Late last week, Virginia state transportation officials shut down contract and permit work on the U.S. 460 expansion project. The project has already spent $300 million of a budgeted $1.4 billion—without even breaking ground.
Jim Nolan and Michael Martz report on the unraveling saga of U.S. 460, a “$1.4 billion project, awarded in late 2012 to US 460 Mobility Partners in a public-private partnership deal pushed by the administration of then-Gov. Bob McDonnell.”
The project is intended to design and build a tolled, 55-mile highway parallel to the existing U.S. 460 between Suffolk and Petersburg in Virginia.
“Officials said Friday that the project can’t continue until it receives environmental approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It has said the plan would require mitigation of 500 acres of protected wetlands and suggested the state pursue alternatives in the corridor that have less impact.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation has spent about $30 million on the project, but the rest of the $300 million has gone to US 460 Mobility, which was charging $20 million a month as a “mobilization fee.”
FULL STORY: State suspends $1.4 billion U.S. 460 project
California Environmental Leaders Call on State Agencies to Prioritize Multimodal Transportation
Even before President Trump took office, California was not meeting its emissions reduction goals.
Report: Some Rural States Ahead of More Urbanized Ones in Reducing Transportation Emissions
This is a largely unintended consequence of states with lower populations and resources focusing on repairing existing roads and infrastructure rather than expanding and building new roads.
Report: Traffic Slower Near Bay Area Express Lanes
Highway 101 was expanded to add express lanes with the promise of reducing congestion for all of the roadway’s users.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service