• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

INFRASTRUCTURE

President Trump’s SOTU Address Touts $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Investment

January 31, 2018 by admin 2 Comments

Union appeals to lawmakers to support Trump’s infrastructure bid.

crumbling railroad bridge infrastructure
A crumbling railroad bridge, one example of America’s challenges.

In his first State of the Union address to the American people last night, President Donald J. Trump reiterated his request for a comprehensive infrastructure initiative, an investment that would cost “at least $1.5 trillion.”

The president underscored the problem of getting key work done by noting it took only one year to build the Empire State Building, but it can take 10 years to get a permit approved “to build a simple road.” Immediately after Trump covered infrastructure in his 90-minute speech, a key union released a response favorable to the president’s initiative.

Crumbling Infrastructure Improvements and Union Support

The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) was one of the first unions to comment on the Trump’s initiative, although the AFL-CIO and other unions have long advocated for such a plan.

“We applaud President Trump tonight for outlining a renewed focus on the need for bipartisan action towards improving and investing in America’s transportation infrastructure,” offered Patrick Jones, Executive Director and CEO of IBTTA. Jones went on to make a case for cutting “…burdensome regulations and laws that prevent states from accessing all available funding options to meet their local needs.”

AMTRAK
AMTRAK may benefit from the president’s initiative.

Those regulations include restricting tolling of the Interstate System, an important way states might fund improvements. Jones noted that some of America’s highways would never have become a reality without tolls. He added, “Tolling is both a proven and effective tool to help pay for our nation’s infrastructure and an incubator of ideas driving mobility in the future.”

Although tolls are one way to pay for improvements, a fuel tax increase and vehicle registration are among the others. The president said nothing about infrastructure improvement funding, something Congress must address when taking up legislation.

ASCE Infrastructure Report Card

The term “infrastructure” goes well beyond roads, bridges, tunnels and rail to include such matters as transit, dams, ports and aviation. The American Society of Civil Engineers casts a wider net, adding drinking water, wastewater, hazardous waste, schools and public parks to the list. In effect, the term covers everything that underpins society.

The ASCE closely monitors America’s framework, giving the country a D+ in its 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, while noting it “…costs every American family an average of $3,400 a year in disposable income because it is outdated and unreliable.”

Following the president’s speech, Kristina Swallow, PE, President, American Society of Civil Engineers said, “Congress should seize this opportunity to provide better infrastructure to the American people in a bipartisan fashion by closing the infrastructure deficit, as President Trump proposed. Infrastructure investment is one area where both Democrats and Republicans agree. I urge Congress to develop legislation that increases federal investment in infrastructure, including fixing the Highway Trust Fund. Further, this bill should make investments that provide substantial, long-term benefits to the economy, consider the cost of a project over its lifespan, and be built sustainably and resiliently to maximize investment. Using existing federal programs’ selection process as a starting place, ASCE is confident that increased investment will modernize our infrastructure, improve public health and safety, and drive our economy forward.”

(See Also — How to Resolve a Private Seller Lien)

broken road
Roads, bridges and tunnels across the country need work.

Widespread Public Support for Improvements

Regular polling of American citizens shows strong support for infrastructure spending. Indeed, the results of a Summer 2017 poll released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) revealed that 89 percent of adults believe that such investments would strengthen the U.S. economy.

Further, more than eight in 10 said such an initiative would create jobs in their communities and improve their quality of life. The three top areas respondents said would benefit from improvements are transportation, construction and manufacturing.

Will Congress take up legislation in response to the president’s State of the Union address? It seems likely they will. Moreover, with a key tax victory behind him, the president isn’t likely to let up on another chance for success. This time, the vast majority of Americans may support him or at least the legislation required to get the work done.


See Also — America’s Crumbling Infrastructure and Your Car

First photo courtesy of Dano, under Creative Commons license 2.0. Remaining photos public domain via Wikimedia.org.

Filed Under: Automotive News Tagged With: AFL-CIO, AMTRAK, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, CONGRESS, engineers, IBTTA, INFRASTRUCTURE, President Trump, SOTU, unions

America’s Crumbling Infrastructure and Your Car

February 22, 2016 by admin 1 Comment

Americans shell out an average of $300 for each pothole-related vehicle repair. Time to fix the infrastructure!

pothole repair infrastructure
A federal maintenance and equipment staff member makes pothole repairs.
(U.S. Air Force Photo By/Josh Plueger)

America’s infrastructure of roads, bridges, and highways is in serious need of a major investment. Roads are in such disrepair in some areas that consumers are paying for it in personal repairs to their own vehicles (costing approximately $250 to over $1,000 per vehicle), to fix pothole-related damage according to a study conducted by AAA.

