Americans love sports events and the nation's weak economy has not dampened the desire or the need for functional, modern sports facilities.

Whether it is college football, professional baseball or elementary school soccer, both fans and players have come to expect clean, safe and comfortable venues.

Some think public officials at the local levels of government should focus on more critical needs. Others, realizing the economic impact of sports events, believe it makes perfect sense to launch new sports-related building projects.

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Seven infrastructure projects for modernization, expansion put on fast-track

The Port of Savannah is one of five ports due expansion and modernization as an increase in import and export trade is expected due to expansion of the Panama Canal. (Photo by Georgia Dept. of Economic Development)

Ports throughout the country are expecting increased import and export trade as a result of the Panama Canal expansion. In anticipation of that increase in trade, the Obama Administration recently cited seven port infrastructure projects of regional and national significance that are being expedited. The goal is to both modernize and expand these five ports - the Port of Jacksonville, the Port of Miami, the Port of Savannah, the Port of New York and New Jersey and the Port of Charleston. To facilitate this expansion, the federal Office of Management and Budget has been directed to expedite the permitting and review process for these projects. These seven projects are the first of nearly 45 that will eventually be expedited by the President's Executive Order. The projects that will be fast-tracked include:

Port of Jacksonville - Finalization of feasibility study to determine costs and benefits of deepening the harbor from 40 to 50 feet. Officials hope to cut three years off the usual 10-year process. The Port of Jacksonville plans to construct a new Intermodal Container Facility that will improve the efficient movement of goods. The facility will include a five-track rail yard, two wide-span electric cranes and a paved area for stacking containers and several support uses, including a road, a gate for truck movement of cargo, a parking area and storm water retention facilities. This $45 million project is being financed through a public-private partnership.

Port of Miami - Completion of all federal reviews by August 2012, with the Miami Harbor channel to be deepened this year from 42 to 50 feet. This would allow larger cargo vessels. Through a progressive partnership with the State of Florida, the time frame for its construction has been advanced by years.

Port of Savannah - Completion of all federal review for the port by November. This harbor, too, will be deepened from 42 to 47 feet, allowing larger cargo and other ships. The study involved a multiyear collaborative effort with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Interior and the Department of Commerce, leading to an extensive mitigation plan, which is an integral part of the recommended improvements and are intended to restore, preserve and adaptively manage the surrounding ecosystem, which includes the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge.

Port of New York and New Jersey - Completion of all federal permit and review decisions for the Bayonne Bridge by April 2013, and federal reviews for the New York and New Jersey Harbor by May 2013. A project to deepen channels that provide access to four container terminals to 50 feet deep is under way. This $1.6 billion project is expected to be completed in 2014. The Bayonne Bridge also will be raised by 2016 to facilitate larger vessels. The $1 billion project will be paid for by the Port Authority.

Port of Charleston - Completion of all federal reviews by September 2015. A feasibility study will examine the benefits and costs of deepening the navigation channel for Charleston Harbor from 45 to 50 feet. Seven years are expected to be cut off the completion date.

FTA grant funding to help defray costs of 255 projects in 48 states 

Los Angeles County Metro will be able to replace aging buses with new ones that use compressed natural gas.

Millions of dollars in grant funds were announced this week earmarked for repair and modernization of aging transit infrastructure throughout the county. A total of $787 million in grant money is headed to help pay for 255 projects in 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

The funds are out of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) State of Good Repair and Bus Livability funds. More than 800 project applications were received by the FTA seeking a total of $4 billion in funding. For the last two fiscal years, FTA awarded more than $1.8 billion in grant funds for hundreds of projects that mostly involved buses and bus facilities.

"For millions of Americans, these investments mean that they may more reliably and safely get to work to earn a paycheck or get to daycare to pick up their children on time, or simply have new choices to enjoy the communities in which they live," said Federal Transit Administratror Peter Rogoff.

Examples of the projects include:

• Peter Rogoff

  Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority - $15 million to replace aging buses with new buses, which will use compressed natural gas. These new buses will improve reliability for riders, leave a smaller environmental footprint and reduce fuel costs.
• The Butte County (CA) Association of Governments - $18 million to replace an administration, operations and maintenance facility for Butte Regional Transit to address capacity constraints in its existing facility. This project is being designed to meet the LEED Gold standards and will incorporate solar canopies for energy generation.
• The New York City Department of Transportation - $3.4 million to implement a package of improvements along Utica Avenue in Brooklyn, making intermodal connection improvements such as better sidewalks, lighting, bus stop amenities, way finding and subway station stairs.
• The Austin, Texas, Capital Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) - $1.75 million through the Texas Department of Transportation to replace its existing vehicle maintenance facility. This new maintenance facility will allow CARTS to reduce contracted service costs and improve fleet condition.
• Maryland Department of Transportation - $40 million to replace Baltimore's 65-year old Kirk Division Bus Facility with two sustainable "green" buildings that will help reduce operating costs, create local construction jobs in Northeast Baltimore and help more than 350 local transit employees maintain a growing fleet of new, energy-efficient buses now serviced elsewhere.

