The Nation

COVINGTON, Ky. — Repair continues on the Brent Spence Bridge linking Kentucky and Ohio, with the pouring of a new layer of concrete on the structure’s upper deck scheduled for today (Dec. 10). Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary (KYTC) Jim Gray provided the news in a Dec. 9 update. “We’re now past the midpoint of this project to repair and reopen the Brent Spence Bridge,” Gray said. “Major visible progress to restore the affected upper deck starts tomorrow when contractors pour a new layer of concrete. We’ll be going from construction to completion in the next two weeks.” The Brent Spence Bridge, which spans the Ohio River between Covington, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, has been closed since a fiery truck collision on Nov. 11. Inspections began the same day, and an emergency project to repair and reopen the bridge started the following week. The project’s primary contractor, Kokosing Construction Co. of Westerville, Ohio, has a target reopening date of Dec. 23. The last of the reinforcing steel bars for the upper deck of the bridge were set earlier this week, and concrete pouring for a new barrier wall on the lower deck of the bridge began Dec. 9. The new concrete will require about a week to “cure” (harden). During that time, crews will prepare for the final concrete pour for a new barrier wall on the upper deck and a new layer of concrete on the bottom deck scheduled to occur next week. KYTC’s official order on traffic remains in force until the bridge reopens. The order provides for a single lane of Interstate 71/75 to remain open north of the Interstate 275 interchange to give passenger vehicles access to downtown Covington via 12th Street and Fifth Street. Access also is permitted to commercial vehicles making local deliveries. Gray reiterated that repair of the bridge is necessary not only to restore an important regional connection, but also to ensure the long-term viability of the bridge, as well as KYTC’s partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). “The Brent Spence was designed to carry approximately 80,000 to 100,000 vehicles per day; it carries twice that amount,” Gray noted. “We appreciate the collaboration with our partners at ODOT as it relates to managing traffic during the closure as well as moving towards a new companion bridge that will provide additional capacity across the Ohio River.” To watch a time-lapse video of repair activity on the bridge through Dec. 4 and see updates on the project, visit the Brent Spence Bridge repair website.

MIAMI — Police want to know who kidnapped, tortured and fatally shot two truckers execution-style before dumping their bodies on a South Florida street over the weekend. The Miami Herald reported that a third man survived the ordeal and flagged down a passerby, who called police. That man, whose name has not been released, was in critical condition when he was taken to a hospital on Saturday night. Police told the newspaper that masked men kidnapped Osmar Oliva, 50, who owned Oliva Delivery Corp.; Johan Gonzalez Quesada, 26; and a third man. They tied their hands and tortured them for hours in the back of a moving-type truck before shooting them in the head and leaving them in a yard in Opa-locka, which is near Miami. “He was very good person,” Oliva’s crying widow told the newspaper on Monday. “I don’t know why this happened to him.” Gonzalez Quesada had a 1-year-old daughter in addition to a baby that was born less than two weeks ago. “He was a marvelous person,” Gonzalez Quesada’s father, Ovidio Gonzalez Roche, told the Herald. “This is such an extraordinary shock. I can’t explain what’s happened.” Miami-Dade homicide detectives are looking for answers. NBC 6 reported that the bodies of the men were left outside an abandoned home in Opa-locka. A reward of $5,000 is being offered for information that least to an arrest. The slain men had each had earlier brushes with the law. Oliva was arrested in 2007 after officers said he was one of three men found unloading cargo off a stolen tractor trailer that had been located using a GPS device, the Herald reported. Charges were dropped the following year. Last year, Gonzalez Quesada was accused of having two loads of pilfered cargo — frozen shrimp and air-conditioning units — that had been traced via GPS on stolen tractor trailers. An arrest report said the cargo was discovered at his home. He pleaded not guilty and was awaiting trial. SEEKING INFORMATION: On 12/5/20, the pictured victims were discovered deceased in the yard of 1801 Rutland Street. Anyone with information is urged to contact @CrimeStopper305 at (305)471-8477 or by dialing **TIPS. pic.twitter.com/OtMfRGE0P9 — Miami-Dade Police (@MiamiDadePD) December 7, 2020

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) hosted a virtual seminar today, Dec. 8, to help combat human trafficking. The event, a collaboration between DOT leadership and industry stakeholders, underscored the important role of all aspects of the transportation industry in stopping human trafficking, and provided immediate, actionable steps all stakeholders can take to help amplify counter-trafficking efforts. More than 600 participants registered to attend the seminar. The seminar, “Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation,” opened with remarks from Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao. “The transportation sector is uniquely positioned to help fight human trafficking, and the department has launched numerous initiatives to help train transportation workers to detect and prevent it,” Chao said. Welcome remarks were also provided by Joel Szabat, Acting Under Secretary of Transportation for Policy, and Ambassador John Cotton Richmond, who serves as the ambassador-at-large and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of State. The event featured three panels comprised of Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking stakeholders: “State & Local Efforts,” moderated by Federal Highway Administration Administrator Nicole Nason; “Private Sector and Airport Efforts,” moderated by David Short, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs; and “NGO Efforts,” moderated by Federal Transit Administration Deputy Administrator K. Jane Williams. This virtual event is one of numerous actions DOT has taken to combat human trafficking. In January, Chao called transportation leaders to action, asking them to take a public stand against human trafficking by signing the Department’s Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge. In response, more than 500 signatories have committed to training more than 1.3 million employees across all modes of transportation to help fight human trafficking. The DOT’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT) report provides tools and resources to guide transportation leaders in their countertrafficking efforts. The DOT website also includes resources for transportation stakeholders related to combating human trafficking. To sign the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge, click here. To see Chao’s opening remarks, click here.