The Nation

WASHINGTON — The Biden White House is amplifying the push for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package with the release of state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability. The figures in the state summaries, obtained by The Associated Press, paint a decidedly bleak outlook for the world’s largest economy after years of repairs being deferred and delayed. They suggest that too much infrastructure is unsafe for vehicles at any speed, while highlighting the costs of extreme weather events that have become more frequent with climate change as well as dead spots for broadband and a dearth of child care options. President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon, April 12, with Republican and Democratic lawmakers and intends to use the state summaries to show that his plan would help meet the needs of their constituents. Drawn from an array of private and public data, the reports show there are 7,300 miles of highway in Michigan alone that are in poor condition. Damaged streets in North Carolina impose an average yearly cost of $500 on motorists. Iowa has 4,571 bridges in need of repair. There is a roughly 4-in-10 chance that a public transit vehicle in Indiana might be ready for the scrap yard. Pennsylvania’s schools are short $1.4 billion for maintenance and upgrades. Most states received a letter grade on their infrastructure. West Virginia earned a D. So did Biden’s home state of Delaware. The highest grade went to Utah, which notched a C-plus. The lowest grade, D-minus, went to the territory of Puerto Rico. The administration is banking that the data will confirm the everyday experiences of Americans as they bump over potholes, get trapped in traffic jams and wait for buses that almost never correspond to published schedules. There is already a receptive audience to the sales pitch, and the strategy is that public support can overcome any congressional misgivings. “We don’t have a lot of work to do to persuade the American people that U.S. infrastructure needs major improvement,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Fox News Channel’s “Fox News Sunday” ahead of the reports’ release. “The American people already know it.” Republican lawmakers have been quick to reject the infrastructure proposal from Biden. They say just a fraction of the spending goes to traditional infrastructure, as $400 billion would expand Medicaid support for caregivers and substantial portions would fund electric vehicle charging stations and address the racial injustice of highways that were built in ways that destroyed Black neighborhoods. The reports give some data to back up their argument that more money should be spent on roads and bridges. Biden’s plan would modernize 20,000 miles worth of roadways, but California by itself has 14,220 miles of highway in poor condition. Republican lawmakers also object to funding the package by increasing the corporate tax rate from 21% to 28% and increasing the global minimum tax, among other tax changes including stepped-up IRS enforcement being proposed by the Biden administration. “This is a massive social welfare spending program combined with a massive tax increase on small-business job creators,” Sen Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, April 11. “I can’t think of a worse thing to do.” Yet the state-by-state reports make clear that many of the people Wicker represents could benefit from the package, an aspect of the Biden effort to engender the backing of voters across party lines. Wicker was among four Republicans on the White House guest list for Biden’s Monday meeting, along with Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Reps. Garret Graves of Louisiana and Don Young of Alaska. Democrats on the list were Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Alex Padilla of California, and Reps. Donald Payne Jr. of New Jersey and David Price of North Carolina. Mississippi needs $4.8 billion for drinking water and $289 million for schools. Nearly a quarter of the state’s households lack an internet subscription, and a similar percentage lives in areas without broadband. Mississippians who use public transportation have to devote an extra 87.7% of their time to commuting. Mississippi’s infrastructure received a grade of D-plus. To review the White House’s state-by-state infrastructure reports and fact sheets, click here.

