March’s top stories: LACMTA appoints CH2M, PennDOT to distribute $466.2m to municipalities

LACMTA selects CH2M to improve transport infrastructure

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) in the US appointed CH2M, a global engineering and management company, to provide Highway Programme Project Delivery Support Services to improve regional transportation infrastructure.

CH2M will assist LACMTA to address region's transportation challenges through on-call task orders, which includes development of design plans, specifications, studies, reports and other technical documents.

It will also provide an independent review and oversight of environmental design, including traffic, structures, and drainage contract plans.

PennDOT offers $466.2m for local roads in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) will be distributing approximately $466.2m in liquid fuels payments for the certified municipalities, which will help them to maintain and improve their roads and bridges.

The move is part of the Pennsylvania's far-reaching transportation plan, Act 89.

Liquid fuels payments are given to the municipalities on an annual basis in order to pay for expenses such as snow removal as well as for the road repaving works.

New Zealand Transport Agency initiates electric vehicle trials in Auckland

The New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) initiated the trials of electric vehicles on the five priority bypass lanes in Auckland.

Until 20 March, the electric vehicle drivers had permission from the transport agency to use specific on-ramps which will provide faster access to the motorway, reducing travel times.

NZTA provided permission to support the government’s objective to significantly increasing the uptake of electric vehicles in New Zealand to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Inrix partners with content providers to expand OpenCar app ecosystem

Global technology company Inrix partnered with 20 new content providers to integrate their applications into the OpenCar platform.

The company entered into partnership with companies such as Amazon Alexa, Audiobooks.com, Bookatable, Dash Radio, Dar.fm, Glympse, INRIX Traffic, Napster, Nest, NPR, ParkMe, Parkmobile, PayByPhone, Philips Hue, Rivet Radio, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, Wcities and Yelp.

The new collaboration will enable INRIX to deliver auto-grade versions of these applications on the OpenCar platform.

Siemens SCOOT technology helps reduce travel times in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Siemens' real-time traffic control system SCOOT (Split Cycle Offset Optimisation Technique), which has been developed by Siemens Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), is reported to have reduced travel times in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US.

Reports suggested that the weekday travel times along the Ellsworth Corridor, south of Michigan Stadium on a route that runs alongside Interstate 94, has been reduced by 12% and the weekend travel time was reduced by 21%.

The company claims that SCOOT offers efficient and integrated transportation of people and goods by rail and road, including all products, solutions and services regarding mobility.

UK Government allocates £220m for traffic infrastructure improvements

The UK Government allocated millions of pounds for junction upgrades, roundabout improvements and enhanced traffic signalling in order to decrease road traffic congestion in the country.

The government will spend £110m on construction works that will reduce traffic congestion and travel times, as well as improve safety for motorists.

Upgrades will be carried out across two larger projects, which will be used to build a continuous dual carriageway on the A69 between Hexham and Newcastle.

Webber secures $192m road contract from Texas Department of Transportation

Ferrovial subsidiary Webber secured a $192m contract from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to expand an13km section of the US 281 between Loop 1604 and Borgfeld Drive, in Bexar County, San Antonio.

Ferrovial is a global construction company that has been engaged in construction of infrastructures and toll roads.

Under the deal, Webber will be adding three new lanes, of which two lanes will be for general use and one lane will be dedicated for high-occupancy vehicles in each direction.

Highways England’s multi-million pound investment for road improvements

Highways England (HE) announced a multimillion pound investment for the road improvements, which would create nearly 11,000 jobs and new development opportunities for nearly 4,000 homes.

The highway agency will be carrying out improvements works worth £75m, which will create opportunities around Derby and Daventry in the Midlands, Oldham in the North West, Durham in the North East and Taunton in the South West.

Around £12.45m will be provided by Highways England for the improvement schemes from its Growth and Housing Fund.

MNDOT to begin I-94 project from Minneapolis to Brooklyn Center

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) in the US announced that construction works on Interstate 94 from Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis to Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center began on 20 March.

The MNDOT also revealed that work under the bridges will also begin on the same date.

The $46.3m maintenance and preservation works on I-94 will include, resurfacing of nearly nine miles of pavement on I-94 between Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis and Shingle Creek Parkway in Brooklyn Center.

ADB grants $114m loan to improve transport in Georgia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) granted a $114m loan to Georgia to improve the country’s road infrastructure and regional connectivity.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will also support the project with an additional $114m loan, which is expected to be managed and administered by ADB. 

The project will be the first ADB project in Georgia that has been co-financed by another financial institution and also the third project to be co-financed by ADB and AIIB.