A new year almost always ushers in new projects for cities, counties and other governmental entities. Some boards and councils are discussing plans for all types of projects. The town of Ingleside wants to alleviate traffic starting at the city’s welcome sign off of Highway 361 to Farm-to-Market Road 1069. The new State Highway 200 […]
As the state’s population increases, plans must be made by cities and towns to accommodate the growth. Monitoring city planning is a good tactic for contractors because they will be well-informed of the plan and will know when projects are implemented. Several cities in Texas have developed big plans and are looking to kickstart them […]
For several states, the construction of toll lanes and bridges is a driving force for managing congestion and collecting funding for projects. Many road systems do not have the capacity to handle peak-hour loads and this forces many people to wait in line for that limited road space. If the government accommodated all motorists and […]
A $225.8 million water supply project is set to begin in 2018 on a 95-mile pipeline to pump groundwater from the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer in Caldwell County. Buda, Kyle, San Marcos and other communities will receive an additional 13 million gallons of water per day beginning in 2023. The Alliance Regional Water Authority (ARWA) conceived the plan for […]
Raising the tax on gas consumption is adding extra revenue for states looking to fund infrastructure projects. Raising the gas tax could even be a possibility at the federal level but that has not happened in a very long time. The federal government currently taxes gas at 18.4-cents-per-gallon and diesel at 24.4 cents. The tax, which funds the Highway Trust Fund’s (HTF) […]
The National Park Service (NPS) in October announced plans to increase entrance fees in 17 of the country’s most visited parks from about $25 to $70 per vehicle. The entry pass would be valid for a week. The cost of riding a motorcycle into the parks would rise to $50 and walking or biking through […]
On May 6, 2017, registered voters went to the polls to decide if voting yes for a bond proposal was in the best interest of their community. Bonds approved in May totaled around $6.9 billion for these taxation districts and now governmental entities have entered into debt for the purpose of funding public improvement projects. A new round of bond proposals has […]
Community input is important for large or small projects that are planned for the city, county or state. Decision makers that sit on city and county boards recognize that the community that uses the spaces that it’s planning for have an intimate and unique relationship with the area. For those hired to perform a study, design the project or build based on […]
The oldest courthouse in the United States is the Queen Anne’s County Courthouse. Built in 1708, it is located in Maryland and is currently a museum. The oldest active courthouse is the King William County Courthouse. It was built in 1725 and it is located in Virginia. Due to the age and design of some historical courthouses, they are either getting redeveloped for some other need, […]
There will be an abundance of contracting opportunities for companies that provide construction, engineering and environmental services related to dams over the next several years. That’s the good news. The bad news is that all of these opportunities are resulting from very poor conditions in the country’s dams. The majority of dams in the United […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced the opportunity to apply for $500 million in discretionary grant funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The TIGER grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant impact on the United States, a metropolitan area or a region. The fiscal year (FY) 2017 Appropriations Act […]
On Aug. 14 and 21 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded a total of $445 million in airport infrastructure grants. On Aug. 14 a total of 72 airports in 31 states received grants as part of the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). On Aug. 21 a total of 67 airports in 29 states received grants. […]
The 926 ports throughout the United States serve as the gateway through which 99 percent of overseas trade passes, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Ports are responsible for $4.6 trillion in economic activity, which is roughly 26 percent of the U.S. economy. Maintaining a port’s facilities will greatly extend its lifespan, and […]
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding hazardous waste sites to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL). The Superfund law directs the EPA to update the National Priorities List annually. Only sites added to the National Priorities List are eligible to receive federal funding for long-term permanent cleanup. In May, a Superfund Task Force was formed to provide recommendations […]
Did you know that the first “bookless library” opened in September 2013 in San Antonio, Texas? The BiblioTech library started with a catalog of 10,000 e-books. The library building contains no printed books, and members can even check out a book without entering the facility. But technology and amenities offered inside the facility has beckoned […]
Has your city of county ever applied for a government grant? Most grants can be used either immediately or over the long term. This includes local street improvement projects and programs to attract business development to depressed sections of a city or town. Funding is available in a variety of categories that include science and technology, energy, transportation, health, agriculture, […]
Connecticut– The University of Connecticut (UConn) recently issued a request for expressions of interest (RFEI) seeking proposals from potential developers to build a 100-room hotel on the university-owned parcel at the corner of Route 195 and South Eagleville Road. According to the UConn hotel RFEI, the university would lease the property to a developer and the […]
New York- The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is bringing market-rate housing to the area with a mixed-use project slated for LaGuardia Houses on the Lower East Side.The Towers in the Park plan will help raise revenue to improve outdated infrastructure and fulfill important maintenance needs. NYCHA recently announced its intentions to develop a mixed-income […]
The U.S. Department of Transportation has given preliminary approval to the city of St. Louis’ request to explore the privatization of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The airport’s preliminary application was approved under a 1996 law that allows the Federal Aviation Administration to approve up to 10 airport privatization projects. The city’s next steps include […]
Port Saint John’s $205 million West Side Modernization Project officially started last week with engineering studies at the port that included environmental drilling. Some of the work being done for the project includes: deepening the main channel and berths alongside the port’s container terminal, lengthening and strengthening the pier structure and constructing new Intermodal yard […]
In November 2016, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and her Office of Public-Private Partnerships gathered policy experts, public officials and residents at Georgetown’s School of Continuing Studies to discuss the city’s infrastructure. During the event, the District’s Chief Financial Officer, Jeffrey DeWitt, outlined a few of the active District of Columbia P3 projects, which include conversions […]
The 84th Texas Legislative Session brought great funding opportunities for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). The passing of House Bill 158 meant that 94 percent of state sales tax revenue, $261.1 million, attributed to sporting goods was shared with TPWD for state park facilities and operations. The remaining six percent goes to the […]
The Wisconsin Cranberry Growers Association is looking for a farm to turn into research plots. Currently, cranberry researchers in Wisconsin must rely on growers volunteering their plots to complete their work. However, the association created a foundation that currently has raised $750,000 in private donations and $650,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in order to find an […]
Northern Ocean County, located along New Jersey’s Atlantic Coast, will receive $128 million to replenish beaches and dunes that were struck by Hurricane Sandy in 1992. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who is working with a Department of Environmental Protection and a marine construction company, awarded a $128 million contract for the first phase of the […]
Michigan’s congressional delegation is seeking $600 million in federal funding to construct a new passageway at the Soo Locks in Soult Ste. Marie. The 1,200-foot-long lock would be built to resemble the Poe Lock, which handles large freighters carrying iron ore. More than 60 percent of current U.S. and Canadian ships are restricted by size […]
Catch up on the latest news and current political issues relevant to those doing business with government with SPI’s weekly publications. SPI’s weekly publications provide valuable ‘insider information’ on contracting opportunities and trends.
512-531-3900
Request More Info