Springfield, Ill. — The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on April 5 announced that $7 million has been awarded for 21 projects as a part of the agency’s Truck Access Route Program (TARP). The program includes upgrading roads to accommodate local truck traffic, leveraging a total investment of $36 million to create jobs and boost economic activity in communities throughout the state. “Illinois is the country’s transportation hub, with freight activity a cornerstone of the state’s economy,” said Acting Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “At IDOT, we want our local partners to have the necessary tools to manage traffic safely and spur even more job creation and economic growth.” The TARP allows counties, municipalities and townships to apply for assistance in upgrading roads to accommodate 80,000-pound trucks and become designated truck routes. The program provides $45,000 per lane mile and $22,000 per eligible intersection for selected projects. The program is specific to IDOT’s funding methods and implemented in the 1990s, as many locations in Illinois do not have the capabilities to accommodate trucks on highways. “We are trying to build up the web of a highway system where trucks can actually move freely throughout Illinois,” said Stephane Seck-Birhame, local program development engineer for IDOT. “That’s the goal of the program.” All funded projects are designated to connect truck routes on county roads, highways and within cities. “All this money is not to be used solely on traveling the roadway,” Seck-Birhame said. “Improving our roadways is always much more expensive than that. This is just an assistant to those already planning on improving their roadway to consider improving it in a way that can accommodate 80,000-pound trucks.” Local municipalities may apply annually to receive funding. Applications open in the fall of each year, with requirements to submit a cover letter, the project estimate, a location map and forms to be eligible. The state participation will not exceed 50 % of the total construction costs or $900,000, whichever is less. A maximum of $900,000 can be awarded to projects that improve connections to other designated truck routes and businesses that generate truck traffic. In March, IDOT provided the third of six $250 million installments to local governments as part of the six-year, $33.2 billion capital program According to a statement from IDOT, Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but it is also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation, including roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations. “We want to make sure if there is already an existing truck route, a driver on that truck route and wanting to go somewhere else to another destination has the ability to do so from where they’re at,” Seck-Birhame said. Click here to view the projects that were awarded funding.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers at six new Speedco locations that are open 24/7. The locations offer tire, lube and light mechanical services, as well as U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) inspections, for professional drivers and fleets. “We’re continuing to add new products and services to help get professional drivers back on the road quickly and safely so they can continue to deliver essential goods throughout the country,” said Gary Price, executive vice president of Truck Care. “Because maintenance and uptime are high priorities for professional drivers, we’re offering high-performance, heavy-duty Love’s premium 10W-30 oil and adding lobby bay monitors at these locations so drivers can monitor service and speed.” Love’s Truck Care and Speedco is the nation’s largest preventive maintenance and total truck care network, with more than 1,500 maintenance bays and the most comprehensive roadside coverage in the country, according to a statement from Love’s. The six newest Speedco locations include: Bliss, Idaho: 680 U.S. Highway 30; Channahon, Illinois: 23733 W. Bluff Road; Hamilton, Alabama: 1126 County Highway 35; Jacksonville, Florida: 17110 Brandy Branch Road; Napoleon, Ohio: 775 American Road; and Valley City, North Dakota: 1385 Eighth Ave. SW.

INDIANAPOLIS — Ivy Tech Community College has been awarded an $85,071 Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training (CMVOST) grant, to offer free CDL-A training. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Ivy Tech Community College is one of 20 educational institutions nationwide to be awarded a CMVOST grant for the 2020 fiscal year. The free training is intended to increase road safety and reduce crashes involving commercial motor vehicles for West Central Indiana residents. Grant funding will cover 100% of CDL-A training, permit and licensing costs for 20 students. Residents of Indiana’s Clay, Greene, Knox, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillion and Vigo counties are eligible to apply for training. Current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including National Guard and Reservists, their spouses and children, will be prioritized for consideration. “Ivy Tech is fortunate to receive a grant that will allow us to provide free job training while also increasing road safety in West Central Indiana,” said Lea Anne Crooks, chancellor of Ivy Tech in Terre Haute, Indiana. “The Terre Haute campus is well-positioned to offer this opportunity to military members, with six military installations within a 10-mile radius of campus. We plan to work closely with these organizations and our partners in workforce development to identify those in our community who will benefit from free training in one of Indiana’s most in-demand careers.” Training will be provided by Ivy Tech Community College in Terre Haute and the Driving Dynamics Center for Transportation Safety program. Students will complete four weeks of full-time training, as well as 30 to 40 hours of one-on-one driving instruction, at the Terre Haute campus. In addition, Ivy Tech will help graduates find employment through the college’s network of hiring companies, which includes national carriers along with regional and local trucking companies. According to a 2016 Indiana Employment Outlook Projections study conducted by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development and STATS Indiana, the number of occupations requiring a CDL is anticipated to increase by 6.6% by 2026. In West Central Indiana, commercial vehicle drivers are calculated as a five-flame career, the highest-rank provided by the INDemand Jobs Indiana Flame Ranking system. In addition, 24,861 heavy-duty and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected to leave the occupation between 2016 and 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For more information about the program, click here.

