The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE), in partnership with TRB, is sponsoring a video contest: Why Transportation Systems Management and Operations (#YTSMO). Students are invited to submit a 30-60 second video explaining how transportation systems management and operations matters to them as future professionals. To be eligible, candidates must be a student at any level. Prior to submitting a video, follow the Center on Twitter, follow the Center on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the Center’s newsletter.

Submit a video through Twitter and LinkedIn and tag #YTSMO #NOCoE #TSMO in the post. Additionally, notify Patrick Son, Managing Director of NOCoE at pson@transportationops.org about the submission. The deadline for submissions is December 1, 2016. Winners will be notified in early December.

The top two video submissions will receive paid registration and travel to TRB’s 96th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., January 8-12, 2017. The winners will also have the opportunity to take part in a 30-minute meeting with the NOCoE managing director and an NOCoE board member. The winners will also have the opportunity to write a short article for the NOCoE newsletter about their experience at the TRB Annual Meeting.

Click here to learn more.

via YPTransportation.org

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is currently hiring a Program Manager for Environment & a Program Coordinator for Environment.

Program Coordinator for Environment – NATURE OF THE POSITION:

Reporting to the Program Director for Environment, the Program Coordinator for Environment supports a wide breadth of AASHTO’s environmental programs, projects, and special assignments related to the Center for Environmental Excellence (Center), the Standing Committee on Environment (SCOE), and the Resilient and Sustainable Transportation Systems (RSTS) Steering Committee and Technical Assistance Program.  This position is housed in the Policy and Management Division of AASHTO.

The incumbent coordinates the environmental research program, including maintaining the Transportation and Environmental Research Ideas database, soliciting research ideas for the database, facilitating the SCOE process for rating ideas, developing research statements, and submitting research statements to the appropriate research programs.  The incumbent also maintains the Center and SCOE websites including managing two website consultants. The incumbent ensures regular monitoring of the Center website usage, content updates, and periodic enhancements to the SCOE and Center websites.

Additionally, the incumbent serves as staff liaison to the SCOE Subcommittee on Community and Cultural Concerns. As the SCOE frequently develops comment letters on proposed federal actions related to transportation and the environment, the Program Coordinator assists in coordinating with the member state departments of transportation (state DOTs) to discuss proposed federal actions and electronically submits AASHTO’s comments on the actions.

Under the supervision of the Program Director, the incumbent is responsible for contract negotiation and management, and oversight in performing some of the aforementioned tasks. The incumbent regularly coordinates activities in the environment area of AASHTO through skillful and timely research, analysis, and utilization of a variety of technology and communication platforms. Such duties may include assisting in planning and implementing national conferences, training workshops, webcasts, webinars, and meetings with state DOTs and resource agencies; and receiving and answering inquiries from members and the public about environmental programs.  In addition, the incumbent performs a wide range of technical and administrative support tasks including but not limited to drafting correspondence, conducting surveys and tabulating results, coordinating meeting and teleconferences, filing expense reports, organizing committee mailings, processing invoice requests, and tracking billing against budgeting for accuracy.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Candidate must possess excellent written and oral communication, research, and analysis skills, and the ability to establish work program priorities and carry them out independently. Incumbent must be sensitive to the needs of multiple members and customers and have a general understanding of federal and state environmental policies, regulations, procedures and practices as they relate to transportation. Incumbent must be highly skilled in the use of computers, and proficient in word processing software packages with experience in graphics, spreadsheets, and the operation of conventional business equipment. It is desired that the incumbent be familiar with the fundamentals of project management and budgeting, including consultant selection and oversight, drafting requests for proposals, and negotiating and overseeing consultant scope of work and budgets.

A minimum of two to three years of previous transportation and/or environment program and policy support experience is required. A Bachelor of Arts or Science degree is required, preferably in an environment or transportation related field. Evidence of a higher degree of professional development, such as a postgraduate education, is desirable.

TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to recruiter@aashto.org by Monday, June 15. Relocation costs are not reimbursable. For more information, visit http://web.transportation.org/employmentopps/Default.aspx?lid=4221.

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AASHTO is also currently hiring a Program Manager for Environment.

