and servicemembers. XPO Logistics Inc. Connecticut-based trucking company XPO Logistics Inc. is committed to military hiring and advancement and leads several recruiting efforts to hire veterans and reservists. The company shows its dedication to the military by wrapping its fleet in camouflage and messages of support. These specially wrapped trucks, installed in honor of Military Appreciation Month, will be seen on roads across the country throughout the year. With military experience celebrated at XPO, the honor of driving the specially wrapped military trucks will go to XPO drivers who are veterans and have driven at least 1 million accident-free miles.

Bipartisan group of senators eye $579 billion in new infrastructure spending, $1 trillion plan

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators is eyeing an infrastructure deal with $579 billion in new spending as negotiators try to strike a nearly $1 trillion deal on President Joe Biden’s top priority, according to those briefed on the plan. The 10 senators have been huddling behind closed doors, encouraged by Biden to keep working on the effort after he walked away from a Republican-only proposal this week unable to resolve differences. The senators are briefing their colleagues privately and cautioned changes could still be made. “Our group — comprised of 10 Senators, five from each party — has worked in good faith and reached a bipartisan agreement on a realistic, compromise framework to modernize our nation’s infrastructure and energy technologies,” the senators said in a joint statement. “This investment would be fully paid for and not include tax increases,” they added. “We are discussing our approach with our respective colleagues, and the White House, and remain optimistic that this can lay the groundwork to garner broad support from both parties and meet America’s infrastructure needs.” The White House said Democratic senators briefed the administration on the emerging plan, but questions remain. “The President appreciates the senators’ work to advance critical investments we need to create good jobs, prepare for our clean energy future and compete in the global economy,” said deputy press secretary Andrew Bates. “Questions need to be addressed, particularly around the details of both policy and pay-fors, among other matters.” The president and Congress have been straining to reach an agreement on his ideas for an infrastructure investment, stuck over the scope of the package of road, highway and other projects and how to pay for it. Lawmakers say the group’s tentative agreement represents important progress in fashioning a bill that can pass such an evenly divided Congress this year, but they are also aware that it could easily unravel. A person familiar with the negotiations but unauthorized to discuss them publicly said the cost would be $974 billion over five years, as is standard for highway spending, or $1.2 trillion if spread over eight as Biden proposes. At that size, the new package would be more than the previous Republican-only effort of $330 billion in new spending in a $928 billion package, but still short of the $1.7 trillion over eight years Biden is seeking. It appears the group is running into the same problems that Biden and lead Republican negotiator Sen. Shelley Moore Capito confronted in agreeing on how to pay for it. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), a lead negotiator, would not disclose the final tab. Asked if the new spending was at $600 billion, he said, “The president said that was his goal. So I don’t think anybody felt like they had to exceed his goal.” Another member of the group, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), said they are “fairly close” on a topline amount, but are still debating how to pay for it. One option is to include potential revenue from uncollected income taxes, he said. “We still have to talk,” Tester said. One Republican not in the group, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said he was told the package would provide nearly $1 trillion — including $579 billion in new spending over the baseline for transportation projects. Braun also said parts of it would be paid for with untapped COVID-19 relief funds, which has been a nonstarter for the White House. “They have come up with similar to what I think Capito was working on, but my understanding is it would be a little more money,” he said. Biden tasked the senators to keep working as he set out for his first overseas trip after talks collapsed this week with Capito and the GOP senators. The president is seeking a sweeping investment in not just roads, highways and bridges but also broadband, electric vehicle charging stations and other aspects of what he views as the new economy, paid for with a hike in the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%. Republicans prefer a more narrow focus on fixing existing transportation systems, with more modest investments elsewhere. They oppose tax hikes to pay for the new spending, and while the 10 lawmakers said the package would not include tax increases, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said the package does propose that the gas tax be indexed to rise at the rate of inflation. The federal gas tax, now at 18.4 cents per gallon, has not increased since 1993. The White House has made it clear that indexing the gas tax for inflation or imposing an electric vehicle mileage tax would be nonstarters. They would violate the president’s red line against raising taxes on Americans who earn less than $400,000 a year. With the Senate narrowly split, 50-50, and most legislation requiring 60 votes to advance past a filibuster, Biden is seeking a bipartisan agreement to ensure passage. At the same time, he is also instructing Democrats who control the House and Senate to prepare to pass portions of the package on their own, under special budget rules that enable approval with 51 votes in the Senate. In the evenly divided Senate, Vice President Kamala Harris serves as a tie-breaking vote. Meanwhile, a House panel advanced legislation early Thursday that serves as an important building block for that chamber’s infrastructure efforts. The bill aims to boost federal spending on roads, bridges, transit and rail. The $547 billion package passed mostly along party lines by a vote of 38-26 and will likely be considered by the full House later this month. By Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, The Associated Press