EL PASO, Texas — Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute (UTI) recently honored the inaugural graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program. The 12-week training program at Fort Bliss, the first-of-its-kind on-base diesel and commercial technician career skills program in U.S. Army history, leads directly to employment for military members that are transitioning to civilian life. “This is an important day for the Army,” said Col. Stuart James, garrison commander at Fort Bliss. “It is critical that we take care of the men and women who have selflessly taken care of our country. We need to take care of the soldiers not only when they are in the Army but when they leave. To have partners like Premier Truck Group and Universal Technical Institute help our transitioning service members succeed in their next career is wonderful.” The service members who completed the program were honored at a ceremony at Fort Bliss on April 1. Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso) addressed the graduates, thanking them for their service to the country and noting that they will continue to serve society in their new careers. Executives from Premier Truck Group and UTI were also in attendance. “It’s a privilege to be here, to congratulate these eight graduates in person and to thank you for the service you’ve provided our country,” Escobar said. “You are truly our nation’s greatest assets. When service members leave the military after they have given their all to our nation, we haven’t done enough as a country to provide these tremendous men and women the opportunity to use their incredible skills in the private sector and in our economy, so I am so grateful for collaborations like this that provide solutions to challenges we can’t solve on our own.’ The Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program is tuition-free for military service members and features an on-base curriculum with hands-on technical training that meets Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 guidelines. The training focuses on diagnostic paths and service technologies unique to Premier Truck Group. The program’s next session will start April 19. “It is our honor to hire our nation’s heroes,” said Rich Shearing, president of Premier Truck Group. “Our partnership with UTI and the U.S. Army at Fort Bliss gives us the opportunity to support service members in learning the skills to transition directly into rewarding civilian careers. We are pleased to offer immediate employment to these and future graduates from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program.” The eight graduating students from the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program at Fort Bliss will join the ranks of Premier Truck Group’s nearly 1,800 employees, including some 600 technicians. The following service members earned a Systems Certified Daimler Truck North America credential and will be working at Premier Truck Group: Cameron Champraya, who will work in Salt Lake City, Utah; Donald Ford, who will work in Twin Falls, Idaho; Hannah McMullin, who will work in Fort Worth, Texas; Hien Tran, who will work in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Ivan Perez, who will work in St. George, Utah; Mark Lopez, who will work in Amarillo, Texas; Timothy Phillips, who will work in North Dallas, Texas; and Tyler Walker, who will work in Ardmore, Oklahoma. “We are excited to celebrate the first graduating class of the Premier Truck Group Technician Skills Program,” said Jerome Grant, CEO of UTI. “This program is part of UTI’s deep and long-standing commitment to serve and support our country’s veterans through quality education in partnership with industry.” For more information about the program, call 915-471-6351 or email [email protected].

LA PINE, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), the city of La Pine, Oregon, and Deschutes County are working to improve conditions for drivers, travelers, big rigs and everyone who travels along U.S. 97 in Wickiup Junction. To that end, ODOT is asking for public comment on the Wickiup Junction Refinement Plan. U.S. 97 is central to life in Wickiup Junction, but it also presents safety challenges. In 2020, ODOT reached out to the public, seeking ideas for improvements. The feedback gathered, along with a technical highway analysis, was used to create a refinement plan designed to make the area safer and easier to navigate. This plan, which builds on work completed through the 2013 La Pine Transportation System Plan (TSP) and the 2012 Deschutes County TSP, will identify transportation needs and potential solutions in partnership with the City of La Pine, Deschutes County and members of the general public that live and work in the Wickiup Junction area or travel through the area. ODOT’s current plan focuses in detail on the intersections within the Wickiup Junction area for safe access to and from U.S. 97, particularly at the at-grade crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail line. Comments will be accepted online through April 16. Click here to review the Wickiup Junction Refinement Plan. Visitors can use an interactive map to see the proposed improvements and provide feedback on the options. The La Pine City Council is set to review the adoption of this plan later this spring. Comments must be finalized before the meeting.

