Transportation infrastructure will be a high priority throughout the country in 2021. Many large projects have already been announced, and others are anticipated. However, there are significant indications that a major change is emerging in how transportation-related projects will be funded in the future.

Transportation leaders have hoped for years that Congress would pass an infrastructure bill, and there was optimism that possibly billions of dollars for infrastructure projects might be allocated. While some progress has been made, chances for billion-dollar infusions of cash for transportation projects seem less likely. As a result, numerous pilot programs and studies related to revenue generation are occurring, and there is evidence of a major trend that is developing.

Revenue from gasoline taxes has been the primary funding source for transportation infrastructure, but that revenue is no longer adequate. Automobiles consume less gas than did vehicles in the past. It has been obvious for some time now that new funding sources would be needed. Tolling has not been popular, and it is likely that new regulations designed to generate transportation revenue also will not be viewed positively. But, road repairs and expansion, bridge and tunnel maintenance are long overdue in every state.

Bold leaders are stepping up to find alternative funding sources. The following provides a quick overview of how many states are planning to pay for the new and much-needed transportation infrastructure projects.

House Bill 37, sponsored by a legislative committee, proposes the creation of a system of road user charges. The bill, introduced recently in the 2021 legislative session, outlines a tiered system of user charges for vehicles based on per-mile rates. The revenue collected would be used by the Wyoming Department of Transportation to erase an annual funding shortfall of $135 million.

Washington, D.C. – Officials at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are seeking political support for a new strategy to redirect up to $10 billion in federal funds toward climate resilience projects.

FEMA is requesting that the new administration take its COVID-19 spending into account in a formula that would shift funding to projects that strengthen infrastructure against climate disasters.

Elevating or relocating residences in floodplains and constructing seawalls are some of the projects that could receive funding.

The plan would revive an Obama-administration program, Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC), that would initially get an estimated $3.7 billion injection for disaster mitigation.

Local governments would be required to provide a 25 percent match and develop large-scale projects that meet federal criteria.

Massachusetts – The state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) issued a request for information (RFI) for integrated transportation management system (ITMS) software.

MassDOT is issuing this RFI to solicit submittals from interested parties to help guide and develop the requirements for the proposed system that is intended to eventually replace or integrate the existing Highway Operations Center (HOC) software systems and functionalities.

The ITMS will be the central traffic management software used to manage and respond to incidents occurring on the state’s roadway network and tunnels. As Massachusetts continues to develop and implement additional policies or expanded initiatives in areas such as user charging, smart work zones, connected and automated vehicles, and real-time traffic management, the HOC may be challenged to participate more actively in areas that extend beyond incident management with its current software systems.

The HOC uses many disparate software systems to conduct its operations as a result of the state merging six different public and quasi-public transportation departments, each with its own legacy systems, into one statewide entity.

RFI responses are due by 4 p.m. EST on March 15.

Connecticut – The state’s Department of Transportation (CTDOT) unveiled its $9.7 billion five-year Capital Plan for 2021-2025 that includes investments in the state’s multi-modal transportation network.

Capital projects featured in the plan include state-of-good-repair as well as upgrades across all modes of transportation - highways and bridges, public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian amenities as well as state facilities.

CTDOT anticipates utilizing $2.1 billion in total capital program funding in federal fiscal year 2021, which began October 1, including approximately $766 million for bus and rail assets and $1.36 billion for highway and bridge infrastructure.

Over the five-year plan, $5.9 billion will go toward highway and bridge projects, $3.5 billion to public transportation, and $245 million for facilities.

The department is advancing a review of Interstate 95 from New Haven to the Rhode Island border, referred to as the I95 East Study. In addition to the I-95 corridor planning studies, the Department is planning for future improvements along:

The design for Walk Bridge will be completed this year and work on the moveable span could begin as early as August 2021. This is the oldest movable bridge along the New Haven Line and Northeast Corridor in Connecticut, which is the busiest commuter rail line in the nation.

Arkansas – The Bentonville City Council is set to vote at its February 9 meeting on a proposed $266 million bond election for April 13.