Love’s to end mask requirement for fully vaccinated customers, employees beginning June 15

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops announced June 10 that it is planning to stop requiring customers and employees who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to wear masks, effective June 15. The mask requirement has been in place in Love’s stores across the country since July 2020. Customers and employees who have not been fully vaccinated will still be asked to wear masks. “The past 15 months have been challenging for customers and team members, so we’re pleased the country has made such great strides against the pandemic to get to this point,” said Love’s President Shane Wharton. “We will continue to be diligent about health and safety as ever before. We want to thank our customers for wearing masks in our stores and for the patience they’ve shown as we worked toward this decision.” Some cities, counties and states will continue to require all employees and customers to wear masks, and the company will abide by these requirements.

University researcher’s subsurface analysis aids in Arkansas highway projects

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A University of Arkansas (U of A) geotechnical engineer is collaborating with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) to map subsurface conditions before road construction begins to identify issues early and help keep highway construction projects on track and on budget. Clint Wood, a civil engineering associate professor and geotechnical engineer for U of A, creates profiles of subsurface conditions and soil composition by sending stress waves into the ground and measuring their response at the surface. The noninvasive technology is similar to ultrasound imaging on the human body. The technology provides important information for highway designers and construction contractors, who previously relied on imperfect methods for determining subsurface conditions, such as exploratory drilling — a strategy that can miss changes between limited drilling locations. Wood compares designing based on limited exploratory drilling to navigating with an incomplete map. The research is conducted for and in conjunction with ARDOT. With an additional $115,318 grant, ARDOT has provided a total of $561,427 in funding. The work focuses on estimating the depth and stiffness of bedrock for new highway alignments and understanding subsurface conditions that cause slope instability. The latter is especially important for understanding how water moves through a slope. Unexpected changes in bedrock depth near slopes can also create pockets where water collects, which can cause the soil in the slope to become saturated, leading to instability. Projects that encounter these issues can face substantial extra costs and delays while designers and contractors adapt the original plan or must attempt another repair. Those problems can be avoided, or at least minimized, by better understanding the subsurface conditions through non-invasive testing. In a separate project, Wood and several other U of A researchers — Jack Cothren, professor of geosciences and director of the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies; Malcolm Williamson, research associate at CAST; and Rich Ham, associate director of operations management in Industrial Engineering — were awarded $193,109 in new project funding from the highway department to study the accuracy of LiDAR sensors on unmanned aerial systems, or drones. Rather than using stress waves to measure underground conditions, LiDAR, which stands for “light detection and ranging,” is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges, or variable distances, between objects. ARDOT is focusing on the technology because it can penetrate vegetated areas to help develop topographical models, which provide information for small-area projects such as bridge replacements. Wood’s team will assess the accuracy and benefits of using drone LiDAR to collect high-quality survey data. The team will work with the transportation department’s survey division to identify four bridge projects to serve as test sites. After collecting and processing LiDAR survey data, the researchers will compare terrain models developed with aerial drone LiDAR to models developed by using conventional, photogrammetric surveying methods.

