Michigan Engineering Newsletter

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Issue: 4

July 2017

Federal Transportation Funding Update

Summary of U.S. Senate Transportation Appropriations Bill for FY '18

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its version of the annual spending bill for the Department of Transportation for Fiscal Year 2018. The bill is an improvement from the House counterpart bill and it represents a win for ACEC.

The bill differs from the House spending bill in a number of ways: it doesn't rescind any unspent highway funding from State DOTs; it increases funding for TIGER multi-modal grants; it provides more funding for transit capital investment grants; and, it includes a provision raising the cap on Passenger Facility Charges for airport projects.

Like the House bill, the Senate bill fully funds the federal highway and transit programs authorized under the FAST Act from the Highway Trust Fund, including $44.234 billion for highways (2.2% above the current funding level) and $9.733 billion for transit formula grants. It provides $2.133 billion for transit capital investment grants (New Starts and Small Starts) from the General Fund, which is a reduction of $280 million below the FY'17 level but sufficient to fund all existing projects with full funding grant agreements from FTA and those projects in the pipeline that are expected to sign commitments in the coming year. (Click here for a list of all FTA capital investment grant projects.)

The bill funds TIGER multi-modal grants at $550 million, an increase of $50 million above the current level. It also provides $1.6 billion for Amtrak, an increase of $105 million, including $358 million for the Northeast Corridor.

For aviation programs, the Senate bill allocates $3 billion for FAA Facilities & Equipment, an increase of $150 million, and would increase the Airport Improvement Program to $3.6 billion. It also includes a provision raising the cap on Passenger Facility Charges from $4.50 to $8.50 on originating flights (not connections), which could raise as much as $1.75 billion in additional revenue for airport infrastructure projects. As you know, lifting the PFC cap is an advocacy priority for ACEC, but it was left out of the respective House and Senate FAA reauthorization bills. We'll be working to retain the provision in the appropriations bill as it moves through the legislative process.

Here is a chart showing the major federal transportation accounts in the House and Senate bills compared with the current year:

PROGRAM	FY 2017	HOUSE BILL FY 2018	SENATE BILL FY 2018
Highways	$43.266 billion	$44.234 billion	$44.234 billion
Transit Formula	$9.733 billion	$9.733 billion	$9.733 billion
Transit Capital Investment Grants	$2.413 billion	$1.753 billion	$2.133 billion
Amtrak	$1.495 billion	$1.428 billion	$1.6 billion
Railroad State of Good Repair Grants	$25 million	$500 million	$26 million
FAA Facilities & Equipment	$2.855 billion	$2.855 billion	$3 billion
Airport Improvement Program	$3.35 billion	$3.35 billion	$3.6 billion
TIGER	$500 million	$0	$550 million

Click here for more information on the Senate bill, including bill text and a summary from the Appropriations Committee.

The federal fiscal year ends on September 30. The House and/or the Senate may vote on their respective transportation appropriations bill before the deadline, either as a stand-alone or as part of a bigger funding package. However, there is almost no chance that a final bill will be enacted into law before the end of the current fiscal year, so a "continuing resolution" will be necessary to keep programs operating at current levels as Congress debates the budget for 2018.

Michigan to Host ASCE Region 3 Assembly

August 4 & 5 in Detroit

Kristina Swallow, ASCE President-Elect, and MDOT Director Kirk Steudle will keynote the Region 3 Assembly in Detroit this week.

The ASCE Region 3 includes: Akron-Canton, Central Illinois, Central Ohio, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Dayton, Duluth, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Quad-City, Toledo, and Wisconsin Sections. In Canada, Provinces of Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nunavut Territory.

The agenda includes presentations on the state and national ASCE Infrastructure Report Cards, the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission Report, The Grand Challenge, and more.

A tour of the M-1 Rail and reception will take place on Friday evening.

ACEC Holding CEO Roundtables

September 27 in Livonia

October 6 in Grand Rapids

Attention firm principals, owners and senior manager s!!! Do not miss this opportunity to discuss important business topics with Michigan industry leaders. Large or small, all firms will benefit from these discussions. ACEC will provide a brief update of association issues. Come prepared to discuss: legislation affecting engineering firms, issues affecting firm profitability, business practices, and other issues that are relevant your company.

Roundtables start at 8:00 am, and the cost is $35/person. Non-ACEC firms can attend (at no cost) when invited by a current member firm. Registration is open on the ACEC website.

2018 ACEC Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards Competition

Entry Details Available Now!

ACEC/Michigan celebrates and promotes achievements by engineering companies through its annual Engineering & Surveying Excellence Awards. This statewide competition recognizes engineering achievements that demonstrate a high degree of client satisfaction through quality, innovation, cost-effective solutions.

"Intents to Enter" are now being accepted for the 2018 ACEC/Michigan Engineering and Surveying Excellence competition. Intents are due to the ACEC/M office by Friday, August 25, 2017. Completed project submittals are due by 12:00 noon on Friday, October 6, 2017.

The winning projects will be announced on March 10, 2018 during the Awards Gala at DeVos in Grand Rapids. Complete entry information, including the Intent to Enter form, is now available on the ACEC website .

ACEC Announces 2017-2018 President and Board of Directors


Steve Nichols, PE, FTCH

The American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) is pleased to announce that Steven Nichols, PE, of Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber (Grand Rapids) has been elected as its 2017-2018 President.

