New Hampshire gas tax to rise 4.2 cents in July

New Hampshire can expect a 4.2-cent gas tax increase this summer, after the state’s governor signed a new bill to raise more money for transportation. Gov. Maggie Hassan on Tuesday signed SB 37, a bill that would raise the state’s gas and diesel tax by 4.2 cents per gallon, bringing in an additional $32 million to $33 million each year. Related: As Highway Trust Fund insolvency looms, state DOTs stretch dollars through project prioritization The legislation passed in the state’s Legislature in April. The gas tax increase — the first in the state since 1991 — will begin July 1, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT) states on its website. The bill boosts the fuel tax from 18 cents per gallon to 22.2 cents per gallon. Hassan called the legislation “an important step toward addressing [New Hampshire’s] transportation needs,” noting that it is also expected to boost the state’s economy and “improve commutes.” “A solid, modern transportation infrastructure is the foundation for long-term economic growth, critical to the success of New Hampshire’s people and businesses, and I am proud to sign this bipartisan legislation into law so that we can strengthen our transportation infrastructure and boost our economy,” Hassan said in a prepared statement. NHDOT says the additional revenue collected from the gas tax hike would fund projects such as “resurfacing and reconstruction on secondary roadways, municipal bridges and Interstate 93.” 

Rhode Island DOT to invest $2 million in driver safety

(Photo Credit: Alexander Moran / Flickr)

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is planning to install a $2 million system on its highways to prevent drivers who are entering via ramps from driving the wrong way, WPRO News reports.

The agency intends to start installation of the system at 20 locations throughout the state in April, with a large focus on urban locations.

The system will include intelligent transportation components as well as more signage and markers near ramps.

RIDOT is aiming to have the system working early next year.

Infrastructure jobs can boost U.S. employment; highway funding push continues

Beyond shovel-ready

Infrastructure jobs need more definition, Brookings says, and the institute’s report, “Beyond Shovel-Ready: The Extent and Impact of U.S. Infrastructure Jobs,” aims to define employment in all aspects of infrastructure, including design, construction, operation and governance. It notes that jobs in infrastructure can aid in the continuing U.S. recovery from the Great Recession.

The report suggests that in order to determine the jobs that are included in infrastructure, it is important to define what exactly infrastructure is. The report offers the following definition:

“In general, infrastructure encompasses a broad range of systems and facilities designed, constructed, operated, and governed across the public and private sector. Foundational in nature, these physical assets are either manmade or natural, often operate as part of larger networks, support a variety of economic activities, and provide a host of other services with a clear public benefit over the course of many years.”

It also divides infrastructure into seven sectors, defining each:

• Intra-Metro Transportation: local roads and bridges, public transit (subways and buses), taxis and limousines, sightseeing transportation and bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure
• Inter-Metro Transportation: passenger rail, airports, highways and inter-urban and rural bus transportation
• Trade and Logistics: freight rail, air cargo operations, trucking, seaports/inland waterways, transportation support and warehousing and express/local delivery services
• Energy: the generation, transmission, and distribution of energy from natural gas (pipelines), facilities responsible for electricity (nuclear, hydroelectric and solar/wind) and other utilities
• Water: clean/drinking water, stormwater, wastewater, sewage/water treatment facilities and “green” infrastructure for conserving related natural resources
• Telecommunications: broadband and transmission infrastructure (wired, wireless and satellite), concentrated in facilities outside radio and television broadcasting
• Public Works: streetscapes, land redevelopment and waste/landfills (solid waste, hazardous materials and remediation)

The report determines that 95 occupations and 42 industries are linked to infrastructure.

According to the report, 14.2 million workers, or 11 percent of the nation’s workforce, had jobs related to infrastructure in 2012. Among them, only 6 percent are involved with design and 15 percent with construction. The majority (77 percent) are primarily involved with operation.

