Infrastructure News Summary
For May 1, 2008

CLINTON GAS-TAX PROPOSAL CRITICIZED
Washington Post
Alec MacGillis and Steven Mufson
5/1/08

A growing chorus -- including a top congressional Democrat -- labeled Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's proposal for suspending the federal gasoline tax ineffective and shortsighted yesterday, even as she continued to paint Sen. Barack Obama as insensitive to drivers' woes for not endorsing the plan. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/30/AR2008043003575.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Also, http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=448022

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY ON FORT TO PORT PROJECT
Inside Indiana Business
4/30/08

FORT WAYNE (April 30, 2008) - Governor Mitch Daniels, together with local and state officials, broke ground today on the first of four phases to build the Fort to Port project. The $170 million Major Moves construction project will improve access between Fort Wayne to the Port of Toledo, and, with the Hoosier Heartland Corridor, complete the long-awaited stretch from Lafayette to Ohio. Indiana companies have won all of the contracts for the $200 million of work the Indiana Department of Transportation's (INDOT) Fort Wayne District has awarded in the past two years, including the $11 million contract to Fort Wayne-based Primco, Inc., for the first phase of Fort to Port. http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=29130

HEARING COMING ON MORRISON WIDENING
The Star Press
Seth Slabaugh
4/30/08

MUNCIE -- A public hearing will be scheduled within the next two months on the widening of Morrison Road from Jackson Street to Keller Drive (near Wal-Mart) and on the construction of a roundabout at Morrison and Jackson. After extensive public hearings, city and county planners several years ago abandoned a proposal to complete the Muncie Bypass around the west side of the city. There was much more public support for widening existing routes, such as Morrison, Jackson and Nebo Road, than for the bypass alternative. New housing is being built along the segment of Morrison scheduled to be widened. The roundabout is estimated to cost $2.5 million, while the widening of Morrison is expected to cost much more than that. The final cost estimate isn't known pending decisions on the scope of the project. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/NEWS01/804300354/1002

VISCLOSKY: USE U.S.-ONLY STEEL ON FEDERAL PROJECTS
The NWI Times
4/30/08

U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky told the Congressional Steel Caucus Wednesday he will cosponsor legislation aimed at curbing substandard Chinese steel imports by requiring federally funded projects to use only American-made material. Visclosky, D-Ind., who chairs the caucus, said at a hearing in Washington, D.C., he and Rep. Phil English, R-Penn., will propose the American Steel First Act, which would mandate programs under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security to use U.S.-produced steel on domestic and civilian construction projects, such as airports, bridges, railroads, roads and the Mexico border fence. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/04/30/updates/breaking_news/doc4818a5d485f29217551372.txt