Category: Mary Scott Nabers’ Insights

Higher education institutions across the United States are investing in transformative infrastructure projects to advance academic excellence, research capabilities and student experience. These multi-million-dollar initiatives create significant opportunities for collaboration between public and private partners. Officials at Tennessee State University’s College of Agriculture will soon begin overseeing a $63 million project to deliver two new […]

America’s ports are responsible for approximately $2.9 trillion in GDP annually. They provide jobs for 21.8 million Americans and move more than 40% of the country’s goods. To say that the maritime industry is a critical component of America’s global competitive status is an understatement. Given the vital role ports play in sustaining economic stability […]

Water resource issues are of high concern throughout America. A research report presented recently to member of Congress urged immediate attention to America’s critical water issues. The report outlined states with the greatest immediate concerns. Not surprisingly, California and Texas topped the list. Idaho, Arizona, Utah, and Mississippi were next in line followed by Kansas, […]

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a civil rights law that ensures individuals with disabilities are protected from discrimination in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and public facilities. Its core purpose is to guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. Public officials are acutely aware of ADA regulations as non-compliance […]

Airport officials across the U.S. will be busy during 2025, not only with airlines and the passengers they serve, but also because hundreds of large construction projects are currently in the planning phases, with many set to launch this year. These include terminal expansions, security upgrades, modernized baggage handling systems, runway renovations and new technology […]

It is becoming increasingly common for public safety, law enforcement, fire departments and other first responders to consolidate their operations in locations that feature leading edge technology and more efficient equipment. Many are situated in locations where training facilities are available, and some have detention centers and healthcare facilities located nearby. For the same reasons, […]

Correctional facilities in many regions have been overlooked for decades, overshadowed by more pressing and immediate priorities. Most operate very inefficiently. Not only are they costly to maintain, most lack the modern technology needed to enhance security and very few provide rehabilitation and supportive services to help individuals reintegrate back into the community. Currently hundreds […]

Cities and counties throughout the U.S. are launching or planning new cultural arts centers. Many of them have plans to partner with universities, local foundations or non-profits. Others may have leveraged state or federal funds. No matter how it is obtained, funding does not seem to be a major hurdle. That’s because cultural centers generate […]

Countries throughout the world are currently spending billions on rail infrastructure. America faces ongoing struggles in staying competitive, a task that is far from simple. Vietnam’s National Assembly recently approved construction of a $67 billion high speed railway. Canadian officials have also recently announced a new high-speed rail project that will connect Quebec City and […]

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has many large construction projects with launch dates planned for 2025. The projects will be federally funded and implemented in multiple states across the nation. Contractors from multiple specialties and industries will be essential for completion. A $13.8 million Department of Defense (DOD) project is being planned with the […]

As the demand for modernized and expanded infrastructure surges, one sector stands out with unprecedented momentum: healthcare facilities. Healthcare facilities are critical components of the nation’s infrastructure and from what can be seen in planning documents, it appears that almost every state and/or region in America is evaluating some type of healthcare-related-upgrade. The obvious needs […]

Technology is changing every industry, and the architecture, engineering and construction sectors have been impacted significantly over the past decade and a half. The use of technology such as digital twins, building information modeling, and generative design would have been completely foreign years ago. Yet, project requirements today commonly call for many of these types […]

Cities and counties throughout the U.S. are revitalizing downtown areas, providing more housing, adding revenue generating attractions and repurposing other public areas. There are numerous drivers behind these types of focused projects, with population growth and the critical need for upgrades to aging facilities standing out as primary reasons. Visionary municipal leaders are planning for […]

Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Texas, Florida and Arizona are among the fastest-growing states in America. In any rapidly growing state, booming population growth brings abundant opportunities. Six of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the U.S are located in Texas. This surge in growth is particularly seen in the corridor between Austin and San Antonio as well […]

Texas voters approved hundreds of millions of dollars in bond proposals on Election Day this past Tuesday. More than 50 cities, counties and school districts put measures before voters to fund projects such as road repairs, facility construction and renovations and public school campus improvements. The projects that will be funded are significant because Texas […]

At-grade rail crossings – where roads intersect at the same level with railway tracks – are the second leading cause of rail-related fatalities in the U.S., with over 2,000 incidents and approximately 200 deaths annually. The existing technology for grade crossing warnings has largely remained unchanged since the 1960s and more is obviously needed. The […]

The 4.2 million miles of roads and highways in the U.S. are critical components of the country’s economic vitality. The transportation infrastructure allows Americans to commute, connect and transport goods efficiently. Yet, many of the older roadways limit access between communities, negatively impacting citizens and businesses. Congress has appropriated an abundance of funding to remedy […]

A new $4.2 billion funding allocation was announced this week, and the allocations will support the planning and pre-launch efforts of 44 new projects. This financial support comes from two major federal programs that provide MEGA and INFRA grants for infrastructure projects. The 44 projects that were selected primarily focus on bridge construction efforts, rail […]

The historic effort that has been made to upgrade and stabilize America’s infrastructure over the past several years has moved the country into a safer and more resilient state. But there’s more that must be done. The effort is not ending, and new funding has just been announced for America’s power grid infrastructure. The U.S. […]

The attraction to and interest in parks, community centers and sports-related recreational facility projects has escalated significantly over the past several years. Public officials, especially at the municipal levels of government, are increasing their investments in these types of initiatives while federal funding programs are currently providing attractive financial support. There are numerous reasons for […]

Public-private partnerships (P3s) of all sizes and types are becoming more common throughout America and this type of project delivery model is being use for all types of initiatives. Many federal funding programs now require some amount of private-sector investment, and public officials, eager to launch critical projects, are routinely reaching out to contractors, developers […]

Officials at every level of government procure hundreds of professional services to meet specific needs. These types of contracting opportunities are abundant, and many industry sectors fall into a professional services category – planning, design, legal, consulting, engineering, etc. Some of the most commonly requested types of professional services include project management, legal services, feasibility […]

America has water problems. Water stress can be found in almost every state. New Mexico falls into the category of extremely high ‘water stress’ for multiple reasons, including climate change, limited rainfall and reduced volume of water in both the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, which are major water resources for the state. Arizona, California, […]

Transportation systems nationwide are undergoing significant change. Emerging technologies and innovative mobility options are changing all modes of transportation, and soon both people and freight will be transported differently. Intelligent transportation systems use sensors to monitor vehicles, control traffic flow, reduce congestion and improve safety. Some types of technology provide real-time data that is used […]