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officially kicked off this year’s highway construction season April 5. Headlined by ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks, the event was held along Interstate 475 at Dorr Street in Toledo, where work continues on a $46.7 million project that began in November 2019. The project is slated for completion this fall. Joining Marchbanks were ODOT District 2 Deputy Director Pat McColley, Lucas County Engineer Mike Pniewski and Inverness Club President Dr. Gregory Kasper. Marchbanks noted that in northwest Ohio and throughout the state, projects have largely moved forward, despite the pandemic. “Thanks to the foresight of Gov. (Mike) DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly and internal operational savings identified by our workforce, we have been able to weather this global pandemic,” Marchbanks said. “Without those extra funds, we would be nearly a billion dollars in the red. While other states have been delaying or canceling projects, Ohio continues moving forward.” A separate kickoff event for projects occurring in the Lima area was held April 6. ODOT’s projects include adding a third lane of travel in each direction on a two-mile section of the I-475 and U.S. 23 corridor, constructing a new interchange at Dorr Street, and reconstructing a section of the street. The I-475 at Dorr Street project figures heavily into Toledo’s hosting of the upcoming Solheim Cup — a trans-Atlantic pro golf competition for women — in September at the Inverness Club, located on Dorr Street just east of the construction. “The ODOT project is a much-needed conduit for this part of our community. We are so pleased they have agreed to complete this project prior to the Solhiem Cup,” Kasper said. “The innovative and new interchange will create a wonderful introduction of Toledo to an international audience at the tournament this fall.” Other continuing projects in northwest Ohio include: Construction on Interstate 75 in Wood and Lucas counties. Two abutting projects between Buck Road and Dorr Street, totaling $343 million, are under way. Work began in late 2018 and is expected to be completed in 2023. Placement of a concrete overlay on the driving surface of the Veterans’ Glass City Skyway bridge in East Toledo. Work began on the $18 million project in March 2020 and is expected to be completed this fall. A $21 million project on I-75 from just south of Beaverdam to north of Bluffton. The project includes reconstructing pavement and ramps at the I-75 interchange with State Route 696. Construction began in 2020 and is expected to be completed this summer. New projects beginning in northwest Ohio this year include: Resurfacing of I-75 between Interstate 280 and the Michigan state line in North Toledo. Work will begin in April and be completed this fall. Reconstruction of State Route 25 between Cygnet Road and U.S. 6 south of Bowling Green, including Portage. Work will begin in June and be completed in fall 2022. Safety project to improve the intersection of U.S. 20 and Reynolds Road and Heatherdowns Boulevard. Work will begin in September and be complete in June 2022. Safety project to construct a restricted crossing U-turn at the intersection of Thayer Road and U.S. 30 in Allen County. Cul-de-sacs will be constructed at the Mayberry Road and Cool Road intersections. Work will begin in August and be completed in late fall. Safety project to construct cul-de-sacs on Township Road 196 and Township Road 198 where they intersect with State Route 15 in Hancock County. The project will begin in September and wrap up in late fall. For a complete list of highway construction projects planned for northwest Ohio in 2021, click here. For statewide construction information, click here.

SEATTLE — Washington state would need to spend nearly $15 billion over the coming decade just to get its transportation system of roads, bridges and ferries to a “minimally acceptable condition,” according to a state report. The Seattle Times reports that’s twice the current spending on preservation, which the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) defines as planned repairs that extend the life of an asset, as opposed to stopgap jobs like pothole filling. “While WSDOT has been deferring this work to try and keep the entire state highway system operational, it can no longer be ignored without dire consequences,” the state report says. Preservation funds would grow in all four versions of the multiyear transportation packages lawmakers have proposed this legislative session, ranging from $10 billion to $22 billion, using mainly higher fuel taxes or carbon fees. WSDOT might also receive more federal money if Congress passes President Biden’s $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan, which includes a promise to modernize 10,000 bridges and 20,000 miles of roadways. Regardless of whether those plans materialize, Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee recommends a $429 million spending increase on preservation for the regular 2021-23 state transportation budget. The capital city of Olympia’s hands have been tied by $16.5 billion in existing and planned debt — more than half of the state’s share of gasoline tax — to build massive projects like the Highway 99 tunnel, Highway 520 bridge replacement and future extensions of Highways 509 and 167 around SeaTac, Puyallup, Fife and Tacoma. Billions more must be spent to replace fish-blocking road culverts, as required by a federal court ruling. About 72% of Washington’s highways are rated in “acceptable” condition. That’s worse than the national average of 80% smooth pavement. WSDOT’s annual report, using looser criteria, shows 93% of the state’s highways rated “fair” or better.