NATIONAL NEWS

Logistics Management: Transportation and logistics news: Increased spending on infrastructure "essential" to economic recovery, says U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO
http://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/444072-Transportation_and_logistics_news_Increased_spending_on_infrastructure_essential_to_economic_recovery_says_U_S_Chamber_of.php
..."To meet our infrastructure needs, we need to boost public investments while working to ensure that the money is spent wisely in areas of genuine need," Donohue said, predicting a 3 percent growth in Gross Domestic Product in 2010. "Reauthorization of the nation's core highway bill is essential."  Renewal of the federal-aid highway reauthorization bill has been stalled in Congress since the previous five-year, $286 billion bill expired last Sept. 30. Instead of passing a bill that would double that spending, Congress has instead punted and passed a stop-gap bill at the old law's spending levels, which transportation experts have said is too low to meet current infrastructure spending needs.  "I'm not sure they've punted, but they've done a lot of things that haven't helped," Donohue said.

DC Streetsblog: LaHood Wants More TIGER Aid in the Congressional Jobs Bill
http://dc.streetsblog.org/2010/01/14/lahood-tiger/
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made a splash yesterday by announcing that the U.S. DOT would look at the environmental and community-building benefits of transit projects, not just their adherence to a government cost-effectiveness standard.  But another promising development fell through the cracks, getting a mention in only one news story on LaHood's speech: The Obama administration wants to see a congressional jobs bill include more funding for TIGER, the stimulus law's $1.5 billion grant program that aims to put all modes of transportation on an equal footing.

STATE NEWS

WPTZ: Report Says Many Bridges Are Dangerous
http://www.wptz.com/news/22229722/detail.html
The Champlain Bridge closure and ultimate demise shined a spotlight on bridges across New York State, how they are checked and whether they are safe.  A recent report put out by the state comptroller's office, which audited the Department of Transportation's oversight of New York's bridges, found flaws in the system.  The report cites the DOT for being slow in some cases in notifying bridge owners of defects and emergency repair that's needed.

Providence Business News:  Stimulus sewer work creates 75 city jobs
http://www.pbn.com/detail/47275.html
Upgrades at the Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility will create approximately 75 local construction jobs, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse’s office said Wednesday...The senators singled out water infrastructure in particular, citing a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimate that the country has a $662 billion water and wastewater infrastructure deficit.

Rutland Herald: Bridge bonding plan in works
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100114/NEWS04/1140387/1004/NEWS03
As Vermont suffers the costly consequences of a high-profile bridge failure over Lake Champlain, House Speaker Shap Smith says he'll propose a new bonding plan aimed at preventing similar debacles in the future.  "When you look at what happened to the Crown Point bridge … it is clear we are at a critical time with regard to our transportation infrastructure, and particularly with our bridges," Smith said. "We're going to be spending more on bridges if we wait until they fall into the water to address these problems."

INDenver Times: Hickenlooper’s transportation projects in Denver will get a good look during Colorado governor race
http://www.indenvertimes.com/hickenlooper%E2%80%99s-transportation-projects-in-denver-will-get-a-good-look-during-colorado-governor-race/
When John Hickenlooper hits the road to campaign for the governor’s office, the Denver mayor will get an up-close look at the maintenance and improvement needs of the state’s transportation network – and is likely to get an earful about what he should do to address its transportation funding crisis.  But Hickenlooper’s drive straight into the Colorado governor’s race will also have advocates of sustainable transportation infrastructure investments looking over his record for signs of what he might do to work on the crisis.