To view a searchable list of the projects by state, click here.

New College of Florida planning renovation project

The New College of Florida is moving forward with a renovation project of its plaza. The $700,000 construction project will be on property that shares space with the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. It will also include a new bell tower and is underwritten by Sarasota philanthropist Beverly Koski. The plaza and bell tower are expected to be completed in October.

UCLA regents studying conference center, campus hotel

Gene Block

A $162 million project that will result in a conference center and 250-room hotel on campus are under consideration by regents of the University of Calfornia Los Angeles. The university previously had considered buying an existing off-campus hotel but could not find one with adequate meeting rooms. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said not only would the center allow visitors to campus to experience campus life, but added that the center is vital to the university, has a solid business plan and is the best plan to meet the university's goals. The regents are expecting revenue from room rentals and dining will help defray the costs of the $112 million in bond financing that has been approved. A large portion of the cost - $50 million - has been a gift from UCLA alumnus Meyer Luskin and his wife Renee. Of that amount, $40 million will go toward construction and $10 million to a programming endowment named after the Luskins. Regents are expected to approve the final design and environmental studies in September and if they do, construction could start next summer and be completed in 2016.

New York community college anticipates building dormitory

Officials at North Country Community College in New York are studying the possibility of building dorms at its satellite campuses in Malone and Ticonderoga. The college's new president, Dr. Steven Tyrell, made his pitch for the construction to the Franklin County Legislature. Both Franklin and Essex counties, co-sponsors of the community college, must approval equal financial contributions toward the upcoming budget year. At the meeting, Tyrell said the college is looking at putting out a request for proposals for dorms on the two campuses. Tyrell also indicated the college would likely apply for funding that will be available for infrastructure improvements across the state.

 

University of Colorado seeking bids for relocating buildings

Jeff Lipton

The University of Colorado is seeking bids from qualified house movers and contractors to relocate three university-owned houses in Grandview Terrace. All of the houses were built in the 1920s and remodeling costs for the three would be close to $2 million. So the buildings, which were once used by faculty and staff with CU's Institute of Behavioral Science, will be relocated. "We don't want these buildings to become a neighborhood nuisance, and we want to give the public and members of the community an opportunity to relocate them if that is feasible," said CU Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration Jeff Lipton. When CU officials announced their intent to demolish the houses unless someone wanted to move them, the city showed no interest. Officials said they would like to see the structures preserved, but that the city would not bid on moving them. The remaining two houses are not scheduled for demolition. One is being rented and the university is looking for alternative uses for the other. For the short-term, the land on which the houses are situated will be used for additional parking once the homes are removed. Proposals for relocation will be accepted through Oct. 17. The contract award is expected on Oct. 29. The university will accept proposals submitted through a qualified general contractor, and will pay $25,000 toward the costs of moving each house once a submission has been accepted and the house is relocated successfully, minus costs to CU for lead paint and asbestos abatement.

 

AACOG seeks proposals for Web site development

The Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) in San Antonio is accepting sealed proposals from firms for development of the Alamo Area Development Corp. Web site. Deadline for receipt of proposals is Aug. 6. Specifications are available at www.aacog.com/notices.

State board approves new bridge for Washington Highway 47

Grace Nichols

The newest edition of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) recently approved includes funding for building a new bridge across the Missouri River on Highway 47 by 2017. Transportation Commission Vice Chair Grace Nichols noted after approval of the plan that there is a saying among the commission that "If it is on the STIP, it gets done." Officials now must find the funds to pay for the project. Expected to cost $62 million, the Missouri Department of Transportation was unsuccessful in its application for funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Transportation Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant. Already nearly a dozen firms have shown interest in designing the replacement bridge for the existing 77-year-old one. It is expected to have two 12-foot-wide driving lanes, wide shoulders and a protected biking/walking path. Washington and Franklin counties have each committed to put up $800,000 toward bridge enhancements.

Pennsylvania municipal authority gets funding for sewage treatment

Funding totaling $18 million is headed to the Tiadaghton Valley (Pennsylvania) Municipal Authority for construction of a new sewage treatment plant to serve Jersey Shore and Nippenose and Porter townships. The funding is being made available by PENNVEST (the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority) and includes a $14.1 million low-interest loan and a $3.7 million grant. The new plant is being sought to help meet more stringent nutrient discharge limits and will also help the village of Antes Fort with is malfunctioning on-lot septic systems. This funding means all of the funding needed for the project is not in place, and nearly 40 percent of those funds are grant funds. Officials are hopeful to get the project construction bids out by August, and are looking for a completion date of January 2014. The funding is part of PENNVEST's efforts to provide financial assistance to communities seeking to improve environmental conditions and safeguard the health of its citizens.

