Transportation Market Recap, May 2024

The May 2024 Transportation Market Recap is a recap of some of the most interesting and useful transit industry news from the previous month. It contains updates on industry drivers, notable projects, and recent mergers and acquisitions, as well as some interesting reads, and upcoming meetings and conferences.

To learn more about how we are helping transportation industry leaders find new opportunities in their market of interest, schedule a market opportunity workshop.

Industry Drivers

Our data team tracks new and updated industry drivers. Here are some recent drivers we have been following this month:

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Research Agency Advances Work to Incorporate Artificial Intelligence Safely into Transportation Applications

Status: Proposed

Organization:  U.S. Department of Transportation

Summary: On May 22, 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Infrastructure (ARPA-I) issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input from stakeholders on the potential applications of AI across all transportation modes, the challenges and opportunities of deploying AI technologies, and the risks associated with AI in transportation. The RFI seeks to understand the current and future applications of AI, the potential opportunities AI can facilitate in transportation, and the barriers to its responsible adoption. It also explores the implications of AI in autonomous mobility ecosystems, including software-defined AI enhancements. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their submissions by July 2, 2024.

Click Here for More Information

Notable Capital Improvement Programs

Here are some recent, notable Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs). FirmoGraphs has deconstructed the CIPs into data elements, along with available project descriptions. Please feel free to request a meeting and review the data live in our business intelligence application.

Hampton Roads Transit, Virginia, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased by 45%

In the CIP covering the 2025-2034 fiscal years, Hampton Roads Transit, Virginia, detailed plans to spend $820 million on capital projects, an increase of 45% from $567 million in its 2024-2033 CIP. The current CIP has 84 line items, compared to 63 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Hampton Roads Transit’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Facilities Drive Growth with $180 Million Surge

Planned spending in the Utilities category increased by 29% with funding towards existing projects. The Solid Waste category also increased its spending by 61% due to a new project, the WTE Life Extensions. Lastly, the Parks and Recreation category also increased going to Stadiums Maintenance & Improvements and Environment Restoration & Exotic Maintenance.

Hampton Road Transit Invests Over $300 Million in Facility Upgrades for Electric Bus Fleet

Hampton Road Transit has one notable line item valued at over $100 million and two at over 25 million, all belonging to the Facilities category. The largest line item is the Hampton Facility Electrification, costing $179 million. This project aims to establish the essential infrastructure required for managing operations and upkeep of a Battery Electric Bus (BEB) fleet at the Victoria Boulevard facility in Hampton. Another $92 million is planned for the 18th Street Facility Electrification, which involves the preliminary design and engineering required to facilitate the transition of HRT's 18th Street operating division to accommodate battery electric bus operations. Lastly is the New Southside Operating Division, costing $50 million to relocate and replace the Parks Avenue operating and maintenance base with a new facility that can serve the Southside. The facility will be constructed with the capacity to phase in the charging of 100 electric buses, aligning with the fleet replacement needs, as well as trolley operations.

Click Here to See Hampton Roads Transit, Virginia, CIP

Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma, Planned Capital Expenditure Decreased By 20%

In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma, detailed plans to spend $80 million on capital projects, a decrease of 20% from $100 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 26 line items, compared to 19 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Tulsa International Airport’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Federal Inspection Facility Project Leads to 20% Drop in Planned Spending

The recent decrease in planned spending by 20% is attributed to the Federal Inspection Services Facility project, which carries a budget of $28 million and is scheduled to be finalized in 2024.

Tulsa Airport Invests $40 Million in Pavement Rehabilitation Projects

Tulsa International Airport has two notable line items valued at over $10 million. The largest line item is the Terminal and Cargo Apron Rehabilitation, valued at $29 million. Another $11 million is planned for the Taxiway M Rehabilitation. This project aims to rehabilitate the pavement of T\W "M", including T\W M itself and connecting T\W' to R\W 18R and T\L within T\W M's safety area. The design will encompass vertical and horizontal geometry adjustments, pavement redesign, electrical upgrades, pavement marking enhancements, and miscellaneous drainage improvements.

