Public Works articles from January 2004

Public Works archives from January 2004

Delivering on our promise.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2004... As executive director of the American Public Works Association from 1958 to 1989 and, since my retirement, the executive director emeritus, I guess I am a part of APWA history. At this point in that history, it should be obvious to everyone...

Finding inspiration in a blizzard of doubt.(Editorial Viewpoint)
January 1, 2004... As we start 2004, I am struck by the dizzying swirl of conflicting emotions that so many of us are feeling. Hope, fear, promise, and dread all are vying to shape or shake our confidence this winter, as we embark on a momentous 12-month journey...

MTBE concerns derail energy bill in Senate.(Washington Report)
January 1, 2004... Concerned about groundwater pollution from a gasoline additive, cities and counties were instrumental in the defeat of the controversial, wide-ranging energy reform bill last November. The 1148-page bill fell 2 votes short of Senate passage...

Inquiry says August blackout was preventable.(Washington Report)
January 1, 2004... A joint United States-Canadian investigation has reported a series of preventable errors caused the huge northeastern electrical blackout Aug. 14, 2003. A task force says FirstEnergy Corp. of Akron, Ohio, failed to trim trees away from its...

Survey finds municipalities cutting staff, raising fees.(Washington Report)
January 1, 2004... Many cities and towns are cutting staff and services and increasing fees to cope with budget crunches. The National League of Cities says its annual survey of city finances found 81 percent of finance directors say their cities were less able...

Senate, House Transportation bills move ahead.(Washington Report)
January 1, 2004... The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 17 to 2 last November to reauthorize the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21). TEA-21, which expired Sept. 30, 2003, has been extended until Feb. 29, 2004. The new...

GAO urges better focus for water system security spending.(Washington Report)
January 1, 2004... The U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reports that federal funds to protect water systems from terrorism should be focused on distribution and computer control systems at utilities serving highly populated areas, military bases, and key...

Snowy start to December mobilizes Northeast.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... The Northeast's public works departments were busy cleaning up after an early season storm Dec. 5-7 that dumped nearly 4 feet of snow in some cases. Several schools were closed and many businesses were busy clearing their side-walks. Several...

Pittsburgh considers privatizing its fleet maintenance.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... Last month, Pittsburgh's Department of General Services opened three proposals to privatize maintenance of its entire fleet of vehicles. The department owns and maintains 1025 vehicles, including police, fire, refuse trucks, dump trucks, and...

Transit officials applaud third light rail line.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... Transit officials from across the country were on hand to applaud the recent opening of the Medical Center extension of Salt Lake City's Transit Express (TRAX) light rail. The Medical Center extension, which extends TRAX about 1 1/2 miles to...

Largest stop gate in metro Detroit.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... Spalding DeDecker Associates Inc. (SDA), Detroit; Jay Dee Contractors Inc., Wyandotte, Mich.; and the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) successfully tested a newly constructed stop gate for the Garfield Road Interceptor...

Phoenix to recharge reclaimed water.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... The Arizona cities of Glendale, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe are moving forward with plans to recharge about 60,000 acre-feet per year of reclaimed water from the 91st Avenue Wastewater treatment plant in Phoenix into the Aqua Fria...

Bridge delivers longest steel snowmobile span.(Engineering Notes)
January 1, 2004... A big bridge project in Alexandria, Minn., crossing the St. Louis River is the culmination of 5 years of planning and determination, says MnUSA director DeLyle Pankratz. The 180-foot steel snowmobile bridge has been installed to provide a safer...

Counties seek new business--asphalt.
January 1, 2004... Several Tennessee county highway superintendents are so determined to save taxpayers money on road construction that they're trying to get into the asphalt business. According to Aggregate Research Industries, at least 20 counties passed a...

Multiquip Inc.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Multiquip Inc., Carson, Calif., has promoted Mike Ferguson to vice president of sales for the company's General Construction Equipment (GCE) group. In his new position, Ferguson assumes responsibility for all Multiquip GCE U.S. and Canadian...

Glenn Suitor and Douglas Sawyer have been named regional managers at Parsons Brinckerhoff Construction Services Inc.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Glenn Suitor and Douglas Sawyer have been named regional managers at Parsons Brinckerhoff Construction Services Inc. (PBCS), the construction management arm of Parsons Brinckerhoff, Orange, Calif. Suitor will head PBCS operations in northern...