Connecticut legislature passes VMT tax for commercial trucks; bill heads to Gov. Lamont

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut legislature this week passed a highway usage fee bill that would levy a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax on large commercial trucks. House Bill 6688 (HB 6688) was approved by the House Tuesday, June 8, with a vote of 88-59. The Senate approved the bill with a vote of 22-14 shortly after 12:30 Wednesday, June 9, according to the CT Mirror. The bill is now headed to the desk of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk, who included the bill in his earlier this year. The bill is sponsored by Democratic Reps. Matthew Ritter, Martin M. Looney, Jason Rojas and Bob Duff. If signed into law by Lamont, the bill would result in a VMT ranging from 2.5 cents per mile for commercial trucks with a gross weight of 26,000 to 28,000 pounds up to 17.5 cents per mile for those weighing 80,000 pounds or more. The fees, which would apply to all roads within the state, would be enacted Jan. 1, 2023, with motor carriers required to calculate and file monthly returns for miles traveled on roads within Connecticut. The funds generated, expected to average $90 million annually, would be deposited into a special transportation fund. In addition, carriers would have to apply for and be granted a permit before their trucks would be allowed to travel within the state. Joseph Sculley, president of the Motor Transport Association of Connecticut, described the proposed tax as “unworkable,” adding that out-of-state trucks are likely to find new routes, avoiding travel through Connecticut and leaving in-state carriers to bear the brunt of the tax burden.

Love’s Travel Stops opens new location on I-25 in Colorado

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Walsenburg, Colorado, with a travel stop that opened in late May. The store, located at 99800 Interstate 25, adds 50 jobs and 46 truck parking spaces to Huerfano County. “We’re excited to open our 17th Love’s in Colorado, which happens to be our southernmost travel stop in the state,” said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “This travel stop will add 50 jobs to the Huerfano County community and offer our customers a wide-range of food, drinks, travel items and more at a good value and competitive prices.” This location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 11,000 square feet. Godfather’s Pizza and Subway. 46 truck parking spaces. 61 truck parking spaces. Three RV parking spaces. Six diesel bays. Six showers. Laundry facilities. Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee. Brand-name snacks. Fresh Kitchen concept. Mobile to Go Zone with the latest GPS, headsets and smartphone accessories. CAT scale. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 to the Huerfano-Las Animas Area Council of Governments.

Ag haulers facing ‘perfect storm’: Trucking companies, ag producers struggle with capacity issues