Among the capital projects under consideration for the bond package are:

If approved by voters, Bentonville would fund 10 arterial road projects, 10 collector street improvements, and 15 intersection upgrades.

The city would complete 25 drainage improvements in an effort to develop more effective stormwater drainage control systems to benefit 500 residences and reduce road flooding.

Ten to 13 ball fields, batting cages, playground, splash park, new lighting, and concessions space would be added to Phillips Park as part of the bond package. Additional parks improvements would be made to Quilt of Parks, 8th Street Gateway Park, Melvin Ford Aquatic Center, and west Bentonville trails.

Consultants were scheduled to present a library needs assessment at the City Council’s January 26 meeting that recommends a 6,400-square-foot addition and renovations to 10,000 square feet of the Bentonville Public Library to serve a growing population, school enrollment, and city development.

A new radio system would feature mobile and portable radios, dispatch stations, tower sites, and communication towers to replace equipment that is reaching end of life and infrastructure in disrepair.

Police training facility amenities would include a virtual de-escalation and use-of-force training simulator, outdoor range, and K-9 training area. A new fire training facility would allow for high-risk training events, improve personnel safety during training sessions, and more frequent, scheduled training times.

New York – A new $200 million tranche of BRIDGE NY state funding will help local governments make their infrastructure more resilient to extreme weather events.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the availability on January 25 that will enable localities to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts. The funding builds upon $500 million awarded previously to 143 local governments for the replacement of nearly 300 bridges and culverts since 2016.

The BRIDGE NY application is available to all municipalities authorized to receive and administer state and federal transportation funding. Awards will be made through a competitive process and will support all phases of project development.

With the addition of this new funding, New York State is providing more than $1 billion during the current fiscal year for regionally derived, locally administered road and bridge projects. The BRIDGE NY program, overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation, is part of the state’s $306 billion infrastructure plan.

Virginia – Several major projects are advancing through planning and design phases for the $4 billion National Landing Business Improvement District.

National Landing encompasses the Northern Virginia neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard. It is Virginia’s largest walkable downtown, minutes from Washington, D.C., and the future home of Amazon’s second headquarters.

Although the retailer is financing development of its sites, Arlington County is responsible for $270 million worth of infrastructure projects to improve transit connections.

Designs for the $90 million Crystal City East Metro Entrance are scheduled to reach the 30 percent completion mark in summer 2021.

The second entrance at the Crystal City Metrorail station, which is set to open by the end of 2023, will be funded by a combination of local, state, and federal funding. It will alleviate platform congestion and deliver riders directly to Crystal City’s main street, Crystal Drive.

The new east entrance will include elevators, escalators and/or stairs, a fare payment area with fare vending machines, a kiosk, and an underground passageway and mezzanine to the existing train platform. It will provide additional egress during emergency situations.

Other major projects include:

These improvements are outlined in the Mobility Next report by the National Landing Business Improvement District (BID).

Tennessee – The state’s Department of Correction (TDOC) released a request for information (RFI) seeking input on the purchase of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system for correctional settings.

Medical records are currently maintained as paper files. If an offender is transferred to a different prison facility or transported to an external hospital for care, copies of paper files are maintained at the sending institution and a separate set accompanies the inmate in transit.

TDOC uses a legacy Offender Management Information System. The EHR system must be able to interface with this system, as well as other systems including but not limited to the pharmacy system, a validated risk-needs assessment system, telehealth systems, and the state’s contracted drug testing vendor system.

Officials at TDOC anticipate approximately 1,500 plus system users to include but not be limited to agency executive leadership, community supervision staff, clinical services staff including medical and behavioral health, health services administrators, food services staff, agency contract monitoring and audit employees, staff from other state agencies with oversight authority, and contractors.

The state is interested in a correction-specific EHR system designed and created specifically for use in prison facilities. RFI submissions are due by February 3.

Pennsylvania – More than $100 million in financial assistance from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) will contribute to the city of Philadelphia’s construction of a new 300-million-gallons-per-day (MGD) wastewater treatment facility.