Other findings include:

• A combined total of 9.1 million infrastructure workers (64 percent of the U.S. total) are employed in the 100 largest metropolitan areas
• Infrastructure jobs offer more than 30 percent higher wages than jobs at lower ends of the income scale ($24,750 and $30,190 annually, versus $18,090 and $22,480 annually)
• Infrastructure occupations offer higher median wages ($38,480) than the national median ($34,750)
• With a 2.5 ratio of wages earned at the 90th and 10th percentile, infrastructure offers a more even distribution compared to other occupations in the U.S.
• 12 percent of infrastructure workers hold a bachelor’s degree or higher
• For 57 percent of infrastructure employees, the highest level of education is a high school diploma or less
• 67 of the 95 infrastructure occupations only require a high school diploma or less for entry
• 59 of the 67 occupations (including paving equipment operators) pay higher wages to workers at the 10th percentile than nationally
• 73 of the 95 infrastructure occupations (10 million workers) require short- or long-term on-the-job training, or an apprenticeship
• Nearly 6 million workers in 64 of the 73 occupations earn higher wages at the 10th and 25th percentile
• Infrastructure jobs are expected to increase 9.1 percent in the next 10 years
• 2.7 million workers (23.4 percent) will need to be replaced in the next decade
• 1.1 million workers are projected to be added to the infrastructure workforce through 2022.

Pothole insurance takes hold in auto industry

Pothole insurance takes hold in auto industry

How much would you pay to protect your vehicle from pothole damage? Some car owners are adding an additional cost to their regular maintenance plan by purchasing insurance that protects against potholes, USA Today reports. Related: “Pothole Robin Hood” aims to fix 100 potholes in Jackson, Miss. The insurance, known as road hazard insurance, protects cars — tires and wheels, in particular — from damage caused by road damage such as potholes, which have been reported to cost individual drivers $700 each year. One company, Safe-Guard, has been offering the protection plans for more than 10 years. Its tire and wheel protection customer base has grown 350 percent in the past five years. More drivers are likely to purchase a protection plan from Safe-Guard and other insurance providers in the coming months due to an exceptionally harsh winter that created more potholes than usual in many states. 

Asphalt Driveways in Rhode Island

The exterior of your home deserves the same attention as the interior, and the most important decision you will make is choosing pavement that will fit the design of your home from a new asphalt driveway to a designed pavers bricks driveway.s driveway.

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Asphalt Driveways

How To Choose the Best Material For a Driveway

Sooner or later, you'll have to replace your driveway. A lot of people take their driveway for granted until it's time to replace their driveway. Suddenly, the contractor bombards them with all these options for a new driveway, leaving the person to wonder what they should replace their driveway with.

There are several options for a driveway, however, and, if you make the right choice, you might end up with a driveway that was far better than the old one. Ideally, that's what we're looking for.

The most common material that is used for a driveway is asphalt. Asphalt is tough to beat. It is fairly economical, and widely available. If you have an asphalt driveway, you might want to stick with asphalt for simplicity's sake. A lot of people like to "edge" their asphalt driveway with rocks, bricks, etc. "Edging" the asphalt driveway improves its appearance, but, some people want more.

Another popular option for driveways is stamped concrete. While it is possible to pave a stamped concrete driveway yourself, I recommend that you have a professional pave it, because stamped concrete driveways have to have joints in order to prevent the stamped concrete driveway from cracking. It is important that you choose a contractor that is very familiar with paving stamped concrete driveways, because I've heard too many horror stories.

Finally, we come to the "paver" type of driveway. Paver-type driveways are very expensive, but very distinctive. Today, you have a choice of materials you can use for the paver, such as regular pavers, bricks, and various types of stones. Before deciding to do this, it is vital you do your homework: find a contractor that is very familiar with installing the type of paver you want for your driveway. A paver-type driveway that isn't done properly is a nightmare. Make sure the driveway is done right the first time, because it will cost you more money to correct someone else's mistake.