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the curtain was pulled back on the fragility of the nation’s food supply chain as widespread closures of schools, bars and restaurants put a hard stop on key customers for the nation’s farm goods. Across the country, producers were suddenly saddled with crops and animals they couldn’t sell. Reports of produce and animals being destroyed shocked the public. One year later, the farm economy is facing an issue of another kind. As demand for farm products at home and around the world has lurched directly from neutral to high gear, transportation issues are looming large in many farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to get supplies in and get animals and produce out. “We’re a three-legged stool, when it comes to transportation — surface transportation, waterway and rail. They all kind of balance each other. As we get challenges in any one of those, or if any one of those legs on that three-legged stool comes apart, we’re on our ass in a lot of ways,” said Andrew Walmsley, director of Congressional Relations with the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington, D.C. “We’re a really productive country, and 96% of the world’s mouths are outside of our borders. So, having the ability to get to those customers is key.” Walmsley noted a perfect storm is currently underway, from a lack of shipping containers to send products to overseas markets, particularly China, to more regional infrastructural challenges. Among these are the high-profile shutdown of the Interstate 40 Hernando de Soto Bridge linking Arkansas to Tennessee at Memphis and the cyberhack that shut down the Colonial Pipeline, boosting already spiking fuel prices. “I think from a pure ag industry perspective, we have a few more flexibilities, maybe, than some of the other sections of the trucking industry,” Walmsley said. “But overall, we face similar challenges. If we have a shortage of fuel tank drivers this summer, that’s going to have a huge impact if we can’t get diesel to put in our tractors, right? We’re definitely worried and keeping an eye out for those types of challenges.” The issue has sounded alarms at the highest levels of government, prompting meetings and proclamations but thus far little permanent action. Last November, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) clarified some definitions regarding what agricultural goods could be included under existing guidelines that waive federal hours-of-service regulations under certain circumstances. And in April, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Transportation jointly convened a meeting with stakeholders in the ag and transportation sectors to, per a press release, “discuss current issues surrounding shipping U.S. agricultural exports, as well as logistical and technical concerns.” However, as trade groups are quick to point out, most substantive action by the feds has thus far been limited to temporary exemptions that, while helpful, still leave a great deal of uncertainty to what happens when such fixes expire. “As of March 2020, we were given hours of exemption for livestock haulers, so that if we rolled up to a plant — and we did see some plant slowdowns and minor closures, all COVID related — we have the ability to pivot. Those cattle are on the trailer and have to get off somewhere safely to get processed,” said Allison Rivera, executive director of government affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “We were grateful to DOT to receive that exemption, because it allowed us to get grocery store shelves stocked,” she said. NCBA recently called on FMCSA for additional regulatory relief for transporters of live animals and fresh meat products in the wake of a cyberattack on global meat supplier JBS SA. For its part, the NCBA is backing legislation that would make such temporary adjustments permanent. The most prominent of these measures is the bipartisan Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety Act (HAULS Act), spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), with a House companion bill introduced by Reps. John Rose (R-Tenn.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.). “The HAULS Act takes our current 150 air-mile ag commodity exemption and adds another 150 air miles to the back end of hauls. That provides us flexibility during the unloading time at the plants or feed yard. That bill would be extremely helpful to the livestock hauling industry as well as the rest of agriculture,” Rivera said. “We also continue to push back through the appropriations process on electronic logging devices (ELD) for livestock haulers,” she continued. “In our industry, we need flexibility because with a live haul, sometimes we can’t stop at a rest stop or offload cattle when we’ve hit the end of our 11 hours of drive time for the day.” These proposals, among others, all trace back to some degree or another to the elephant in the room: a lack of available personnel. Driver shortages are so pronounced across all trucking sectors that trade groups are looking for ways to maximize what trucking companies can do with the employees they have, such as proposals to increase allowable payload weight. “We absolutely feel like there is a significant driver shortage, and it is a grave concern,” Rivera said. “We are in agreement with many in the ag-hauling space that the driver shortage is only getting worse. Livestock haulers are less than 1% of the drivers on the road and have been deemed essential, so we haven’t seen a driver issue in the live-haul portion, but when it comes to agriculture, there’s a lot of moving pieces. “The things I’m hearing is the driver shortage is affecting chemical supplies and fertilizer and feed and fuel, and all those pieces are important for the care of these animals as well as moving them,” she continued. “So, while we may not be seeing an issue at the moment, it is a concern.” The driver shortage is a crisis without borders. Jim Rempel is CEO of Manitoba-based Steve’s Livestock Transport, one of the largest livestock hauling companies in North America. The 35-year-old outfit mostly hauls hogs throughout Canada, with heavy lanes into Minnesota, the Dakotas and Iowa, with breeding stock and genetic movements as far south as Texas and Florida. “Today, we have 155 drivers, and we certainly would look at adding another 25. We would easily get into the 20% to 25% growth that we would see fairly quickly,” Rempel said. “We can buy trucks, we can buy trailers, but we can’t afford to have them sitting up against the fence.” Rempel said that, despite this shortage, he doesn’t anticipate the industry not being able to fill shelves for the foreseeable future. When it comes to the potential sticker shock of those items, that’s another story. “The over-the-road goods movements have continued to grow, and we’ve seen it through the COVID pandemic in the last year. I think it’s fairly well documented that that number has continued to grow,” he said. “It’s a critical piece of North American infrastructure, over-the-road trucking. We, the trucking industry, have a responsibility to make sure we’re working with drivers, so that they want to continue to stay in our industry, to make it attractive enough. “But it is challenging, in a competitive environment, when your costs keep rising. And with the shortages over the last year or so, where we’re starting to see some delays in parts and equipment and costs rising, there’s certainly a challenge,” he explained. “We see the costs of operating going up; we see the cost of bringing drivers in is starting to rise. Eventually, that has to be passed on somewhere. And that, essentially, boils down to the cost of goods increasing.” Rempel said as a cross-border carrier, he has the ability to compare and contrast the U.S. and Canada from a regulatory and labor perspective. While many of the differences are negligible, one major difference directly impacts driver recruitment in the U.S. versus in Canada. “In Canada, you can go for your commercial license at the age of 18,” he said. “That has proven itself to be very favorable, safe — and there isn’t a challenge there. I think there’s certainly enough history there, and that should be across the board.” As for other regulatory issues, Andrew Walmsley noted the jury is still out on the Biden administration and the impact its agenda could have on the industry — but, based on rhetoric thus far, there’s cause for concern. “I think there’s a concern that this administration doesn’t seem as focused on trade as the previous administration,” Walmsley said. “I think that that’s come up more recently because it’s such a key component to the success of American agriculture. Overall, we’re in the middle of the five-year Farm Bill signed into law in 2018, and we’re starting to gear up for the 2023 Farm Bill. Let’s make sure we don’t do anything to undermine those important risk management tools. “There’s going to be a lot of focus around conservation practices and climate change, right, and how that is going to impact what farmers are deciding to do on the farm,” he continued. “We think that’s a positive thing, as long as it’s flexible and voluntary and farmers can choose what makes the most sense for them.”

