Last night, I attended a dinner and auction of the Tennessee Road Builders Association Mid-Year Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. It is always great to catch up with some many friends … many of whom I met only six months ago while presenting as a speaker at the Annual Meeting in Kauia, Hawaii. The food
New Report: FHWA’s Oversight of Federal-Aid and Federal Recovery Act Projects
On July 15, 2011, the USDOT’s Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG) issued a final report on the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) oversight of federal-aid and Recovery Act projects administered by Local Public Agencies (LPA). You can download a copy of the report here [pdf].
The DOT-OIG initiated the audit because the FHWA previously acknowledged that LPAs
Watch and Listen to House Reauthorization Bill Roll Out
I just received an alert from my friend, Kent Starwalt, Executive Vice President for the Tennessee Road Builders Association, announcing an important hearing on Thursday morning. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) has invited ARTBA members to join a webcast and conference call tomorrow where he will provide an overview of
Modularization: Bridge Construction Comes to USA from China
This New York Times article by David Barboza suggests that China "aims to become the world’s civil engineer" through its involvement in the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
"Modularization" is a construction delivery system that is gaining increased national attention in both the industrial and commercial construction economy. Dealing with modularization in this
What Do Courts Say About Raiding State Transportation Trust Funds?
Let’s get ready to rumble! According to an ENR-Southeast article by Scott Judy, the road builders in Florida are preparing for another fight against legislators who have raided the state’s transportation trust fund. This is the second year in a row the Florida legislature has taken measures to raid the transportation funds for general
Federal Stimilus Monies: Where Employment and Construction Law Intersect
A portion of my construction practice involves employment issues. You can imagine the types of employment-related questions that arise on the project site:
- Hiring, firing and layoffs
- Harassment and discrimination
- Wage payment and commission claims
- Employee policies, including computer use and social media
- On-the-job injuries and fatalities
- State and Federal OSHA requirements
- Prevailing wage laws,
Floods and Heavy Rains: How to Best Prepare a Delay Claim for Unusually Severe Weather
Yesterday, highway and bridge contractors in Tennessee received an alert from from TDOT officials about the affect of heavy rain in the area: "I’m sure most are aware of the anticipated rise in the Mississippi River, but could you please share with all that are working in the Mississippi River area and the backwater areas
How Should You Prepare for a Bid Protest on a Transportation Project?
Not a week goes by that I don’t receive a telephone call or a question from someone asking general bid protest questions. While a bid protest dispute will largely differ based on whether it is a local, state or federal project, here are some ways you can prepare:
- Be prepared to follow the rules.
Tennessee Governor Haslam Talks to Road Builders About Jobs, Business Growth and Tort Reform
In a room filled with more than a hundred highway and bridge contractors, yesterday Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam helped kick off the Tennessee Road Builder Association’s "Day on the Hill" event. Haslam’s was a welcome voice to this group of business men and women who wanted to hear about ideas for growth, as well as
Three Problems with Partnering on Construction Projects
Last week, I spoke at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Road Builders Association. Fellow speaker and lobbyist, Dave Bauer of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association, gave a legislative update on the status of Federal transportation funding. During his talk, Dave suggested that Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) can help, but are not