Category: Mary Scott Nabers’ Insights

Mobility is now a major focus of local infrastructure planning. It is a critical component of almost everything public officials want and need to accomplish. Many of the objectives cannot be accomplished, however, without the inclusion of new technology designed to deliver efficiency, safety, equity and sustainability. Mobility projects currently in development have many common […]

It should be noted that both state and federal officials are funding projects to remedy environmental and safety issues that have persisted for many years. New funding will also recycle many public assets and make them revenue-producing in the future. Federal and state funding sources are openly and aggressively incentivizing private sector investors to help […]

America’s rural regions have never been as high a funding priority as the country’s urban areas. That’s understandable considering the population delta. However, that scenario is changing somewhat. Recent federal funding programs are reversing decades of neglect in America’s rural regions… especially when it comes to infrastructure repair. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), […]

Much of the initial attention from infrastructure funding was focused on broadband and electronic vehicle deployment. But now, other funding sources are getting lots of attention and bridge repair and replacement is occurring throughout the country. The bipartisan infrastructure bill provided $5 billion per year until 2026 just for bridges. That funding is encouraging state […]

Earlier this month, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released its list of the top IT-related priorities for the upcoming year. The five strategies topping this year’s annual list are already visible in almost every state and local spending plan. Technology professionals have allocated funding to the following: Cybersecurity and risk management. […]

In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $6.5 billion for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. The funding is intended to incentivize private sector funding and the plan is to deliver a combined $13 billion in water infrastructure projects. The funding can be combined with revenue from a […]

Last week, the Administration announced that, by 2025, all new and recently renovated federal buildings will be required to reduce their energy consumption by 90%. These same facilities will also have to fully decarbonize. This will make energy efficiency measures more common in the near term and completely pervasive very soon. Simply put, the energy […]

Currently, one of the most popular federal funding sources is a program that supports transportation alternatives. Many cities and counties are launching projects using this funding that has been allocated specifically for local governmental entities. The funding program is overseen by the Federal Highway Administration. Projects of high priority are related to recreational trails, community […]

An abundance of federal funding was made available to health-related organizations at the outset of the COVID pandemic. There is no clear determination about whether that emergency funding will expire in early 2023 or not. Even if it does, billions more in funding will still be available for health-related upgrades. In October, the U.S. Department […]

Transit authorities throughout the country are quickly becoming big-time developers…and in more ways than one might have ever thought possible. Many citizens and contractors may not be aware of how large this trend has become…and how fast it is moving. The mixed-use projects that transit authorities are launching include all types of development. One of […]

Officials at every level of government are committed to making roadways safer for vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The enthusiasm along with available funding is restructuring roadways throughout the country. Contracting firms of every type will be in high demand as roadway infrastructure undergoes a massive change in the next several years. Federal funding programs that […]

Governing bodies throughout the country build event centers, meeting halls, and arenas each year, but currently there is an abundance of new projects of this type. These large projects require private sector contractors of all types making the demand for construction, engineering, architectural, design, landscaping, and technology firms extremely high. Facilities that are being rebuilt, […]

Earlier this month, voters in the U.S. responded to bond packages that amounted to $66 billion in total debt. More than half of the bond packages were approved and a combined $37 billion in municipal funding became available for a diverse array of projects. This reflects a $9 billion increase in voter approval for bond […]

Infrastructure funding is flowing, and the majority of regional connectivity projects involve numerous stakeholders and therefore demand intensive coordination. Under normal circumstances, these multi-jurisdictional projects would be difficult, if not impossible, to deliver in the amount of time that funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (BIL) will remain available. Yet recent White House initiatives are […]

Prisons throughout the country have been struggling to support inmate populations for decades. Overcrowding has forced detainees to sleep on floors, in passageways, and in common areas that lack basic amenities. Understaffing has led to more violence which has resulted in demands for critical medical care. The fluctuating strain has revealed a need for wholesale […]

Green infrastructure is a construction trend worth watching. It is gaining momentum rapidly and support for the trend is evident at every level of government. There’s a noticeable difference in green construction projects. These types of initiatives encourage, or mandate, specific components, standards, and results. For instance, a green infrastructure project may be designed to […]

It is often surprising to realize how many diverse sectors receive government funding specifically earmarked for the preservation of American assets. Companies that contract with government are advised to watch new activity that is just beginning to crest around museum projects. Museums collect, conserve, and interpret the country’s heritage and surprisingly enough, it has been […]

There are more than 300 seaports in America supporting trade and economic development. They contribute approximately 26 percent of the country’s total GDP and create millions of jobs. That’s why a historic amount of new funding is flowing to projects designed to upgrade, expand, and enhance ports. A recent infrastructure study reported that approximately $163 […]

There is great concern about America’s water resources. Throughout the country, public officials are focused on water resources and sound water management practices because of the scarcity of this resource. As of October 18, 2022, a total of 43 states were experiencing moderate drought or worse. Surface reservoirs have traditionally been the ‘go to’ solution […]

  Now that students are flocking back to university campuses, new initiatives to enhance recruitment competition are creating an abundance of contracting opportunities. New student housing projects are extremely common, but university officials are also launching other types of projects designed to enrich the campus experience. Recruitment competition is so extreme that the state of […]

There are 167 land ports of entry (LPOE) in the U.S. that provide border crossing security for both people and trade. Those crossings generate billions of dollars in goods and services for the country. Every year an average of 160,000 motorists, 72,000 pedestrians, and 34,000 commercial trucks pass through those ports of entry. That’s the […]

Airport operations throughout the U.S. have been chaotic in the past several years. Turbulent weather has created havoc along with other operational issues such as staff shortages and new federal mandates. Now, airports have also encountered frightening cyberattacks and upgraded technology has become a high priority. America’s rankings when compared to other top international airports […]

Federal programs that provide funding for state and local projects are so numerous it’s difficult to understand them all. A new program has recently been reopened and eligible projects are already being announced in numerous states. America’s Byways is an umbrella term that includes 150 diverse roadways that are now eligible for funding support. These […]

When Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, it allocated $102 billion for rail-related projects in America. Another $50 million was authorized for annual disbursement to incentivize smaller transit-oriented projects. That’s a lot of available funding making it obvious that Congress intends to make public transportation attractive, safe, and convenient. Mandates and rules for allocating the […]

Thousands of large public projects that will require private sector expertise are in final planning stages. When solicitation documents are released, these projects will grab the attention of private sector contractors and competition will be fierce. Regrettably, there are just as many smaller projects – some of them considered critical — that will get less […]