Changes made to interstate traffic patterns at West Memphis to ease flow across Mississippi River

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and the City of West Memphis are working together to ease the flow of traffic across the Interstate 55 Mississippi River Bridge. The Hernando de Soto Bridge, which carries Interstate 40 across the Mississippi River between West Memphis and Memphis, is closed indefinitely while repairs are made to a structural fracture found in May. The plan is to reduce merging points which is anticipated to reduce conflicts and improve traffic flow. Weather permitting, the following significant traffic pattern changes will begin at 6 p.m. local time Wednesday, June 9 and continue until further notice. I-55 southbound will be reduced to a single outside lane just before the western I-40/I-55 Interchange. I-40 eastbound already narrows to a single lane at the I-40/I-55 interchange. The exit ramps at Seventh Street and Ingram Boulevard will be closed to I-40 traffic. I-40 traffic will continue in the inside lane and I-55 traffic will continue in the outside lane through Ingram Boulevard. The middle lane will be closed to separate eastbound traffic between the western and eastern I-40/I-55 interchanges. East of Ingram Boulevard, eastbound traffic will transition into two adjacent lanes. The I-40/I-55 on-ramp at Ingram Boulevard will be closed. These traffic pattern changes were developed in collaboration with ARDOT, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the City of West Memphis. Traffic will be controlled by traffic barrels and signage. Check TheTrucker.com regularly for updates on the I-40 bridge repairs. In addition, TDOT has created a webpage to keep the public updated of the progress work on the bridge, and ARDOT has a similar webpage.