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) awarded $61 million in funding for 13 highway infrastructure projects the department says will improve freight mobility, safety, and first- and last-mile freight connections throughout the state. The awards are part of a second round of transportation funding offered to Minnesota cities, counties, ports, airports, MnDOT districts and railroads through the Minnesota Highway Freight Program (MHFP). The first round of MHFP funding was awarded in 2017. “The projects selected through this program represent some of the highest freight needs in both Greater Minnesota and the Twin Cities Metro Area,” said Andrew Andrusko, MHFP program manager. “We are excited to work with state and local partners to improve freight efficiency and support commerce and jobs throughout the state during this critical time.” Minnesota cities, counties, ports, airports, railroads and other government entities are encouraged to apply for funding for transportation projects that benefit freight movement. MnDOT received 34 applications requesting a total of $178 million during the second round of MHFP funding. Each project was scored using freight data, such as truck counts, truck travel times, proposed crash rate reduction, facility access and project readiness. The highest-scoring projects were selected from the Twin Cities Metro area and Greater Minnesota. Funding for the MHFP comes from the federal Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, commonly known as the FAST Act. More information about the awards and the program can be found online at the program website.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Highway Administration (FWHA) recently released an updated version of its Jason’s Law truck parking survey that offered a picture of the status of what drivers say — based on a survey published in October — is the top concern among their ranks. The report revealed new statistics but no real solutions. According to the latest Jason’s Law survey, there are about 313,000 truck parking spaces across the nation, including 40,000 at public rest areas and 273,000 at private truck stops, an increase of 6% and 11%, respectively, between 2014 and 2019. The survey report found new shortages among the entire Interstate 95 corridor, Pacific corridors and states surrounding the Chicago region, as well as other major freight corridors. Not many new parking areas are being developed, the report said, because of challenges in planning and funding. Some states reported fewer public truck parking spaces compared to 2014; among those states are Arizona, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah and Washington state. On the other hand, Delaware, Florida and Tennessee all showed increases in the number of parking spaces available. Of the nearly 11,700 truck drivers participating in the survey — a 43% increase from the first Jason’s Law survey — 98% reported problems with finding safe parking. Issues with truck parking were reported in every state and region in the U.S. According to the survey, the highest rate of parking issues were found along major freight corridors in states along Interstate 95, the Chicago region, and Interstate 5 in California. Times when truck parking is most difficult include at night from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m., during the week Monday through Thursday, and in the colder months of October through February. Among the other findings based on driver responses, drivers who participated in the survey said they need a variety of parking types; design is important in truck parking; safety and security is valued; public rest area closures present challenges; receivers should offer parking on site; and truck spaces need to be reserved for trucks only. State commercial motor vehicle safety agencies show the states with the highest rate of unofficial or unauthorized truck parking are typically those with major freight-generating areas, major ports and intermodal facilities. California, Florida, Texas and Illinois are among the states with high numbers of unauthorized parking, the report said. According to the latest Jason’s Law survey results, the majority of unauthorized truck parking occurs on ramps (58%) and shoulders (34%), most often between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. Commercial motor vehicle safety agency respondents reported that unauthorized truck parking is related to limited spaces and inclement weather, such as snow storms in the Rocky Mountain states. Illegal parking also occurs when trucks park to stage while waiting for deliveries. Based on that information, FHWA claims that dynamic messaging signs and other technologies are needed to broadcast information about parking availability. Truck stop owners also participated in the 2019 Jason’s Law survey. According to the survey, more than 87% of identified truck parking is at private truck stops. The average number of truck parking spaces per truck stop is 143 spaces. Truck stops report being over 100% capacity overnight, on weekdays and from May to October. Nearly 75% of truck stops say they do not monitor parking; those that do monitor spaces manually. More than 75% of truck stop respondents do not offer reservations, and 75% do not charge for parking. Of those that do charge for parking, 3% waive the fee for drivers who buy amenities or food. Despite the need for parking and reports of operating over capacity, 79% of truck stop respondents said they do not plan to add more truck parking. Jason’s Law is named in memory of professional truck driver Jason Rivenburg who was murdered for $7 while parked overnight at an abandoned gas station.