NATURE OF THE POSITION:

Under the leadership of the Program Director for Environment, the Program Manager for Environment serves as the staff liaison to the AASHTO Resilient and Sustainable Transportation Systems (RSTS) Steering Committee and manages the RSTS Technical Assistance Program (TAP). The Program Manager also serves as the staff liaison to the Standing Committee on Environment’s (SCOE) Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy Subcommittee (AQ Subcommittee) and the SCOE Natural Resources Subcommittee. Additionally, the Program Manager oversees and directs various activities under the Center for Environmental Excellence (the Center) by AASHTO. Duties are performed with input from the Program Director and oversight groups consisting of state transportation agency representatives.

As liaison to the above committees, the Program Manager’s primary duty is to ensure AASHTO members are cognizant of key technical, legislative and regulatory issues related to climate change, extreme weather, air quality, stormwater, wetlands, endangered species, and other related environmental topics. In addition the incumbent ensures AASHTO members’ awareness of the linkage between general environmental topics and transportation. The Program Manager monitors the legislative, regulatory and technical activities of appropriate Congressional committees, federal agencies and other public interest groups and associations, and provides this information to members to assist them in policy deliberation and development.

In managing the RSTS Technical Assistance Program, the Program Manager is responsible for the development of long-term program and project objectives and strategies; program and project planning and budgeting; contract preparation, negotiation and administration; marketing of RSTS services and products; coordination of activities, programs and projects with governmental agencies, trade associations and public interest groups.

As staff liaison to the SCOE Air Quality, Climate Change and Energy and the SCOE Natural Resources Subcommittees, the Program Manager provides management support to the subcommittees. In this capacity, the Program Manager attends meetings and provides policy and procedural advice; advises on meeting agendas; disseminates informational materials to committee members, provides other assistance as required; and serves as liaison between the subcommittees and SCOE.

As a task manager for the Center, the Program Manager supports the Program Director in developing the annual work plan; long-term environmental program objectives and strategies; environmental program and project planning and budgeting; contract preparation, negotiation and administration; marketing of the Center’s services and products; and coordination of activities, programs and projects with governmental agencies, trade associations and public interest groups. The Program Manager oversees the development of training materials, webinars, websites, workshops, and national conferences that provide AASHTO members opportunities to engage in critical environmental discussions.

The Program Manager represents and promotes AASHTO’s environmental goals and policy positions in meetings, task forces and workshops; prepares and delivers presentations; and performs other functions as needed.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

A broad understanding of federal and state environmental policies, regulations, procedures and practices as they relate to transportation; and sound comprehension of the administrative, legislative and regulatory process at the federal and state levels is required.  The incumbent must have an understanding of state transportation responsibilities, planning and project delivery practices and policy issues. Project planning, budgeting and management skills, experience with contracts administration and financial reporting, and excellent written and oral communication skills are required. The incumbent must be able to travel approximately 30 days per year.

The successful candidate must have a minimum of four to six years of progressively responsible, professional experience in the transportation sector; with a focus on environmental issues or in the environmental field with a focus on transportation issues.  Prior experience in project management is desired.   A bachelor’s of arts or science degree is required, preferably in an environment or transportation related field.  Evidence of a higher degree of professional development, such as a postgraduate education, is desirable.

TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to recruiter@aashto.org by Monday, June 15. Relocation costs are not reimbursable. For more information, visit http://web.transportation.org/employmentopps/Default.aspx?lid=4220.

AASHTO is an equal opportunity employer.

 

Shutter bugs get ready to click away to some cold cash.. See the AASHTO presser below. 

Washington — The annual Faces of Transportation photography contest is marking its 10th year by adding a video category. Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the national contest asks State DOT employees and private citizens to send in photographs and videos of people, projects, and personal experiences that demonstrate the benefits of transportation.

This year’s competition, themed “Transportation in America,” includes seven awards. Five will be presented in the photography section and two prizes will be awarded in the video portion of competition.

Photography: Photographs will be judged in three new categories: Quality of Life/Community Development, Historic Projects, and Taking the Road Less Traveled. A $125 cash prize will be awarded to the best photograph in each of the three categories. $500 cash prizes will be presented to the winners of both the People’s Choice and the Best Overall Photograph award.

