Public Works articles from November 2004

Public Works archives from November 2004

Fixing public works.(Editorial)
November 1, 2004... Whenever one of my daughter's many gadgets stops working, she brings it to me and demands, "Fix it, Daddy." I can almost always make it work again, unless it's a cheap piece of junk. Anyone who's good at fixing things will tell you that often...

Nominate an engineer.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Each year, the National Association of County Engineers (NACE) Awards Committee reviews nominated individuals for the "Urban Engineer of the Year" and "Rural Engineer of the Year" awards. The rules and criteria can be found by visiting the NACE...

Out-of-state trash rejected.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... A House subcommittee recently proposed legislation to allow states to place limits on out-of-state trash dumped in their landfills, reported WasteAge Wire. The bill would require private landfills to secure approval from the state or local...

ULI finalists announced.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Technology Square at Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, has been selected as a finalist in the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) 2004 ULI Awards for Excellence competition. The awards recognize the full development process of a project, not...

Pump system education.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... The Hydraulic Institute Board of Directors has approved a National Pump Systems Educational Initiative called "Pump Systems Matter." The program will place a primary focus on pump systems education and outreach, addressing energy savings and...

Wastewater funding concerns.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Federal funding for wastewater treatment will be slashed by an average of $1 million in every congressional district in the United States if budget cuts pending in Congress for the EPA in FY 2005 are approved, says a report from a coalition of...

NFIP act signed.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... On June 30, the President signed the Bunning-Bereuter-Blumenauer Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-264), reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through Sept. 30, 2008, and reforming the law to help states...

Free road software available.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... The Transtec Group, Austin, Texas, has announced the release of ProVAL 2.0, a free software application used nationwide by the transportation industry in response to the growing public demand for smoother pavements. After the widespread...

HDPE pipe for sanitary sewers.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Hancor engineers put their newest product--a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for the sanitary sewer market--through 10 years of tests before its introduction. The result is a pipe and a watertight joint that eliminates the potential for...

Safety conference planned.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Join the Construction Safety Council for more than 70 construction safety sessions, ranging from 1 1/2-hour mini sessions to four- and eight-hour professional development programs at the 15th Annual Construction Safety Conference Feb. 15-17,...

Snow show changes location.(News & Views)
November 1, 2004... Snow & Ice Management Association Inc. (SIMA) announced that in response to the growth of its annual Snow and Ice Symposium and trade show, the next show will be held June 8-11, 2005, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in...

Concrete bridge award winners announced.(DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION)
November 1, 2004... The Portland Cement Association has named the winners of the 2004 Ninth Biennial Bridge Awards Competition. The competition, which was started in 1988, recognizes excellence in design and construction of concrete bridges from Canada and the...

Survey shows slowdown in public employee salaries.(PEOPLE)
November 1, 2004... States have slashed the number of public employees in key safety positions and workers' salaries are at a standstill--a result of continuing budget pressures plaguing the states--according to the 2004 American Federation of Teachers (AFT)...

Salt storage awards named.(OPERATIONS)
November 1, 2004... Nineteen state, provincial, and local government transportation facilities in the United States and Canada have earned a 2004 Excellence in Storage Award from the Salt Institute. The award recognizes high standards of environmental...

Urban Mobility Report released.(RULES & REGS)
November 1, 2004... Texas Transportation Institute's (TTI) 2004 Urban Mobility Report this year took a look at 85 U.S. urban areas, including all those exceeding 500,000 in population. The TTI study ranks areas according to several measurements, including:...

Lane striping studied in Colorado.(COMMUNITY)
November 1, 2004... Recessed striping makes highways safer for drivers, according to a report by the Research Branch of the Colorado DOT (CDOT). CDOT released the report recently and found that lane markings last longer when placed in shallow grooves in the...

Funds secured for clean water.(RULES & REGS)
November 1, 2004... On Sept. 21, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the EPA's appropriations package including full funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) at $1.35 billion for FY 2005. The bill funds the program at the...