The motorist organization found that consumers made $15 billion in pothole-related vehicle repairs over the past five years, or about $3 billion per annum. Potholes routinely appear throughout the winter as roads freeze, thaw, and refreeze.

The Birth of a Pothole

The Michigan Department of Transportation adequately outlines the pothole development process in its four-step “Birth of a Pothole” graphic. It all begins when rain and snow seeps into the soil beneath the road surface. Then, when the ground freezes, it pushes the pavement up. Next, as temperatures climb, the ground returns to its normal level, but the pavement typically remains raised. Finally, a pothole is formed once a vehicle travels across the resultant cavity, damaging the road. It is that damage that causes potholes and puts all drivers at risk.

AAA cautions drivers be on the look out for potholes while at the same time urging local and state governments to prioritize road maintenance.

“In the last five years, 16 million drivers across the country have suffered pothole damage to their vehicles,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “The problems range from tire punctures and bent wheels, to more expensive suspension damage.”

(See Also — President Trump’s SOTU Address Touts $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Investment)

Deep Financial Hit

The AAA survey revealed that lower- and middle-income drivers have the most concern about potholes. That’s expected given that such consumers will also experience a deeper financial impact. For people who live paycheck to paycheck and depend on their vehicles for their livelihood, pothole-incurred damage can prove devastating.

“On average, American drivers report paying $300 to repair pothole-related vehicle damage,” continued Nielsen. “Adding to the financial frustration, those whose vehicles incurred this type of damage had it happen frequently, with an average of three times in the last five years.”

Because of the elevated risk of encountering potholes, AAA offers suggestions for damage avoidance that go beyond slowing down and skirting road damage. For one, drivers should ensure that their tires are properly inflated. Having sufficient tread depth remaining is important too, as it provides additional cushioning between the vehicle and the pothole.

When Avoidance is Not Possible

When encountering a pothole, drivers cannot always safely avoid hitting one, but they can slow down, release the brakes and steer straight when driving over a pothole. Remaining on the alert for road damage and allowing sufficient room between vehicles can also help drivers avoid potholes explains AAA.

Annually, AAA claims its members make more than 4 million calls to for flat tire assistance, usually due to pothole damage. The motorist organization also found that the typical spare tire has been replaced by a tire inflator kit, but those kits are not sufficient for making repairs for destroyed tires. Instead, motorists should opt for a full-size spare and keep it properly inflated. Adding that tire to the vehicle’s normal tire rotation procedure is a wise decision too.

Making Infrastructure Repairs a National Priority

AAA believes that road conditions will only worsen until legislators make road repairs a national priority. Motorists rely heavily on a crumbling infrastructure, what includes sketchy bridges, inadequate tunnels, and porous roadways. In 2015, Congress increased transportation funding to meet those repairs, but AAA says that as much as $170 billion in additional funding is needed annually to adequately rectify the problem.

See Also — Ford Announces Winter Tire Package for Upcoming Focus RS

Filed Under: Car Tips Tagged With: AAA, BRIDGES, car maintenance, HIGHWAYS, INFRASTRUCTURE, POTHOLE, ROAD MAINTENANCE, ROADS, VEHICLE DAMAGE

UC Davis Study Shows Confidence in Hydrogen

August 20, 2014 by admin 2 Comments

Report offers support for an emerging infrastructure.

Toyota Mirai.
The Toyota Mirai fuel cell arrives on the market in April 2015.

A new study from the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, sees tremendous promise in hydrogen vehicles. The study says that fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) may be just a few years, not decades behind conventional electric vehicles, as the state of California partners with industry to construct much-needed fueling stations.

The Hydrogen Transition

Titled, “The Hydrogen Transition,” the study’s researchers believe that a “convergence of factors” are at work to advance the market introduction of FCEVs, at least in California. Indeed, by clustering the hydrogen fuel cell infrastructure in regional areas, costs will be greatly reduced and an early market established before it is deployed nationally.

Hyundai Tucson FCV
Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell is available for lease in California.

The study noted that government and industry collaboration is already driving down vehicle and hydrogen station component costs as new vehicles come to the market. Several manufacturers have been testing small groups of prototype or production vehicles for years. Just this spring, Hyundai introduced its Tucson Fuel Cell, the first mass-produced model to hit the market. Next year, Toyota will bring its own vehicle to the market and other manufacturers have promised to do the same.

“We seem to be tantalizingly close to the beginning of a hydrogen transition,” said lead author Joan Ogden, professor of environmental science and policy and director of the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (NextSTEPS). “The next three to four years will be critical for determining whether hydrogen vehicles are just a few years behind electric vehicles, rather than decades.”