Video Section: Videos will be judged on two levels and in two separate categories. Amateur or novice videos must demonstrate travel experiences in a category called Safe, Smart and Fun. Professionally produced videos will be judged in a category called Innovation in Motion.

The videos (one winner in each category), as selected by AASHTO, will each be awarded $150 cash prizes. The winners, along with other submitted videos, may be featured on AASHTO’s Transportation TV or AASHTO’s YouTube Channel.

Winning video and photography submissions must prominently feature people designing, constructing, using and enjoying the nation’s transportation systems. All entries must represent the positive effects of all modes of transportation on individuals and communities. Photographs and videos which include recognizable individuals must be accompanied with a model release form regardless of category; all photos and videos must include a caption that describes the scene. Failure to meet these requirements may lead to disqualification.

All entries must be received by July 31, 2014. Judging will begin on August 8, 2014. The general public will vote for the People’s Choice Award photograph at the Faces of Transportation web site, www.facesoftransportation.org. Judging will begin August 8 and end August 31, 2014.

The winners of the 2014 Faces of Transportation competition will be announced at the AASHTO Subcommittee on Transportation Communications (TransComm) annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona in September. Entry forms and contest rules are available at www.facesoftransportation.org.

Happy to be invited as a speaker for this event.  Hope you, my readers and followers, can tune in and learn from some of the best folks in the business about the impact of social media on ITS.

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The 10th Positive Thinking webinar takes place on Wednesday 20 November at 9am Pacific, noon EST, 5pm UK, 6pm Central Europe and focuses on Social Media and ITS.

How has social media affected the way the transportation industry does business? Are we using it properly? Do we fully understand the benefits? The latest in our series of POSITIVE THINKING webinars will attempt to answer these questions (and many more) and provide some fascinating insights into this new facet of the ITS sector.

Expert panellists Andy Palanisamy (TransportGooru), Lloyd Brown (AASHTO), Larry Ehl (Transportation Issues Daily), Ayelet Gal Tzur (Technion University, Israel) and Susan Grant-Muller (University of Leeds, UK) join regular presenters Kevin Borras and Bob McQueen to consider the likely undesirable side effects, how to best harness the value of a social media network and explain how the likes of Twitter and Facebook fit within a more integrated approach to outreach and marketing for transportation agency.

Join us on Wednesday 20 November and participate in this fascinating event. If you can’t listen live then register anyway as we will send you a link to the recording and slides a couple of days after the event. We look forward to you hearing us…

Click HERE to register.

Please note that in order to join the webinar, ‘Go To Webinar’ requires users to download some software. If your firewall may prevent this, please check with your IT department.

Nature of Position:

The successful candidate will assist senior AASHTO engineering staff in the work it provides for the Board of Directors (i.e., the Secretaries of Transportation from the State DOTs), the Standing Committee on Highways (i.e., the Chief Engineers), and its subcommittees, which include design, construction, bridges, traffic engineering, operations, maintenance, materials, and others. The following are some of the potential activities of the successful candidate:

• assisting in the development and update of AASHTO’s technical standards, such as the Green Book, Roadside Design Guide, and Bicycle Guide;

• assisting in organizing national meetings and conferences by providing assistance to AASHTO committee officers;

• participating in AASHTO committee meetings around the country;

• assisting in the development of national policy on transportation operations and project delivery; and

• providing other assistance as required.

The incumbent may also work with a variety of technical committees in the production of engineering and operations-related professional publications, and will respond to technical inquiries on AASHTO publications and policies.

Education: A Bachelor of Science degree in engineering is required.

Skill Requirement: A broad understanding of the technical aspects of one or more aspects of transportation engineering and a sound comprehension of the administrative, legislative, and regulatory process at the federal and state levels. Excellent written and oral communication skills are also desired. The incumbent must be able to travel.

Relevant Experience: Approximately 8 to 15 years of professional experience in transportation is required, preferably in a State DOT. It is desirable that some of the previous experience be at a policy planning or management level in a state, local, or federal transportation agency.