Superfund site relocates downtown hub.(DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION)
November 1, 2004... Portland, Maine-based MACTEC's design services for a recent Superfund site cleanup involved relocation of nearly all of Corinna, Maine's, downtown hub. This relocation included a roadway, bridge, the Sebasticook River, and a historic building...

Satellite images easily shared.(RULES & REGS)
November 1, 2004... DigitalGlobe, Longmont, Colo., provider of commercial satellite imagery and geospatial information products, has announced that U.S. civil government customers at the state and local level now have the freedom to use, distribute, and modify...

Ivan crippled interstate, may impact transportation.(COMMUNITY)
November 1, 2004... Normally, trucker Bruce Shelby would take Interstate 10 to get across the Florida Panhandle. But with the interstate bridge over Escambia Bay crumbled by Hurricane Ivan, that trip has become a long, expensive nightmare, reported The Miami...

ISO, meet EMS.(Ideas & Opinions)
November 1, 2004... My introduction to the ISO system was while I was working in the pharmaceutical industry. The terms "ISO 9001" and "ISO 9002" were bandied about like some sort of must-have pedigree. How could a production facility not be ISO certified? ...

The transportation expectation.(Ideas & Opinions)
November 1, 2004... In mid-September, I attended the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) annual meeting in Philadelphia. At that meeting, representatives from all 50 state DOTs--as well as from Puerto Rico, the District of...

2004 Trendsetters; Trendsetter: one who initiates or popularizes a trend, someone who popularizes a new fashion.(Special Report)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2004... Fashionable though they may be, our 2004 Trendsetters were not selected for their couture. Rather, we are recognizing PUBLIC WORKS' 2004 Trendsetters for significantly affecting our industry. These 50 people and groups have risen to the top in...

Taking equipment utilization to the max: Unimog. The unique solution to idle trucks.
November 1, 2004... The Unimog may be based on the same concept the Swiss army introduced in knives over a century ago. But it's still a revolution for municipalities and other public works departments that are looking to do more, do it faster, and do it for less....

Moving toward alternative fuel vehicles: biodiesel and hybrid vehicles appear as bright spots.(Fleet Management)
November 1, 2004... In recent years, many of the nation's fleets managed by public works departments have begun to use alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). Such vehicles aim to reduce exhaust emissions and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil. In the main,...

Track your trucks with GPS: operational efficiency can be improved using GPS.(Fleet Management)
November 1, 2004... Do a Google search using the phrase "timing is everything" and you'll get 1.4 million results. Many of these "hits" will outline the laments of truck fleet management--especially as it relates to late deliveries or missing-in-action truck...

Power from waste: a waste-to-energy conversion program in Seattle.(Landfill Operation)
November 1, 2004... Washington State has long been known as a leader in hydroelectric power. Hydropower electrifies much of the state and is often sold to other states. But now, a new power source is becoming popular in Washington: methane. [ILLUSTRATION...

Partnering to update flood maps: FEMA helps communities with flood plans.(Stormwater Control)
November 1, 2004... For more than 20 years, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has planned for, responded to, and mitigated the effects of a wide range of disasters. The agency was formed in 1979 in a merger of many disaster-related responsibilities,...

Trickling filter cuts maintenance, costs.(Products Solving Problems)
November 1, 2004... A new rotary distributor with modulated speed control is eliminating the need for mechanical reducers and electric motors in a 170-foot trickling filter in South Salt Lake City, Utah, saving a 75 mgd wastewater treatment plant money on...

Science beats geese at their own game.(Products Solving Problems)
November 1, 2004... What's the best way to flush unwanted Canada geese from golf courses, corporate campuses, residential ponds, rural airfields, bike paths, and city parks? Most operations officers and maintenance directors already know the litany of possible...

