Expert Insights

Most citizens understood what ‘Congressional earmarks’ were in the past but then new rules were adopted and earmarks were no longer allowed. Now, however, earmarks are back, and it is important to watch them because they signal upcoming projects that will be of high...

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau has a new funding and resource program designed to help communities launch large projects. It’s called Thriving Communities and it was created by passage of the Appropriations Act. The program will provide...

Natural disasters are becoming more regular and more intense. Thousands of lives have been lost over the last several years and trillions of dollars have been spent on the accumulated damage. The growing cost of coping and dealing with the aftermath of weather events...

Ever wonder how much it would take to make all of America’s bridges safe and in good repair? Spoiler alert – it will require billions. A recent study released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reports that $48 billion will be required just to replace and/or...

Support for public-private partnerships (P3s) continues to mount and federal programs are available to help fund P3 projects. Not only is the federal government encouraging private sector collaboration and investment, guidance for public officials ready to launch the...

Bus rapid transit (BRT) system activities should not be overlooked if partnering with the government is of interest. This is a ‘hot’ marketplace for contracting and collaboration. Opportunities will include, but not be limited to, initiatives that enhance and make...

Federal programs that have been significantly enhanced are now responsible for hundreds of new projects called ‘rail to trail’ initiatives throughout the U.S. Congress authorized billions of dollars to support multi-use trails and other kinds of non-motorized...

A recent study revealed some shocking facts. Researchers with Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, provided data that points to more than 200 million Americans who must depend on contaminated drinking water. Chemicals that are commonly used to treat...

American ports, even those that are among the busiest in the world, have faced near-crippling levels of congestion since the outbreak of COVID. Supply chain back-ups have also had a negative impact. The smaller ports especially have scrambled to meet demand, but it is...

Public officials at the local levels of government are using recent increases in tax revenue to support tourism projects. State officials throughout the country are also launching new funding programs to increase economic development and lock in future economic...

The federal government is changing the rules for some very significant funding programs. Many of the changes relate to how federal agencies will distribute funding to state and local governments and the types of projects the funding will support. Rules emphasizing...

Over recent years, smart technologies that emphasize automation, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and data monitoring have become critical components of infrastructure modernization projects. Public officials are doubling down on these types of...

Throughout the country, consortiums, partnerships and work groups are being formed to launch large critical projects. There’s a reason for the collaboration and it is noteworthy enough to point out what the data shows. Partnerships and regional consortiums accomplish...

America will continue to be a global economic leader only if the country maintains a skilled and trained future workforce. That critical component could cease to exist without continual monitoring and ongoing training initiatives. Fortunately, public officials at...

The federal government released a National Cybersecurity Strategy last week. It provides guidelines about how cybersecurity should be used to protect critical infrastructure in America. The strategy identifies five key objectives that are eligible for funding. The...

Many parts of the country have experienced catastrophic winter weather events in recent years. In Texas recent winter weather issues were exacerbated when over-taxed grid networks failed to perform. Grid failures are why some public officials are spending millions on...

According to data released in 2022, the U.S. currently faces a shortage of approximately 3.8 million homes. More recent projections suggest that number may now be even higher. To address this extremely critical issue, Congress authorized an abundance of funding and an...

For years, state governments affected by the opioid epidemic were locked in intense litigation with pharmaceutical companies, some of which are the most powerful corporations in the world. The years of legal battles are now paying off and approximately $54 billion in...

Before environmental concerns became a staple of urban planning, industrial sites dominated waterfront properties in American cities. For decades, factories used urban waterways to dispose of pollutants. As environmental awareness grew, however, those sites were...

A 2019 study pointed to an interesting trend. The data provided very compelling insights into America’s libraries. It revealed that, as libraries digitize books, magazines and services, their reach and impact become significantly greater. The number of citizens using...

Project delivery methods have been debated for years. Which one is best? Which is most efficient? Which reduces risk? Which delivers a project the quickest? Some argue that infrastructure projects are delivered faster and with greater cost-effectiveness when the...

Recent changes to federal funding programs are dramatically widening the scope of airport expansion plans throughout the U.S. In the fall of 2022, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the availability of $1 billion during 2023 for airport expansion...

Public safety is front and center with public officials today. Big changes are coming as historic amounts of federal funding pour into cities, counties, states and special purpose districts for projects to improve public safety that will be launched in 2023. One...

The federal government is using an interesting combination of well-funded grant programs and attractive tax incentives to ensure that America’s historical legacy is preserved. The plan is working… and hundreds of historical renovation and enhancement projects are in...

Inflation fears linger, supply chain issues drag on, construction costs continue to rise… and those factors have created significant issues for public officials who were poised to launch new initiatives. Even bond packages that passed supporting local projects are now...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rang in 2023 with a new program designed to provide funding for critical water infrastructure projects. Now, the EPA is providing loans to state financing authorities which are also known as state revolving fund programs....

Last year, Congress allocated $1 billion in funding to support technology modernization projects. States, counties, cities and educational institutions are now receiving funding and $100 million flowed to modernization projects at the state and local levels of...

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed by Congress in 2022 allocated $1 billion for efficiency upgrades to state and local government buildings. The funding gave public officials new cause to examine the conditions of their public facilities, and many are...

The time has come to stop thinking about port projects in the same way we once did. Everything has changed and with an abundance of funding, port projects in 2023 will include many new components. Over the last several years, shifting economic and environmental...

A somewhat overlooked marketplace in years past is now one that should be monitored regularly. Billions of dollars in federal funding, designated specifically for tribal lands, are flowing to Native American communities throughout the U.S. and, projects of all sizes...

In 30 states, the cost of booking a hotel room usually includes a specialized tax purposed for tourism. The revenue collected from hotel guests becomes available for state or local projects that enhance existing venues or deliver new tourist attractions. Sports...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...