Article Highlights the Needs of Infrastructure
January 12th, 2012
A January 4 article on Forbes.com by contributor David Disalvo states, “2012 is the Year America Must Get Serious About its Infrastructure.” Breaking down infrastructure to its basic components, roads and bridges, water systems, etc., the article illustrates why it is important these system remain updated and how lack of action will affect us in the future. The article also discusses the road blocks on both the state and federal levels.
The article is available here: http://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddisalvo/2012/01/04/2012-is-the-year-america-must-get-serious-about-its-infrastructure/.
Modern Mobility & How We Use Our Infrastructure
August 24th, 2011
Modern Mobility & How We Use Our Infrastructure explores the role roads and bridges, aviation, mass transit, passenger rail and freight, and water infrastructure plays in our everyday lives. The booklet describes the defining characteristics of each system and usage by citizens.
A recurring theme throughout the booklet highlights the fact that without roads and bridges the other systems would not function as they do today. Roads and bridges provide the necessary link between all systems, and afford the most mobility for citizens. Roads and bridges are used each day as citizens commute to work, run errands, and perform other activities. Additionally, travel in private vehicles accounts for a large portion of all miles travelled in New Hampshire.
The A Safer Road to Tomorrow coalition believes this booklet will give readers a better understanding of what the infrastructure system provides us with. Without today’s infrastructure we would not have the technological advances or quality of life we depend on today.
Please visit our “Other Media” page to view this booklet and other publications.
Building America’s Future: Falling Apart and Falling Behind
August 15th, 2011
A new report by Building America’s Future highlights the inefficiencies of America’s infrastructure and how it impacts the economy. The report offers a comparison of the investments being made by the international competitors, as well as suggesting a new transportation policy. The report also shows that transportation investment in relation to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been dwindling over the years. This indicates that infrastructure maintenance is not a top priority for the U.S. government. Leading to a conclusion that new transportation policies must be developed, and the report provides recommendations that should be considered. To full the full report go to the “Publications” page.
Video Presentation on Funding and the Gas Tax
July 15th, 2011
A short presentation to help the traveling public understand how infrastructure investments get funded in the U.S. and how the U.S. has fallen behind is available here.
Infrastructure Report Card for 2011
June 17th, 2011
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently released the 2011 New Hampshire Infrastructure Report Card. This new version updates the report card from 2006. Overall, the state has received a C, or fair rating, for its infrastructure. New Hampshire received this same grade in 2006. The state does fair better than the nation, which received a D- in 2009 for overall infrastructure.
On the “publications” page you will find the full report, which highlights the current state of New Hampshire’s infrastructure, and recommendations to improve the systems.
Inspector America
April 7th, 2011
America has one of the greatest infrastructures in history. Roadways, dams, tunnels and bridges were built to last. But over the decades, the infrastructure that helped our country grow hasn’t kept up with the times – from underground sewers built during the Gold Rush to highways designed for 1925 traffic. Now, the History Channel sets out to inspect the country to see what is up to code and what needs to be fixed.
Timothy Galarnyk, an infrastructure safety inspector with over 35 years of experience, hosts Inspector America, a new one-hour series premiering Sunday, April 17 at 10 p.m. on the History Channel. Galarnyk’s initial sweep takes him to six American locations that have infrastructure challenges. He uses the tools of his trade to evaluate the structures, gauge dangers and offer opinions on how to deal with it. Galarnyk also highlights the good news and positive projects in the area.
“America’s infrastructure is in need of attention,” said Dirk Hoogstra, SVP of Development and Programming, HISTORY. “But this series isn’t about pointing fingers. Local officials all over the country are doing their best to fix degrading infrastructures; some of which go back to the turn of the last century and this show can be an advocate for them. These structures are living history and this series is evaluating engineering technologies past and present through a modern lens.”
Galarnyk’s approach is to get as close as he can to a structure, to discover the hidden signs of decay that could produce a disaster on bridges, freeways and the rest of our shared groundwork. He also uncovers the history of how infrastructure works and how it becomes dilapidated over the decades and outlives its usefulness.
Upcoming episodes of Inspector America look at Minneapolis/St. Paul, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit, Las Vegas and Seattle. Each has a unique history. Each was built on unique terrain with tools, technology, and materials of an earlier era. Their infrastructures are breaking…and now is the time to pay attention.