Baxter & Woodman Inc.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Baxter & Woodman Inc., Crystal Lake, Ill., consulting engineers, has appointed Penny F. Bouchard as an environmental specialist working out of the firm's Grayslake, Ill., office. Bouchard brings an expanded capability to the firm in the area of...

Otak Inc.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Otak Inc., Lake Oswego, Ore., a design and engineering firm, appointed Kay Van Sickel to lead its rapidly growing transportation business group. Van Sickel was formerly the Oregon Department of Transportation manager for District 1, which...

RouteSmart Technologies Inc.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... RouteSmart Technologies Inc., Columbia, Md., a supplier of geographic information system (GIS) based route optimization solutions to the newspaper, postal/local delivery, solid waste, and utility/meter reading industries, has appointed Steve...

CDM, Cambridge, Mass., has promoted John L. Roberts, P.E., to executive vice president.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... CDM, Cambridge, Mass., has promoted John L. Roberts, P.E., to executive vice president. In this firm-wide role, Roberts will work with the executive management team in CDM's world headquarters on a variety of operations and sales matters to...

The National Asphalt Pavement Association.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) recently signed an agreement with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to form an alliance promoting...

Anthony Dudley, certified flood-plain manager, has joined Water-shed Concepts, Charlotte, N.C., as a project manager.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Anthony Dudley, certified flood-plain manager, has joined Watershed Concepts, Charlotte, N.C., as a project manager. Watershed Concepts is a provider of engineering and technical services related to digital mapping and interpretation for...

Cobb Community Transit of Cobb County, Ga., and PBS&J, Orlando, Fla., were awarded the Construction Management Association of American's South Atlantic Project Achievement Award for the new compressed natural gas (CNG) facility.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... Cobb Community Transit of Cobb County, Ga., and PBS&J, Orlando, Fla., were awarded the Construction Management Association of American's South Atlantic Project Achievement Award for the new compressed natural gas (CNG) facility. An existing CNG...

The American National Standards Institute.(Worth Telling)
January 1, 2004... The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the EPA, has developed a presentation to introduce all ANSI-Accredited Standards Developers to the topic of Environmental Preferable Purchasing (EPP). For...

Road to recovery still uphill: although positive signs are all around, APWA cautions "we're not out of the woods yet.".(2004 Forecast)
January 1, 2004... Try as they might, public works officials across the United States still are having a hard time this winter generating much enthusiasm for 2004. Despite having holiday spirits bolstered by a flurry of good economic news in recent months--from...

Recycling for dollars: a progressive nonprofit organization has built a cost-effective recycling program that is emulated worldwide.(Solid Waste Disposal)
January 1, 2004... In Colorado, the old joke is that Boulder is 20 square miles surrounded by reality--an ultra-liberal Mecca in a very conservative and independent state. But over the past two decades, Boulder has also come to be known as one of the most...

Ohio County solves growing challenge: Pickaway County used a two-pronged approach to rescue Big Darby Creek and the local sewer system.(Trenchless Technology)
January 1, 2004... Just 15 minutes south of Ohio's bustling state capital of Columbus is Pickaway County, a rural area of rolling hills, streams, and farm lands. But in recent years, the capital's population growth and development sprawl have begun to encroach...

Presenting substance with style: don't be blinded by "power" presentations when selecting your project team--do your homework first.(Administration & Management)
January 1, 2004... Finding the best project team for a new construction, expansion, or renovation project is often easier said than done--particularly for public sector projects being spearheaded by public agencies. Project team selection committees for...

Teams helps Florida inventory needs: what's driving asset management on Florida's "Virtual Turnpike"? A crystal ball for comprehensive financial planning.(Asset Management)
January 1, 2004... Florida's "Virtual Turnpike" is far more than a video game, though it can be just as stimulating to log on and "drive." Developed from a massive automated asset management program launched in the late 1990s by the Florida Department of...