The planned project at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant includes a diversion structure to reroute wastewater flow from existing 66-inch and 78-inch sewer interceptors, new screening and grit removal systems, and a tie-in conduit to connect to existing primary sedimentation tanks.

Screening facilities will be housed in a new 18,000-square-foot building and include two 72-inch magnetic flow meters, and six mechanically cleaned bar screens and associated screening conveyance, and collection systems. The grit facilities include six 26-foot diameter hydraulically induced vortex grit tanks surrounding an 8,000-square-foot pipe gallery which includes two grit pumps and associated piping for each tank.

A new two-stage odor control system will include two trains each consisting of a bio-trickling scrubber followed by carbon absorber to treat odorous compounds associated with the new facilities. A gas main and electrical infrastructure will be relocated to accommodate the new facilities.

This project will help the city meet regulatory requirements under the Federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.

Washington – King County Metro (Metro) plans to call for companies to design and construct a charging facility for its fleet of battery-electric coaches.

The Interim Base Electrification project includes design and construction of electrical power infrastructure (in coordination with Seattle City Light), charging infrastructure, charge management systems, and other elements required to support the charging operations for 120 battery-electric buses at King County’s Interim Base at South Campus located in Tukwila.

This project advances King County’s progress toward having a 100 percent zero-emissions transit fleet by 2040 or sooner. It is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and is part of the overall expansion of Metro’s South Campus.

Contingent on approval from the Washington State Department of Enterprise Service, Metro will be issuing a request for qualification (RFQ) and a request for proposals (RFP) using the progressive design-build procurement method.

Maine – The city of Portland is considering a public-private partnership (P3) as an option for building an estimated $10 million homeless shelter after the possibility of state funding evaporated.

A new 200-bed shelter is being proposed to replace the city-operated Oxford Street Homeless Shelter. Under the P3, the city would lease the shelter from the developer or building owner. Portland City Council selected 654 Riverside Street as the future site, but newer councilmembers have asked to re-evaluate site locations.

Services at the new homeless shelter would include on-site meals, health care, substance abuse treatment, housing and employment counseling, and case management.

City officials said they will request proposals and review responses with the Housing and Economic Development Committee before a City Council workshop on February 10.

Massachusetts – The town of Norwell Community Housing Trust is preparing a request for proposals (RFP) seeking developers for an affordable housing project on a 6.3-acre tract on Wildcat Lane.

A preliminary site concept features three buildings of up to 24 units. The development would be connected by an underground parking garage.

Norwell selectmen indicated a preference for rental properties instead of condos in order to increase the number of credits of affordable housing units. The development would likely be a Chapter 40B project with a minimum of 20 percent affordable housing in order to attain authorization for denser development.

The RFP is anticipated for release in February.

Kansas – The city of Fort Scott appointed Jeremy Frazier as its new city manager, effective February 1. He succeeds Interim City Manager Jeff Hancock who filled the position after Dave Martin resigned in October 2020. Frazier most recently served as the city manager of El Reno, Oklahoma.

Maine – The Kennebec Valley Council of Governments board of directors selected Ole Amundsen III as executive director. He succeeds Laura Cyr who accepted a position with the University of Maine System in October 2020. Most recently, Amundsen was a visiting instructor in environmental studies at Colby College.

Illinois – The Vermillion Regional Airport Authority Board named Alexandra Gale as their new airport manager. She will take over for part-time manager Mike Vadeboncoeur who resigned in December 2020. Gale most recently served as avionics project manager in the private sector.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. State Department appointed Keith Jones as chief information officer. He succeeds Stuart McGuigan who resigned. Jones previously served as deputy chief information officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and founder of an information technology consulting firm.

Georgia – The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) named Raj Srinath as chief financial officer and Patricia Lucek as assistant general manager of labor and employee relations. Srinath most recently served as deputy general manager and chief financial officer of the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Lucek previously served as director of labor relations for a food, beverage, and retail services provider in the hospitality industry.

Mary Scott Nabers, Publisher

Devin Monk, Editor

Government Contracting Pipeline, a publication of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., is a free, weekly newsletter detailing important happenings nationwide and the premier source for federal, state, and local government news and contracting opportunities.