Relationships: The incumbent will have contact with AASHTO committee members through meeting attendance, correspondence, and telephone contacts and will assist other AASHTO staff members as required by the Program Director.

Position Responsibilities: The incumbent will provide input as requested relative to association policy formulation. From a technical perspective, the incumbent is expected to work with the various AASHTO technical committees on standards, training, and research. This individual may be called on to participate in various planning efforts, and is responsible for developing certain elements of the association’s annual and spring conferences. Depending on the specific duties assigned, the individual may be expected to assist with publication activities.

The incumbent will be expected to draft, write, or edit transportation policy statements or resolutions related to assigned duties, or other areas of interest to the association. However, such positions may not be established without approval by higher authorities.

Since this is a competitive position among interested state departments of transportation, recruitment time is unknown, but is estimated to be three months from the date of advertisement.

Expenses: The position will include a monthly living stipend reimbursable to a maximum of $2,200 per month, plus a public transit subsidy of up to $120 per month. AASHTO will pay a one-time round-trip transportation ticket to/from Washington, DC. Appropriate business expenses related to AASHTO work and travel assignments will be reimbursed.

Competition: A panel of AASHTO managers and engineering staff will evaluate applicants. Send resume and letter of endorsement from State DOT director to AASHTO, Attention: Human Resource Manager, 444 N. Capitol Street NW, Washington, DC 20001. Resumes and letters of endorsement may also be submitted by e-mail to cbeauvais@aashto.org or by fax to 202-624-8471. EOE/M/F/D.

Related articles

• How State DOTs Got Congress to Grant Their Wish List(dc.streetsblog.org)

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• AASHTO Adds Designs to Bikeway Guide, But Not Protected Bike Lanes(dc.streetsblog.org)

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(Source: AASHTO)

Recently found this nice 62-page report on vehicle electrification via an AASHTO e-mail and felt compelled to share.  Here are some excerpts from the AASHTO Journal:

Plug-in electric vehicles can lessen U.S. dependence on imported oil, address rising gas prices, enhance air quality, and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but their full potential will only be realized through a broad-based group of stakeholders working together, concludes a report released Tuesday by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions and co-sponsored by AASHTO’s Center for Environmental Excellence.

The report presents several recommendations from a coalition that includes automakers, electrical utilities, environmental groups, and state officials. Coordinated public and private actions at the state and local levels can help ensure that plug-in owners are able to more readily charge their vehicles without overburdening the electric grid, the report states.

Recommendations include encouraging state public utility commissions and other policymakers to set up a consistent regulatory framework across the nation to better synchronize technical standards; streamlining the establishment of changing stations in both home and commercial settings; leveraging electricity rate structures to promote charging at off-peak times; helping local policymakers and other stakeholders in the appraisal of needs in their jurisidictions; strategically targeting public and private investments in related infrastructure; and providing credible information on the costs, benefits, and choices involving plug-ins.

[scribd id=85636602 key=key-2n0xv981yvwrrne389q8 mode=list]

Associate Program Director, Operations

• Department: Engineering and Technical Services
• Grade: 13
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Supervisor’s Title: Program Director, Engineering

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Nature of Position:  The Associate Program Director for Operations assists the Program Director for Engineering in his/her role in coordinating the technical and engineering programs and the activities of the Association as assigned.

The Associate Program Director for Operations will assist the Program Director for Engineering and other senior staff in monitoring one or more transportation modes of interest to the Association, including the work of the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways; its Subcommittees on Traffic Engineering, Maintenance, Systems Operation and Management; associated technical committees and task forces; and technical service programs in the engineering operations arena. The incumbent assists the Program Director in providing professional and logistic support to ensure that these committees understand AASHTO policies and procedures and are cognizant of key technical, legislative, and regulatory issues. With the assistance of the Program Director for Engineering, the incumbent also represents and promotes AASHTO’s position before federal agencies or other organizations. To this end, the incumbent develops working relationships with external governmental and technical organizations. The incumbent may represent the Association on panels or in workshops, and perform functions as necessary to further public comprehension of AASHTO’s purpose and activities.