Building Out an Infrastructure

hydrogen fueling station

A California hydrogen fueling station built by Toyota.

Besides the steep manufacturing costs that has made FCEV production cost prohibitive, a nonexistent infrastructure has also slowed the transition. Indeed, until this year, there were only 11 fueling stations in the United States, with nearly all of them concentrated in Southern California.

Various public-private partnerships have emerged just this year to build a hydrogen infrastructure in California. That collaboration is reducing design costs, what is giving manufacturers and consumers alike the confidence that hydrogen may take hold.

The Davis researchers have estimated that a $100 to $200 million regional investment would make hydrogen cost effective for up to 50,000 vehicles supported by 100 fueling stations. Reaching that threshold would make hydrogen competitive with gasoline on a cost-per-mile basis, according to the study.

Government Backing in Place

Already, California has made a financial commitment of $46 million to build 28 fueling stations. The governments of Japan and Germany are making similar investments in their respective infrastructures.

This past May, Auto Trends reported that Toyota agreed to invest an unspecified amount of money to help bolster California’s infrastructure. The automaker is also partnering with Linde LLC to build a hydrogen fuel station on its property in San Ramon, just outside of San Francisco.

Hydrogen Deployment Highlights

The 53-page report looked at several other points related to hydrogen deployment.

The researchers concluded that effective public policies will go far in developing infrastructure with consumer incentives paving the way toward acceptance. Just as the current crop of electric vehicles come with benefits such as tax credits, free parking and access to High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, FCEV owners might also receive the same.

A recent boom in low-cost natural gas will have a corresponding effect in keeping hydrogen costs affordable. As for national benefits, the researchers found that the subsequent reduction in air pollution, climate change and oil dependence will outweigh the transition costs by a factor of 10 to 1.

The study also noted that automakers are already heavily invested in FCEVs, having committed more than $9 billion thus far. The US Department of Energy says that its own investments have encouraged private sources to jump in, who have spent 6 to 9 times the government contribution.

Tesla Model S.
FCEVs may pose a challenge to Tesla Motors as its Model S.

FCEV Detractors

Despite the billon dollar efforts to build a hydrogen infrastructure, the industry is not without its detractors. Elon Musk, chairman of Tesla Motors, is a strident critic having called fuel cells “fool cells” and a “load of rubbish” reports Bloomberg. Then again, Musk may have the most to lose if FCEVs catch on as his own company is heavily invested in EVs.

Photos courtesy of the respective manufacturer.

Filed Under: Engineering & Technology Tagged With: CALIFORNIA, FCEV, hydrogen, HYUNDAI TUCSON FUEL CELL, INFRASTRUCTURE, Toyota Mirai, UC DAVIS

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival

Recent Comments

  • Buying Guide: 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Highlights of the 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Minivan Surprise: 2016 Kia Sedona SXL — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on Compact, Luxury SUV: 2019 Volvo XC40

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Car Reviews
  • New Models
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
  • Stellantis Logo Revealed by Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler Ahead of Spring Merger
  • Preview: 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • How to Fix a Broken Rivian Vehicle
  • Cadillac Gets Most Things Right
    With the XT6 Crossover
  • The High Potency Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Coupe
  • The All-New Chevrolet Trailblazer Forges Urban Paths
  • The Small Infiniti QX50 is Big on Tech and Engineering Features
  • Toyota Brings the TRD Treatment to the Midsize Camry Sedan
  • The Kia K5 Outclasses Most Competitors, Including the Departing Optima
  • Can the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Handle Tough Terrain?
  • Subaru WRX Showcases Its Performance Chops
  • Infiniti Overhauls QX80 Trims and Makes This Important Safety Feature Standard
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty and a Trail-Stomping Tremor Package
  • A Cut Above: Mazda’s Mazda3
  • The Highly Efficient Hyundai Ioniq
  • Volkswagen Atlas Revels in its Strengths
  • General Motors Deepens Partnership With Honda, Takes Stake in Nikola
  • Smart Concept: Jeep Grand Wagoneer
  • More Than an Encore: Buick Encore GX
  • Got a Recall? There’s an App for That.
  • Refreshed Nissan Titan Makes Its Case
  • BMW M235i: Not Your Typical Coupe
  • Hot Stuff: Lexus RC F Sport Coupe
  • Will the Electric Vehicle Boom Create New-Found Dependencies for Foreign Minerals?
  • Rumors? We Got Them!
  • About Bollinger Motors, EV Startup
  • Raptor Fighter: Ram 1500 TRX!
  • White Space Wonder: 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport
January 2021
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Dec    

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in