Timothy Galarnyk is a leading expert in the creation of programs that manage the risks associated with construction projects of all types. He has worked on thousands of highway, rail and bridge projects. He is also an experienced bridge and railway inspector specializing in construction analysis and safety and identifying defects and construction problems.
Transportation: Funding New Hampshire’s Needs
February 1st, 2011
Transportation: Funding New Hampshire’s Needs continues the A Safer Road to Tomorrow’s coalition mission into the 2011 year. Whether or not it is apparent, the transportation system makes modern day life possible. Commuting to work, taking vacations, or running simple errands would not be as easy today if this system did not exist. Additionally, our economy depends on new businesses coming to the state, accessible delivery routes, and tourism; all of which depend on a reliable transportation system. As the cracks on the roads become bigger, New Hampshire’s quality of life also shows cracks.
This booklet examines the role transportation plays in our everyday lives through foundations for improvement:
1. Improving the User Funding Model: Drivers who use the road should be fairly charged for the amount they use the system. NH already has a user-funding model in place, but there is room for improvement.
2. Addressing the Transportation Deficit: In ten years, the state will face a $1.2 billion cumulative deficit in the Highway Fund. This is if no action is taken to increase revenue sources.
3. Improving NH’s Economy Through Strategic Investments: Investing in projects that will improve the overall mobility of the state will propel NH forward.
4. Emphasizing the Importance of Infrastructure to Congress: Federal funding is a great aid to NH and its transportation projects. Greater communication can help the DOT better form its plan of action.
It is the coalition’s hope that this booklet will inspire New Hampshire’s lawmakers, both local and national, to continue to look for ways to fund, maintain, and improve the state’s transportation system.
To view the booklet, click on the “Publications” tab, then “Other Media”.
Mandatory Backup Cameras By 2014?
January 1st, 2011
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed new safety regulations to help eliminate blind zones behind vehicles. The proposal expands the required field of view for all passenger cars, pickup trucks, minivans, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle rate weighing of up to 10,000 pounds. The expansion will require that the driver can see directly behind the vehicle when it is in reverse.
The National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA), the division of the U.S. DOT that issued the proposal, believes that the majority of automobile manufacturers will install rear mounted video camera and in-vehicle displays to meet the proposed standards. The proposal requires 10% of new vehicles to comply by Sept. 2012, 40% by Sept. 2013, and 100% by Sept. 2014.
The proposed rule comes about after a significant number of pedestrians, mostly children and elderly, are killed or injured due to lack of visibility when a driver is backing up. The NHTSA estimates that 292 fatalities occur each year as a result of back up crashes. Of this, 44% are fatalities involving children under five and 33% are fatalities involving people 70 years of age or older.
New Hampshire Has Lowest Alcohol Related Driving Deaths in the Nation
January 1st, 2011
According to national 2009 fatal crash statistics, New Hampshire has the lowest rate of fatalities from alcohol related crashes. Standing at 21%, this is far below Hawaii who ranks the highest at 68%. Alcohol-related fatal crashes is just one area that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System looks at. In 2009, there were 30,797 fatal motor vehicle crashes, which resulted in 33,808 deaths.
Types of fatal crashes varied across the nation, and some states experienced highs in one category and lows in another. New Hampshire was also noted because all of the passenger occupant deaths occurred on rural roads, compared to just 10% in Massachusetts. The chart below compares New Hampshire with the other New England states in fatal accidents.
To see the fatal crash statistics, visit www.iihs.org/research/fatality_facts_2009/statebystate.html.
Paying For Accidents Caused By Others
January 1st, 2011
Traffic accidents take a toll on the victims, and victims’ families, but they also cost the general population a significant amount. Estimates show that crashes amount to $500 per driver per year. The total cost of crashes reaches $99 billion a year. The $99 billion dollars is paid in part by the government, taking an economic toll on the nation. Statistics from a 2005 Center for Disease Control report show:
- $28 billion was spent on hospital stays, and $14 billion was spent on emergency room visits for survivors of traffic accidents
- Injuries involving people in cars, pick up trucks, vans, SUVs, heavy trucks and buses accounted for 71% of total medical care and productivity losses
- 1/3 of the costs can be attributed to young drivers and motorcyclists
- Men were twice as likely to die in crashes compared with women