Biden ends GOP infrastructure talks, but new group emerges

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden ended talks with a group of Republican senators on a big infrastructure package on Tuesday, June 8, and started reaching out to senators from both parties in a new effort toward bipartisan compromise, setting a summer deadline for Congress to pass his top legislative priority. The president is walking away from talks with lead Republican negotiator Sen. Shelley Moore Capito after the two spoke Tuesday, but would welcome her in the new bipartisan group, according to an administrative official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private negotiations. Shortly after the Biden-Capito talks collapsed, 10 senators huddled late Tuesday over pizza — five Republicans, five Democrats — emerging after three hours with some optimism their new effort could create a viable path forward, said a person familiar with the closed-door talks and granted anonymity to discuss them. At the same time, with anxiety running high as time slips by, Democrats are laying the groundwork to pass some or all of the ambitious package on their own. Biden conferred Tuesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer about launching the budget resolution process for Senate votes in July, the White House said. “The President is committed to moving his economic legislation through Congress this summer, and is pursuing multiple paths to get this done,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. The breakdown in the White House’s efforts with GOP senators comes after weeks of prolonged infrastructure talks between the president and Capito as the two sides failed to broker the divide over the scope of Biden’s sweeping infrastructure investment and how to pay for it. The Republican senators offered a $928 billion proposal, which included about $330 billion in new spending — but not as much as Biden’s $1.7 trillion investment proposal for rebuilding the nation’s roads, bridges, highways and other infrastructure, including Veterans Affairs hospitals and care centers. Biden has proposed raising the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28%, a nonstarter for Republicans, and rejected the GOP senators’ suggestion of tapping unspent COVID-19 aid money to fund the new infrastructure spending. In a statement, Capito said she was disappointed Biden ended the talks, but also expressed interest in ongoing bipartisan work. “While I appreciate President Biden’s willingness to devote so much time and effort to these negotiations, he ultimately chose not to accept the very robust and targeted infrastructure package, and instead, end our discussions,” she said. “However, this does not mean bipartisanship isn’t feasible.” As Biden aims for a compromise deal, he has begun reaching out to other senators, including Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and two key centrist Democrats, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, whose votes will be crucial in the evenly split Senate. Those senators receiving phone calls from Biden were among the group of 10 assembled with Sinema and Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) late Tuesday in Portman’s office for what was described as a productive meeting, the person familiar with the session said. Portman and Sinema have been engaged for months with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) on a sizable infrastructure proposal that is expected to include proposed ways to pay for it. The senators’ group has expanded in recent weeks to include the others from both parties. Romney has described it a “back burner” group, in case the administration’s talks with the GOP senators faltered. Psaki said the president urged the senators in his conversations to continue their work “to develop a bipartisan proposal that he hopes will be more responsive to the country’s pressing infrastructure needs.” Biden tapped Cabinet and White House aides to meet with the senators in person. Ahead of Biden’s announcement, the White House had also spoken to other lawmakers, including from the House. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), the co-chairs of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, spoke late Monday with Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, about bipartisan efforts to reach an infrastructure deal, according to an aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations. The Problem Solvers group has agreed to $761.8 billion in new spending over eight years as part of $1.2 trillion plan, according to a draft obtained late Tuesday by The Associated Press. The one-page draft does not include any proposed ways to pay for the package. Gottheimer is also working with Cassidy and Sinema from the senators’ group, the aide said. With the narrowly split House and the 50-50 Senate, the White House faces political challenges pushing its priorities through Congress with Democratic votes alone. Biden’s party holds a slight majority in the Senate because Vice President Kamala Harris can break a tie. The special budget rules could provide Biden with an alternative path, particularly in the Senate, because they allow legislation to be approved with a 51-vote threshold, rather than the 60 votes typically needed to advance a bill past a filibuster — in this case, led by Republicans against the Biden package. Democrats are watching warily as time passes and anxiety builds toward an agreement, with many lawmakers worried they are not fulfilling their campaign promises to voters who put the party in control of Congress and the White House. During a private discussion of Democratic senators at lunch Tuesday, there were differing views over whether they should keep talking with Republicans or pursue an approach that would allow them to pass a bill on their own, through the budget reconciliation process. Schumer told reporters afterward that Democrats are pursuing “a two-path approach.” The bipartisan talks led by Sinema with the other senators are underway, Schumer said, while the budget committee is preparing the legislation that would allow passage through the reconciliation process. “It may well be that part of the bill that is passed will be bipartisan, and part of it will be in reconciliation,” he said. “But we’re not going to sacrifice bigness and boldness.” The president is expected to engage with lawmakers while he sets out this week on his first foreign trip for an economic summit of the Group of Seven industrialized nations in Europe. By Lisa Mascaro and Josh Boak, The Associated Press

