Maryland’s beleaguered Purple Line light-rail project broke ground today, Bethesda Magazine reported. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao were present. Tell me more >>>
Pennsylvania Borough Requires Bonds From Road Contractors
Contractors will now need a permit and to post bonds before cutting into or digging under Conyngham streets. On Tuesday, Conyngham Borough Council adopted a street excavation ordinance that requires people to obtain a permit and pay a $150 fee before doing any street work, solicitor Donald Karpowich said. Read the full article >>>
Private Owners, Firms Might Have to Invest More In Construction-Labor Education
Ask commercial developers in a major market to name their biggest challenges, and the rising cost of construction will be at or near the top of the list. But while the complaints have grown louder in recent years, the underlying problem has been decades in the making, and the current administration’s policies only figure to make it worse. Read the full article >>>
Take Steps to Protect Against Violations of Federal Contracting Rules
The U.S. government appropriated $120 billion for federal construction spending in 2017, covering a range of projects from the construction of a new Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to building agricultural research facilities, according to the Associated General Contractors of America. President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget proposal, even with its cuts to key federal spending programs and new funds for a U.S.–Mexico border wall, calls for roughly the same level of investment. Tell me more >>>
The Brave New World of Construction Recruiting
Times have changed. It once wasn’t unusual for a construction career to start and end with family. “You learned the skills, gained responsibility along the way and often ended up years later with ownership of the business,” said Kim Waseca-Love, education and apprenticeship director for the Spokane (WA) Home Builders Association. Read the article >>>