DOT Awards Nearly $800 Million for Transportation Infrastructure Projects

Map indicates location of 18 infrastucture projects awarded FASTLANE grants for FY 2016. Image: U.S. DOT

Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx announced on Sept. 7 that almost $800 million in inaugural FASTLANE federal grants has been awarded to 18 transportation infrastructure projects in 15 states and the District of Columbia.

In a call with reporters, Secretary Foxx said the grants will be combined with other funding from federal, state, local, and private sources “to support $3.6 billion in infrastructure investment.”

The FASTLANE grant program was established by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act highway bill passed late last year.

The program is administered by DOT's newly launched Build America Bureau. Per DOT, the bureau will streamline credit and grant opportunities while providing technical assistance and encouraging best practices in project planning, financing, delivery, and monitoring of transportation infrastructure projects.

“The FAST Act gave us a set of tools to begin addressing America's infrastructure deficit, and we have been moving full speed ahead to get critical road, rail, and port projects off the ground across the country,” said Foxx. “From eliminating traffic bottlenecks and enhancing port capacity to overhauling a major freight corridor, the 18 inaugural FASTLANE grants will enable people and goods to move more efficiently.”

Among the projects that are receiving grants through the inaugural batch of FASTLANE awards are:

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The Boler Company Elects Matthew Boler as Company Chairman

Matt Boler Photo: The Boler Company

Matthew J. Boler has been elected chairman of the board of The Boler Company. He replaces his father, company founder John Boler, who died in March.

Boler is also president and CEO of The Boler Company. His election to chairman was to ensure that the strategic direction of the firm remains unchanged, according to the company.

Suspension manufacturer Hendrickson is a subsidiary of The Boler Company.

Related: Hendrickson Parent Company Head John Boler, Dead at 81

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Arizona Testing Impact of Overweight Trucks on Major Corridor

Photo: Jim Park

The Arizona Department of Transportation has begun a year-long pilot program allowing heavier trucks to use one of the state's key transportation corridors to test the effect on commercial transportation efficiency.

The program, which started on Sept. 1, allows trucks carrying up to 83,000 pounds to travel on interstate 10 between mileposts 232 and 279 in Tucson and Marana, on Interstate 19 between Tucson and Nogales, and on Business 19 in Nogales.

“These roadways are key commerce corridors that contribute significantly to Arizona's economy,” said John Halikowski, ADOT director. “Operating at the speed of business means that ADOT looks for ways to make freight travel as friction-free as possible while safeguarding Arizona's investment in our highways.”

The main reason for the weight increase is that freight containers passing through the Port of Tucson are allowed by railway permits to weigh a maximum of 53,000 pounds while the trucks that haul them usually weigh about 30,000 pounds, according to ADOT. By raising the weight limit by a small amount, there is no longer a need to offload some of each container's contents before it goes on a truck. This can help commerce move more freely.

The pilot program will allow ADOT to study whether the higher weight limit has an impact on the condition of highways. The Port of Tucson is a full-service facility located off Interstate 10 near Kolb Road that serves both the trucking and railroad industries.

“Increasing cargo capacities on interstates 10 and 19 will make southern Arizona more competitive, help attract new commerce, and retain the companies and jobs we have,” said Sharon Bronson, chair of the Pima County board of supervisors. “The ADOT Interstate 19 Heavier Truck Pilot Program is a great step in reducing logistics costs for our region's businesses. The program will also help to clarify ...Read the rest of this story

Spot Market Rates, Volume Rebound from Last Week

The spot truckload market finished August on a higher note as rates and the number of available loads moved higher during the week ending Sept. 3, according to DAT Solutions and its network of load boards.

Helping this was an 8.4% increase in the number of available loads while truck posts fell 2.5% compared to the week before. During the period the national average cost of diesel was unchanged from the week before at $2.41 per gallon.

The national average van rate gained 6 cents, the reefer rate added 3 cents and the flatbed rate picked up a penny after a mostly lackluster month. All reported rates include fuel surcharges.

Load-to-truck ratios got a healthy boost, an indication that the higher rates may outlast end-of-month and pre-holiday pressure, according to DAT.

Van load posts increased 13% and truck posts fell 2% for a load-to-truck ratio of 3.2 to 1, the highest ratio since July. The spike in freight volume pushed the national average van rate to $1.66 mile and its best showing out of the previous four weeks.

In the Midwest, a 4% increase in freight volume sparked an 8 cents per-mile jump to $1.99 per mile on outbound lanes from Chicago. Rates out of Columbus averaged $1.90 mile, up 6 cents. Van volumes and rates were strong in the Southeast with Charlotte gaining 6 cents to $1.94 per mile, Atlanta up 4 cents to $1.87 per mile and Memphis adding 4 cents to $1.86 per mile.

Other top-paying markets by region:

In the reefer sector, the number of load posts increased 11% last week while capacity declined 2%. That boosted the reefer load-to-truck ratio 14% to 6.6 loads per truck. The national ...Read the rest of this story

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