High-tech snowplow system.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The Express Snowplow system has innovative components in its plowing, mounting, and operating systems. The EZ Mount Express is a self-mounting, pinless system that operates with the push of a button. The moldboard is designed with a more...

Lightweight bulk spreader.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The VeePro 8000 large capacity bulk spreader, designed for standard pickup boxes, carries up to 1.5 cubic yards of material. Using salt or a salt-sand mixture, the unit is ideal for maintaining roads, bridge decks, parking lots, and...

Electronic spreader control.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The MESP-3000 series microprocessor-based electro-hydraulic spreader control system is designed for heavy duty snow and ice control equipment and includes state-of-the-art features in a simple design. It offers superior accuracy and reliability...

Improved throwing distance.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The Schulte 9600 3 Point Hitch snowblower features an efficient fan, auger, and discharge chute combination, resulting in superior snow-throwing capacity in the worst winter conditions. A heavily reinforced auger feeds snow to the fan and...

Self-contained snowblower.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... Model RPM-227 is a two-stage twin-auger type self-contained heavy-duty snowblower using a 350-hp diesel Tier 2 electronic engine. The RPM-227 has a snow-clearing capacity up to 3000 tons per hour. With a weight of only 9850 pounds, its unique...

Prewetting agent.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... LIQUIDOW liquid calcium chloride is a highly effective prewetting agent for both rock salt and abrasives. When used for on-board prewetting or stockpile wetting, the product increases the melting speed of salt, lowers its effective temperature...

Pneumatic air control valve.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... Equip your snowplow with the DAV 1226 Joystick Air Control Valve, which features a compact assembly of two DAV 1221 pneumatic valves that allow single or simultaneous operation of valve function with one lever, capable of articulating 360...

Keeps snow from sticking.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... Snow-Flo is an anti-stick encapsulant that allows you to plow better, dump faster, and throw snow farther. It is perfect for high-moisture content snow and slush, as well as for small or large plowing fleets. It prevents wet snow build-up,...

Light-duty snowplow.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The Boss Sport-duty snowplow weighs 450 pounds and fits most smaller-sized 4X4 pickup trucks. Features include the RT3 Quick Hitch system and the High-Tec light package. The slick poly moldboard blade surface makes it easier to push snow, while...

Durable plow blades.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... Dura-Trax Blades are made from an extremely durable material that will outlast rubber and not damage roadway markings, reflectors, or cobblestone. They produce less friction than rubber blades, allowing higher plow speeds. They are hard enough...

Combination spreaders.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The 4400 Combi Spreader is designed so users can replace two trucks in their traditional winter maintenance fleet with a single, multiuse unit. It is a high-capacity high-volume anti-icing spreader that can also deliver dry material or prewet...

Tool carry-all.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... The Tool Tote offers a comfortable alternative to a tool belt. Constructed of rugged, double-layered polyester to resist wear and tear, the oval-shaped tool bucket measures 15.5 inches long, 7.5 inches wide, and 10 inches high. A padded,...

Concrete stain.(Featuring: Snow and Ice Control)
November 1, 2004... Shield Plus Ultra acrylic concrete stain is fortified with silicone for a high degree of waterborne performance. It can be used on new or old concrete, and users can apply it over previously painted surfaces. The product is easily cleaned up...

PW forum: answers to vexing questions.
November 1, 2004... Questions and answers in this section are from InfoNOW, a member-only service of the American Public Works Association. APWA's InfoNOW communities provide public works professionals an open forum for information exchange. There are 12 different...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
November 1, 2004... In the October issue (page 22), we provided only part of the story on the Portland Cement Association's (PCA) Transit Awards. PCA, based in Skokie, Ill., honored the following public transit facilities: * Indianapolis People Mover,...

Keeping his town on the right track.(Profile)
November 1, 2004... As a sophomore in college, Eric Horvath did an internship at a city engineer's office. That experience helped lay the foundation for his career in public works. Today, as the public works director of Elkhart, Ind., he recalls what inspired him....