Idaho city studying possibility of building new wastewater treatment plan

John Shine

Inefficiencies in the current wastewater treatment plant in Jerome, Idaho, has city officials looking at the possibility of building a new plant. Officials are trying to stem the problem of last year's wastewater sewage overflow. Mayor John Shine said the city has an environmental engineer working on a master plan that will help the city avoid such problems in the future. As a result of the overflow, the Environmental Protection Agency conducted an investigation, which is common in such instances. Thus the city has been exploring solutions and is working with the EPA on the wastewater system problems. As part of the study, rates are being analyzed, current capacity needs are being studied as is the pre-treatment program. Shine said the project could cost around $35 million and taxpayers will have to provide for funding through a rate increase. City officials are seeking the most cost-effective solution.

Check out these recent awards:

• InGenesis Inc., a medical-staffing and consulting firm, has been awarded a federal contract valued at up to $249 million by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Health Services Corps, to provide 569 medical, program management and administrative staff at 21 ICE facilities.
• Rockwell Collins Inc. was awarded a $13,919,215 federal contract by the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., for AN/ARC-210(V) electronic radio and ancillary equipment for the U.S. Air Force.
• Harper Construction Co. was awarded a $37.9 million contract by the U.S. Army to build a tactical equipment maintenance facility at Fort Sill, Okla.
• Meta Materials Inc. was awarded an $8,766,403 federal contract by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Adelphi, Md., for development and testing services in support of radio frequency antennas on military vehicles.
• Satterfield & Pontikes Construction Inc. was named by the Texas State University System to serve as the construction manager for a $9.3 million project at the Texas State campus and will be responsible for renovating, remodeling and selectively demolishing 37,500 square feet of the psychology building.
• Argo Systems LLC won a $1,636,889 federal contract from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore, for the renovation and construction of the Davison Army Airfield Air Station in Fort Belvoir, Va.
• Tri City Paving was awarded a contract for $2,001,836.56 from the Cass County, Minnesota, Board for improvements to County Roads 166 and 136 and County State Aid Highways 39, 63 and 8.
• Parsons Electric LLC was awarded a contract for $188,524.92 from the Cass County, Minnesota, Board to install 15 rural road street intersection lights.
• Fleming Construction Co. was awarded an $18.6 million contract by the Army Corps of Engineers for drainage construction in the Industry Canal area on Jefferson Parish, Louisiana's, west bank as part of the Louisiana Urban Flood Damage Reduction Project and includes removing underground drainage pipes and replacing them with a reinforced concrete open channel.
• MAXIMUS Inc. was awarded a $41 million contract by the state of Minnesota to develop the online health insurance marketplace required by the federal health care overhaul.
• EBA Enterprises Inc. has landed a $4 million contract with the federal government to do construction work on the Arlington National Cemetery visitors' center to install chillers for heating and air conditioning systems, ductwork, ceiling and tiles and landscaping work.
• PCL Civil Constructors Inc. was awarded a $3.6 million contract by the North Carolina Department of Transportation for steel, mechanical, electrical and substructure repairs to a bridge for rail traffic over the Newport River in Morehead City.

Schools decay as they await state emergency repair funds for years

Schools offered funds to replace flourescents 

(To view these stories, click here and look under "Around the Nation.")

Aging Texas bridge could continue maintenance program or be replaced

Officials in Corpus Christi, Texas, are once again debating the possibility of either replacing or rehabilitating the Harbor Bridge, and a public-private partnership could soon enter the deliberations. Those seeking a new bridge seek to justify their wants by pointing to the antiquated design of the bridge and the costs to keep it repaired. Others expect that with the expansion of the Panama Canal and the increased trade it is supposed to bring, a new bridge would allow the harbor to facilitate larger ships.

But whatever is done with the aging structure, it will be costly. While an engineering firm estimated the cost to extend the life of the bridge another 75 years would be more than $400 million, the cost to build a new bridge is estimated at about $350 million. But building a new bridge would mean other necessary improvements such as new approaches, right-of-way purchases and an interchange - all of which could push the price tag over $1 billion.

Officials now have retrieved the project from its perennial back burner position and are talking about the possibility of a new bridge being built by 2017.

The state already has put more than $70 million into maintenance of Harbor Bridge over the last three decades. The bridge currently rates a 69 on a scale of zero to 100 relating to its eligibility for federal funding under the bridge replacement program. The number does not indicate a safety rating.

So for now, the discussions continue, as does the search for funds to either rehabilitate the existing structure or replace it.