FHWA provides $5.6 million in funding to seven states for highway projects

WASHINGTON — In late May, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced more than $5.6 million in Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) Demonstration program grants designed to help seven states make the most of limited resources. Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Utah will receive funds in this round of awards. The program allows states to bring complete projects in a more cost-effective way by using innovative practices. “We need to build our economy back better than ever before,” said Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Transportation Secretary. “That requires using innovative approaches to transportation that deliver results for the American people. The USDOT will continue to support innovations that deliver projects that help people get where they need to go, safely and cost effectively.” Since the AID program was launched in February 2014, FHWA has awarded more than $86.9 million for 117 grants to help federal, state, local and tribal government agencies speed up their use of innovative traffic, safety and construction practices. “Cash-strapped states are working to deliver essential services and we’re here to help,” said Acting Federal Highway Administrator Stephanie Pollack. “With the help of these grants, states can more easily deliver cutting-edge roads, bridges, highways, streets and sidewalks at less cost and in less time while improving mobility and safety for all road users.” Project and program grants include: Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT): $741,493 With $741,493 awarded, ALDOT will deploy an innovation known as Advanced Geotechnical Methods in Exploration (A-GaME) to repair and reopen a section of U.S. Route 231 in Morgan County that closed after a mudslide in 2020. ALDOT expects A-GaME to help reduce construction delays and identify subsurface conditions that can mitigate risks. Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT): $448,300 In Mohave County, the Composite Arch Bridge System (CABS) technology will be used to build a durable bridge crossing on Antares Road over Truxton Wash with reduced road closure times and construction costs. Used for the first time in Arizona, CABS provide rapid, simplified construction and arches that can be easily transported and put in place without heavy equipment or large crews. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT): $977,398 Expanding on the experiential knowledge gained from previous efforts, MDOT will bundle bridge projects on local agency routes. MDOT’s expected outcomes with bundling, a delivery method supported by FHWA that covers several projects under one contract, include streamlined coordination and permitting, increased economies of scale and improved bridge conditions on local routes. New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT): $452,000 The city of Nashua will help improve safety pedestrians by installing several innovations supported by FHWA, including crosswalk visibility enhancements, Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons and road reconfigurations known as Road Diets. These innovations are expected to reduce the number and severity of crashes involving pedestrians, help drivers yield to pedestrians more easily, and reduce traffic stress for pedestrians at 20 locations in the city. Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT): $1,000,000 RIDOT will implement the findings of its Uncontrolled Midblock Crossing Evaluation and Plan and install Uncontrolled crosswalk enhancements including Rectangular Flashing Beacons, Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, Leading Pedestrian Intervals, medians and crossing islands to improve pedestrian safety at 25 state-owned crossings. South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT): $1,000,000 For the first time, SDDOT will deploy and evaluate the use of Variable Speed Limits on two interstate highway corridors through the state and help South Dakota develop criteria to adjust speed limits in response to weather, road, visibility and traffic conditions. Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT): $1,000,000 UDOT will use 3D modeling software, e-Construction, drones and other FHWA-supported technologies to improve project delivery. For more information about FHWA’s AID demonstration grant program, visit www.fhwa.dot.gov/accelerating/grants.

US traffic deaths up 7% last year; fatalities involving large trucks down by 2%

DETROIT — U.S. traffic deaths rose 7% last year, the biggest increase in 13 years even though people drove fewer miles due to the coronavirus pandemic, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported June 3. The increase came even though the number of miles traveled by vehicle fell 13% from 2019. NHTSA blamed the increase on drivers taking more risks on less congested roads by speeding, failing to wear seat belts, or driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. An estimated 38,680 people died in traffic crashes last year, the most of any year since 2007, the agency said when releasing preliminary numbers. Final numbers normally come out in the fall. Motorcyclist deaths rose 9% last year to 5,015, while bicyclist deaths were up 5% to 846. Pedestrian deaths remained steady at 6,205, and the number of people killed in passenger vehicles rose 5% to 23,395, according to NHTSA. Deaths involving large trucks fell 2%, while traffic fatalities among people 65 and older fell 9%. NHTSA said it has data showing that speeds increased through the year, and examples of extreme speeding became more common. Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle miles traveled fell by about 430.2 billion miles last year when compared with 2019. There were 1.37 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2020, up from 1.11 deaths a year earlier.

US Border Patrol arrests more than 160 during alleged human smuggling attempts Memorial Day weekend

LAREDO, Texas — Over a 24-hour period during Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Laredo sector apprehended more than 160 undocumented individuals during two separate alleged human smuggling attempts. The first incident was after midnight on Friday, May 28, when a tractor hauling a tanker trailer approached the Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. 83. During primary inspection, a service K-9 alerted to the vehicle, and agents referred it to secondary inspection. There, a nonintrusive scan revealed more than 50 people hidden inside the tanker. All were Mexican nationals, and were determined to be in the U.S. illegally. The driver, a U.S. citizen, and the hidden passengers were taken into custody by the Border Patrol. The second incident took place the next morning, when a commercial tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint on Interstate 35. During the immigration inspection, a service K-9 alerted an agent, and the driver was referred for a secondary inspection. Instead, the driver disregarded the agent’s instructions and drove north on I-35. Border Patrol agents stopped the vehicle near mile marker 31 on I-35 and discovered more than 100 people hidden inside the trailer; the individuals were from the countries of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. The driver, a U.S. citizen, along with the concealed individuals, were placed under arrest pending further investigation.