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On Thursday, December 22, 2011 the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released its latest revision to the truck driver hours of service regulations. The rules are effective on July 1, 2013, except for the change to the definition of on-duty time which becomes effective February 21, 2012.

The US DOT this week announced the award of $511 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants. This is the third round of TIGER grant awards. The program was started as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and has been popular with states and local governments. USDOT received 848 project applications requesting $14.3 billion, far exceeding the $511 million made available by Congress for TIGER III grants which are awarded to transportation projects that have a significant national or regional impact.

US DOT has issued a final rule that restricts the use of hand-held mobile telephones by interstate commercial motor vehicle drivers (CMV) and interstate hazmat drivers beginning January 3, 2012. The rule does not restrict or prohibit the use of hands free devices. The rule does not currently apply to CMV drivers that do not cross state lines; however, states are required to adopt the requirements within three years as a condition for continuing to receive Federal Motor Carrier Safety Assistance grants.

Senate As the Senate Banking and Science, Commerce and Transportation Committees aim to markup their respective provisions of the surface transportation reauthorization bill next week, the Senate Finance Committee is not moving any closer to marking up their revenue provisions of the bill.  However, Republican members of the Finance Committee shared their proposed options for funding the legislation – also known as MAP-21 – in a letter sent to Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.).

House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) announced Nov. 29 that his committee will not take up surface transportation reauthorization legislation until late January or early February 2012. It had been anticipated that the T&I Committee would introduce its bill on Monday, Dec. 5 with the expectation that it would be considered by the full House before the end of the year.

BIM and 3D modeling have been used extensively and successfully in vertical building construction. Contractors, state DOTs and other public owners are now recognizing its application and value in the construction of highways, bridges and other civil projects. Civil Information Modeling (CIM) can lead to better estimates, early identification of design conflicts and flaws, more efficient construction operations, safer and more economic traffic management plans, better communications with the public, enhanced cooperation among the construction team, more profitable projects and other benefits.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.), and other House Republican leaders announced at a press conference today their plans to soon introduce H.R. 7, the "American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act". The legislation will include a five-year reauthorization of the surface transportation programs and will allow for expanded offshore oil and gas drilling, oil shale production, and Arctic National Wildlife Reserve oil exploration.

This afternoon, the House of Representatives started debate on H.R. 2112, a so-called “minibus” bill that provides federal funding for the Departments of Transportation; Housing & Urban Development, Agriculture; and Commerce/Justice/Science).  Once the "minibus" passes the House, it will be considered by the Senate where it is also likely to pass.   The funding level in the "minibus" represents a $7 billion decrease from last year.  Among the items getting “zeroed-out” for no funding are high speed rail and a national infrastructure bank.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced today that the House will pass surface transportation reauthorization legislation before the end of 2011. In his statement Speaker Boehner said, “In the coming weeks, House Republicans will formally introduce an energy & infrastructure jobs bill, and hope to move the legislation through the House before the end of the year.  House Republicans oppose wasteful ‘stimulus’ spending, and instead favor an approach that combines an expansion of American-made energy production with initiatives to repair and improve infrastructure and reform the way infrastructure money is spent.”

Environment and Public Works Committee to Markup Transportation Reauthorization Next Week Senate Democrat and Republican transportation infrastructure spending proposals failed to gain the 60 votes necessary to be considered for passage.  �������ϲʿ���Ԥ�� urged Senators to set aside both proposals and focus on passing a multiyear transportation reauthorization bill, parts of which will be marked up  on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the Environment and Public Works Committee.