Minnesota

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is seeking bids for septic line repair at the Buffalo River State Park.
• The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is seeking bids for water line repair and installation.
• The Minnesota State Lottery is seeking bids for over-the-terminal, 16-game scratch ticket dispensers.

Georgia

• The Georgia Forestry Commission is seeking bids for mechanical site prep to include chopping with a drum chopper on approximately 816.85 acres at Dixon Memorial State Forest located at 4983 Jacksonville Hwy, Waycross, GA.
• The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is seeking a qualified consultant to provide consultation and management oversight for the Children's Health Insurance Program Re-Authorization Act (CHIPRA) Certified Parent Peer Specialist Certification and curriculum development and implementation processes.
• The Georgia Department of Corrections is seeking bids for construction of two pre-engineered buildings. One building will be used for automobile servicing and repair of GDC fleet vehicles and one will be used for storage and offices.

Missouri

• The Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of State Parks is seeking private companies to bid on the operation of its concession facilities (such as marinas, cabins, dining lodges, etc.) in state parks and historic sites. As contracts expire, individuals and companies are invited to bid on new concession opportunities. Current opportunity is for stables operation at Lake of the Ozarks State Park in Kaiser.
• The Missouri Department of Corrections is seeking bids for substance abuse assessment services for Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre, Missouri.

New York State

• The New York Division of Financial Administration is seeking bids for development of a Web-based application "eHBITS" for the Hourly- Based IT Services (HBITS) Contract.
• The New York State Office of General Services is seeking bids for suspended scaffolds operation and maintenance service for state office buildings in Albany, Binghamton and Utica.

Nebraska

• The State of Nebraska has issued a request for information to gather information to provide options in order to bring Nebraska Medicaid Provider Screening and Enrollment activities in compliance with the new Affordable Care Act requirements.
• The State of Nebraska is seeking a qualified contractor to provide Beatrice State Developmental Center (BSDC) campus cabling redistribution.

 Priscilla Parsons (top left), who began her career at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, 14 years ago as a programmer in the IT department, has been promoted to vice president for information technology at the university. Lloyd B. Minor (top center), provost at Johns Hopkins University and a specialist in disorders of the head and neck, has been chosen as the Stanford School of Medicine dean, to succeed Philip Pizzo, who is stepping down from the post after 11 years. Matthew D. Chase (top right), who has been the executive director of the National Association of Development Organizations since 2003, has been tapped to serve as executive director of the National Association of Counties, succeeding Larry Naake, who has held that post since 1991. William Blume, director of a division of South Carolina state government that manages the state's six retirement plans, has been appointed as the first director of the state's Public Employee Benefit Authority, created to reform the state pension plan system. Julie Chapman, who has been acting director of the California's Department of Human Resources (CalRH), was previously the department's duty director of Labor Relations and has nearly 25 years of state service, has been named director of the CalHR. The Huntington Park (California) City Council has named Rene Bobadilla, current city manager in El Monte, to serve as its first permanent city manager since last December, effective in September. Ann Smisko (middle right), the Texas Education Agency's associate commissioner for school improvement and educator initiatives, has been named by Dallas ISD's new Superintendent Mike Miles to oversee curriculum and instruction efforts in the district. Port of Longview (Washington) commissioners have chosen Geir Kalhagen (middle center), general manager of the Pacific Northwest office of Tidal Transport and Trade, as the port's new chief executive officer. CaliforniaNatural Resources Agency Undersecretary Janelle Beland (middle left), has been named acting interim director of the California Parks and Recreation Department, after State Parks Director Ruth Coleman resigned. The Roanoke (Virginia) City Council has hired a new city attorney, Daniel Callaghan, who happens to be the city manager's brother-in-law, replacing Bill Hackworth, who retired. Capt. Dante Elbin, who has been serving as interim police chief of Gautier (Mississippi), and has 20 years of law enforcement experience, 13 with Gautier, has been named police chief full-time. Randy McGregor, who has worked for the Bryan (Texas) Fire Department since he was 19 and has been serving as interim chief since January, has been named chief on a permanent basis. The Hermosa Beach (California) City Council has selected Tom Bakaly (bottom left), current city manager in Park City, Utah, as the city's new city manager. Salvador Petilos (bottom center), a veteran state employee, has been tapped to become executive director of the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. North Idaho College has selected Graydon Stanley (bottom right), the dean of students at the College of Southern Idaho since 1984, as its new vice president for student services, effective Aug. 20. Thomas Barwin, former village manager of Oak Park (Illinois), has been selected as Sarasota's (Florida's) new city manager after three decades of local government experience in both Michigan and Illinois. Patrick Moers, who has been with the Henderson, Nevada, Police Department for more than 20 years and most recently as deputy chief, has been named the city's new police chief. Ryan Murray, who is serving as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's deputy chief of staff, was recently chosen for the position of the number two executive at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., the state's public-private job creation agency.