ACEC/CT Update

LA Light Rail Contracting Problems

The LA Times has an article on problems arising in their latest light rail project when they used an innovative design-build contract that seems to have backfired.

CBO Report on Infrastructure Spending

Between 2003 and 2007, infrastructure spending in the US declined by 6% accounting for inflation. And that was before the recession and the stimulus. Read the Congressional Budget Office blog.

Parting Shot

Governor Rell has released her budget proposal for the next biennial budget. I know what you're saying, "But she's not going to be Governor next year." You're right, but state statutes require her to provide the incoming Governor and General Assembly with a budget document. It's dead-on-arrival as a budget proposal, but it does once again emphasize that the state is in a budget mess and the choices are not going to be easy. It requires major cuts to almost every program, including major cuts to capital spending.

The real budget debate will begin when Governor Malloy announces his proposed budget in February, 2011. Of course, these things usually go to the last minute of the legislative session in June or, because it will require tax increases, the start of the fiscal year July 1st. The Fourth of July weekend is a good time to announce a compromise--nobody is watching. But heck, maybe I'm being cynical.

Governor-Elect Malloy

Republican Tom Foley conceded the election to Dan Malloy yesterday after a very close election with poorly managed voting in Bridgeport and several other cities in Connecticut. Governor-Elect Malloy has named a chief-of-staff, Tim Bannon, and will start selecting commissioners and other officials to run his administration. He will also start working on the next biennial budget with a $3.4 billion structural deficit (about 17% of the budget). I wish the new Governor all the best as he tackles major problems. Stay tuned for a very interesting four years.

And the Governor Is...?

It's a close call for Connecticut governor. Yesterday, Secretary of the State, Susan Bysiewicz, declared fellow Democrat Dan Malloy the winner but Republican Tom Foley refused to concede, citing his tally of votes. Bysiewicz said that her declaration wasn't "official" although she is the official who declares winners in elections. Apparently, all the votes haven't been counted yet. Bridgeport didn't print enough ballots and had to run extras on the copiers and those couldn't be counted by machine. (I sure miss those mechanical voting machines!) Everyone in Bridgeport took yesterday off, so they haven't counted all the votes yet. Last night, the AP called the election for Foley by about 11,000 votes!

Both camps have set up transition teams but should probably not count their chickents.

The state's voting system obviously needs some more attention. The Secretary of the State should be counting votes and not making irresponsible statements. Some local election officials (Bridgeport, but there are others) have not their jobs well either. Voting should be without these problems. Confidence in our election system is vital in a democracy.

NJ Pulls Out of Hudson River Tunnel Project

ENR reports that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has pulled his state out of the planned mass transit tunnel under the Hudson River. Christie blamed the projects possible cost overrunns in light of the state's financial problems. The $8.7 billion project could have blown up to over $13 billion.

Some private infrastructure developers are looking at the possibility of taking over the project; however over 300 engineers are scheduled to lose their jobs in the immediate aftermath.

CT Gets $121M for HSR

Governor Rell has announced that Connecticut will receive a $121 million grant to upgrade the rail line between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield, MA to accommodate high-speed rail service. The upgrades will also allow the state to institute commuter rail service along the line. Earlier this year the State Bond Commission approved funding for the project.

Military Construction Market

Join us Wednesday, November 3rd for a discussion about the military construction market in Connecticut. Chuck Sheehan, the Metropolitan Disctrict Commission CEO is also a Brigader General with the Connecticut Army National Guard and is responsible for facilities management. Colonel Jerry Lukowski is with the Connecticut Air National Guard and has similar responsibilities.

Download the registration form by clicking here.

Is Infrastructure Falling Out of Favor?

ENR has a story about the US loosing its appetite for large infrastructure projects. The latest example is New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's reluctance to commit billions of dollars for a transit tunnel to New York City.

It's not that infrastructure spending is suddenly not fashionable. Politicians will always love to build monuments with their names on the plaque. Probably the biggest problem is financial. Federal, state and local governments are pilling up huge debt and the voters are angry about it. But that debt isn't because of infrastructure projects alone. Governments have found new places to spend money. The percentage of gross domestic product spent on infrastructure has fallen. The US is now spending only 2% of GDP on infrastructure while other growing economies like China are spending about 7%.

The problem, of course, is that a deteriorating infrastructure will make us less competitive in the world economy. The lack of a transportation reauthorization bill in Congress shows the lack of leadership in this important area. We can only hope that 2011 will bring a renewed interest in this vital issue.

Amtrak Stops Work on Bridges

The Day of New London reports that Amtrak has terminated the contracts of Cardi Construction of Warwick, RI for two Amtrak railroad bridges in Eastern Connecticut.