Equipment funds holding up surprisingly well for '04.(PW Update: Equipment)
January 1, 2004... Many municipal equipment replacement budgets are faring surprisingly well despite the nation's recent economic doldrums. But others are still lagging, feeling the pinch from revenue shortfalls and cutbacks in other traditional government...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Komatsu America Corp.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The 7525-pound SK1020-5 skidsteer features automatic power control, which enables the operator to work at full power during any job without engine stall-out. Its advanced hydraulics allows simultaneous machine functions to occur (loader arm,...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Bobcat Co.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The VersaHANDLER V623 telescopic tool carrier combines the speed, agility, and strength of a skidsteer loader with the extended reach of a forklift. Operators select from two transmission modes: direct drive (for faster reaction to movement of...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Thomas Equipment Ltd.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The 25GT mini skidsteer--weighing just 1900 pounds--is designed to work effectively in soft ground conditions. The 9-inch rubber tracks offer smooth operation, increased flotation, and maximum traction on any terrain. The loader is powered by a...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Trackless Vehicles Ltd.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The Trackless Leaf Loader attachment--available on the company's MT Series V diesel municipal tractors--provides advanced, efficient performance. It provides fast pickup and requires few personnel to operate, handling heavier loads and fewer...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; DaimlerChrysler AG, Unimog Div.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The Unimog U300/U400 family of implement carriers provides operators with a high level of versatility and durability. Each of the vehicles runs at up to about 55 mph, can work on even the toughest terrains, and has the ability to handle heavy...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Holder of North America.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The durable C9.72 multipurpose vehicle offers a high level of versatility, thanks to an extensive list of accessories. The machine can be fitted with mowers, leaf pushers and loaders, aerators, sweepers, water tanks, sprayers, mall flushers,...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Case Corp.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The company's XT line of skidsteers can handle a diverse range of demanding jobs, thanks to the many attachments available to users: angle brooms, buckets, dozer and snow blades, trenchers, and vibratory rollers. Two engine options are...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Kubota Tractor Corp.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The powerful, productive KX41-2SV excavator has a variable-width track frame. With the switch of a lever, the operator can narrow the tracks to 39 inches in order to fit the machine through narrow passages. The tracks expand up to 51 inches for...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Ditch witch/the Charles machine works Inc.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The SK300, a track-mounted skidsteer, is powered by a 13 hp Honda engine and has a 300 pound capacity. The lift height is more than 70 inches and the maximum angle of 44 degrees. This ride-on skidsteer fits a variety of attachments, including...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Star industries.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... Available in 12- and 15-foot models, the Quick-Tach truss boom provides the reach to set trusses and other materials on a large structure with less labor. When attached to a forklift, the product can replace a crane on many low-rise jobs,...

Featuring: small multipurpose equipment; Multiforce systems Corp.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... Regardless of the number, type, and locations of fuel sites, FuelForce provides comprehensive, easy-to-use fuel management. The system authorizes and controls the dispensing of fuel to fleet vehicles from any number of sources while collecting...

Sub-technical Inc.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... Seal-Guard II is a cost-effective method for preventing water filtration surrounding manholes, pipe, and tank leak problems. It sets quickly (in 1 to 3 seconds) and will not wash out; it can even be injected into flowing water. The product...

Dynapac.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The PL350S compact planer is highly maneuverable, with a 4-inch cutting radius that makes it suitable for cutting around manholes, curbs, and drains. The maximum operating weight of 9481 pounds makes the unit ideal for use inside buildings,...

Vermeer.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The CX254 is the largest of the company's line of seven compact excavators. The unit has a 52 hp, 4-cylinder Kubota engine, which combines aggressive power with a large bucket capacity. It has a maximum digging depth of 142 inches and a bucket...

OmniQuip textron.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The Lull 944E-42 rough-terrain telehandler is said to deliver a 12.5 percent increase in lift capacity over the previous model. Also, the horizontal boom can travel up to 80 inches without having to reposition the machine. Other features...

Trimble.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... Terramodel 10.2 software is ideal for a range of earthwork and site-preparation applications, including commercial, industrial, and residential. The new version enables contractors and engineers to create surface designs quickly and...

Trail king industries.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... Advantage series hydraulic, detachable trailers feature gooseneck crossmembers with a formed, one-piece design that offers a high degree of flexibility and low risk of cracking. The front-access panel provides quick, easy access for connecting...

Sellick equipment Ltd.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The Teletruk telescopic forklift offers a maximum load capacity of 6000 pounds, and can lift loads as much as 3500 pounds. The telescopic boom design gives operators the versatility of rapidly switching from one attachment to another through...

Gasboy international.(Equipment & Services)
January 1, 2004... The TopKAT fuel management system has an internal report printer option, so that it can be operated as a standalone island, or it can communicate remotely to a PC or terminal. This key-based unit--suitable for small- or large-site...

A death blow to dispute review boards?(Legal Aspects)
January 1, 2004... Public sector infrastructure projects have long relied on dispute review boards (DRBs) as a way of resolving disputes on a real-time and efficient basis. The process generally calls for a three-party board of technical experts to hear all...