SEATTLE — Transportation officials in Washington state have considered increasing toll route prices and other finances as the coronavirus pandemic resulted in lower revenues previously expected to help pay off larger road projects. Traffic is down by about half on the State Route 520 bridge and the State Route 99 tunnel, and neither is expected to reach pre-pandemic budget projections, The Seattle Times reported Monday, Dec. 7. Deputy Treasurer Jason Richter told state lawmakers Nov. 30 that traffic plummeted as people remained home to limit the spread of COVID-19. Officials say the state expects to collect $72 million less in toll revenue from March through October, a 45% decrease, making it difficult to pay off costly projects like the bridge and tunnel. Instead, the state is considering toll increases, highway project reserve funds and other shuffling of state transportation dollars to cover the deficit. “I don’t see any situation where the general fund would be involved in these toll facilities,” Richter said, adding that the state also proposed using money from fines paid by drivers for late toll payments. That proposal would need approval from the state legislature. Washington State Transportation Commission has said toll increases on the bridge are likely to appear next summer. Currently, drivers pay between $1.25 and $6.30 depending on the time of day and whether they have a pass. It remains unclear how much the prices will increase. Republican state Sen. Curtis King said balancing the need for toll revenues with increasing tolls is a “Catch-22,” warning that higher prices could further discourage drivers from using the roads. Department officials have estimated a $7 million budget deficit for the tunnel, which doesn’t have a substantial reserve account to draw from like the bridge. As a result, officials expect deficits on the tunnel for years to come. Currently, drivers pay between $1 and $4.25 to use the tunnel. The cost increase for the tunnel remains unclear.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) last month published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would allow state departments of transportation more flexibility with design standards to repair the nation’s freeways and interstate highways. “The FHWA proposes to provide regulatory relief to states to address the immediate repair needs of our nation’s roadways without compromising safety and efficiency,” said Nicole R. Nason, Federal Highway administrator. The rule would allow states to develop design standards for resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation projects — commonly known as RRR — for freeways, including those on the interstate system, which has been a longstanding practice for non-freeway projects. Consistent with federal law, RRR standards would be required to preserve and extend the service life of the existing road and enhance highway safety. According to FHWA, the proposed change would allow individual states to develop RRR freeway projects using a performance-based, flexible approach. If the rulemaking is approved, RRR standards developed by each state would be subject to FHWA approval. FHWA would continue to work with state departments of transportation as they develop RRR design standards that integrate safety and cost-effectiveness. The rule also proposes to incorporate by reference the latest versions of design standards and standard specifications that have been previously adopted. To review the notice of proposed rulemaking or to comment, click here. The deadline for comments is Dec. 24.

EDENVILLE, Mich. — Contract crews for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) this week began construction on a temporary bridge on Michigan Highway 30 (M-30) over the Tobacco River in Gladwin County. The M-30 causeway bridge near Strykler’s Lakeside Marina was washed away following a flooding and a dam breach in May. The temporary bridge, which has a projected cost of $4.3 million, is expected to open to traffic in mid-February. The May flooding and subsequent dam failure led to damage of two M-30 bridges and the Curtis Road bridge, all within 1 mile of each other. MDOT staff determined that a temporary bridge structure was the best use of federal emergency aid and supported their mission of restoring mobility as quickly as possible. “Reopening this second M-30 bridge is vital to our business,” said Gurbachan Singh, owner of Edenville Market. “We have really struggled to stay in business since the flood damage, and every bridge that reopens helps our business a little more.” Standard bridge construction requires several years of design work and review to ensure the appropriate size structure is installed, meeting the transportation needs for the foreseeable future. In addition, construction of the temporary bridge will happen more quickly than normal because there is no existing structure to maintain traffic on. MDOT used an expedited bid-letting process to garner bids for the temporary bridge building. The job was awarded to Anlaan Corp., which reviewed the site Dec. 2 and planned to mobilize equipment the same week. Temporary bridge components are being supplied by Acrow Bridge, a corporation that specializes in prefabricated modular steel bridge solutions. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will be working concurrently to secure the existing Edenville Dam. This work is being completed to ensure future flooding does not place area residents and businesses in danger, and to address ongoing impacts on infrastructure and natural resources. This work will result in rapidly changing water levels and impact the stability of ice once winter recreation activities are in full swing. MDOT and EGLE request that the public refrain from all recreation activities while this work is ongoing.