Steve is a Principal/Senior Vice President of Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber. With over 38 years of industry experience, he is a member of the Board of Directors and a leader of the firm in charge of the Civil Department and overseeing the firm's Transportation projects. During the past 20 years, Steve has served in many leadership positions with ACEC/M acting as a liaison and spokesperson with industry organizations. Steve's experience is in transportation, infrastructure, and environmental engineering projects, working with the Michigan Department of Transportation and many municipalities.

2017-2018 ACEC/M Officers:

President: Steve Nichols, PE, Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc., Grand Rapids

President-Elect: Sean Kelley, PE, The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., Detroit

Treasurer: Jack Wheatley, PE, ROWE PSC, Flint

National Director: Robert Rayl, PE, RS Engineering, LLC, Lansing

Past-President: Michael Cooper, PE, Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield

2017-2018 ACEC/M Board of Directors:

Rick Chelotti, PE, Bergmann Associates, Lansing

Chris Cook, PE, Abonmarche, Benton Harbor

Paul Galdes, PE, Fleis & VandenBrink, Grand Rapids

Steve Gravlin, PE, PS, Michael Baker International, Detroit

Tricia Ruby, Ruby+Associates, Bingham Farms

Jon Kramer, PE, OHM Advisors, Livonia

Eric Morris, PE, HNTB, Okemos

Jayson Nault, PE, Tetra Tech, Brighton

G. Ramanujam (Ram), PE, Somat Engineering, Detroit

Michael Weingartz, PE, SmithGroupJJR, Detroit

ACEC Hosting NHI Bridge Class
December 4-15, Lansing

ACEC Michigan is hosting the NHI 10-Day Training Course #130055 entitled "Safety Inspection of In-Service Bridges." Due to recent changes in the Federal Regulations, this training is becoming a must in order to be qualified to inspect local and state bridges.

Satisfactory completion of this course will fulfill the training requirements of the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS) for a comprehensive training course. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: describe, identify, evaluate and document the various components and deficiencies that can exist on bridge components and elements; list design characteristics and describe inspection methods and locations for common concrete, steel and timber structures; and demonstrate how to field inspect/evaluate common concrete, steel and timber bridges.

Registration is open on the ACEC/M website. Prerequisites are required for this course and class size is limited to 30 attendees. Attendees will be awarded 6.7 Continuing Education Units (1 CEU = 10 PDHs). Registration deadline is Tuesday, October 31, 2017. Cancellation policy: Cancellations, with full refund, will be accepted until October 31. No refunds will be given after October 31. Registrations are transferable.

PSMJ Principals Bootcamp Save the Date

January 18-19, Lansing

ACEC will again host the ever popular PSMJ Principals Bootcamp January 18 - 19, 2018 in Lansing. This A/E/C Principals Bootcamp demonstrates how the most successful firm leaders are adapting to today's fast-paced economic changes. Instructors will directly address your needs and questions and offer advice from their years of practical design firm experience. You'll walk away with innovative ideas and dynamic new approaches to these challenging times that your entire firm can put into action right away.

Discounts will be offered for group registrations. Watch the ACEC website for future registration information.

MDOT-ACEC Partnering Award Nominations
Application Deadline is October 27

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the American Council of Engineering Companies of Michigan (ACEC/M) are excited to announce the fifth annual "MDOT-ACEC Partnership Charter Award." This award recognizes project managers and consultants for their commitment to excellence and promoting an enhanced business partnership based on the ideals set forth in the MDOT/ACEC Partnership Charter Agreement. These ideals include mutual trust, effective communication, continuous improvement, embracing innovation, and timely issues resolution.

The award will be judged equally on 5 principles:

*Providing Cost-Effective, High-Quality Services

*Partnering in Streamlining Business Practices

*Engaging in Effective Communication

*Commitment to Transparency & Accountability

*Promoting Innovation and Sustainability

Projects accomplished by team effort between MDOT project managers and ACEC consultants are eligible to receive this award.

Entries for the 2017 award will be received by the MDOT Performance Excellence Section through October 27, 2017. Projects must be substantially complete and ready for use between November 1, 2015 and October 31, 2017.

The 2017 award will be announced at the MDOT/ACEC Partnering Workshop on February 1, 2018 in Lansing.

Entry guidelines and the official entry form are available on the ACEC/M website.

ACEC Welcomes New Members!

ACEC is excited to welcome these new member firms:

ACEC 2018 Emerging Leaders Program

The 2018 ACEC/Michigan Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) will be held over three sessions this fall. This popular program filled very quickly again this year. 27 applications were received, 7 of which were from firms who did not participate last year.

The program imparts specific skills and competencies identified by top ACEC/M principals as critical for leadership success. Highly interactive sessions are taught by experts in the field of business administration and people management in professional services firms. The 2018 program will kick off in September in Lansing, with sessions focused on strategic planning and governmental affairs.

A waiting list has been started for next year's program. Visit the ACEC website for more information on this program or to register for the waiting list.

ACEC/M Member Benefit - Job Board

Did you know the ACEC/M website has a job board?

EMPLOYERS: Is your company looking for good, local employees? Develop your workforce with us! ACEC/M members may post jobs at NO CHARGE. Non-members can post for a small fee. We invite you to see how easy it is to post jobs online today!

JOB SEEKERS: Looking for a new job? A better job? Join the workforce in the area!

The ACEC/M Job Board is the right place for what you need to know about available jobs, our fantastic local employers, and our great community!

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