The incumbent will also serve as staff liaison to one or more subcommittees or task forces. Duties will include attending meetings and providing policy or procedural advice; advising on meeting agendas and task force staffing; disseminating informational material to committee members; and providing other assistance as required. The incumbent also works with a variety of committees in the production of engineering and professional publications, and responds to technical inquiries on publications and policies.

Education:  A bachelor’s of science degree in engineering is preferred. Evidence of a higher degree of professional development is desirable.  Professional registration is desired.

Skill Requirements:  A broad understanding of transportation engineering and the technical aspects of one or more modes of transportation, as well as legal, legislative, and regulatory history of that transportation mode, and current developments and trends in that sector. Sound comprehension of the administrative, legislative, and regulatory process at the federal and state levels. Sound project management skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills.  The incumbent must be available to travel.

Relevant Experience:   Approximately ten years or more of professional experience in one of the transportation modes is required, with demonstrated evidence of professional growth, increasing responsibility, and project management/consultant oversight skills.  Some of the previous experience should be in design, construction, operations, maintenance, and/or planning in a state, local, or federal transportation agency.

Relationships With:

• Members: Maintain regular and frequent contact with committee members through meeting attendance, newsletters or correspondence, e-mail, and telephone contacts.
• Governing Structure: The position involves a close and continuing responsibility to committee officers of assigned committees.
• Government: The incumbent is responsible for maintaining contact with appropriate state, local and Federal government personnel.
• Public: Responds to certain public written and telephone inquiries, especially in technical areas, and may have occasional contact with media representatives.
• Other Organizations: The incumbent is expected to maintain good working relationships with other interest groups or associations, and may represent AASHTO on panels.  Depending on the specific duties assigned, the incumbent may be responsible for helping to negotiate contracts and for monitoring assigned professional consulting contracts.
• Association Office Personnel: May assist other staff members as required.

Position Responsibilities:

• Association Policy Formulation: The incumbent is expected to assist the Program Director in the development and implementation of association policies.
• Planning: May be called upon to participate in various long-range planning efforts, and is responsible for planning pertinent elements of the Association’s annual conference. Depending on the specific duties assigned, the incumbent may be expected to assist in planning annual publication activities, budget preparation, and planning of the Association’s annual budget..
• Transportation Policy Formation: The incumbent is expected on occasion to draft, write, or edit transportation policy statements or resolutions related to the assigned transportation modes, or other areas of interest to the Association; however, such positions may not be established without approval by higher authorities.
• Decision Authority: As assigned by the Program Director.
• Budgetary Responsibility: Assists the Program Director for Engineering in recommending and controlling his/her budget ranging from $50,000 to $3,000,000.
• Supervisory Responsibility: Supervises Program Manager for Engineering, Telecommunications Manager, and several consulting contract employees.  May be designated to perform the duties of the Program Director in his/her absence or as assigned.
• Supervision Received: Supervision is provided in terms of general objectives, rather than on a day-to-day basis.  Significant decisions will be reviewed by the Program Director for Engineering.
• Availability of Qualified Personnel: The recruitment of a qualified replacement is estimated to require from three to four months.

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Program Manager for Engineering

• Department: Engineering and Technical Services
• Grade: 10
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Supervisor’s Title: Associate Program Director, Operations

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Nature of Position:  The Program Manager for Engineering assists the Associate Program Director for Operations and other senior staff in the work of the AASHTO Standing Committee on Highways and its Subcommittees (to include one or more of the following: Traffic Engineering, Maintenance, and/or Systems Operation and Management), as well as technical service programs in these areas, as assigned.  Duties will include attending meetings and providing policy or procedural advice; advising on meeting agendas and task force staffing; disseminating informational material to committee members; and providing other assistance as required.  The incumbent will also work with a variety of committees in the production of engineering and related professional publications, and may respond to technical inquiries on publications and policies.

Education:  A bachelor’s of science degree in engineering is required, preferably in civil engineering, and professional development such as postgraduate education.  Professional registration is desired.