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) in late March allocated $491 million to address transportation needs throughout the state. This investment, which includes $273 million generated from Senate Bill 1 (SB1), known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017, will repair highways and bridges and improve California’s growing network of mass transit, bicycle and pedestrian routes. “These critical investments will help improve California’s transportation infrastructure now and into the future,” said Toks Omishakin, director of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). “This includes improving safety and access for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, and planning for the long-term maintenance of these vital assets.” The following are a few projects aimed at improving or repairing some of the state’s roads and bridges. District 3 — Marysville In Sacramento County, $31.5 million was allocated for various pavement and roadside rehabilitation projects on Interstate 80, State Route 51 (Capital City Freeway) and State Route 244, which serves as a connector between I-80 and the Capital City Freeway. Improvements also include vegetation control, the construction of maintenance vehicle pullouts and utility box relocation. Sacramento County will also use $12.6 million for the American River Bridge Rehabilitation project that will remove, replace and widen the existing concrete bridge deck, and add a bike path from levee to levee. Sacramento County will designate $3.7 million to the city of Elk Grove for the Capital Southeast Connector Project. The project is widening the roadway and improving intersections at three locations on Kammerer Road from Rau Road to Lent Ranch Parkway. District 5 — San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara An $11 million allocation to rehabilitate the Garrapata Creek Bridge on Highway 1 in Monterey County with the application of an electrochemical chloride extraction and waterproofing of the structure. A $6 million allocation to replace two bridges near the Refugio Overcrossing on U.S. 101 in Santa Barbara County. A $5 million allocation to build a tieback wall, restore the roadway, improve drainage facilities and install permanent erosion control measures on State Route 236 near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. A $4 million allocation to rehabilitate the pavement, repair drainage systems, upgrade the median barrier and guardrail on U.S. 101 from north of Boronda Road to north of Crazy Horse Canyon Road near Salinas in Monterey County. A $2 million allocation to replace the San Lorenzo River Bridge and the Kings Creek Bridge on State Route 9 near Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. District 6 — Fresno and Bakersfield include: A Traffic Management Program Repair Project in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera and Tulare Counties; $4.5 million will repair Transportation Management System (TMS) elements throughout District 6. This project will help reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency. A $4.2 million bridge upgrade project on State Route 99 in Tulare County will upgrade the bridge railing to current standards and install approach railings at the Avenue 48 Overcrossing, the Davis Avenue Overcrossing and the Avenue 100 Overcrossing in and near Pixley in Tulare County. District 8 — Riverside and San Bernardino counties  A Caltrans project near Needles on Interstate 40: Halfway Hills Wash Bridge. Replace bridges, and replace and expand rock slope protection limits. District 9 — Inyo and Mono counties In Mono County on U.S. 395 at various locations, and on U.S. 6 approximately 7 miles north of Bishop: This project will construct two new chain control turnouts and improve several existing chain control turnouts by widening and lengthening the pavement area, installing lighting, improving signage and constructing a median cross-over. In Inyo County near Shoshone, 42 lane miles of State Route 127 will be rehabilitated. The project will also replace signage along the highway. This project will stretch from 4.6 miles north of State Route 178 to 7.6 miles south of State Route 190, and from 0.3 miles south of State Route 190 to the Nevada state line. District 10 — Stockton A project that will repair or replace damaged and nonfunctioning Traffic Management System (TMS) elements In San Joaquin, Amador, Calaveras, Merced, Mariposa, Stanislaus and Tuolumne counties, on various routes — 4, 5, 26, 33, 49, 59, 99, 104, 108, 120, 132, 140, 152 and 205. This project, which received nearly $4 million, will help reduce congestion and improve operational efficiency. District 12 — Orange County  Safety improvements for Interstate 5 in Anaheim, from 0.2 mile north of Anaheim Boulevard to Santa Ana Street will be given $2.2 million. The purpose of this project is to enhance highway worker safety by upgrading access trails and access gates, relocating facilities away from traffic, and installing features to reduce repetitive maintenance activities. California’s SB1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually, which is split between state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB1. For more information about other transportation projects funded by SB1, visit www.RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

AMES, Iowa — Truck drivers passing through Iowa will soon have a few more parking spaces to rest for the night. The parking-only rest area on southbound Interstate 35 in Warren County near Saint Charles is set to reopen Tuesday, April 13, at 9 a.m. The rest area, mostly used by commercial drivers, has been closed since November 2020, due to safety concerns of larger vehicles navigating the sloped entrance and exits to the area. Because the ramp from the rest area to I-35 is on an incline, large vehicles often have trouble getting traction to merge onto I-35 during winter weather, causing a dangerous situation on the roadway.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Love’s Travel Stops is now serving customers in Sandersville, Mississippi, thanks to a travel stop that opened Thursday. The Sandersville store, located off Interstate 59, adds more than 40 jobs and 93 truck parking spaces to Jones County, Mississippi. “We want to thank the town of Sandersville and the Jones County Board of Supervisors for helping to get our 17th location in Mississippi open,” said Greg Love, co-CEO of Love’s. “Our team members are excited to help professional drivers and four-wheel customers get back on the road quickly and safely, with the best amenities and services available on the highway.” This location is open 24/7 and offers many amenities, including: More than 11,000 square feet; McDonald’s; 93 truck parking spaces; 63 car parking spaces; Eight diesel bays; Five showers; Laundry facilities; Speedco; Bean-to-cup gourmet coffee; Brand-name snacks; Mobile to Go Zone with the latest electronics; CAT scale; and Dog park. In honor of the grand opening, Love’s will donate $2,000 to the Sandersville Police Department.