COVINGTON, Ky. — Repairs to a heavily traveled bridge linking Kentucky and Ohio remain on schedule for a Dec. 23 reopening, Kentucky’s transportation secretary said Wednesday, Dec. 2. The Brent Spence Bridge — which spans the Ohio River between Cincinnati and Covington, Kentucky — has been closed since Nov. 11, when two trucks collided, resulting in a blaze that damaged a section of the structure. No injuries were reported. Crews finished installing new support beams this week and are preparing for a new concrete driving surface. Workers have already removed the section of the upper deck of the bridge that was damaged by fire. “We literally have all hands on deck as crews work around the clock to restore the bridge to its safe and sound state,” state Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said. “The project remains on track as activities continue this week to prepare for the installation of the new upper deck.” Updates on the bridge work are available at www.brentspencerepair.com.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Federal prosecutors are seeking to restore the tossed convictions for the former president of Pilot Flying J and two of his former employees related to a rebate scheme to cheat trucking companies out of millions of dollars. The petition filed this week asks a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel to reconsider its ruling that jurors should not have heard recordings of racist language by the former president, Mark Hazelwood. The panel’s split decision in October vacated convictions for Hazelwood, who received the harshest prison sentence at 12 ½ years, and two others. The panel ordered the case to be sent back to a lower court for a new trial, ruling further that it would not be necessary to assign the case to a different judge. At trial, the jury heard secret recordings of Hazelwood using racial slurs and profanely criticizing his board of directors and his boss’s football team and fans. Hazelwood later apologized for his language. The majority wrote that the racist recordings were wrongly admitted on the “theory that if the defendant was reckless enough to use language that could risk public outrage against the company, he was a ‘bad businessman,’ and as a bad businessman, he was also reckless enough to commit fraud.” In their petition for reconsideration, prosecutors wrote that they offered the recordings to “rebut Hazelwood’s assertion that he was too good an executive and businessman to do anything that could jeopardize the company’s viability and success” because the racist remarks “would have damaged Pilot’s success and reputation” if they became publicly known. “By stating that Hazelwood’s racist and sexist remarks merely revealed his ‘seriously misguided personal beliefs,’ the majority implied that racism can be compatible with good business practices,” prosecutors wrote. Hazelwood was convicted in 2018 of conspiracy, wire fraud and witness tampering. Former company Vice President Scott “Scooter” Wombold was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to six years in prison, and former account representative Heather Jones was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and sentenced to more than 2 ½ years. Fourteen former Pilot Flying J employees pleaded guilty earlier. Pilot Flying J is controlled by the family of Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. The Haslams have not been charged with any wrongdoing. The former governor has not been involved with the company in recent years. The company earlier agreed to pay an $85 million settlement to defrauded customers and a $92 million penalty to the government. Story by Jonathan Mattise, The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — To help protect customers and staff from the risk of exposure to COVID-19, Love’s Travel Stops across the country are offering expanded options for contact-free payment for both inside and outside transactions. “With the holiday driving season upon us, we want our customers to know about the increased amount of options they have when paying for fuel and other items like food, drinks and snacks,” said Ginny Webb, Love’s chief information officer and vice president of technology. “Being able to purchase items quickly and safely is very important to our customers and we are pleased to be able to offer these contactless options.” Mobile and contactless technology helps limit COVID-19 exposure and offers more convenience for the customer, and Love’s remains committed to ongoing enhancements of security features. Here are the options customers can use at Love’s: Apply Pay, Samsung Pay or Google Pay. Tap-and-go credit cards, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover. New smart terminals that, combined with Love’s credit processing software, cut checkout time in half. To fill up their tanks, professional drivers can use Love’s Mobile Pay on the Love’s Connect app to answer prompts, pay for fuel and receive contactless, digital receipts using their mobile phones. In addition, the app’s mobile receipts feature provides access to contactless receipts from all transactions made by swiping or scanning their My Love Rewards card. Contactless transactions inside Love’s locations have more than doubled in the last year. Four-wheel customers using contactless options to pay at the pump have increased by more than five times in 2020.