Skill Requirements:  A broad understanding of the technical aspects of highway engineering, to include traffic engineering, maintenance, and/or systems operation and management, and a sound comprehension of the administrative, legislative, and regulatory process at the federal and state levels.  Sound project management skills, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills.  Basic use of the computer for word processing, spreadsheet analysis, and use of databases.  The incumbent must be able to travel 50-70 days per year.

Relevant Experience:  A minimum of seven years of professional experience in transportation engineering is required, to include traffic engineering, maintenance, and/or systems operation and management, with demonstrated evidence of professional growth, increasing responsibility, and project management/consultant oversight skills.  Some of the previous experience should be at a policy planning or management level in a state, local, or federal transportation agency.

Relationships With:

• Members:  Maintain regular and frequent contact with committee members and task forces through meeting attendance, newsletters or other correspondence, e-mail, and telephone calls.
• Governing Structure:  The incumbent provides support to the Associate Program Director for Operations and to AASHTO committees, has frequent contact with certain committee officers, and may communicate with officers and members of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
• Government:  Initiates and maintains direct contacts with state, local and Federal government personnel.
• Public:  Responds to written and telephone inquiries, particularly those relating to engineering projects.  Occasional contact with media.
• Other Organizations:  The incumbent is expected to maintain good working relationships with other interest groups and associations.  Depending on the specific duties assigned, the incumbent may be responsible for monitoring assigned professional consulting contracts.
• Association Office Personnel:  As directed, the incumbent is expected to assist, from time to time, other professional staff.

Position Responsibilities:

• Association Policy Formulation:  The incumbent shall assist the Associate Program Director for Operations and other senior AASHTO staff in proposing, developing, and implementing association policies.
• Planning:  May be called on to participate in various long-range planning efforts, and is responsible for strategic and operational planning for the Association’s activities relevant to assigned engineering projects.  Depending on the specific duties assigned, the incumbent may be expected to assist in planning annual publication activities, budget preparation, and planning of the Association’s annual budget.
• Transportation Policy Formulation:  The incumbent is expected, on occasion, to draft, write, or edit transportation policy statements or resolutions related to assigned transportation modes, or other areas of interest to the Association; however, such positions may not be established without approval by higher authorities.
• Decision Authority:  Participates in the selection of contractors for technical services and bids in various committee decisions.
• Budgetary Responsibility:  Responsible for developing and maintaining the budget for assigned committees and technical service areas and other areas as assigned.
• Supervisory Responsibility:  None.
• Supervision Received:  Supervision is provided in terms of general objectives, rather than on a day-to-day basis.  Direct supervision on non-routine tasks is provided by the Program Director for Engineering.
• Availability of Qualified Personnel:  The recruitment of a qualified replacement is estimated to require three months.

(Cross posted on The Young Professionals in Transportation Blog)

AASHTO released its latest report, Unlocking Freight, at a national news conference in Des Moines, Iowa, and at two regional news conferences in Tennessee and Pennsylvania on July 8th. The report includes new data, state examples of urgent capacity needs, and solutions to solve the pending transportation crisis in America’s freight system.  The reports shows that investments are well below what are needed to maintain – much less improve – the movement of freight in this country.  As a result, according to this report released, the transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis.

The transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis. Our highways, railroads, ports, and waterways require investment well beyond current levels to maintain – much less improve – their performance. Millions of jobs and our nation’s long-term economic health are at risk.

• Significantly more freight will be moved across the country and around the world in the 21st century.
• The current capacity of our nation’s roads, rails and seaports is not keeping pace with demand.
• The nation’s freight transportation system directly affects economic development, current and future jobs, and the quality of life in our communities.
• Greater investment, better planning and more highway and rail capacity are needed to address these problems.
  – Expand the capacity of the Interstate Highway System.
  – Create and fund a national freight program that could include multi-state freight corridor organizations at the state, regional, and multi-state level.
  – Invest in Intermodal Connector Improvements.

In 10 years, an additional 1.8 million trucks will be on the road; in 20 years, for every two trucks today, another one will be added. Already bottlenecks on major highways used by truckers every day are adding millions of dollars to the cost of food, goods, and manufacturing equipment for American consumers.

