By Maria Lehman, Contributing Author
I was always amazed by the fact that approximately 90% of an iceberg’s volume is under the water. They are massive and complex, yet we see little of them on the surface.
I feel the exact same way about the state of our road and bridge infrastructure. We have plenty of statistics, but the public does not see or understand much of the system.
As we approach the third anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), there have been many questions on its implementation, the need to continue funding at current levels, or even increase levels, the importance of equitable infrastructure and the need to have resilient infrastructure that can handle future challenges.
The BIL’s supplemental funding was roughly 150% of what was previously authorized. While it was authorized in November 2021, it was not appropriated until May 2022.
Money started flowing to states the next month, seven months after authorization. Then states have their own processes to distribute money to localities.
In the case of funding that is formulaic, where the federal government regularly sends money to states for their departments of transportation, there is the challenge of getting more money out the door, which is efficient yet lengthy and complex.
At the state level, some were prepared for the influx of funds and identified the matching funds required, while other states lagged behind.
Once the money is appropriated, there is a process to complete planning, permitting and design, followed by construction. Even on small jobs, in the best of circumstances, this process takes time.
When the funding comes from grants, the new grants must be developed, and their rulemaking follows the federal government process. Then the public solicitation process starts for grant applications.
There is a response time when the grant applications must be approved and awarded. Contracts are then signed, and the grantee can start the process described above.
This process is complicated for industry veterans and the public is largely unaware of how this pipeline operates.
As industry professionals, it is on us to explain the process and how the investments will yield positive results. It is important to tell the stories of projects we work on and their impact on the communities we serve.
While some in the industry focus on megaprojects, thousands of smaller projects are also making a real difference.
The Redemeyer Road Extension project is one example at GHD of a BIL project changing a community. It will provide a critical alternative access route into the communities of Pepperwood Place, Deerwood, El Dorado and Vichy Springs in Mendocino County, Calif.
With only one ingress and egress route over the Russian River, these communities are vulnerable to climate threats such as wildfires and flooding.
This project aims to increase climate resiliency, promote transportation equity and benefit climate-vulnerable, under-resourced and underserved communities while mitigating potential negative community impacts.
For this and for most other projects, there is the issue of streamlining the process, making it more efficient through the provision of industry led and accepted contracts and documentation templates.
For example, the Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC®) now has its contract documents included in the U.S. Transportation Department Volpe Center’s new Project Delivery Center of Excellence central repository of recommended agreements for transportation-related projects. It was created to help ensure consistency and quality in design and construction contracts.
Recipients of federal aid for construction projects must create thorough construction contracts to keep projects on time, on task and on budget, according to a U.S. Department of Transportation press release.
These legally binding contracts, or project agreements, outline the roles, responsibilities, terms and conditions for a project’s successful delivery.
To keep roads, bridges and infrastructure projects moving forward in the most timely and efficient way possible, take advantage of these templates to assist in getting projects completed on time and on budget. RB
Maria Lehman is the Director of U.S. infrastructure at GHD and the American Society of Civil Engineers 2023 President.
