USDOT delivers nearly $1B to improve multimodal networks, public safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has unveiled a $982.2 million investment in roadway safety as part of the latest tranche of awards through the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.  A total of 521 projects will receive a share of the SS4A funding round, covering projects that improve intersection safety, upgrade sidewalks and tighten emergency response […]

Texas approves state funding for Mineral Wells water system upgrade

The city of Mineral Wells, Texas, is entering the design phase for a water system improvement project following the approval of $58.8 million in state funding from the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Construction is slated for early 2027. The TWDB will deliver the financial assistance, in the form of grants and principal forgiveness, to […]

Watsonville secures $39M for downtown mixed-use housing project

The city of Watsonville, California, in partnership with Santa Cruz METRO, has received a $39 million state grant to redevelop the Watsonville Transit Center into a multistory, mixed-use housing project. The Watsonville Metro Project will combine affordable housing with upgraded transit and active-transportation improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.   The grant, awarded through California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC), will transform the existing transit center […]

Washington unveils $244M housing package, launches new housing task force

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson announced earlier this month $244 million in housing investments and signed an executive order to help establish a housing agency. The multi-million-dollar funding proposal included $237 million in investments to the capital budget; Washington’s largest state-funded housing investment in a supplemental budget.   The housing investments include a wide scope of priorities across the state. The announced introduced $55 million for rehabilitation and housing preservation, including […]

Austin utility unveils $735M citywide grid hardening strategy

The city of Austin’s electric utility, Austin Energy has officially announced its Electric System Resiliency Plan (ESRP), a $735 million strategy designed to bolster the city’s energy resilience and reliability under extreme conditions.  The ESRP outlines a series of measures to help ensure Austin residents, businesses and essential services are supplied with power during inclement weather, can recover quickly from outages and quickly adapt to future […]

Feds seek to accelerate energy infrastructure development

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill that would modify the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to accelerate approval for energy development and infrastructure projects. The legislation has moved into the Senate for further consideration and approval.  The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act aligns with the administration’s efforts to encourage growth by cutting red tape […]

Olympic National Park begins design phase for new Hurricane Ridge lodge

Olympic National Park is moving into the next phase of rebuilding the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge in Washington, marking the first concrete steps toward construction of a long-anticipated replacement at the park’s highest-elevation destination.  The National Park Service is now beginning the conceptual design process and is asking the public to help shape what comes next. The project […]