Unlocking Freight finds our highways, railroads, ports, waterways, and airports require investments well beyond current levels to maintain – much less improve – their performance. The report identifies key projects in 30 states that would improve freight delivery and dependability, and offers a three-point plan to address what is needed to relieve freight congestion, generate jobs and improve productivity.

Despite more long-distance freight being moved by intermodal rail, the report finds that trucks will still carry 74 percent of the load. On average, 10,500 trucks a day travel some segments of the Interstate Highway System today. By 2035, this will increase to 22,700 commercial trucks for these portions of the Interstate, with the most heavily used segments seeing upwards of 50,000 trucks a day. Yet between 1980 and 2006, traffic on the Interstate Highway System increased by 150 percent while Interstate capacity increased by only 15 percent. The report identifies the 1,000 miles of most heavily traveled highways used by trucks.

Each year, 147 million tons of freight pass through Tennessee by way of trucks, rail cars and barges. Nearly half of Tennessee’s Gross Domestic Product comes from the movement of goods and more than half of the statewide employment is in goods-dependent industries. The segment of I-40 through Tennessee and Arkansas alone accounts for nearly one-third of the nation’s busiest truck miles.

A current strain on the movement of freight in the Tri-State region is the lack of vehicular and rail crossings along the Mississippi River, according to Nicely. Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas are currently working to develop a third Mississippi River bridge crossing – dubbed the Southern Gateway Project. Environmental studies on the project are now underway and include consideration of a multi-use bridge that would include both vehicle and rail access.

Unlocking Freight is the second in a series of reports generated by AASHTO to identify the need to increase capacity in our transportation system. For more information and to see state examples of freight capacity needs, go tohttp://expandingcapacity.transportation.org.

To view the first report in the series, Unlocking Gridlock, go to http://expandingcapacity.transportation.org.

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Streetsblog-Capitol Hill’s Elena Schor posted an interesting analysis a report titled Projects and Paychecks: a One Year Report on State Transportation Successes under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (and a website), released yesterday by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the trade group representing state DOTs in Washington.. The report is billed as a one-year “progress report” on the White House’s $34.3 billion in formula-based American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) a.k.a stimulus spending on transportation projects.

The comprehensive study finds that one year after its passage, state DOTs have set an amazing record of speed and efficienc:

• 77 percent of the $34.3 billion provided for highways and transit out to bid on 12,250 transportation projects.
• The 9,240 projects under construction total $20.6 billion.
• One hundred-fifty of these projects are profiled on the companion website at: recovery.transportation.org.
• As a result of the Recovery Act, 280,000 direct, on-project jobs have been created or sustained across the country.

An excerpt from Elena’s analysis:

Interestingly, the group’s chart [PDF shown below] showing state-by-state progress on transportation stimulus omits the estimates of jobs created by each category of spending — perhaps because a December analysis of those totals showed that transit was a more cost-effective employment generator than road projects.

Overall, the report attempts to make a case for more investment in infrastructure as part of a second round of job-creation legislation, using anecdotes from state DOT officials and local construction workers who claimed a steady paycheck thanks to the stimulus law.

The press release to mark the occasion has the following nugget, which I thought is very interesting:  “With bids running as low as 30 percent below estimates, the study finds that states stretched federal dollars even further, creating more jobs and more miles of improvements. California, Georgia, and Texas awarded more than 90 percent of their highway contracts below original cost estimates.

The report, which includes data from the states, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the Federal Highway Administration, also found an impressive list of completed projects. As of January 7, 2010, 1,125 bridges had been improved or replaced, 21,400 miles of pavement had been resurfaced or widened, and 1,700 safety traffic management projects had been put into place.”

Making the case for more Transportation investment: “Projects and Paychecks proves just how big a role stimulus is playing to keep Americans working,” said John Horsley, AASHTO executive director. “In January, state DOTs identified more than 9,800 additional ‘ready-to-go’ projects worth $79 billion. Congress needs to move quickly to pass another Jobs Bill. This study proves transportation projects can deliver hundreds of thousands of jobs for America,” Horsley said.

Click here to access the website or here to download the report.

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• Jobs Bill: Will The ‘Jobs For Main Street’ Act Boost Employment? (huffingtonpost.com)