Click Here to See Tulsa International Airport, Oklahoma, CIP

City of Harrisonburg, Virginia, Planned Capital Expenditure Decreased by 13%

In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, City of Harrisonburg, Virginia, detailed plans to spend $173 million on capital projects, a decrease of 13% from $198 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 144 line items, compared to 117 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Harrisonburg’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Harrisonburg’s Budget Decreased Due to Projects Nearing Completion

Planned spending in the Transportation (School and Transit) category increased by 35% due to the increase in the Transit Buses funding, from $11 million to nearly $18 million in the recent period. Despite increases in various business areas, Harrisonburg's planned spending decreased by 13% due to the nearing completion of the Courts Building Project.

Major Investment: Harrisonburg Allocates $10 Million for New Emergency Communications Center

Harrisonburg has only one notable line item valued at $10 million, which is the construction of a new Emergency Communications Center Building.

Click Here to See City of Harrisonburg, Virginia, CIP

City of Dubuque, Iowa, Planned Capital Expenditure Increased By 19%

In the CIP covering the 2025-2029 fiscal years, City of Dubuque, Iowa, detailed plans to spend $354 million on capital projects, an increase of 19% from $299 million in its 2024-2028 CIP. The current CIP has 277 line items, compared to 289 line items in the prior CIP. The table below breaks down Dubuque’s planned capital spending by business area for its last two CIPs.

Public Works Spending Doubles, Community Development Declines

Planned spending in the Public Works category doubled with funding for existing projects and new projects added, including the 14th Street Overpass. On the other hand, the Community and Economic Development decreased due to projects nearing completion. 

Dubuque's $39M 14th Street Overpass: Enhancing City's Transportation Network

Dubuque has four notable line items valued at over $20 million. The largest line item is the 14th Street Overpass, under the Public Works category, worth $39 million. This project involves the construction of a multimodal transportation corridor, aiming to improve Elm Street, 16th Street, and Kerper Blvd. corridors, as well as the Chaplain Schmitt Island corridor. Additionally, it encompasses the proposed 14th Street Railroad Overpass bridge project, catering to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Other notable line items include:

• Five Flags Building Improvements - worth $23 million, under the Culture and Recreation category. This project enhances the building (arena, theater, lobby, exterior) and its equipment, all within the existing facility's footprint and current state.
• Old Mill Road Lift Station & Force Main - worth $23 million, under the Business Type category. This project involves constructing a new lift station in the Catfish Creek Interceptor Sewershed near Old Mill Road, along with laying 5,100 feet of new force main connecting the lift station to the Water & Resource Recovery Center.
• Reconstruct Taxiway Alpha - worth $23 million, under the Public Works category. Construction has started on the rehabilitation of Taxiway Alpha, which will occur over seven years and six phases. The project, located at the southeastern end of the airport near Runway 31, involves comprehensive taxiway reconstruction, including grading, drainage, paving, lighting, marking, and turfing, with each phase relocating about 1,300 linear feet of Taxiway A northwestward at a standard parallel offset distance of 400 feet from Runway 13/31.

Click Here to See City of Dubuque, Iowa, CIP

What We Are Reading

Here are some recent articles our team has been reading:

• OCTA completes 2024 Climate Adaptation and Sustainability Plan
• SFMTA Board of Directors approves FY 25 and FY 26 operating and capital budgets
• Seattle Mayor Harrell unveils eight-year levy proposal
• AL: ‘Milestone day’: Mobile board approves Amtrak project; more work before Gulf Coast line re-start
• Funding for Santa Clara VTA’s BART Silicon Valley Extension FFGA included in federal budget
• SCCTD finalizes design for Transit Stop Transformation Project
• INVESTING IN AMERICA: Brent Spence Bridge Project Marks New Milestone as President Biden’s Infrastructure Decade Kicks into Gear
• San Francisco Bay Ferry Board of Directors adopts 2050 Service Vision
• California Gov. Newsom releases May Revision proposal for FY 24-25 budget
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces Third Year of SMART Grants, Funding Transportation Technology and Innovation
• Upgrades completed at MTA’s Metro-North Railroad’s maintenance and operations hub at Croton
• $3.6B Brent Spence Bridge clears environmental review
• FRA issues NOFO for more than $2 billion in NEC funding
• $2B for Northeast Corridor passenger rail projects available
• PA: Gov. Shapiro pushes public transit boost with $39 million for PRT as Republicans plan to take a look
• USDOT opens applications for third round of SMART grants
• Biden-Harris Administration Selects 99 Communities for Grants Aimed at Making Local Roads Safer; Invites Applications for Future Rounds of Funding
• Fluor-led JV breaks ground on $700M Interstate 35 expansion in Texas
• NCDOT releases Advanced Transportation Mobility Strategic Plan
• Massachusetts awards $37 million to regional transit operators
• WMATA awarded $17 million in state funding to improve Capital Heights Metro Station infrastructure
• Montgomery County, Md., releases Zero Emission Bus Transition Plan
• Virginia Railway Express cuts ribbon on Fredericksburg rail station improvements
• Santa Cruz Metro seeing early success with Reimagine METRO Phase 1 program
• L.A. Metro Board approves final EIR for Eastside Transit Corridor Phase 2 Project
• Wheel Rail Seminars to hold dedicated rail transit event in 2025
• San Francisco snags $3.4B from FTA to bring commuter rail to downtown transit center
• FTA awards $343 million in funding through All Stations Accessibility Program
• CTA, CDOT to invest in dedicated bus lanes along Chicago Avenue
• Austin Light Rail Phase 1 accepted into project development of federal CIG program
• CHSRA releases final environmental documents for Palmdale to Burbank segment
• PRT Board approves FY25 operating and capital budgets
• MARTA to begin transformation of Five Points Station in July
• Whatcom Transportation Authority, Lummi Indian Business Council cuts ribbon on transit and bicycle infrastructure improvements
• Bus technology updates: Westchester County Bee-Line System; RYDE Racine and Connect Transit
  

What Top U.S. Environmental Companies Blog About

To stay abreast of industry marketing trends, we regularly review blogs of the nation's top consulting and construction firms.  These are some notable customer-focused blogs in May.

Jacobs Teams with Local, Small and Diverse Businesses to Support Los Angeles World Airports Capital Improvement Program

Summary: On May 29, 2024, Jacobs announced that it has been selected as one of 15 companies to provide on-call program services for all LAWA departments under a Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC). Jacobs will lead the program, supported by over 30 subconsultants, and is committed to employing local Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. The selected subconsultants will represent about 30% of the project work. Jacobs aims to promote local minority businesses and will collaborate with LAWA’s Small Business Development Department to enhance economic equality in Los Angeles. 

Parsons To Design Advanced Rapid Transit System in San Antonio

Summary: On May 9, 2024, Parsons Corporation announced it has been selected by VIA Metropolitan Transit Authority to finalize the design of the Advanced Rapid Transit program for San Antonio's VIA Rapid Green Line. The contract is valued at $20 million over five years. The project, with an estimated cost exceeding $400 million, is funded by various sources, including a Federal grant and local contributions. The VIA Rapid Green Line will span 12 miles, feature 26 stations, and connect key areas, including the San Antonio International Airport and historic missions. ART systems aim to provide efficient public transit by using dedicated bus lanes, traffic signal prioritization, and streamlined fare collection. 

Meeting Planner

In this over-digitized age, there is no replacement for face-to-face meetings with your prospects and customers! We track meetings of interest to our customers serving the U.S. transit industry so you won’t miss upcoming meetings and deadlines. Additionally, FirmoGraphs has recently implemented a free-of-charge service for tracking notable infrastructure events. 

Meetings in June and July 2024

Early Bird Registration

• Event: TRB International Conference on Women and Gender in Transportation
  Dates: September 9, 2024 - September 11, 2024
  Deadline for Early Registration: June 11, 2024
  
  
• Event: Forth Roadmap Conference
  Dates: September 24, 2024 - September 26, 2024
  Deadline for Early Registration: June 24, 2024