WFB-The Department of Transportation is taking action to expedite permitting for infrastructure projects nationwide, minimize delays, and clear the backlog of projects awaiting federal approval, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
The agency has historically had some of slowest permitting timelines across the federal government. According to government data, the Federal Highway Administration and Federal Aviation Administration each take more than seven years to complete reviews while the Federal Railroad Administration and Federal Transit Administration each take more than five years to approve projects.
At the same time, the average age of America’s bridges is 47 years, meaning a bulk of the nation’s bridges have already reached or are nearing their typical 50-year lifespan, making quick permitting for replacement or repair projects even more important.
As part of the announcement Monday, the Transportation Department will begin setting hard deadlines for project approvals, creating page limits for environmental review documents, and issuing more categorical exclusions that enable the agency to expedite environmental reviews for certain projects. And the agency said it will also narrow the overall amount of projects that must undergo environmental permitting. more
This sounds very good, and I’m pleased to read it. Long overdue.
But please make sure that the laid-off DoT bureauleeches don’t end up standing around highway construction sites doing nothing but holding clipboards and keeping their hardhats clean.
And stop with the roundabouts. I’ve seen 4 in a row in places. WTF?!
there should be NO aproval processes necessary for replacement of existing structures !!!
PLEASE! Stop unnecessarily repaving good roads in the neighborhoods where politicians and influential donators reside. Put that money toward repairing desperately needed bridges and overpasses. OMG – the Baltimore beltway overpass called “triple bridges” is in horrible shape and could collapse soon.
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/mdot-survey-triple-bridges-project-i-70-baltimore-beltway/41766729
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